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Additional Makeup Day for Tour de Zwift + Punxsutawney Endurance Challenge

Eric Schlange
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Additional Makeup Day for Tour de Zwift + Punxsutawney Endurance Challenge

Additional Makeup Day for Tour de Zwift + Punxsutawney Endurance Challenge

Missed some Tour de Zwift stages? You’re in good company. I’ve got two stages to complete myself!

Zwift had originally scheduled just two TdZ makeup days for this weekend (Saturday and Sunday), but due to popular demand, they have added makeup events on Monday as well. Let’s finish our tours!

See the full makeup event schedule (hundreds of events!) >

Punxsutawney Endurance Challenge

Looking to put in lots of miles this Saturday, perhaps while making up a TdZ stage (or five) you missed?

Team Velocity has organized the Punxutawney Endurance Challenge, and it’s all about riding as many TdZ makeup events as you like or are able on Saturday February 2nd. Earn points for each stage you complete, plus a few fun bonuses along the way.

Entering the Challenge

Comment on this Facebook post to be included in the challenge.

Scoring/Rules

  1. 100 points per makeup event completed
    – Only finishes prior to Sunday’s Team Velocity VibeTribe group workout (8:30am ET) will be counted
    – Only 50 points for subsequent finishes of the same makeup stage
  2. 25 point bonus for EACH Team Velocity rider spotted during your makeup events
    – Riders will be tagged with “[VVixen]” or “[VFox]” and have avatars who #rockthehawk
    – Prove your Vixen/Fox sighting by grabbing a screenshot and attach to a comment or just say where you saw us
  3. 200 point bonus (!) for completing the next day’s #VibeTribe group workout
    – Ride long with Team Velocity  (you can even lower your FTP setting if you must), join their Discord chatter, brag about your Saturday palmarès

Results will be tallied by Mon Feb 4, and prizes will be awarded to the top scoring male and female groundhogs. Please register in ZwiftPower to have your results count (and inform Team Velocity if your name there does not match Facebook).

Let Team Velocity know if you have any questions. Good luck, Ride (L)on(g), and Happy Groundhog Day!

How to Fuel for a Long Ride on Zwift

Shayne Gaffney
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How to Fuel for a Long Ride on Zwift

How to Fuel for a Long Ride on Zwift

When it comes to long Zwift rides and endurance training, one of the most commonly overlooked factors is recovery, and more specifically, nutrition.  Too much emphasis is placed on the physical work, and the amazing resource of proper nutrition and its ability to boost performance goes untapped.

Any athlete can slog through a long ride, but it takes true discipline to maximize performance with pinpoint dietary intake.  Research has shown drastic performance differences between athletes who have the discipline to maintain a nutrient delivery protocol compared to those who don’t.

If taking your cycling to the next level is something that interests you, and/or you are getting ready to break your Zwift ride-time record, then keep reading!

Intra-Ride Fueling

As you set out for a long Zwift training ride or race, you should be focused on ingesting foods and fluids that will support your glycogen stores.  Research has shown that for extended bouts of high-intensity exercise, ingesting ~30–60 grams of carbohydrates per hour via a 12 fluid ounce 6-8% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution, every 10-15 minutes is the most effective means of supporting glycogen stores (3).  Simply stated, you need to ingest close to 15 grams of carbohydrates every 15 minutes—with a drink being the efficient method of delivery and easiest on the digestive system.

Not all sports drinks are created equal, however.  Traditional ones are littered with unnecessary dyes, chemicals, and saturated with sugar, but it is super simple to make your own!  For a basic homemade drink, try mixing one to two tablespoons of honey, lemon juice (or any citrus), a pinch of sea salt, and a splash of coconut water into 10 ounces of water.  Get creative and make a drink that meets your digestive and taste preferences by adding in other ingredients. The simpler the mixture, the less “extra” ingredients your body will have to digest.  Other great sources of sweetness for your homemade drink are maple syrup or pure organic fruit juice mixtures. I personally prefer an apple/pear juice mixture with pomegranate, YUM!

