The more you ride indoors, the more you’ll feel the need for certain accessories that aren’t necessary outdoors: fans, sweat towels, desks, etc. These aren’t major purchases, but they still pay off big in helping you train your best.
This is the first post in a series covering recommended accessories for new Zwifters. Today, we’re talking about the first accessory any Zwifter needs: a fan! Why is a fan so important? Because without one you’ll overheat, causing your body to throttle down your power so you can’t perform at your best.
Simply put, if you want to push to your maximum potential on Zwift, you need good airflow around your body. Because sweating isn’t the goal… power to the pedals is!
Here’s our short list of recommended fans for Zwifters.
Small Budget/Small Space: Honeywell HT-900
If you don’t have much money to spend on a fan and/or the fan needs to fit in a very tiny space, the Honeywell HT-900 Super Turbo Table Fan is your answer. It’s small, but punches above its weight by moving more air than other budget desk fans.
No remote (see “WiFi Smart Power” section below for help with that)
Headwind On a Budget: Vacmaster AM201R
Want to feel a lot of wind in your face, but don’t want to pay the premium price of the Wahoo Headwind (below)? The Vacmaster AM201R Portable Air Mover with Remote Control moves a similar amount of air (Vacmaster claims “air speeds up to 32mph”) for a much lower cost.
The biggest downside vs the Headwind is the shape of the airflow, which is wider than the Headwind’s but not nearly as tall. Depending on how you set it up, you’ll probably end up getting coverage across the full width of your body (and then some), but not the full height.
Still, this seems like a fan made for indoor riding. Tilt this beauty at 45 degrees, attach the remote to your handlebars, and Ride On.
Budget trimming tip: if you don’t care about having a remote, the Lasko U12104 moves a similar amount of air in a similar pattern, for 25% less cash.
Wahoo’s Headwind is head and shoulders above the rest, both in features and price.
Premium features include the ability to automatically change fan speed based on your trainer speed or heart rate – something you won’t find in any other fan. The Headwind can also be controlled via the Wahoo app, letting you easily set the fan to whatever speed you’d like.
The “shape” of the fan’s air also matches the shape of your body, so you get full coverage simulating speeds of over 30 mph.
The only complaint, apart from price, is that many setups require the front of the headwind to be raised. It would be nice if the front legs were height-adjustable, but in lieu of that you can always buy the ANGL’R kit from Traxxion Dynamics.
Looking for a way to power on your fan remotely? Want to easily turn off your trainer and accessories when you’re finished? Setting up your Pain Cave with WiFi smart power is the way to go, since it lets your turn on individual power plugs easily using a phone app or even Alexa. “Alexa! Turn off my fan!”
Here are three options that represent the different form factors for smart plugs: a power strip (if you need power closer to your bike/trainer), an outlet extender (to add additional plugs and smart capabilities to your wall outlet), and an outlet replacement (for a clean look).
Zwift has spun up a new racing series just for the ladies! We’re announcing it now since this is Women’s History Month, but the 6-week series begins in April. It features races every Tuesday in 4 different timeslots. Each week’s race is on a different course, and the series features different types of races: an iTT, two short scratch races, and 3 points races.
Event Schedule
Races happen on Tuesdays in four different timeslots (these may shift 1 hour due to upcoming time changes):
Fastest segment times plus finishing position decide the winner
Points Scoring
This is a points series where your result each week earns you a certain number of points. Those points are then tallied up for the overall 6-week series, with the highest points earners in each category and timeslot coming out on top.
Note: if you’re aiming for the overall victory you must always enter at the same time. Points will not carry from one time zone to the other.
If you upgrade mid-series, your points cannot be transferred to your new category. If you think it is likely that you will upgrade during this series, please enter all races at the higher category.
These races are open to all women, but for your results to count, you must be wearing a heart rate monitor and using either a smart trainer or power meter. Sorry – no zPower riders in the classified results.
First Time Racers
Never raced before on Zwift? This is a great place to start! Here are a few tips to get you started:
This series is housed under the Zwift Ladies Only (ZLO) Club. You can join it here for easy access to these and other ladies-only events. I also recommend joining it on Facebook as that’s where most of the discussion happens. (Full disclosure: my lovely wife Monica is the main group admin!)
Yesterday, Zwift internally announced a 15% reduction in workforce, with a view toward focusing the business on core product development.
It’s never easy to write, or even read, about people losing their jobs. And we’ve all been reading a lot about this sort of thing lately, haven’t we? In the cycling space, in the indoor fitness space, and in the tech space as a whole, job cuts and financial challenges have become everyday news. The rumblings began with layoffs and restructurings a year ago, but in just the past few months we’ve seen Wahoo’s layoffs and debt troubles, layoffs at Specialized, and 15% reductions at giants like Facebook, Microsoft, and Alphabet (Google).
