So I was riding the PRL Full this past Sunday, and saw a few others attempting the route. (All who were on there, I hope you finished, and huge kudos if you did!)
This was my fifth time riding it (don’t ask, I’m not right in the head), so I thought I’d share what has helped me. Here are my top 7 tips for finishing London’s PRL Full route, which at 173km (107.5 miles) is the longest route in Zwift.
#1: Pace Yourself
It’s not a race, but it takes about two laps to settle into pace. If you go too hard, just ease off for the remaining laps.
#2: Use the Box Hill Descent Wisely
This descent is long enough to get extra fluids, eat a small snack, or run to the bathroom. If you ride this solo, this descent is your best option for taking rest breaks.
#3: Climb Consistently and Steadily
For myself, I kept my Box Hill times below 9:30; my max was 3.4 W/kg climbing. You know your limits, so climb accordingly and steadily.
#4: Time Your London Loops
Time yourself each lap (there is a counter on each of your laps as you near the banner). You may get slower each lap, but if you’re consistent, the times should be fairly close. My goal was under 29 minutes each lap.
#5: Fight Mental Fatigue
This route is basically hill repeats 11 times, so I make a good playlist that keeps me motivated. Watch a movie, play an audiobook, or just jam out.
#6: Smart Powerups
You’ll get two powerups per lap – one at the start of the lap, and one at the top of Box Hill. If you get a feather at the top of Box Hill, use it on the small riser just up the road, or the Escalator out of the Underground. If you’re feeling tired, a feather may be just the boost you need at the steep 8% section near the start of Box Hill.
Use the aero powerup on either the Box Hill descent (if you’re not resting) or on flat or downhill sections of the London Loop, as it helps most when you’re moving fastest.
The box truck (draft boost) powerup is useless if riding solo, so waste or trash it.
#7: Fueling
I can’t stomach much while riding, so my fuel consisted of GU gels, Stroopwafels, Gatorade, Reese’s Cups, and Coca-Cola (not all at once). These are my go-tos for long rides, but everyone is different, so find what works for you and go with it. Timing, again, depends on your body, which you know better than I do.
Final Thoughts
What if you’re not successful? Um, don’t worry about it! It’s a tough route, physically and mentally, so dust yourself off and try again!
I hope these tips help more Zwifters tackle this route, as I understand it’s quite intimidating for some. Don’t be scared, y’all got this! Ride on.
wpDiscuz