Speaking of Hydration

Hydration is an often overlooked nutrient during endurance training, especially when riding indoors in a hot environment with limited air circulation and evaporative cooling.  Like glycogen stores, being hydrated is something that cannot occur from one day of increased intake. It takes multiple days of strategic water intake to properly saturate the cells.  If ingested too quickly, the body will signal the need to expel water which will take vital minerals with it during the elimination process (1).  In the days leading up to your long Zwift ride or race, sip water continually throughout the day, accounting for 50-75% of your body weight in ounces at a minimum.  The amount of water needed is exceptionally higher if you train multiple times a day.

The effects of exercise-induced dehydration on endurance performance are well documented with several studies showing that a 2% reduction of body weight can lead to higher levels of perceived exertion, increased core temperature, and increased cardiovascular strain (5).  To avoid the detrimental effects of dehydration, aim to match intake with water loss.  This may require more frequent drinking and should occur before the sensation of thirst arises.

Thirsty Yet?

If an athlete waits for the sensation of thirst to arise before drinking, then important physiological factors have already occurred.  Thirst is triggered by a monitoring system whose job is to maintain a homeostatic level of blood plasma. There is an ideal value of hydration in blood plasma, and if this value dips below a specific level, the body releases hormones that will pull water from urine and the salivary glands in an effort to boost hydration of blood cells and introduces that terrible ‘dry mouth’ feeling.  These hormones, notably Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), will also shunt off blood flow from the extremities (i.e. legs!) and force it into the core (4).  This sequence of events can reduce your overall power output as blood is needed to provide oxygen and nutrients to those big ol’ quads.  Therefore, it is important that you are drinking continually throughout the ride and drinking before the sensation of thirst arises!

Avoid Palate Fatigue

Eating the same foods over and over can induce a reluctance to eat or even make some foods unpalatable.  Luckily, there is a huge variety of options out there if you are creative enough. Dates are an excellent carbohydrate source and naturally have a mushy texture that allows for easy snacking.  They also act as an excellent “adhesive” for creating your ideal in-race nutrition.

Try mashing up a handful of dates and rolling them out with a rolling pin, so that you have a date “sheet” or “foundation” about a half inch thick.  Add in some extra flavor layers that suit your digestive abilities. A solid choice is a thin layer of nut butter, and a thinly-sliced layer of water-packed fruit such as honeydew or pineapple. Once you are satisfied with the contents, roll up the entire sheet and cut the sheet into bite-sized chunks suitable for easy access and digestion.

Skip the Fats

Fats have a huge importance in an endurance athletes diet, but when it comes to long Zwift rides, it is best to skip fatty foods like nuts, seeds, oils, and large amounts of peanut butter and its variations.  Riding at high intensity and ingesting fats increases the potential for GI distress and a feeling of nausea.

Optimize Your Protein Intake

Protein plays an important role in both pre-fuel and post-fuel nutrition for endurance athletes. Proteins play a massive role in the various functions of our body! It has been found that including some protein into your training may be able to help boost fitness performance. However, it is also important not to overdo your protein intake as this can lead to digestive distress.

Here are some general protein guidelines to follow:

  • During Training: ½-Âľ grams of protein/lb. of body weight per day during your training period. The Meal Before Your Event: Two to three hours before your event, strive to get 10-20 grams of high-quality protein in.
  • During Your Event: If you are exercising or training for longer than four hours, it is recommended that you get about five grams of protein per hour to help support performance and replenish your body.
  • Recovery: Right after your event, you will want to replenish your body by getting about 10-20 grams of protein from a post-workout meal.

Conclusion

Hopefully the information above has given you to the ammunition to build better dietary habits to boost performance over your next long Zwift ride.  Hydration, nutrient intake, and timing are essential if you wish to take your rides to the next level. Remember, any athlete can slog through a workout, but it is the disciplined athlete who maximizes every detail to enhance performance!

One Woman’s Tour de Zwift, Illustrated

Eric Schlange
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One Woman’s Tour de Zwift, Illustrated
Olya Perevalova Cohen is a level 16 Zwifter and skilled artist. She illustrated each stage of her (and faithful dog Pepe’s) Tour de Zwift efforts, giving us a little window into her personal experience of the month-long tour. Here is each set of illustrations, beginning with Stage 1. Enjoy!