It would be easy to paint Zwift’s fresh round of layoffs with the industry’s broad brush, but conversations with key leaders in the company indicate that may not be entirely accurate.
To be sure, the post-Covid economic downturn has created a challenging business environment. And yes, the economic outlook for the next 1-2 years is challenging at best. But let’s look at Zwift a bit closer…
About the Reduction
Zwift’s official statement for yesterday’s announcement says:
“After very careful consideration, we have taken the decision to make important changes to the organization. These changes mean we will regretfully be parting ways with a number of very talented colleagues. We are grateful for their contributions to Zwift and will do our best to support them in their transition.
The changes made today impact teams across the business but some have been impacted more than others. Scaling back in some areas will allow us to invest more heavily in our product. The changes we have made will allow us to further increase the speed of development, adding greater value to our customers through new experiences and more engaging content.”
Our internal contacts tell us the reduction included approximately 80 employees. (Doing the math, this means prior to these layoffs Zwift had ~533 total employees. May’s 150-worker, 20% reduction reduced Zwift’s workforce to ~600 employees, so the company has slimmed down a bit in the past 9 months, apart from announced cuts.)
Contrary to what has been reported by other media outlets, the cuts didn’t largely come from the Marketing team – in fact, around half the number of confirmed cuts are from the Marketing, Creative, and People Teams.
The remaining cuts came from a variety of teams, but we don’t have specifics on those numbers. We were sad that longtime Zwift customer support leader Eric Chon was among those cuts. Eric has been with Zwift since early days, and has undoubtedly helped thousands of Zwifters to enjoy the platform better. He’ll be missed!
New Hires
Zwift says, “Scaling back in some areas will allow us to invest more heavily in our product”, and that’s already begun with a few key product-related C-suite hires in recent months. Not long after Co-CEO Kurt Beidler (ex-Amazon) was announced, Mike Lusthaus (also ex-Amazon) was brought on as CTO. And we just learned Zwift has hired former Director of Product at Meta, Manlio Lo Conte, as Chief Product Officer.
Beidler brought a fresh set of eyes into Zwift HQ and has largely taken over the internal, day-to-day oversight of Zwift while co-founder and co-CEO Eric Min continues to oversee Zwift’s external interactions with investors, partners, etc.
In bringing on new hires from Amazon and Meta, Zwift’s board is clearly working to assemble a fresh team of leaders with proven experience driving teams at industry-leading businesses. Expectations are that they’ll move fast. Once these executive-level managers get settled in and Zwift’s budget cycle wraps up, expect fresh Product Team postings on Zwift’s careers page.
Our sources tell us this 15% reduction will allow Zwift to scale up its product management and engineering teams, both on the software and hardware sides. We guess Zwift will be looking to make those hires in the off-season (Q2/3), so teams are in place by that crucial August/September window.
Health of the Business
Multiple conversations with key Zwift leadership over the past two days have emphasized that the business is healthy. Although Zwift didn’t hit their growth targets this season, they’re still growing.
Anecdotally, we can’t disagree. We’ve interacted with many new Zwifters coming on board in the past few months. Clearly, many have arrived thanks to the Zwift Hub trainer whose industry-leading price point makes an engaging Zwift experience more accessible than ever.
While other companies in the space are struggling with debt and even bankruptcy, Zwift assures us their balance sheet is very healthy. They still have a sizeable war chest still available from their last investment round, and sources tell us Zwift’s board is managing the company with an eye toward not needing any further private funding.
What’s Next
Zwift hasn’t shared specifics about planned game improvements in the coming months, although it sounds like a bit of a “roadmap” will be announced soon. The question on the minds of many Zwifters may be: should we get our hopes up?
In past years, Zwift became a bit notorious for their slow rollouts of product improvements and lack of new maps. By their own admission, “zoon” became a fitting Zwift meme. But since the summer of 2022, which followed Zwift’s major restructuring in May, we’ve seen a steady list of new features roll out on schedule (read our 2022 Zwift Year In Review for details).
Today’s Zwift isn’t the “fat and happy industry leader” Zwift of pre-Covid days, and it’s certainly not the “trying to keep our head above water” Zwift of lockdown times. The organization is trending leaner and meaner, and if the C-suite hires are any indication, Zwifters will be benefiting from a stronger focus on product and customer experience in the coming months.
*Magnus beat 2nd place Tristan H by just 1 point. Now that’s a slim margin!
