We are creatures of habit, often sticking to the same events we know and love. I am guilty of that, for sure! So this weekend I am going to push the envelope and do something different by undertaking one of these events. Join me?

This is a bit of a fun event, a “Chase Race” – with Cat D riders going 8 minutes ahead of the A’s. It will be a real test to see if the A’s can catch the D’s and win the race!

Saturday May 29 @ 11AM CEST/10AM BST
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2103694

Any workout with the name “Ham Sandwich” needs to be tried.

Ham Sandwich features sweet spot over/unders, with 30/30s sandwiched in between. The over/under intervals alternate between 2 min @88% FTP and 30 secs @110% FTP. The 30/30s up the ante a bit and alternate between 30 secs @130% FTP and 30 secs @50% FTP. Yes, there are rest breaks, but they are purposely short to keep the heart rate and metabolic demands up.  

Actually, after that brutal undertaking, you might be ready for a real ham sandwich.

Saturday May 29 @ 8:15PM CEST/7:15PM BST/2:15PM EST/11:15AM PST
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2103820

This is sprinter’s race.  It seems simple enough: you sprint each segment and get points.  The winner is the one with the most points. But then, I read more into it and there are also points for the KOM.  In short, it feels like it will be one big sprint.  It’s worth a go as it seems rather novel but I’d be interested to see how it all hangs together.  The full description of the event reads:  

“This is a points race based on timed segments at various sprint points. Points are awarded based on segment time and not first across the line. So this is a sprint competition. Points are awarded for each category A, B, C and D as follows: 100, 85, 75, 66, 58, 51, 45, 39, 34, 29, 25, 21, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2. There will be sprints at every sprint segment and KOM on the course. There will be a league table on ZwiftPower: DTCC-SNOWMAN league and your best 10 races count. There are no points for the finish and you can ride as quickly or slowly as you like between the Sprints. There will also be a team competition based on the fastest team rider over the segment, so you can choose to try a lead-out train. Get creative with your tactics. You will need to be registered with ZwiftPower to score points, see the results and view the league table.”

This certainly meets my weekend’s criteria of “try something different”.

Saturday May 29 @ 5:15PM CEST/4:15PM BST/11:15AM EST/8:15AM PST
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2103795

I wrote about the Mount Fuji Hill Climb Dojo Series 2021 what feels like only yesterday and now the main event is here.  If you are Europe-based and are having trouble sleeping, this might be the race for you.  There is already a large number of riders signed up to race, so if you fancy an early morning (or late night) mountain battle, then sign up.   

Sunday May 30 @ 10AM JST/3AM CEST Saturday May 29 @ 9PM EST/6PM PST
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/1811936

Before the launch of the new, beautiful world of Yumezi, I had bought a gravel bike and only used it once in a concept race that lasted only 4 minutes. “Drops well spent” you could say! Anyway, this race has varying distances and is hosted on the “Dust in the Wind” course and utilises gravel bikes only. So if you fancy racing a gravel bike, give this a go.

Sunday May 30 @ 12PM CEST/11AM BST/6AM EST/3AM PST
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2105423

The day of reckoning has arrived for members of the 3R vEveresting Academy, as they kick off their epic vEveresting adventure with this event. You can read about how their training progressed and if you feel inspired, join in and tackle the vEveresting challenge. This is ascent 1 of 8.5. Learn more about the event here >

Saturday May 29 @ 8AM CEST/7AM BST
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/2103648

Your Thoughts

Got other events that stand out this weekend? Share below in the comments!

3R vEveresting Challenge Happens May 29th!

The hard miles have been done, the main event is next.  On 29 May, riders from the innovative 3R vEveresting Academy will look to complete their mission by completing the vEveresting Challenge. 

What this translates as is climbing 8,848.86 vertical meters, in one day.  This equates to 8.5 times up the Alpe du Zwift.  In terms of time, you will not get much change out of 12 hours.  This event is epic and for many, this will be the longest time spent on an indoor trainer (and probably their bike) in one sitting.

About the Academy

The 3R Everesting Academy commenced in March and consisted of 12 weeks of structured training rides, which have built in intensity. I was fortunate to join them on their first training ride, and subsequently caught up with them to see how training was progressing, at which point I was inspired by their goal of raising money for the World Bicycle Relief charity. So signed up to undertake the challenge!  In addition, I was impressed by the Academy’s structured training approach and the group camaraderie that had quickly developed.  It was energising to be part of a group which had clear objectives:

1. Complete the vEveresting Challenge
2. Raise funds for the World Bicycle Relief Charity

To achieve the second objective, the Academy has set up a Team page on the World Bicycle Relief website where those riders who are participating can receive sponsorship. So if you feel like helping but can not participate in the event, then support the riders by donating.