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Stage 8

Stage 9

This Week’s Top 5 Zwift Videos

Thomas Eichentopf
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This Week’s Top 5 Zwift Videos

This Week’s Top 5 Zwift Videos

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KISS Super League – Round 1

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Here it is, the first race of the KISS Super League. All the big teams of professional riders have found their way into our virtual cycling habitat to mess with each other. Who had the legs to win?

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Patrick Christopher Races KISS Super League

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One of the participants of the KISS Super League race last week was Patrick Christopher of the Zwift Academy All-Stars. Watch Cameron Jeffers and other friends cheer on Patrick in his first KSL race. (His race effort begins around 5 minutes into the video.)

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Casey Schumm Races KISS Super League

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Casey is a member of the Zwift Community All-Stars team, and his stream from the first race is fascinating. Listen to him chat with teammates as they take on the pros!

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Cycling As An Esport: What’s It All About?

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The KISS Super League is now underway. It’s the first ever pro cycling esports competition and all the action takes place on Zwift. But how does it work and is it the future of cycling?

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KISS Super League – Round 1 Review

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We can show you all the professional and curated opinions on the KISS Super League (and we do). However, the community has its opinion as well. Tom Whalley watched the first round from the perspective of the most normal Zwift cyclist you can imagine: you. Here’s his take on it.

Canyon ZCC eRacing Team Announced

Eric Schlange
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Canyon ZCC eRacing Team Announced

Canyon ZCC eRacing Team Announced

Trying to follow all the news in Zwift’s racing community these days is like drinking from a fire hose. Today Canyon announced the formation of Canyon ZCC, an eRacing team sponsored by Canyon as well as Wahoo and Nuun. The team will be racing the KISS Community League which launches Thursday, January 31.

The eight Canyon ZCC team riders are all quite strong, and will surely prove to be formidable opponents to the other community league teams.

Men’s Team:

Women’s Team:

A Taste of What’s To Come

While some Zwift teams have received corporate sponsorship in small ways, this is the first time we’ve seen a major cycling brand recruit a specific, small team of riders to create a competitive team for Zwift racing. But it won’t be the last.

It makes sense this would come from Canyon, since they are a forward-thinking brand with a close relationship with Zwift. But as Zwift racing grows in popularity we can expect other brands to step up and form teams–because the cost is minimal for the substantial exposure, especially compared to IRL team sponsorship.

KISS Super League: 3rd Place Purificati “Nervous” Before Start

Dennis Cottreau
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KISS Super League: 3rd Place Purificati “Nervous” Before Start

KISS Super League: 3rd Place Purificati “Nervous” Before Start

Editor’s note: Originally posted on the Bereda Training Journal, this is author Dennis Cottreau’s second conversation with Zwift Community All-Star member Justin Purificati as they follow his participation in Zwift’s new KISS Super League. Their first conversation can be found here. The discussion in this article happened following Justin’s 3rd place finish in Round 1 of the Super League. 

 

After a few winters spent tormenting internet racers on Zwift, amateur cyclist Justin Purificati was asked to participate in Zwift’s new KISS Super League and race virtually against professional road racers as part of the Community All-Star team.

If you’re wondering what it takes to be an “All-Star”, just check out Justin’s all-time stats:

156 Zwift Races
63 Wins (40% of races)
108 Podiums (69% of races)

Absolute FIRE. 🔥

But here’s the thing: none of those races had professional cyclists filling out the majority of the start list.

So the question remained… what would be Justin’s (and the rest of the All-Star’s) chances in round 1 of the KISS Super League?

Alone in His Basement

If you watched the live stream of the event, you’d have seen a lot of excitement as Matt Stephens introduced the race before panning across to Team Wiggins warming up on trainers in front of a crowd in a Pinarello shop in London.

There was a lot of noise and energy.

Across the Atlantic, Justin was quietly preparing for the race in his garage in Ottawa, Canada.

“To be honest, I was pretty nervous,” Justin told us, “I mean I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous getting lined up for a virtual race before.”

And that’s saying a lot, as Justin had previously been invited to race at live events as part of CVR’s World Cup.

Justin CVR racing

Still, he somewhat appreciated his solitude.