Pack Dynamics v4 Testing Continues
Last week we tried using Pack Dynamics v4, and we’ll use it again this weekend. How did the first races with PD4 go? Tiny Race regular Mark Crane said, “I’ll need to ride some other events with PD4 but if the Tiny Races were any indication, you want to fight for the front like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s ark and it’s starting to rain…”
Got feedback on PD4 after your Tiny Races? Share it on this forum topic.
This Week’s Routes: Anvil Crits
Each race this week is held on one of Zwift’s short crit loops, and the only powerup being given out is the Anvil. Four races in four different maps, starting with the most punchy and getting flatter as we go!
Race 1: Glasgow Crit Circuit (2 laps, 6km) Our first Tiny Race in Scotland! Brace yourself for big attacks on The Clyde Kicker, dial in your anvil timing on the descents, and make sure you time that final sprint just right.
Powerup: Anvil (6x)
Race 2: Volcano Circuit CCW (4.84km, lead-in only) Most of this course is flattish, but the finish is one of the most technical in Zwift. First you have the longish ramp that saps your legs and encourages early attacks…then there’s still a few hundred meters of twisting, slightly uphill road. Good legs will keep you in contention, but timing will get you the win!
Powerup: (Anvil 1x)
Race 3: Downtown Dolphin (3 laps, 5.7km) Racers know this route well. The question is: who will go long, and can they stay away?
Powerup: (Anvil 2x)
Race 4: LaGuardia Loop (2 laps, 7.2km) A quick lead-in, then 2 hot laps in Central Park. The longest race of the day will still be fast!
Zwift displays preliminary race results in game when you cross the line, but points are computed after all four races are finished, with final results on ZwiftPower. (We have to do some data processing on our side to compute results, so if your rankings don’t show up right away, be patient.)
Riders will earn points based on finish position in each of the 4 Tiny Races. The category winner of each week’s series is the rider with the most points across their timezone’s 4 races. Here are the links for each timezone’s results on ZwiftPower:
Tiny Race rules are simple, but still every week 8-10% of registered ZwiftPower racers get disqualified and removed from the final results. Don’t let that be you! Four races, four rules:
You must have a ZwiftPower account, because final results are processed by ZwiftPower (learn how to sign up)
No skipping then returning. These races are meant to be raced as a set of 4. If you need to leave early, that’s fine… but once you miss a race in your hour’s set of 4, don’t come back and race another or you’ll be disqualified from that race since you rested while others were racing! (Example: racing only races 1 and 2 is fine. Racing 1, 2, and 4 is not – you will be DQ from race 4. And if you race 2, 3, and 4, you’ll be DQ from all those races, since you skipped race 1!)
Heart rate monitors are required for podium finishers
ZPower/Virtual power is not allowed. Smart trainer/smart bike or power meter required.
Join a Chat & Chill Cooldown
Immediately following each hour’s racing, we’ve scheduled 30-minute “Chat & Chill” events where riders from all categories can spin their legs together and chat about how it all went down. Find them at zwift.com/events/tag/tinyraces.
Wahoo’s KICKR is the most popular smart trainer in the world, and for good reason – it was one of the first, it’s built like a tank, and it’s backed by Wahoo’s solid support and distribution network.
Now in its 6th generation, things can get a little confusing if you’re looking to buy a used KICKR or pick up some new/old stock at a bargain price.
Here’s a complete rundown of all the differences between each KICKR generation so you can tell them apart visually and understand the evolution of this smart trainer.
Identifying Your KICKR Generation
Each KICKR has a few unique characteristics which make it easy to identify visually.
KICKR v1 (’14)
Carry handle is black and directly mounted to downsloping bar
Power plug is beneath that handle on the underside of the downsloping bar
No LED lights
KICKR v2 (’16)
Downsloping bar completely envelopes the rear axle assembly and has a straight plastic cap
Flywheel side of pulley is not recessed
KICKR v3 (’17)
Downsloping bar ends flush with the rear axle, has a welded top, with a slight bulge in the center where the axle travels through
Flywheel side of pulley is not recessed
KICKR v4 (’18)
Downsloping bar ends flush with the rear axle, has a welded top, with a slight bulge in the center where the axle travels through
Flywheel side of pulley is recessed
KICKR v5 (’20)
Includes an RJ11 (phone jack) Direct Connect port just above the power plug
Wider AXIS feet used for all contact points
KICKR v6 (’22)
WiFi status light instead of ANT+
SKU/Part # Identification
KICKR models can be identified by the Part# on the white sticker on the drive side of the flywheel plastics:
Model
SKU/Part #
KICKR v6 (2022)
WFBKTR122
KICKR v5 (2020)
WFBKTR120
KICKR v4 (2018)
WFBKTR118
KICKR v3 (2017)
WFBKTR117
KICKR v2 (2016)
WFBKTR116
KICKR v1 (< 2016)
WFBKTRNR11
KICKR CORE
WFBKTR4
Hardware Differences Between KICKR Models
Model Year
Belt Type
Flywheel
Accuracy
Notes
2014 (Gen 1)
Timing
12lb
3%
The only model with a strain gauge, a slanted handle, and no LED indicators.
