This week’s top picks include some longer-form videos, starting with one from the Vegan Cyclist who attempts a 10,000-calorie Zwift ride! We’ve also got an insightful review of the just-finished Zwift Academy, Shane Miller’s take on Zwift’s latest update, a wide-ranging interview with Wahoo’s CEO, and one Zwifter’s take on an age-old cyclist’s debate.
Can I Burn 10,000 Calories Before Dinner?
The Vegan Cyclist attempts to burn 10,000 in a single Zwift session. Along the way he talks about pacing, nutrition, the mental aspect, and more.
What’s Next For Zwift Academy?
As promised, Sarah at Everything Is Photogenic has finished Zwift Academy yet again, and provides her thorough review of what worked for her, what didn’t, and where she’d like to see the Academy go next.
ZWIFT Update 1.55: Race Timing Display Changes // Christmas Jersey // 10 Things For 2024!
GPLama Shane Miller gives the lowdown on Zwift’s latest update, plus a few extras including his top 10 wish list for Zwift improvements in 2024!
Wahoo Fitness CEO Interview: What failed, and what’s coming in 2024
DC Rainmaker sits down for a fascinating and open conversation with Chip Hawkins, CEO of Wahoo Fitness. They cover a ton of topics, including Wahoo’s relationship with Zwift, shutting down RGT, the state of the indoor cycling industry, and some future Wahoo hardware plans.
Spinning (Seated) vs Grinding (Standing), which is more efficient for Zwift Racing?
It’s an age-old debate: is it better to climb seated or standing? To spin your way to the top, or grind it out? What works better for Zwift racing? Zwift Analysis Network takes on the topic…
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Zwift has rolled out a fresh Mission for January. It’s Tour Down Under-branded and focused on climbing. See below for details.
Note: signups opened this week, but the Mission doesn’t begin until January 1.
Getting Started
To begin the Mission, select the mission card on your homescreen and click to register:
Once you’ve registered, clicking the mission card will show your Mission progress.
Completing the Mission
To complete the mission and earn the achievement badge, accumulate at least 3,057 meters (10,029′) of climbing between January 1st and February 4th.
Why 3,057 meters? Because that’s the total ascent of the EFEX K/QOM sections for the men’s and women’s races in this year’s Tour Down Under.
Don’t Miss Willunga!
The portal Climb of the Month is Old Willunga Hill, which has been made famous by its inclusion in the Tour Down Under and Richie Porte’s incredible ability to drop competitors on its gut-punching slopes. Be sure to ride it this month… or maybe even ride every scaled version of it, including the 125% scale!
This is the last weekend of Rapha’s Festive 500, so many Zwifters will be looking to get in some long miles. There are lots of long events on the calendar, so we’ve picked the most popular, including one 500km event with over 500 riders already signed up!
The next Fondos of the ZFondo 2023-24 series are here! Join Zwifters from around the world for a fun long ride around the roads of Watopia. As usual, there will be three different categories so you can choose your ride length:
Jolly Fondo: Gran Fondo 2022 (92.8km/57.7 miles, 1116m/3,661′ elevation)
Spark Fondo: Big Foot Hills (69.7km/43.3 miles, 713m/2,339′ elevation)
Festive Fondo: The Big Ring (51.1km/31.8 miles, 273m/895′ elevation)
The Rapha Festive 500 challenge is well underway, and you’ve only got this weekend to finish it! The Festive 500 rides every two hours have been immensely popular this week, and this weekend’s rides are on one of Watopia’s newest routes: Coast Crusher.
Been procrastinating on your Festive 500 goals? Just want to take on an epic ride? The crazies at RAD RACE x PLATTFUSS PODCAST have set up a 500km group ride on Watopia’s The Big Ring.
Target pace is 2-2.3 w/kg, and already 500+ are signed up. How crazy is the Zwift community?
🥇 NICO Endurance Race – purification of worldly desires –
✅ Endurance Challenge ✅ Achievement Badge
There is something purifying and therapeutic about taking on a long race. Team NICO-OZ says this race is being held “to purify 108 troubles!” This is a 108km event on the Volcano Circuit, so if you’re looking to knock out that 25 laps achievement badge, this will do it! Category enforcement is in effect, but all categories start together.
