Hi, my name is Ben and I’m a Zwift addict.
It didn’t use to be this way. I used to be a regular kind of healthy. I could walk for miles, but that was the extent of my cardio work. I had some weights at home, but I never saw the inside of a gym. Then my life got flipped, turned upside-down, and I’d like to take a minute, just sit right ‘ere, I’ll tell you how I became a puncheur in a place called Watopia.
Breaking Bad
I was being literal about the flipped, turned upside-down thing. Five years ago (20 Nov 2017) I was hit by a car going over 50kph (I would give you the mph but you’ve already changed your Zwift setting to kph to maximize your XP so you should be used to this by now). It’s what is typically called a sideswipe injury. My left tibia and fibula were shattered. In my right knee, my LCL, PCL, Popliteus, and biceps tendon were ripped. My ACL was merely a bone avulsion. Oh, and I had complete fractures of my lumbar and cervical spine. To say I’ve had better days would be an understatement.

The day went by in a drug-induced blur. I had an 18-hour surgery the following morning, then had doctors sticking needles in my toes every morning to test if I’d been paralyzed. This period isn’t the point of the story, so to cut a long story short, the doctors told me it would take a year to be walking normally again. Three months bedridden, three more months in a wheelchair, a few dark days where my arms were paralyzed, and a lot of arduous work later; I was back on my feet without crutches in 9 months.
Lost
When faced with long-term rehab you need to find something you love. There are days you just don’t want to do any more, and those are the days you have to do something to prove to yourself you can. I am not a natural runner, and I didn’t fancy the impact nature of pounding the streets or treadmill. My spine is held together by a series of metal pins (see above), so rowing seemed to be out. I was spending more time in the gym, and increasingly I was gravitating toward the exercise bikes.
I was walking again, had returned to work, and got back to something resembling my new normal. Things were looking up. Then the pandemic hit. While others were getting into the shape of their lives, what progress I had made was quickly lost through lack of access to the gym, and easy access to my fridge. My mood and weight both spiraled, just in different directions.
Enter Zwift. I had plenty of time on my hands and did a lot of research into the best smart bike and training app combination for someone who hasn’t been on a real bike for years. I settled on the Wattbike Atom and Zwift.
Orange is the New Black
I remember my initial sessions. They were disastrous. I didn’t know what I was doing in Watopia, nor on the bike. My fitness levels had also taken a dive. My first ride was 20 minutes of struggling to do 6km on the rolling roads of Harrogate and I was done. It was demoralizing but if there is one thing the last five years have taught me it’s perseverance.
I dove into the structured training programs available on Zwift, starting with the Zwift 101 and moving on to a couple of runs through the FTP Builder. I was starting to get a handle on this new world and, much more importantly, I was starting to enjoy myself.

Outside of workouts I was doing free rides, exploring, and generally badge hunting. I remember seeing turning signs to the Epic climb and thinking, “one day but not now.” The Alpe could not have been further from my thoughts. My first attempt up Hilly KQOM took me 5:48. At my then ~110kg, I was not built for climbing.
Happy Days
I enjoyed some of the surface-level social aspects of Zwift. On every free ride I would hammer the multiple Ride On button as much as it would allow me, following Zwifters who gave me a Ride On and gaining followers of those who returned the favor. I tried some group rides, but the outcome was always the same. Either I wildly overestimated my ability, or the group did not stick to the advertised pace. Irrespective, I was often left riding by myself, so I kept on with my free rides.
As my strength and ability grew, I decided to try racing. Down to 92kg at this point, I created my ZwiftPower profile and signed up for Haute Route Watopia 2021 as a Cat D. Although there were riders ahead of me as I finished, according to ZwiftPower I won the stage. It’s difficult to describe the levels of elation I felt, but all signs point to my real addiction starting that day.
(Of course, unbeknownst to me, I had sort of sandbagged the race. I entered stage 2 as a Cat D and got a UPG. Stage 3 I entered as a Cat C and came 203rd. It didn’t matter, I had caught the racing bug.)