2016 (Gen 2)
Timing
12lb
2%
2017 (Gen 3)
Timing
12lb
2%
2018 (Gen 4)
V
16lb
2%
First model to include built-in cadence and support multiple Bluetooth connections.
2020 (Gen 5)
V
16lb
1%
First model to include auto-calibration, an RJ11 port, and AXIS feet.
2022 (Gen 6)
V
16lb
1%
First model to include WiFi
Compatibility/Feel Differences Between KICKR Models
Review: Le Col x Wahoo Indoor Jersey and Bib Shorts
Wahoo’s design collab with Le Col made waves in 2020 when they rolled out their first eye-catching indoor kit. Even if you haven’t seen it IRL, you’ve probably seen it on Zwift: the elite-level Wahoo Le Col men’s and women’s race teams wear the kit in game, as do their community racers:
I reviewed the Le Col x Wahoo kit back in 2020, but Le Col x Wahoo continued refining their indoor offering after its initial release, so in June 2022 I picked up the new bib shorts and jersey to test and review.
Le Col offers the kit in two color schemes – the eye-popping blue/pink version you’ll also see in game, and a more subtle black/blue version. I went with blue/pink, since it matched what I see in game.
Le Col x Wahoo Indoor Training Bib Shorts
While I was impressed with the first version I reviewed in 2020, the current version is even better. Adapted from Le Col’s lightweight summer bibshorts (“pro air” shorts used by WorldTour teams on the hottest days), these are simply the most refined indoor-specific bibs I’ve tested.
The shorts use a super lightweight perforated cloth on the front of the leg panels, and the leg gripper band is also lightweight and breathable. The mesh used for the uppers/straps is also very breathable, and the front of the bibs is lower-cut than most bibs, providing more exposed skin area for better cooling.
These fabrics are lightweight and breathable enough that they never feel heavy or soaked with sweat, as long as you have good ventilation.
The challenge with lightweight fabrics used on many indoor-specific kits is that they can also be quite fragile. Somehow, though, Wahoo seems to have done the impossible with these bibs, creating a very breathable bib short you can tug onto your legs with some force and throw into your laundry repeatedly without seeing seams popping or tears appearing. After several months of weekly use, these shorts are holding up as well as any other bib shorts I’ve owned.
Chamois fit is a very personal thing, but I prefer thinner pads, especially for indoor riding. Le Col’s chamois is a bit thinner than most, while still offering plenty of protection. For their indoor kit, they’ve modified the chamois in the front for increased comfort when riding in the same position toward the nose of the saddle, as many riders tend to do indoors.
I ordered the large bibs, and the leg length was a bit longer than you’ll often find on lower-end bibs, but right in keeping with pro-quality bib styles nowadays.
One fit-related note: while these shorts feel true to size when worn, the uppers aren’t as stretchy as typical bib shorts due to the way Le Col reinforced the edges of the mesh which makes up most of the straps. Because of this, you may feel a bit more “cramped” when getting the straps over your shoulders, and having a quick potty break without taking the straps off may prove challenging.
I’m of the belief that indoor-specific kit doesn’t need most of the “extras” you might find on higher-end outdoor bibs (reflective tabs, hidden pockets, emergency medical info tags, etc). Le Col seems to agree, and they kept these bibs lightweight and simple. The features they include are well-executed, the shorts are well-built, and the overall design is refined. On top of that, you have two “looks” to choose from, while other companies offer a single design for their indoor line.
Le Col x Wahoo Indoor Training Jersey
The jersey, like the bibs, is a custom-branded take on Le Col’s “pro air” jersey. The initial version of this jersey (from 2020) was made almost entirely of a lightweight 3D mesh fabric, very much like Castelli’s indoor jersey. The current version uses that fabric for the sleeves and sides of the torso, but uses a heavier, more robust fabric for the main front and back panels. The sleeves are also a bit longer on the current version.
Having used both versions extensively, I have to say for dedicated indoor use I actually prefer the older version because it’s a bit more breathable than the current version.