“Did you get caught up in festive jollity and forget all about the Festive 500? In the cycling equivalent of buying all your Christmas presents at a petrol station at 11pm on Christmas Eve, we are having a last-ditch attempt to ride the entire Festive 500 in one day. All are welcome to join us for all or part of the day. We ask that all riders respect the ride pace and stay around the leaders yellow beacon and not ride off the front.”
Stated pace is 1.6-2.4 w/kg, the zapping fence is active, and all events are on Watopia’s very flat Tempus Fugit route.
We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:
Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
Is it for a good cause?
Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?
In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!
Your Thoughts
Got other events that stand out this weekend? Share below in the comments!
“Flat Is Fast” ZRacing January 2024 Series Details
Zwift’s “ZRacing” is the platform’s most popular ongoing race series, and in January we’re racing flat, fast routes… the perfect way to rack up XP and level up faster.
Read on for details about race routes, the overall monthly GC competition, and more!
Flat Is Fast – January’s Route Schedule
Here are the routes we’ll be racing in January (click route for more details):
The ZRacing series consists of monthly sets of weekly races. Each race is scheduled for seven days (beginning 1:10am UTC on Monday and running through to the next Sunday). Timeslots are consistent week to week and month to month.
Races are scheduled ~15 times each day, so there are plenty of available times to find a race.
Each monthly series includes a time-based GC (general classification) tracking riders’ best finishing times for each week’s race. The overall winners in each category for the month are the riders with the lowest overall time for that month’s set of races.
With over 100 weekly timeslots available, riders can race each week’s event multiple times and try to better their finishing time. Tip: the fastest times usually come from the largest race fields!
You must use a heart rate monitor and be on a smart trainer, smart bike, or power meter to show up in ZwiftPower results for this series.
Each month’s ZRacing series has a unique achievement badge, which you can unlock by finishing every stage for the month.
There are no makeup events, so if you miss a stage, you miss out on the badge and competing in the GC.
One and Done
Zwift has planned these events to deliver a solid 1-hour workout, so each race should only take around 1 hour to complete, including your warmup and cooldown.
Zwift’s annual fondo series is a popular tradition where thousands of riders push themselves to finish long rides. The series continues this weekend, which is perfect for anyone working to complete the Rapha Festive 500 challenge!
Each month of the series features different routes, most not used in Zwift fondos of years past. Riders can choose between a short, medium, and long route (traditionally called the Bambino, Medio, and Gran Fondo, respectively). As the series progresses each month, the short, medium, and long options get slightly longer.
This year, you can unlock a different fondo kit each month by completing any of the three fondo distances. Here’s a shot of all three kits (this weekend’s fondos unlock the middle kit):
These kits are exclusive, meaning they will never be available anywhere else. A true badge of honor!
Is this a race?
Officially, no. But hundreds (possibly thousands) of riders will turn out for each of these popular “fun race” events, and the front of each category will certainly be filled with strong riders going all out.
With so many riders taking part, everyone should be able to find a group going at their desired pace. You do you!
How the Categories Work
Unlike other Zwift events, the A, B, and C groups don’t refer to rider strength or fitness. Instead, they correspond to route and distance options:
Fitness Jumpstart with Coach Kristin Series Begins January 1
Zwift has just announced the Fitness Jumpstart with Coach Kristin series, a “fun and engaging 8-week workout series created by Kristin Armstrong that will help get you started on the path to long-term fitness by teaching you how to stay fit with healthy training habits.”
Read below to learn all about the schedule and workouts of this unique series open to all riders!
Who is Kristin Armstrong?
Kristin Armstrong is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, mother, entrepreneur, and cycling coach for athletes of all abilities, from world-class level to every day cyclists. Learn more about Kristin at kristinarmstrongusa.com >
Series Schedule
The series begins on January 1, 2024, and ends on February 25.
Group workouts will be scheduled throughout the series – two new workouts each week for eight weeks.