I also started to drop the free rides and embrace the group rides. If there was a Tour of Watopia, I was on it. Off the MAAP? I’m signed on! The Tour de Zwift was a particular highlight. As I found more fun groups on Zwift, my weekly time and distance on the bike steadily increased.
The Amazing Race
I was still keeping up with my racing. I would occasionally dabble in iTTs, but I preferred group races with shorter, punchier climbs. A Friday 3R race on Greater London 8 became a regular fixture, and I enjoyed seeing myself creep up the leaderboards as the weeks and months passed. It took me a year from that debut Cat D win to eventually get my first Cat C triumph. That was in February this year.
A couple of things happened at this point. Someone at TBR Racing spotted my results and approached me about joining the team, and Zwift introduced Category Enforcement racing. No sooner was I part of the TBR team, I was classified a Cat B rider and thrown into the bear bit of the Zwift Racing League (ZRL) EMEA West Div. B2. I was terrible and hopelessly outclassed, but I loved every minute of it. Despite my performances, the team got promoted and I just wanted to be better. I needed to be better.

Not long after, I joined a ZZRC Saturday Social Ride on Three Little Sisters. It’s the perfect route for me, with three short climbs of increasing length. More than the route, it was the group I fell in love with. The humor, encouragement, camaraderie; everyone immediately made me feel at home. The ZZRC Saturday and Sunday Social Club became a staple of my weekends and, before I knew it, I was sweeping the rides.
Band of Brothers
Several months removed from the height of the pandemic and it is fair to say that I am now in the shape of my life, even if my family insists I could do with gaining a few kilos. Don’t they know my scales are linked to Zwift?! What I didn’t expect, when I started this journey, is that it wasn’t about the fitness gains: the real treasure was the friends I made along the way…
I have raced with so many great and impressive people riding for TBR. They’re fiercely competitive, and yet know when to make light of the situations that arise in Zwift racing and just have fun. The highlight of my week is now ZRL Tuesday nights, when I try and push myself to my limits just to grab a few extra points for a team I feel honored to be part of.
(TBR also do excellent group rides you should check out!)

Every day I get to ride with amazing people. Can you imagine riding 750km in 24 hours? What about riding 450km just to support a friend doing 750km? Or climbing the height of Everest in 17 hours? How about doing 100km every day for over 30 days straight? Or someone who will drop everything with less than 24 hours’ notice when a friend’s team is a person short for a brutal ZRL TTT? And that’s just stuff that has happened in the past month, not to mention the countless people that give up their time to organize, lead, and sweep all those group rides and races that you love riding in every day.
The Good Place
So, where am I now, besides hopelessly addicted? I average 12+ hours a week on the bike, riding 450km with 4,500m climbing. I’m down to around 80kg and can do a sub-60-minute Alpe without thinking. I’ve finally won a Cat B race and TBR have promoted me to 48t in ZRL EMEAW Central Div. B1, where I can just about hold my own against B+ riders. I now view Hilly KQOM as a sprint, and I have shaved over four minutes off my first time up there. These are all things I scarcely thought possible when I started Zwifting in September 2020.
What can you take from all this? I know it’s a cliché but, if I can do this, with a bit of time and application, you can too. It took me taking an all-too-literal kick up the ass, but not only have I found something I love doing, I’ve also met some incredibly inspirational people.
Your Thoughts
Next on my list of things to do on Zwift is a sub two hour 100km and vEveresting. What’s on yours?
Loved your story.. real motivation.. thanks for sharing
Thank you, Nader. That’s great to hear.
My dog got a Zwift account and loaned it to me in August 2020 to rehab a bunch of broken bones after a crash. It’s been great except for all the times after a ride when he tells I’m not allowed on the couch because I’m wet.
That’s a talented dog you have!
Great story. Great achievement. Great commitment. I can relate to many of the things you mention. vEveresting will change you forever. Let us know when you are doing it and I will try to accompany you one or two climbs od ADZ
Thanks, Luciano. I will definitely take you up on that.
Great article Ben, hope to be back sweeping with you soon
Thanks, Chris. Looking forward to that too!