Of course, each rider has their own priorities and preferences regarding kit. I contacted Yanto Barker, Le Col’s founder, to ask him why the jersey was changed from its initial version to the current version. Here’s what he said:
“The original material was good I agree, but it was very sensitive to snagging and so could be ruined if it went in the wash with Velcro mitts or anything scratchy. For me, design has to be user friendly, and we took feedback from customer reviews and my own experience to improve the product. Obviously, we all have our preferences, but the new jersey performs from a wicking perspective just as well as the original, but it will last longer and is more durable, so much better value while retaining all the technical performance of the original design. It is important that we rate a product from a full 360-degree assessment and don’t get caught focusing on one detail at the expense of others. For me, I have to apply an all-rounded approach that is not just my preference to represent all used cases of the product; this is what we did, I am rigorous about this and tireless in the pursuit of improvement.”
I ordered the large jersey based on Le Col’s sizing guide. Sizing was excellent, with a bit more room in the chest and stomach while riding compared to medium jerseys I purchase from other makers (I’m sort of between a medium and large, depending on who makes the jersey). The neck opening was roomy, and the sleeves aren’t as long as some of the “pro fit” jerseys I’ve worn, which is a good thing for indoor kit!
The jersey is much more breathable than a typical outdoor kit, thanks to its 3D mesh sleeves/sides and lightweight, perforated wicking front and back panels. Still, it’s not as breathable as other indoor/summer jerseys I’ve used, including the initial version of the Le Col x Wahoo jersey.
As Le Col founder Yanto mentioned above, swapping more traditional fabric for the 3D mesh made the kit more robust and durable. I can agree with that assessment, as I haven’t seen any damage after many wearings and washings (including washing with velcro gloves, the ultimate mesh-tearing no-no!)
It’s a well-conceived jersey, with nice touches like “Ride Faster/Ride Further” printed on the waistband gripper and a lower/wider neck for improved ventilation. While some super light indoor jerseys may be a bit too transparent for outdoor riding, this jersey would perform well outside in hot weather and indoors on Zwift.
Final Notes
I’ve worn this kit nearly weekly on Zwift and outdoors over the past 9 months, so it’s fair to say I’ve put it through its paces. And over that time this became my favorite indoor kit – the one I grab first when I’m looking forward to an especially hard or long effort.
I gravitated toward this kit for its superior breathability when outdoor temps rose especially high over the summer months, and I was never disappointed (except when I lent the jersey to a local friend and didn’t get it back for weeks because he liked it for hot outdoor rides!)
Le Col x Wahoo clearly listened to feedback from their team riders and refined this kit into a strong combination of everything you’re looking for indoors: breathable, comfortable, durable, and stylish enough to show off on your live stream.
In this week’s Top 5 Zwift Videos, check out the new Scotland world, a homemade indoor training desk, a budget pain cave, and lessons from a beginner’s Zwift race. But first, meet a Zwifter who just wants a picture with a certain professional cyclist.
Dropped by Mathieu van der Poel on Zwift!
Erik Lee (Don’t Get Dropped Cycling) is just a LITTLE starstruck by pro cycling star Mathieu van der Poel in a recent group ride.
Checking out Zwift’s new Scotland Map!
It’s a whole new world! Matt King (Target 2.5) explores Zwift’s version of Scotland.
My First Zwift Race – An Unmitigated Disaster
It’s normal if your first race doesn’t go well – even if you prepare with advice from experienced Zwifters. Eric Barnett Cycling goes over his own first race and the lessons he learned.
DIY – Cycling Indoor Trainer Desk
“Diy Guru” builds an indoor training desk loaded with helpful features, including a towel bar and a hex key holder. Even if you don’t have the same tools, you can use this as inspiration for your own project.
My Budget Zwift Pain Cave
Matt Gholson shows that your indoor training setup doesn’t have to be expensive to work well for you.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Nopinz Club Shop and Mountain Massif, Part 1: Design and Purchase
Following my previous article about Nopinz, I was intrigued about their “Club Shop” offering, which is where Nopinz facilitate the design and manufacturing of your own personalised cycling apparel and host it in their “Club Shop” for purchase. The reason this feature sparked an interest is because my Mountain Massif events include an in-game kit that can be unlocked by completing an event and I thought it would be fun to be able to have this in real life to wear and make it available to all, with my own Mountain Massif Zwift Club members being particularly interested.
So I reached out to Nopinz who were delighted to assist me in my mission of bringing my in-game virtual kit to life.
This two-part special article documents firstly the design process and secondly, the manufacturing. Perhaps this will inspire others to consider doing the same. (It’s worth noting that Race3R already have their kit manufactured by Nopinz and utilise the “Club Shop” facility.)