Note: The Zwift Women’s Training Club will also be hosting the workouts in women-only events in the public calendar on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can join the club here.
Workout Details
Week 1: How to Set Goals
Workout 1: Let’s Get Moving
This is your first stop in the Fitness Jumpstart series. We’re going to get those legs moving and hearts pumping, while also clueing you in on some smart goal-setting tips. Today’s plan? Three sets of six-minute intervals, gradually upping the power every 30 seconds in Zones 3 and 4. It’s all about fun and building endurance!
This workout is all about exploring different training zones, giving you a feel-good workout while fine-tuning your fitness. Think of this session as a ramp-up, just like our warm-ups. Perfect for checking in with how you feel as you spend time in each zone. Let’s get to it!
The “Rainbow Pyramid” is all about mixing endurance with bursts of power. We’re going to challenge your legs with short, intense efforts, followed by a progressive climb. Get ready to see all the colors of your effort as we build your stamina!
The “30-20-10 Ride” is a fantastic fat-burner and endurance enhancer, all wrapped up in a short, sweet package. We’re talking controlled 30-second efforts, spicier 20-second pulls, and all-out 10-second sprints. Repeat 5 times with 2-minute recovery breaks. Time to feel the burn!
Today, we’re simulating an epic outdoor climb, right here indoors. We’ll progressively work through all the training zones, stepping up the challenge as if the climb’s getting steeper. Get ready for an aerobic fitness boost, Zwift style!
This workout is a metabolism-boosting, calorie-crushing session. We’ll alternate between high-intensity 20-second bursts and 10-second rests, 8 times across 4 sets. It’s not just about burning calories; it’s about supercharging your heart and muscles. Let’s Tabata!
Today’s ride is a mental and physical test, aiming to stretch the duration of each segment. We’re building aerobic fitness and efficiency, starting with 30-second hustles and flowing into longer builds. Three sets, each longer than the last – let’s hustle!
Today’s challenge? We’re building intensity every two minutes, like tackling a steepening climb. Then, we hit five 20-second powerful efforts, earning double the rest–for 40-seconds. It’s a ride that demands focus and loads of energy!
Today, we’re pushing beyond our threshold for longer durations. This kind of effort is key to lifting our Functional Threshold Power to new heights. Prepare yourself for a challenge!
On today’s agenda are microbursts – short, sharp shocks that are fantastic for improving speed and power adaptability. Expect an entertaining yet challenging ride, with noticeable improvements each time. Let’s HIIT it!
Today, we focus on building our fitness foundation with high-intensity short intervals. You’ll certainly earn each recovery. It’s a great balance of pushing hard and resting well. Ready to challenge yourself?
This session mixes endurance with bursts that take you from Sweet Spot to Threshold power. It’s not just a workout; it’s a fitness builder designed to keep you on your toes!
Today, it’s all about giving your best using cadence to hit the zones. It’s a workout that challenges both your heart and muscles, focusing on cadence over resistance. Get ready to give it your all!
Today’s all about high-intensity microbursts – short but powerful efforts that are super effective and fun. These bursts are great for keeping your speed and power output sharp. Let’s see some progress and enjoy the ride!
We will jump through different intensities with short intervals, offering an efficient and fun-filled session. We’ll touch every zone and finish with smiles all around. Let’s mix things up!
This workout is a lively blend of steady, longer efforts and quick, explosive bursts. It’s about enjoying the ride while pushing the pace. Prepare for a dynamic, fun-filled session!
Tour de Boudicca 5.0 3-Day Women’s Stage Race Announced
“Boudicca was the Queen of the Iceni who led a revolt against Roman rule in ancient Britain around 60-61 AD. A warrior queen, she was a true inspiration to women and a hero to her people. She might have failed in her quest but she gave it everything she had. The Warrior Games has created a three-day stage race in her honour open to all female Zwifting warriors.”
The Warrior Games has announced the fifth edition of Tour de Boudicca, a popular women’s stage race. Registration deadline is January 4, with stage 1 kicking off January 12th. See below for our summary of the event, and read the full race document for details.