“Knowing what the other guys had to go through, especially Team Wiggins, I was like ‘Oh I’ve been through that before’,” Justin said, referring to his live events with CVR.

“At least, you know, I’m at home and I’ve got my own setup. I can get focused, I have my jams going, I don’t have people breathing down my neck.”

Fierce, Professional Competition

Justin got his first look at the professionals on the start list a few days before the start of round 1.

“Right away, just from the UCI racing that I’ve done in North America I noticed a lot of the big names,” Justin recounted. “So that’s when I started getting nervous cause I was like, holy crap, I know a lot of these guys. I know Ben Perry, for one, who’s definitely a force to be reconned with. Same with guys like Ben Wolfe. Like, he is a big guy. He’s also a horse, so I mean, if he tries to get away, he probably could.”

Justin has competed on the road against many of these racers.

“Definitely seeing all those names kinda got me worried,” Justin admitted. In the days leading up to the race, he thought to himself: “Oh man, this is going to be pretty intense.”

All-Star Strategy

The Community All-Star team knew that they had experience on their side as “the veterans of Zwift,” as Justin put it.

Here’s what they knew:

  • Round 1 was mostly a flat race
  • Most of the pros weren’t used to Zwift
  • Zwift’s new Double Draft algorithm would hold things together
  • There was an uphill finish

“The game plan was basically sit in, go as easy as you can, stay on the wheels as long as you can, don’t worry too much about trying to cover moves,” Justin said.

They were sure the pros would try to attack, but with a group moving at 52 km/h on the flats, chances are they wouldn’t survive.

Basically, “Conserve as much energy as you can,” Justin said.

Justin interview still shot

You could see their experience in play with every rise in the road. The four All-Stars in the race would hover around the back of the group, but just as the road turned upwards they would have moved through the pack and hit the front with momentum, making the climb as easy as possible.

“Oh yeah, you can tell that we’ve all done Zwift racing before,” Justin laughed. “Before the hill starts we kind of accelerate before everyone else, ride the draft through to the front, and sort of ease off and only go as hard as we need to.”

Race Report, from 3rd Place

From Justin’s perspective, things went according to plan:

“I mean, I think it played out as we thought it would. We figured a lot of people would get caught out just from not being used to drafting and the whole ‘not quite following the accelerations at the right time,’ and we figured it would mostly stay together until the fireworks and the final climb and that’s pretty much what happened. Like, we thought it might go a little harder on the final climb, but I guess it was a pretty steady pace. I think we went a little slow at the bottom but looking over the effort afterward, I’m realizing that we kinda went a little harder than we thought, so…”

Instantly, I had to jump in and ask about the NUMBERS.

Justin gave me heart rate:

“I was probably around 185 [beats per minute]. I think most of the race I was hovering around 180 but I felt pretty comfortable for the effort I was doing. I was definitely well-rested. But I mean, the final climb… hitting 190, starting to get up to like, 195…”

Ouch.

“I averaged over like 410 watts or something up the final climb,” Justin said, finally giving us some insights into the wattage.

“For what I was doing I actually felt quite comfortable,” Justin continued. “And like, I was never really on the rivet like I’ve been on certain other races. But I mean, I think it went down probably as best as we could cause it stayed together pretty well a lot of the climb so that allowed a lot more of our riders to just hang on till the end.”

An Infernal Pace to Start

Despite the exciting finish, there was a lot of talk about the carnage happening in the first 10 minutes of the race.

After all, Conor Dunne averaged 500w for the first 14 minutes of the event…

Connor Dunne 500w

Still, with his experience, Justin was able to keep his cool.

“I thought that it was alright,” he said. “After the first 30 seconds, you know, the sprint out of the gate, it kind of all settled in.”

Justin, in stark contrast, only needed 313 watts on the same 14 minutes:

Justin is significantly lighter than Dunne, so weight and size plays a factor here, but so does Zwifting experience.

“Bring it till you’re up to speed then you can start going a little bit easier but never actually let off too much,” were his words of wisdom for the audience.

Hot, Hot, Volcanic Finish

“The last 500 meters were pretty tricky because Zwift races that we’ve done don’t typically end at the top of the Volcano, so, even though we’ve ridden that course a lot of times, it’s never really been a course they were actually using for racing,” Justin said.