About the day

There are going to be multiple groups of riders setting out six hours apart. Some riders are also setting off outside of the proposed start times to ensure that they can fit the challenge into their available time window.

One group will start at 8am CEST, in the 3R Mountain Madness event led by George Parker-Fuller. George heads up the “Raise” part of 3R (Ride, Raise, Race) and is the one responsible for organising the event. He has previously completed a vEveresting and set up the Academy as a way of sharing his experience and leveraging the Zwift community to raise money for WBR.

The team will be joined by the fresh recruits some 6 hours later as the second group sets off.  Everyone is free to ride at their own pace, but the likelihood is that the expedition will ultimately be undertaken in small groups, as everyone settles into their natural climbing rhythm and finds riders who are of similar, steady pace.  The emphasis being a steady and consistent effort, probably in the region of 2.5-3 w/kg.

Everyone is going to deploy their own tactics to tackle the challenge. Some may decide to do two reps and have a rest after each set, others may opt for breaking it into three. Much will depend on how you feel.

It is important to note that some are targeting a “Basecamp”, which is only 4.5 reps up the mountain.  So if you want to get involved, but think that 8.5 ascents is too much, there is the opportunity to go for a Basecamp.  This is a recognised achieved by the  Hells 500 Cycle Club who are also the custodians of the Everesting Hall of Fame.

About World Bicycle Relief Charity

The origins of World Bicycle Relief make for fascinating reading.  It was founded in 2005 by F.K. Day and Leah Missbach Day in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami.

F.K was a founder of SRAM Corporation and Leah a documentary photographer.  Leah highlighted the devastation of those affected by the tsunami and with support from SRAM and other industry leaders, F.K. and Leah launched World Bicycle Relief to provide bicycles for those in need.

The Buffalo bike is their signature bike and has been designed tough and durable to meet the needs of people in rural regions of developing countries.

In Sri Lanka, they distributed more than 24,000 bicycles to displaced survivors, providing access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods while reconnecting entire communities.   15 years later, more than 150 staff across 13 countries are changing lives with bikes.

Summing up

Come join us on Saturday 29 May in our quest to complete the vEverest Challenge and help us raise funds for the World Bicycle Relief Charity!

All About the Olympic Virtual Series Events on Zwift

Nearly five weeks ago, the IOC announced the Olympic Virtual Series, with cycling events to be held on Zwift. Today Zwift and the UCI released the details of the many events which make up the series.

Details can be found on Zwift’s website at zwift.com/olympic-virtual-series

The series is anchored by three different types of events happening throughout the month of June: podcast rides, group workouts, and chase races. Along the way two special events will also happen: the Celebrity Chase Event on June 18th, and the Olympic Day 24 hour series on June 23. Here are the details…

These group rides are 60 minutes long and held on a different route for each featured athlete. During the ride, a podcast episode will play from within Zwift interviewing with the featured athlete. Here’s the list of athletes, along with their event route and dates:

• Georgia Simmerling (Watopia’s Waistband): June 1-3
  The first Canadian to compete in three different sports in three different Olympic Games (cycling, alpine skiing and skicross).
• Nino Schurter (Tick Tock): June 4-6
  3x Olympic Medalist and 8x UCI World Champion, this Swiss rider is arguably one of the greatest male cross-country mountain bikers of all time.
• Chris Hoy (Flat Route): June 7-10
  The second-most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time, with six Gold Medals and 11 UCI World Championship titles.
• Anna van der Breggen (Sand and Sequoias): June 11-13
  The Dutch pro racer is a dominant force on the tarmac. She’s racked up huge number of wins over the course of her career, including a Gold Medal in Rio 2016 and 3x UCI World Champion.
• Nelson Vails (Beach Island Loop): June 14-16
  “The Cheetah” is a next-level athlete known for going from zero to 40+ mph in the blink of an eye. In the 1984 Olympics, he took home the silver in the track sprint event, becoming the first African American to win an Olympic medal in cycling.
• Sarah Storey (Tempus Fugit): June 17-19
  A 14x Gold Medalist, Sarah is the most decorated and successful British Paralympian of all time. Oh, that’s not enough? She also holds 23 UCI World Championship titles and 75 world records across both cycling and swimming, making her a veritable multisport legend.
• Anna Meares (Two Village Loop): June 20-22
  With six Olympic medals, this Australian is the most decorated woman track cyclist of all time. Her credentials also extend to being the most successful woman at UCI World Championships with 11 gold medals (a distinction shared with Germany’s Kristina Vogel).
• Mariana Pajon (Two Village Loop): June 24-27
  Won her first national title at the age of five and her first world title at nine. To this day, she has won 14 UCI World Championships, 9 Latin American championships, and 10 Pan American championships. Oh yeah, she’s also a 2x Olympic Gold Medalist in BMX, the first-ever Colombian to do so.