About the Race
Stage 1: Friday January 12, 19:00 GMT/ 14:00 ET/ 11:00 PT/ 06+1 AUS
The Tour begins with a set of short races back to back. Make sure you set the best time for these three as this will go towards your Individual General Classification!
Note: an extra time slot has been set up for the Americas for this race only, starting at 7pm EST/4pm PST.
In this points race, team points are given for fastest through segment up The Clyde Kicker and first across the line for the Champion’s Sprint, with bonus points at the finish line.
Stage 3: Sunday January 14, 19:00 GMT/ 14:00 ET/ 11:00 PT/ 06+1 AUS
Team points given for fastest through segment on Titans Grove Reverse and first across the line on Volcano QOM, with bonus points at the finish line.
Individual and Team Competitions
Individual GC winners will be awarded in each category based on each individual’s time across all three stages.
The Team GC will be based on points earned in stages 2 and 3 by the top three riders from each team. Team GC winners will be named for each category.
How to Enter
As explained in the race doc, “Interested, established teams must submit an entry form of team roster by 4th January 2024 to The Warrior Games at [email protected].”
Interested riders should read the full race document, which explains full entry requirements, including the Warrior Games weigh-in protocol.
Live Broadcast
ZMS Esport Studio has been streaming Zwift racing for years, but they’ve recently been added as an official Zwift vendor and asked to cover Tour de Boudicca as a full production broadcast.
ZMS will be covering all three stages of Tour de Boudicca, not including the Americas timeslot of stage 1. Broadcasts will include live rider data throughout, rider “pain cams”, and coverage of all four categories, with commentary by Emma Martin & Jillian Howland.
When I got a preview of Zwift’s changes, my initial thought was “Finally, more levels to chase!” I also liked the idea of Zwift making the steps between each level more even and progressive. But it’s been really interesting to observe the community’s responses to Zwift’s changes, and I thought it might be helpful to discuss that today.
First, Let’s Summarize the Changes
The addition of levels 61 to 100 is the big news, but lots of changes came with those new levels:
Level-Up Requirements Reduced: the final levels in the previous scheme (levels 56-60) required 30,000 XP to attain. The highest levels in the new scheme (levels 91-100) only require 11,000! Clearly, Zwift wanted to make it easier to level up.
Level Progression Smoothed: the amount of XP needed to level up now increases at a regular rate as you progress from level 1-100.
Bonus XP Added: the new Streaks feature awards a healthy shot of bonus XP for your first two rides each week.
Bonus Drops Added: riders now receive a 50,000 Drops bonus each time they level up.
Changes to Accelerated Leveling: nearly everyone had “extra” XP with Zwift’s new levels. because you were either on a lower level than you should be (since levels now require less XP to attain) and/or you had banked extra XP after hitting the level limit at level 50 or 60. To get riders to their “proper” levels while still giving them the fun of leveling up, Zwift implemented two new methods of accelerated leveling, with some small UI changes attached. Curious how it works? See details under “Accelerated Leveling” here >
Endless Level 100: once you reach level 100, you’ll keep filling up your progress bar, earning a Drops bonus each time you earn the 12,000 XP required to finish level 100.
40 Levels of Fresh Prizes: Zwift has always given riders a prize for reaching a new level, so 40 new levels means… 40 new prizes! See the whole list here >
Drop Shop Pricing and Unlock Levels Changes: many every frame and wheelset in the Drop Shop was repriced and set to unlock at a different level (see our updated Zwift Shopping Guide).
After reading most of those comments, I would lump them into a several groups:
“How does accelerated leveling work? I’m at level X with Y XP, and I don’t understand what the game is saying…” This was probably the most popular comment, and I understand why: Zwift’s new accelerated leveling schemes aren’t easy to wrap one’s head around.
“I worked hard to level up, and now these n00bs can do it so much easier, and that makes me angry.” Honestly, this response completely surprised me. But a lot of people felt this way!