The course was new for everyone, but the All-Stars still has some tactical experience on their side.

“Most of us knew that having an aero powerup would still be the most useful one, just to power into it,” Justin told us.

“The group was a little bigger than we thought it would be and we were all trying to stay near the front and be attentive. And then in the last 500 meters, I started launching as hard as I could and then it was basically just trying to follow wheels.”

Timing the sprint has as much to do with responding to the competition as it does with meters remaining to the finish.

“As soon as one person starts dropping the Aero PowerUp, that’s really your queue to go,” Justin confirmed.

He ended up crossing the line in third place.

Back in London, Team Wiggins was getting interviewed post-race, despite their highest placed finished being Oliver Robinson in 22nd.

Justin didn’t have a post-race interview, only this, from me:

post race interview

In our last conversation with Justin about KISS Super League, we talked about the new level of access virtual racing could provide for spectators to the athletes.

This exchange happened literally moments after the finish.

Just enough time for Justin to towel off his fingers.

Unexpectedly Untactical

Last time we spoke, Justin predicted that the racing would be tactical: “That’s what the pros are used to. I’m sure that’s what they’re going to do on Zwift.”

Round 1 of the KISS Super League ended up being surprisingly untactical, though.

Still, Justin is sticking to his original thought.

“I think it’s probably something that will change,” he says, “I know one thing we weren’t expecting was having the double draft effect in the race and that kinda speeds things up a lot.”

Double Draft being a new feature in the Zwift world.

Justin thinks removing it in some of the future KISS Super League races could lead to more excitement.

“It would definitely animate the race a lot better. You would have less of this fast-moving blog effect that you basically get from everyone just trying to ride as hard as they can and get a little more separation going because, I mean, in the race yesterday a few guys did try attacks and then there were a couple groups of 1’s and 2’s that would maybe get a second or two at the most.”

Short Race for Pros

It’s possible that virtual racing could develop into something that commands the full attention and focus of its racers’ seasons, but at the moment, they’re pulling in athletes that are preparing for 4, 5 and even 6-hour long road races.

With a winning time of 50 minutes for round 1, these could be the shortest races they do all year.

And it requires a different skill set.

“Crit race!” Justin laughed.

Justin interview laugh

“Yeah!” I joked back. “So, I mean, how much can tactics lay out when everyone’s over threshold the entire time?”

It’s definitely a different style of racing and one that’s more familiar to North American athletes.

“So, maybe the European guys will have a bit of a hard time,” Justin mused.

Looking to Next Week

“So, next week is going to be a flat course,” Justin reported.

“It was supposed to be, I think, a London flat course, but today we got a message saying they were going to do the Innsbruckring.”

“It’s probably going to be the sprinter teams going in, so…”

I jumped in: “Right, so maybe no Justin Purificati in the lineup next week, or…?”

“Not yet,” Justin said, “I mean, if we do need to make a substitution at some point I could probably do alright but we have some guys on the team that could definitely lay down some sprints so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what they’ll put out against the pros.”

When asked about predictions, Justin said: “Steve Young for the win.”

Discord Support Squad

During the race, the All-Star team used Discord to communicate strategy, overcoming the fact that they were scattered around the world in their respective basements.

But it wasn’t just the racers that were in on the discussion.

“We were lucky enough to have the guys not racing yesterday on Discord with us just giving us some live feed, letting us know what was going on, anything that we’d missed, you know?” Justin told us. “So, definitely next week I’d like to return the favor.”

Keeping the Excitement Coming!

At Bereda, we’ve talked to lots of people about the race, and I think a lot of people found the race really entertaining. Some of those people admitted that they found the race entertaining even though they didn’t want to.

Justin was a big part of the fireworks in the first every virtual professional cycling race, so not only do we congratulate him on an excellent third place finish, but wish him and the rest of the All-Star team more success as the series continues.

Same time next week, Justin!