Schedule and signup at zwift.com/olympic-virtual-series

Each Olympic Virtual Series Group Workout was designed by a specific Olympian to help take participants to the next level in their training. See the Companion App for details on each workout’s intervals!

• Workout 1: Team Pursuit Inspired by Georgia Simmerling: June 1-3
  Georgia is a bona fide expert in Team Pursuit, scoring herself a Bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics.
• Workout 2: Punchy Climbs Inspired by Nino Schurter: June 4-6
  Arguably one of the greatest mountain bikers of all time, Nino shares tips and tricks on how to overcome punchy climbs.
• Workout 3: Keirin Inspired by Sir Chris Hoy: June 7-10
  One of the most visually striking track events, keirin is one of Sir Hoy’s specialties.
• Workout 4: Road Race Inspired by Anna van der Breggen: June 11-13
  A top Dutch cyclist, Anna is a versatile force on the tarmac with plenty of tips to help get you race-ready in no time.
• Workout 5: Sprint Inspired by Nelson Vails: June 14-16
  The first African-American to win an Olympic medal in cycling, Nelson is well-known for unleashing top sprinting efforts.
• Workout 6: Individual Pursuit Inspired by Dame Sarah Storey: June 17-19
  When she’s on the track, Dame Sarah Storey often chases down the competition so she’s the perfect person to impart her fitness wisdom.
• Workout 7: Team Sprint Inspired by Anna Meares: June 20-22
  A highly decorated track cyclist who’s fine-tuned her sprinting skills for years, who else could help you up your game?
• Workout 8: Force Development Inspired by Mariana Pajon: June 24-27
  Mariana has long called on what she’s learned with force development to earn her unofficial title as the Queen of BMX.

Schedule and signup at zwift.com/olympic-virtual-series

These are handicap-style race events where Zwifters of all abilities can take part and work together. Group D takes off first, followed by C, then B, then A. The challenge? Try to stay ahead of the category behind you while catching the category in front of you! Time gaps are set with the intention of all categories coming together at the end of the race for a final push to the line.

Multiple Chase Events happen each day, with the routes changing each week:

• Week One (June 1-7): Watopia’s Tick Tock (2 Laps)
  Lap Distance: 10.4 mi // 16.8 km, Lap Elevation Gain: 144 ft // 44 m, Lead-in: 1.5 mi // 2.4 km
• Week Two (June 8-14): Watopia’s Volcano Flat (2 Laps)
  Lap Distance: 7.6 mi // 12.3 km, Lap Elevation Gain: 151 ft // 46 m
• Week Three (June 15-21): Watopia’s Tempus Fugit (2 Laps)
  Lap Distance: 10.7 mi // 17.3 km, Lap Elevation Gain: 52 ft // 16 m, Lead-in: 1.5 mi // 2.4 km
• Week Four: Makuri Islands Flatland Loop (2 Laps)
  Lap Distance: 8.1 mi // 13.0 km, Lap Elevation Gain: 325 ft // 99 m

Be sure to enter the correct category, to help ensure a fair and fun race for everyone.

Schedule and signup at zwift.com/olympic-virtual-series/chase-races/

Celebrity Chase Event

The celebrity chase is an exciting and unique broadcast event on June 18. Olympians and a few lucky Zwift community members will get seeded and take off at certain intervals across Zwift’s roads with the goal of finishing the event before being chased down by whoever’s behind them.

This event can be watched at olympics.com/en/sport-events/olympic-virtual-cycling-event

On June 23rd, a series of 24 50-minute group rides is scheduled. Rides will be hosted by a rotating roster of Olympians and other special guests, and each ride is held on one of the new Makuri Islands routes. Join for just one ride, or see how many you can knock out!

See Olympic Day events at zwift.com/events/tag/ovs2021olympicday

Unlocks

Finish any event in the Olympic Virtual Series to unlock the slick Olympic Virtual Series-inspired kit as well as the official bicycle of the Olympics, the Bridgestone Anchor RS9s.

Complimentary Access for New Zwifters

The IOC and the UCI are offering new Zwifters complimentary access to the Zwift platform throughout the Olympic Virtual Series (1st – 27th June). Codes can be obtained by registering on the UCI Website.

Questions or Comments?

Share below!

All About Pride On 2021 on Zwift

Zwift has announced its third year of partnering with Athlete Ally to hold a series of Pride On events for the month of June and beyond. The goal of the events is simple: to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community on Zwift!

See the group ride, run, and workout schedule at zwift.com/prideon

What Athlete Ally does

In their own words “Athlete Ally educates athletic communities at all levels — sport governing bodies, teams, and individual athletes — to understand obstacles to inclusion for LGBTQ people in sports and how they can build inclusive communities on their teams or within their organizations. We hold trainings across the country on college campuses, with front office staff of major sports leagues and institutions like the NBA, NCAA and the MLB and with individual athletes.”