About the “Club Shop”
If you have been part of a cycling club, you may have had the opportunity to purchase the team’s cycling kit. In years past it often fell to one individual to collate the orders, make sure the order minimum was met, collect the funds to pay, order, and then distribute the kit once it arrives. In summary there is a lot of what we colloquially call “faffing about” – especially for the person who has the unenviable task of co-ordinating such an undertaking.
Then add into the mix that often there are only certain times of the year that kit could be ordered, referred to as “kit windows”, making this already challenging undertaking that much more a logistical headache. And then if you are unlucky enough to have an accident outside the “kit window” and rip your nice club jersey or shorts, you are either forced to wear mismatching kit or leave it hanging in your wardrobe.
These key issues are what the Nopinz “Club Shop” addresses.
With Nopinz’s offering there is:
No kit window
No minimum orders
Kit is delivered to you individually worldwide
Shop open 24/7
This offering is unique and made possible because the kit is manufactured on-site in their UK-based factory in Barnstaple, Devon.
This setup is ideally suited for catering for the indoor cycling community because it allows you to purchase your team’s kit, regardless of your geographical location, and if you lose a matching sock in the wash or you need a replacement clothing item, you can simply go to the shop and re-order and get it delivered to wherever you are in the world. Simple.
Club Setup Process
The first step to creating my in real-life kit was to go to Nopinz’s website, specifically to their “Club Shop” where I then clicked the Join Club Nopinz link. It is here that I paid the £100 setup fee which covers having my own dedicated shop, hosted on their website, which can be password protected to control access.
Design Process
The second step was where I was contacted by a member of the Nopinz Design Team named Toby. This initial contact was via e-mail and having already had a jersey design produced, my brief to Toby was simple “take my virtual kit and re-create it in real life.”
As Nopinz explains, “there is no limit to the number of iterations that can be made during the design process.” And “the design team will continue to work with you until you are completely happy with your new kit design.” Therefore, if you are starting from a blank canvas, the team will work with you to achieve something you are happy with.
Fortunately, I didn’t have a blank canvas and sent over various images of my virtual Mountain Massif jersey and my own mock-ups. The only difference between the virtual jersey and the IRL version is that I have included the logos of the brands I linked with, which form part of the event’s history. When designing my virtual jersey, I was very conscious of what could be visible onscreen and consequently the name “Mountain Massif” was omitted, as the lettering would have been too small and blurred, however, the in real life jersey gave me the opportunity to change this.
Following this initial email exchange, a brief conversation over the telephone to clarify some points was had with Toby and soon after, version 1 of the design was produced.
Version 1 Review
It was hard not to be impressed when I saw the first version. I was not expecting to see all variations of design to suit the different kit that is available. It was important to let my excitement subside before undertaking a full review and it was during this process that I noticed several details that needed to be discussed and amended. These were:
Socks – the banding design on the socks needed adjusting to follow the same order on the shorts
Bib shorts – the logo was missing.
Design – lacking white on the shoulders as per the virtual jersey.
Points 1 and 2 were easily fixed but point 3 required some discussion.
It transpired that due to the construction of the different jerseys and the seam placing in particular, this was the cleanest look and a diagram was sent explaining this. I asked to see an amended version where the white was continued to the neck and this was supplied, but ultimately, I was not happy with the look since you could see the joining seams. Version 1 as presented was best.
I was told however that the Superlight eco jersey with its different shoulder construction replicated my virtual jersey exactly. I was presented with a design. This was pleasing and meant that I could have the exact jersey I wanted and all the other offerings such as the skinsuit.
Superlight eco jersey – frontSuperlight eco jersey – back
Version 2
Within hours, version 2 of the design with the required amendments was made and sent for me to proof and approve.
Before signing off on the design, I asked to see what the bib shorts would look like with the name “Mountain Massif” across the bottom, instead of the logo. I am conscious that many of the pro teams have the brand name here, but I have steered away from this because it felt inappropriate to have the name “Mountain Massif” in that area of the clothing.
Again, a mock-up was produced but we agreed that the logo looked best. I then proceeded to approve the design.
It really was that simple.
Colour Swatches
Colour samples for the printed design were emailed to me, with recommendations. To be thorough, I requested physical copies to see what they would look like. I find that colours on screen can be deceptively different to when printed on fabric, and I wanted to be sure on the shade of red that was going to be used.
The dilemma I faced involved the selection between two different reds, Pantone Red 185C and Pantone Red 186C. It was recommended the more vibrant Pantone Red 185C, and upon seeing the sample (which arrived within a day or two) I agreed with Toby, my designer.