Chat then 🙂

The Endurance Lab Coaches’ Corner 60

The Endurance Lab
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The Endurance Lab Coaches’ Corner 60

The Endurance Lab Coaches’ Corner 60

In this episode:

  • All about Group rides, including:
    • Zwift group rides tricks and tips
    • Outdoor rides considerations for new and experienced riders
    • Skills and positioning
    • Why group rides are not training and how to make the best of it
  • Cutting calories and high-intensity workout can have negative effects
  • How to balance calorie intake during training
  • Can eating too many eggs be bad for athletes?

and more!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AywnZcTf-7k&w=560&h=315]

Recording Date: 01/28/2019

Interview with Junior Rider William Hazen

Monica Schlange
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Interview with Junior Rider William Hazen

Interview with Junior Rider William Hazen

Junior Riders are the future of Zwift! Because of that, we thought it would be fun to look more into the life of one of Zwift’s regular juniors and find some inspiration. It wasn’t hard to find one willing! Meet William, a 13-year-old Zwifter with goals, and son of Jon and Katie Hazen…

William, when did you first start riding bikes?

When I was around five or six. My Dad and I started out going up and down my street, then started heading down to our local rail-trail. It’s around 15-20 miles long… my dad used to take me on a tag-a-long tandem, then I started riding with him on my own. There’s a good ice cream and coffee shop downtown that we ride to, sometimes.

Does your whole family ride?

My mom doesn’t really like bikes all that much, so most of the riding is done by me, my sister, and my dad. We’ve done some charity rides together… sometimes my sister is kind of slow.  My dad bought a tandem bike last summer for him and her to ride on. Some nights we head down on the rail-trail together.

How did you come to riding on Zwift?

My dad introduced me to it when I was 8 or 9. I think it was introduced to me to train for Storming of Thunder Ridge, a 27 miler that I was the youngest to ever ride.

What are your goals on Zwift?

I have two. The first one, which I achieved recently, was to get to level 12 so I could do the Alpe du Zwift. (This goal was set by my dad. He says the Alpe is a good training ground for doing the 75 miler I’m riding in May.) The other goal (set by me) is to get the Tron bike.

I hear you’ve got a couple of big IRL rides you’re doing this year. Please tell us about them!

This spring, I’m doing a 75 miler called Storming Of Thunder Ridge. In previous years I’ve done the 27 and 45-mile options (I added mileage onto the 45 miler to make a 50 miler for a Boy Scouts merit badge) and my dad likes my sister and I to push for higher and harder miles.

This summer I’m going to be doing a Boy Scout 3 or 4-day bike camping ride from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland on the Great Alleghany Passage (GAP). We’ll be hauling our own camping gear on our bikes.

Both of these rides will be hilly and will probably have a mountain or two on them. This last summer my Boy Scout Troop did a 2-day bike camping trip from Williamsburg to Richmond.  That was a lot of fun, but it was really flat.

When you’re not Zwifting what do you like to do?

I like to read, eat, sleep, draw, and mostly stuff ordinary 7th graders like to do.

What do you like to listen to while Zwifting?

I’m not really particular about what I listen to. My dad and I ride together in the basement. He usually turns up some Muse, the Tron Legacy Soundtrack, or one of a couple of mixes that he has. Sometimes we talk while we ride.

What kind of setup do you have?

I have a Cycle-Ops Magneto dumb trainer paired up to an Ipad.  My bike is a Diamondback Haanjo gravel bike with some Wahoo sensors on it.

What’s your favorite thing about Zwift?

I like that Zwift feels realistic.

What would you like to see them add into the game?

I’d like to see them add paddle boats and bike pedal airplanes.

Is there anything else about yourself that you’d like to share?

My dad got me my own Zwift account a couple of years ago.  Zwift does kid accounts for free, which is nice.  I like to ride with my dad in the basement.  We turn the music up a little and usually ride for 45-60 minutes.  We also do some other stuff— sit-ups, calf raises, and some stuff with weights.  My dad told me that if I train with him all winter that I’ll be surprised what I can pull off with the school track team in the spring.  That, and I’ve got the other rides to keep in my head when I ride.

Thanks to William (and his parents) for sharing his experience! William is now at level 13 and well on his way to the Tron bike at 30%! And bike pedal airplanes? What a great idea! Maybe that could even be the way we switch Zwift worlds someday!