Athlete Ally have been involved with:

• Creating the landmark campaign, Principle 6, which successfully lobbied the International Olympic Committee to include sexual orientation in the Olympic Charter
• Co-authoring the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) first-ever policy and resource guide on LGBTQ issues for all coaches, athletes, and administrators
• Working with the NBA, NCAA, and ACC on their historic decisions to move the competitions from North Carolina in the wake of anti-LGBTQ law HB2
• Launching the historic Athletic Equality Index: a first of its kind ranking of the LGBTQ inclusiveness of collegiate athletic departments

Pride On Design

The standard “Ride On” thumb will be replaced with a newly-designed “Pride On” during Pride On events. Zwift says:

This year, the inspiration for Pride On drew on multiple designs. The Mosaic pattern provided the overall theme. We borrowed new colors, hues, and tints from numerous LGBTQIA+ flags like the Philadelphia Pride Flag, Daniel Quasar’s Progress Pride Flag, and Monica Helms’ Transgender Flag. All with a single goal in mind: a new design rooted in representation, inclusion, and progression.

Pride On Events

Zwift will continue Pride On events throughout the year, but they will be especially prominent on the calendar during the month of June. Rides and runs will take place every day of the week apart from Sundays, with time slots available across multiple time zones.

A selection of rides and runs will be led by prominent members of the Zwift LGBTQIA+ community including Lea Davison, American mountain biker and Olympian; Abby Levene, a pro trail runner; Shanaze Reade, 3x UCI BMX World Champion; Chris Mosier, an American triathlete and duathlete, and other community leaders familiar to many on Zwift.

For those of you familiar with the “Workout of the Week,” each WoW for June will be designed by LGBTQIA+ community leaders and Zwift employees.  Zwifters can access these as group workouts, or on-demand through the Workout of the Week folder within the Training section in the game.

See the group ride, run, and workout schedule at zwift.com/prideon

Special TogetheRIDE Event June 13th

There will be rides and runs throughout the day on June 13th dedicated to the TogetheRIDE produced by AIDS/LifeCycle which honors the 1.2 million people in the US living with HIV.

The ambition of the TogetheRIDE by AIDS/LifeCycle is to get people to collectively move 1.2 million miles to raise awareness, fundraise $5 million+, and highlight the fight against AIDS.

Kit Unlock

One Pride On ride or run completion will unlock the 2021 Pride On kit and socks. There is a separate kit for runners and riders.

Questions or Comments?

Share below!

adidas x Parley Run for the Oceans Announced

Thankfully, the world is becoming increasingly environmentally conscious.  This can be seen with the investment in sustainable energy sources such as wind power and solar.  Recycling has become commonplace, and countries across the globe are attempting to reduce their carbon footprints.

Plastic is a major issue. It is not biodegradable and as a result, it is ever-present once created, and its impact on the ecosystem has proven to be extremely harmful.

Zwift, in partnership with adidas and the Parley Ocean School, is helping reduce the amount of plastic waste that makes it into one of these key ecosystems – the oceans.

From May 28 to June 8, for every km you run, jog, walk, or wheelchair, adidas and Parley’s “global cleanup network” will remove the equivalent weight of 10 plastic bottles (up to 500,000 pounds) from beaches, islands, and coastal communities.

How do I help?

It is simple: run. But before you start, you need to follow these steps below to ensure your Zwift run activities count towards the fight to end plastic waste: 

1. Download the adidas Running app and create an account.
2. Register for the RFTO mission in the adidas Running app
3. Register for the RFTO mission in Zwift 
4. Connect Zwift and adidas Running app in 3rd party connections.
5. Run 15km between May 28 – June 8 to complete the mission.

Unlocks

Run 15km in 12 days to complete the mission and progressively earn the exclusive adidas Run for the Ocean kit. 

25% = 4 km // 2 miles unlocks the adidas socks
50% = 8 km // 5 miles unlocks the adidas Primeblue run cap 
75% = 11 km // 7 miles unlocks the adidas UB21 Primeblue shoes
100% = 15km  // 9 miles unlocks the entire adidas RFTO kit (shirt and shorts) 

About Parley Ocean School

 “Inspiring and empowering the next generation of Ocean Guardians” is the mission of the Parley Ocean School.  The Parley Ocean School “takes an immersive approach to environmental education with the goal of inspiring marine conservation and empowering its next generation of leaders: Ocean Guardians. Parley Ocean School youth programs simplify complex marine threats through engaging materials developed with a global network of educators.” 

The Parley Ocean School was piloted in the Maldives in 2015, and since has expanded around the globe. To find out more, visit their website.