Final Approval and Club Shop Creation
Within hours of confirming the colour palette, I was sent the final version to sign off using Docu-sign. With sign-off confirmed, I got an email from Toby outlining that it would take a week for my “Club Shop” to be created.
The added bonus is that access can be password protected, so only club members can procure your clothing. This is an excellent feature, especially if you want to control the launch, as all that is required is either removing the password protection facility or providing people with the password to access your Club Shop.
The Club Shop
When I viewed the Club Shop, I was absolutely amazed at what is on offer. There is every possible item of cycling clothing imaginable, with the exception of gloves. My personal favourite was the Superlight Jersey, as it directly mirrors the jersey found in Zwift. You can even have skinsuits custom-made to measure.
Three more items took my fancy. First was the Endurance Running Singlet. As someone who has clocked up their fair share of miles on the road, including 6 marathons, this resonated, so should you partake in the odd run, in addition to your cycling, there is a suitable item of clothing to wear.
The second and third items are hat related, there is the standard baseball cap and then the beanie. Affordable, practical items that can be used every day that offer a connection to something you are part of and pretty exclusive.
So, it was time to order the items and wait for them to be produced. With a 40 working day lead time, I filled my cart with my selected items which were the Superlight Jersey, Pro-1 Bib Shorts and Pro-1 Socks.
Ordering the items was simple: just select the item, which then takes you to a screen where you can select your sizing and add it to your cart. As you would expect, there are detailed Size Charts to reference to ensure you get the correct fit.
Overall, I am delighted with my Club Shop. It was simple and easy, like the entire design process had been!
Summing Up
The design process with Nopinz was straightforward and above all, fun. I enjoyed the dialogue with my assigned designer Toby as we exchanged ideas and discussed colour fabric swatches. Whenever questions were asked, full and detailed responses were quickly provided, ensuring we were literally on the same page with decisions made.
The simplicity of the process and the fact that Nopinz has this extremely refined means that you don’t have to be an expert in any of this. They provide the end-to-end service and walk you through each step at a pace comfortable to you. The level of (customer) service provided was faultless and extremely professional.
Furthermore, this is a very cost-affordable way for a team to get kit designed and manufactured. Yes, there are some initial setup costs to pay, but the value you get, in my opinion, is worth every penny.
If you are part of a cycling team on Zwift, why wouldn’t you use Nopinz to bring your in-game jersey to life if you have one? If you don’t have an in-game jersey, but are part of a team that regularly races together, why not get customised items designed to wear when racing?
With my order now placed, in part 2 of this series I will cover the manufacturing of jersey, documenting the work that goes into bringing my Zwift jersey to life!
Zwift x UCI To Host Cycling Events for the Olympic Esports Series 2023
This week Zwift and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced their involvement in the Olympic Esports Series 2023. Together they will be responsible for delivering the cycling events at the live Olympic Esports Series finals at Singapore’s Suntec Centre June 22-25, 2023.
The Backstory
Zwift Co-CEO Eric Min has long championed the idea of Zwift as an Olympic-level competition.
Two years ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dipped its toe into the water with the Olympic Virtual Series by holding mass-participation events in five different esports (baseball/softball, cycling, rowing, sailing, and motorsport). This series attracted over 250,000 participants from across 100 countries, including 77,000 participants riding over 1.9 million miles on Zwift.
But the Olympic Esports Series 2023 is taking things to a new level. These are official competitions between top esports athletes who will meet in person at live finals events in Singapore.
Selected Esports
Cycling will be one of nine esports disciplines at the Olympic Esports Series 2023:
Archery (Tic Tac Bow)
Baseball (WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS)
Chess (Chess.com)
Cycling (Zwift)
Dance (Just Dance)
Motorsport (Gran Turismo 7)
Taekwondo (Virtual Taekwondo)
Tennis (Tennis Clash)
Sailing (Virtual Regatta)
Who Will Compete?
Open qualification rounds will occur in archery, baseball, tennis, sailing, and motorsports.
For the other four esports (chess, cycling, dance, and taekwondo), qualification has already happened or will happen by other means as agreed by the International Federations in charge of each sport.
For cycling, qualifying riders will be selected from top performers in the recent 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships and the Zwift Grand Prix series. Zwift isn’t sharing the precise criteria used to make athlete selections, but they’re saying selected riders will probably be esports specialists, and selections will be announced in May.
Key Series Dates
March 1: Olympic Esports Series announced, qualifying window begins
The “esports” term means different things to different people, but in the broadest sense, esports are multiplayer video games played competitively.