Class read that, well done that man!
Cheers, Neil. Really appreciate it.
Fantastic read! Pretty much my story but without the car crash. Hope to see you in Watopia sometime Ben.
I look forward to it!
Chapeau!
Hey Ben. Really interesting to read all that about you. I had no idea. In my head you were this guy that popped up in B1 and you just assume you’ve always been a strong rider. Actually makes me think how cool it would be to know a little more about all our team mates and the wider community.
Thanks, Matt. You’re a huge inspiration for me. I can’t do the gym work you do, but boy do I want to be able to sprint like you. I remember the first time you joined a ZZRC ride I was on. I was feeling pretty pleased with my time up Titans Reverse and then you blasted past me. That was you just getting your fitness back and you did 1:24. I’ve finally matched that time in a ZRL race, but all that means now is that I need to go sub-80 seconds…
A super motivating story Ben! Congratulations on all your hard work. I hope you are proud of what you have achieved as I’m sure it will inspire many others.
Thank you, Ryan. It’s been a long hard road. One of the things I love about Zwift is it gives me a quantifiable measure of my progress. In the early stages there were big milestones to achieve – get out of bed, use a wheelchair, take my first steps, ditch the crutches, etc. Then there was a huge plateau period where I was putting in the work but had no tangible things to scratch off a list. It was so easy to get demotivated and just watch TV instead. With Zwift I can see and feel the progression. Every new… Read more »
Wow… what a journey.
Proud to have never been good enough to ride with you
Thanks, Mammoth. I’d love to ride with you any time!
Great read, I am an addict also. It’s hard to explain to a non addict why we spend so much time in the “Pain Cave” but the folks from all over the world you chat to (especially during lockdown) keeps us coming back. TBR are definitely part of good vibe rides I do.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE reading your stuff. Loved this story (did you get hit on your bike riding) and your article on sweeping. I too have become a Zwift addict after my brain surgery in 2018. I have met so many great people, and now friends, done so much on zwift, I just LOVE IT!!! ZZRC was my first group ride, but unfortunately are during work hrs now, so try to do TBR and other rides on the weekends. I hope one day to help sweep and help others as so many have helped me (ZZRC – Rich, Rick, Jonny, Phil,… Read more »
Thanks, Carrie, great to read you’re doing so well after your surgery. Both TBR and ZZRC are great communities and I feel proud to be part of both of them. Ultimately, all that really matters is you’re putting in the hard work and enjoying yourself, but I do love those days when you achieve a best ever result. Well done!
Loved the article man! Great story! The addiction is real! Hahah
Amazing story and I’m flooded with good vibes and thoughts apologies for length! Those are incredibly daunting injuries and beyond reminding some of us who dang have had it easy, I think you maybe can relate to this: people say ‘oh wow you’re so dedicated all those hours on a trainer etc etc (I’m mid B power lifelong mediocre athlete just love riding and competing and learning can’t get enough). That comment from other always leaves me thinking ‘dedicated? It’s unclipping that hurts I wish I could ride more!!!’ (I’ve learned not to freak out non-riders lol). You’ve been through… Read more »
Hey Ben, your story or the one about Egan Bernal are exactly the stories people in hard situations need to hear. I had an accident myself in August, totally unspectacular, just slipped in a Croatian roundabout after some raindrops had fallen and broke my femur pertrochanteric, pulling out my hip flexor which was fixed with a huge gamma nail, leaving the hurt leg longer than the other. If you consider your injury as Alp du Zwift I maybe only suffered a Titans Grove one, nevertheless – like in your case it is my smart trainer and especially Zwift that keep… Read more »
Thank you! Your injury sounds pretty bad to me, so great that you’re getting back on the bike and getting stronger. It’s been inspiring to read everyone else’s stories since this got published. Just goes to show we’re all stronger than we think we are.
Hi, an incredibile story ,can I ask what is your FTP right now?
Not done a test in a while. I think like a lot of other Zwift racers I’ve primarily been training on 30-60 second efforts recently. It’s probably around the 320w mark, which puts me at around 3.9 w/kg. I’ve blown up in a couple of races recently where I’ve tried to sustain 4 for any long period of time so I’ve got a little work to do on that front.