“New levels are great, but additional changes are needed to make leveling up more attractive.” With no new Drop Shop items unlocked at higher levels and no way to clean out our crowded garages, this feedback isn’t surprising. Many riders voiced the opinion that Zwift has just added a few months of level-up work for some level 60 riders who will cap out soon enough (see #5 below).
“I was so close to getting the new bike/wheels I wanted, and now they’re further away.” There was a fair amount of confusion about what frame or wheels to buy after everything was reshuffled – and some anger from Zwifters who felt Zwift had “moved the goalposts.”
“I was at level 60, and now I’m finding it too easy to level up.” This feedback came a few days after the big change, but it came nonetheless. Avid Zwifters now find themselves leveling up every day or two thanks to being accelerated via both the “double XP” and “20% discount” methods.
“This is a great change. Ride on!” People tend to air their grievances more than their atta-boys, but there were definitely plenty of comments from folks who just said they were happy to have new levels and unlocks to work toward.
Let’s discuss each of these a bit.
#1: Confused by Accelerated Leveling
This is the third time Zwift has added levels and implemented a fresh accelerated leveling scheme along with it. Here are the three schemes they’ve used:
Levels 26-50 added: 8x accelerated leveling for level 25 riders who had earned extra XP over the level 25 requirement
Levels 51-60 added: 2x accelerated leveling for level 50 riders who had earned extra XP over the level 50 requirement
Levels 61-100 added: 2x accelerated leveling for level 50+ riders who already had “extra” XP in their account, plus 20% leveling discounts for just about every rider to a certain level
You don’t have to understand accelerated leveling in order to take advantage of it… just ride, and the leveling happens. But still, many riders want to know how it works. Maybe they don’t trust Zwift to implement it fairly (“Don’t touch my hard-earned XP!”), maybe they’re just trying to figure out what it will take for them to reach higher levels. Regardless, it’s a pretty complex setup to understand, and Zwift’s latest version of accelerated leveling is the most complex yet!
Zwift could help themselves now by doing the same thing they should have done a long time ago: create a level system that doesn’t need to be “upgraded” in the future. Whether that’s a lot more levels (level 1000!) or a “prestige system” (for example, you may have levels 1-100, but once you finish 100 you get a prestige “star” and start at 1 again), the important thing is that Zwifters should always have something they’re working toward in terms of player level.
If you’re still confused by Zwift’s accelerated leveling scheme, and simply must fully understand it, read the “Accelerated Leveling” section on this post.
#2: Annoyed that “Everyone Gets a Trophy”
Some Zwift veterans who earned 750,000+ XP to reach level 60 are angry that level 60 is now attainable by earning just 223,500 XP. Like I said above, I was surprised by how many people (including Zwifters I deeply respect) shared this view! It was a good reminder that my perspective is only my perspective – a good life lesson that Zwift blogging continually teaches me.
Different people are motivated (and demotivated) by different things, and that’s OK.
I’ve tried to get inside the minds of the Zwifters who feel this way, but haven’t succeeded in doing so completely. As I understand it, this may be a concern if you were at a fairly high level, but aren’t planning on riding much on Zwift in the future. In that case, riders might “catch” you or even pass you, having done much less work than you did to get to your level.
If you’re still active on Zwift, you’ll be leveling up just as fast as the newer riders. Maybe even faster (see #5 below)! In this case, the only tiff you may have with Zwift is what happens when I reach level 100, and so do the n00bs. It may be that you still have a lot of extra XP when you hit level 100, while the n00bs earned just enough to get there. Isn’t it unfair that you’re both at the same level?
I suppose it is. And some riders find that very annoying.
#3: This Change Is Good, But More Change Is Needed
Some riders were fine with the changes, but said Zwift needs to make further changes in order to keep the level system motivational. Some of those changes include:
New Drop Shop items unlocked at higher levels
A garage cleanup/organization tool so you can get rid of unwanted items, easily swap bikes, etc
A more motivational plan for what happens once you reach level 100 (eg, prestige system or level 101+)
I completely agree with these points. While I’m personally fine with all the changes Zwift made (even if I think they could have done some of them differently for better outcomes), Zwift could have knocked it out of the park by also releasing new features/items that satisfy these three points.