Outside of the IOC events, esports includes games that aren’t attached to real-life sports in any way: Dota 2, League of Legends, Fortnite, etc.
The IOC has chosen to feature nine esports disciplines that also exist as real-life competitions, and the hybridization between virtual and real varies greatly between the nine selected esports. Some of the esports require a high degree of full-body physicality (think: riding on Zwift), while others are simple mobile games played by tapping and swiping on your phone.
If you were to group the IOC’s selected esports by physical exertion level, the “low exertion” group would be:
Archery (Tic Tac Bow): mobile game played entirely on your mobile device
Baseball (WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS): Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4/5 game, played entirely on the gaming console
Chess (Chess.com): mobile and browser-based game, played entirely on the device
Tennis (Tennis Clash): mobile game played entirely on your mobile device
Sailing (Virtual Regatta): mobile game played entirely on your mobile device
The high-exertion group, in which players use their full bodies in physically challenging ways, would be:
Cycling (Zwift): game runs on various devices and requires the competitor to ride an actual bike as the main input
Dance (Just Dance): runs on various consoles and detects your real-life dance moves via cameras or controllers you hold or wear
Motorsport (Gran Turismo 7): game runs on Playstation 4/5 and can be controlled by various controllers, including advanced simulator setups with steering wheels, pedals, etc
Taekwondo (Virtual Taekwondo): players use their own bodies, equipped with sensors, as game controllers for non-contact sparring
One group of esports isn’t objectively better or worse than another, of course. But as esports competition evolves, it will be interesting to see if the high-exertion, full-body “simulator-style” esports get their own label and arenas of competition apart from pure video gaming esports.
Questions or Comments?
Learn more about the Olympic Esports Series at Olympics.com.
It’s the first weekend of a new month, meaning the Zwift Fondo is back! However, the Zwift community has also organized some pretty exciting events this weekend, including hill climbs, women-only races, and fun group rides!
The Iceni Women’s Series is back! This race series is one of the most popular race series for women on Zwift, and this year it’s part of the March Women’s Celebration celebrating Women’s History Month. This is a points race, so be sure not to be caught sleeping on the sprint segment each lap! Full results from each race will be available on ZwiftPower.
The series embarks on the Sleepless City course in the Makuri Islands. This flat and fast course features one sprint each lap, where points will be up for grabs. Expect this to be an extremely tough race as some of the top women in cycling esports are signed up for this event!
Special settings: women-only, category enforced, power meter required, heart rate monitor required
This race isn’t like most others you see on the event calendar, since it’s part of a year-long calendar of races mirroring the pro peloton tour (read all about the series here). The Chasing Bianche series is a replica of the Strade Bianche race that takes place on March 4th. The series features A, B, C, and D categories, which aren’t determined the standard way (see the CATEGORIES section of the Rules & Scoring page).
This series is sponsored by The Breakaway, who will provide prizes for the major tours throughout the cycling season. However, prizes are not available this weekend because the Chasing Bianche is only a one-day race.
The race will take place over one lap of the Dust in the Wind course in Watopia. The course features mostly tarmac, with a short excursion through the jungle—choose your bike wisely! This is a popular event, with over 250 riders signed up to race!
While there is no Mt. Fuji climb in Zwift yet, the Mt. Fuji Hill Climb Dojo club is hosting a workout series for riders to prepare for an iconic IRL event that takes place annually. All riders are welcome to join the series to improve their climbing. The series starts out with a time trial to give riders a baseline of where they stand fitness-wise.
Categories A and B take place on two separate courses: category A is on the Ven-top course in France and category B is on the Road to Sky course in Watopia.
PACK is easily one of the most well-known event organizers on Zwift. They are known for their entertaining ride leaders, large blobs, and excellent sweeping crew. The PACK 1.5 Saturday Coffee is no exception. This group ride is geared towards beginners and riders who are looking for a more friendly pace. Throughout the ride, riders should expect to be averaging around 1.3-1.5 w/kg. The pace will not be faster than 20.5 mph (33kph) on the flats. Tip: stay near the middle of the group for the best draft effect.
Join PACK for this 60-minute social ride on the Sleepless City course in the Makuri Islands. This is a nice flat course—perfect for a ride like this!
Join a group of very experienced Zwifters for a fun, social group ride. Ride leaders will hold a steady pace of around 1.6-1.9 w/kg. Sweepers are also going to be in this event, so if you do find yourself off the back, send a message via chat to let them know that you would like assistance.
Over the course of 60 minutes on the rolling R.G.V. course in France, riders will likely complete ~1.5 laps.
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!