Did you know kids under the age of 16 get a free account on Zwift? Find out how to get one here, and be sure to read the important tips on Best Practices at the bottom of the article. Sign them up and get them racing today! They could be the next Greg Leo!

(Do you have a junior rider on Zwift? We’d love to do more features on them, so comment below or send me an e-mail and we’ll talk!)

Zwift Update 1.0.32945 Released

Eric Schlange
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Zwift Update 1.0.32945 Released

Zwift Update 1.0.32945 Released

A major Zwift update was released last night, bringing us up to version 1.0.32945 on PC/Mac. This update will be available on iOS and AppleTV within the next few days. Here’s a rundown of the highlights of this latest release…

Guest World (World Choice)

This is the most important change included in this update–and it’s a big one for sure. For the first time in Zwift’s history we can now easily select between two different worlds when we start the game. Watopia is always available (the “home world”) and there is also a “guest world” available which rotates based on a monthly calendar.

Jon Mayfield notes:

We have left Watopia on the calendar for a little longer to accommodate the Zwifters who don’t have the update yet. Watopia will be removed soon as it will no longer be necessary.

Meetups can only be scheduled on the Guest World at this time. An update to Zwift Companion will be released next week which will allow meetups to be on Watopia+Guest World, again to accommodate Zwifters who don’t yet have this game update.

Read the details about the new Guest World feature, including what happens if you world hack!

Screenshots

I love a good Zwift screenshot, and have even shared some tips on how to take them. It used to be that Zwift would save a “clean” version of the first screenshot you snapped, along with a version which included the HUD elements. Several months ago that changed so only clean versions were saved.

With this update, Zwift has gotten it right (in my estimation): both clean and HUD versions of every shot you take are now saved to your hard drive.

Here’s an example from this morning’s DIRT Pacific Sprintapalooza:

When you save your ride you can click in the top-right of each photo to toggle the clean or HUD views. Slick!

Late Join Rankings Improved

Things were getting a little messy here on Tour de Zwift rides with thousands of participants, hundreds of whom may have started the ride late. Zwift has improved the rankings/results for late join riders.

Windows Bluetooth Improvements

Last month’s update included, for the first time ever, the ability for Zwifters to use Bluetooth through their Windows 10 PC. This update improves the smart trainer control portion of this still-beta feature.

Zwift is inviting Windows 10 users to give it a try, then submit feedback if you run into any problems.

Read the full release notes >

Guest World is live. Where do you want to go today?

Eric Schlange
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Guest World is live. Where do you want to go today?

Guest World is live. Where do you want to go today?

Zwift has released a major game update allowing Zwifters to choose between two worlds when they begin a session. No longer restricted to the scheduled world of the day, Zwifters can opt to ride in the less-populated “Guest Map” if they choose.

Home World, Guest World

The new functionality is straightforward enough. First: Watopia will always be available as the “home world.”

Second: the other four worlds (London, New York, Innsbruck and Richmond) will take turns rotating into the “Guest World” spot. The guest world schedule will be released monthly, much as the monthly schedule has been released up to this point.

The “Join Another Zwifter?” rider list changes depending on the world you choose, allowing you to see which world riders are in.

Why Not All Worlds?

Since its inception, Zwift has focused on the social side of cycling (and now running). They chose not to open up all worlds concurrently because they want to protect that social experience–they don’t want anyone riding alone in a sparsely-populated world.

People I’ve spoken with at Zwift HQ have been quick to point out that, in some sense, Zwifters do have access to all worlds at all times, since event organizers can hold events in any world. Zwift is happy with organizers holding rides on “off-calendar” worlds, of course, because those group events maintain the social aspect of Zwifting no matter which world they are held on.

World Hack: “Third World” Access?

Does the tried and true world hack still work in this new Guest World system? Yes! Whatever world you hack into will replace Watopia on the World Choice menu.

What Happened to the Airport?

When Jon Mayfield posted about Zwift’s plans for world choice back in November he shared a mockup of an airport which would act as the transportation hub between worlds. With no airport in tonight’s release I can only assume Zwift decided to scrap this idea in order to get Guest World functionality launched. And I think that’s a smart move!

See you out on course!

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