The good news is, Zwift can still do it. All three of these additional improvements could be implemented, and in fact I know at least one of them is in the works. Here’s hoping all three get rolled out in some form soon.
#4: Miffed By Moving Goalposts
The Canyon Aeroad (with DT Swiss ARC 62 wheels) and Uranium Nuclear. All items moved to higher level unlocks…
When the Drop Shop changes rolled out, I quickly heard from Zwifters who had been looking forward to buying a particular frame or wheelset which was now either 1) unlocked at an even higher level, 2) more expensive, or both. (This included the Canyon Aeroad frame and DT Swiss ARC 62 wheels, which both moved to much higher level unlocks.)
The good news is, when it comes to racing frames, Zwift made a mistake and currently has the Felt AR (one of the four fastest frames in the game) unlocked at level 16. So if you want a fast frame, it’s more attainable than ever… until Zwift changes things.
More good news is that, for most lower-level Zwifters, it’ll take much less work to get up to those super-fast frames and wheels. Yes, the Drop Shop got reshuffled. But in the end, the disc wheels and fast frames will be unlocked sooner.
The bad news is, some of you may have to put in more work for your first set of good race wheels (ZIPP 808 at level 25). There’s just no way around that. Zwift wants faster equipment to generally be at higher levels, so this change was necessary to organize the Drop Shop logically.
#5: Leveling Up Is Too Easy
Two weeks after Zwift rolled out levels 61-100, I’m already hearing from Zwifters at level 75 or higher. While I appreciate Zwift trying to walk the balance of giving high-level Zwifters the fun of leveling up while honoring all the “banked” XP in their account, my personal feeling (and the general sentiment I’m hearing) is that it’s just too easy to level up when you’re getting both the 2x acceleration and 20% discount.
I’m at level 67 and leveling up every day or two with 60 to 90-minute rides. Given that the levels are capped at 100, I’d rather level up every week or two.
#6: All Good, Ride On!
Many Zwifters are perfectly happy with the changes Zwift rolled out. They don’t need to know how the sausage is made (understanding accelerated leveling), they aren’t stressing over which frame or wheels to buy next, and they certainly don’t care if leveling up is now easier for others than it was for them.
Your Thoughts
Personally, I’m about 50% in the #6 “All Good” camp. I resonate with #3 and #5, but overall I’m generally just happy to have more levels for now, and hopeful Zwift will do something to make level ups more interesting before I hit level 100.
But what about you? Which of the six items above do you identify with most? Or perhaps I missed your perspective in the way I lumped groups together? Share your thoughts below!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen quite a few developments in indoor cycling including the release of a new smart trainer and new levels on Zwift. This week’s top 5 Zwift videos include a video about how one special triathlete used indoor training, the new Tacx Neo 3M, a rider’s first Zwift race in a year, and details on the new Zwift levels.
Indoor Training Really Works!
Lucy Charles-Barclay, the current IRONMAN World Champion, shares details on how she used indoor cycling and Zwift to help build her fitness throughout her journey as a triathlete.
Garmin Tacx NEO 3M In-Depth Review: Worth it!?
After four long years, Garmin has finally updated the Tacx Neo. Garmin included a few notable upgrades including motion sliders, WiFi connection, and more; however, it comes at a price. Watch as Ray, aka DC Rainmaker provides everything you need to know about this new smart trainer.
First RACE in a YEAR! 🥵🤢 ZWIFT RACING LEAGUE // Glasgow Crit Circuit
Katie Kookaburra races for the first in time a year, and she throws herself in the deep end by racing in the Zwift Racing League race in Scotland. Throughout the video, she provides commentary on her race.
Eric Barfell recently raced in stage 4 of the Flamme Rouge Racing series where he raced some extremely strong category B riders. Can Eric pull off a solid finish after a brutal start to the race?
Zwift Increases Levels to Level 100
Oli Chi from ZRace Central provides details on the latest major change on Ziwft, which involved increasing the levels to level 100 and introducing the new Streaks feature. Learn all about it in this video!
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