Thank you for your ansewr , for how long you can sustain 320 W?
I think my best effort was around 38 minutes at 330w in a TTT. I wanted to be sick at the end of it and couldn’t have done much more.
Awesome progress man, especially from that painful starting point (thankfully no potholes to jarr the spine on Zwift, hurrah!)
As someone who also joined Zwift at that same time as my weight started to rise having lost gym access I can honestly say that your progress up to a capable Cat-B is, well, frankly disgusting, LOL, dammit, I still can’t get a Cat-C win. Kudos 🙂
Haha, thank you! You’ll get there. My wins are few and far between but they’re worth all the hard work.
Such an encouraging journey to recovery! I hope that I could reach category B level also. I could not even reach category C and I’ve been on Zwift since August 2020! Hahaha 😂 Thanks for the inspiration.
Wow, fair play to you, a truly inspirational story. I also started Zwifting during the confinement here in SW France. I’m not in your league though and I’m actually only a foul weather Zwifter. Keep it up Chapeau!
Hey Ben, this is a super inspiring story. You have overcome significant adversity and it is such a pleasure to be able ride with you.
Damn Ben I heard you had an accident but those injuries were brutal. Amazing that you’ve recovered so well. I always thought you’ve been on Zwift forever but your progress has been incredible. Really inspiring and a great read. Particularly like the part about supporting friends but always make sure you know what you’re signing up for.lol
Ha, thanks, Alex! I feel like I can out you as the rider who did 450km supporting Diane’s amazing 750km ride. Kudos to you, buddy!
Cheers Ben! I forgot to mention that the Festive 500 in a day, is now on my to do list!
Amazing story, thanks for sharing! Your accident was awful and I’m so sorry you had to endure that. It’s kind of sad, but I rarely ride Zwift without the thought crossing my mind that it was one less ride where I could’ve been hit by a motorist. At the same time, I’m extremely thankful that Zwift exists and is something I look forward to almost as much as riding outside (or often more than, depending on the weather or Zwift event I’m participating in).
Inspirational. Congratulations Ben, keep up the great work and good luck with your racing
Wow! Inspiring! 🥺
Very touching story and at the same time also motivating. So i had to jump on a zwift and do some Kilometres. 😅
Awesome story Ben. Everyone comes to Zwift for a different reason but I genuinely believe everyone can find a reason to keep coming. As someone new to the racing side of Zwift, I absolutely love it and encourage anyone to have a go. It’s such a great community spirit and your teammates will soon become mates.
Da iawn Ben. Great story!
I was late to Zwift, way after friends had been on it through lock-down.
I found 3R early morning rides and became addicted.
Did vEverest with them in 2021 and loved the banter and camaraderie.
Zwift is a great platform with some awesome people on it.
Diolch, David!
Very motivating thank you for sharing. I’m at the start of my exercise journey. June 2021 I started loosing weight from 215kg and now I’m 155kg and progressing. I started Zwift to keep my exercise up over the winter and have started to become addicted as well. I don’t care that I’m not winning races, I’m just happy I can have fun and get in shape. Your article has given me a boost to keep going. Thanks.
That’s already some impressive weight loss, congratulations. Enjoying it is the main thing, just keep going.
What a great journey Ben – hope you’re proud of yourself. Zwift has seen me recover from an adrenal tumour and turn into something of an endurance cyclist and runner – really relate to your progress! And as I vEverested yesterday for the first time, I have to say – make a plan for when, and let me know – I’ll join you 🙂
It’s the day after and you already want to do it again? That’s impressive! Thank you, Tris.
That’s some next level inspiration Ben. Amazing.
Impressive story, Ben. Great to read how a terrible accident can also be a positive life changer!
Inspiring Story Ben! I’m currently recovering from an elbow and shoulder break from a biking accident; sadly not even allowed at the moment to ride on the trainer. Counting down the days and your recovery journey adds fuel to the dream I’ll be back on day soon.