Saturdays are typically my long days on the bike, but lately I’ve been looking for one more long ride each week to help build my endurance base. With that goal in mind, I’ve collaborated with James Bailey to add a new weekly 100-kilometer ride on Zwift’s calendar: The Thursday Pizza Burner with James and Eric.
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/blameeric
Here are the details. Join us!
When
The ride happens on Thursdays at 1:05pm UTC/8:05am ET/5:05am PT.
Where
We will rotate between courses, sticking with routes that are flattish but not so flat that we get bored.
This week’s kickoff event (January 9) is on 25 laps of the Volcano Circuit, so finishers will unlock the Warmed Up, HotHead, On Fire!, and 100 Clicks badges if you haven’t already done so. (Each of these badges includes a healthy XP bonus.)
Why
While most events on Zwift are less than 60 minutes long, experienced cyclists know that longer rides are an essential part of building fitness, endurance, and overall performance on the bike. These longer efforts are often called “base” rides because you’re staying in zone 2-3 and building your aerobic “base” which is required if you want to sustain efforts at even higher intensities.
Related reading: “What is a long ride? A beginner cyclist’s guide”
Long rides also build mental toughness and resilience, which are useful qualities that prove beneficial in other areas of life.
Fun Stuff
Each week’s ride will feature something a bit fun or different, including silly bikes (big wheels, perhaps?) and rare unlocks. This week’s ride will feature big heads, and finishers will unlock the coveted pizza socks.
Pacing
While you aren’t required to ride this event at a certain pace, it’s always more fun to do these long rides with the helpful draft of others. With that in mind, James and I will both have yellow ride leader beacons over our avatars for easy visibility. I will ride at ~2.5w/kg and James will ride at ~1.8 w/kg.
Voice Chat
Longer rides always pass faster with voice chat, so join us on Discord if you’re able! Find us in Zwift Insider’s Discord server at https://discord.gg/zwiftinsider
About the Ride Leaders
James was an avid Zwifter and community race organizer well before he got hired on at Zwift. He now works in Zwift’s Content Team as a Content Manager, which in practice means creating many of the events you see on the calendar. He also provides support to other areas of the business in terms of competitive features, like Racing Score and ZwiftPower.
Eric is the founder and chief bidon-washer at Zwift Insider, which in practice means losing Zwift races at a startling rate while blogging about all things Zwift.
Questions or Comments?
Hope to see you on this week’s ride. Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/blameeric!
Got questions or comments? Post below…
I had not been looking for any long rides.
I was about to downvote this, then I saw the author 🙂
I think Eric already down voted it 😂
I hadn’t, but now I will!
What is the time estimate for this @ 2.5 w/kg?
I’d say 2.5 hours is the shortest. 3 hours at the most.
This concept would be super popular if it was rubber banded, allowing everyone to ride at whatever power (perhaps like me limited by fitness these days due to long covid) and still keep with the group.
At 1.8W/Kg, I’d struggle to keep with the slow group for more than 40mins.
But using a hire bike at Longleat Center Parcs last September, I managed to ride a fairly hilly route (39 miles, 3500 feet ish) for just over 3 hours in eco mode and not feel like death warmed up the next day.
Steve, I’m really torn on this. I completely understand what you are saying, but I don’t like the idea of a banded ride unfairly giving someone an achievement, eg 100km, 25 laps etc. It feels like you are potentially getting credit for something that you haven’t actually achieved. I also don’t agree that it would be more popular – I think a number of people stay away from banded rides for the reasons I noted above.
I also think having led banded rides is relatively pointless other than to have someone to write messages in the middle of the screen – the main role of the ride leader should be pacing, which doesn’t exist on a banded ride.
NB: Personal opinion, not one shared by Zwift.
I would concur on this one…..if you’re going for 100k, ya gotta earn it.
I’m with James here… but also because how rubber banding works in the other direction, it’s why I stay far far far away from group workouts. It’s a horrible experience. Too bad because I liked the concept, and I enjoyed group workouts before they tore everyone down to the speed of the slowest rider.
Actually, banded rides and workouts are much faster now! Zwift fixed it a while back: https://zwiftinsider.com/keep-together-tests/
What do you mean with ‘unfairly giving achievement’? I a banded ride you still have to do the 100 laps?
But at not necessarily at the pace that would get you there.
Agreed, banded rides and races with burrito’s are a no go for me.
Amazing timing! I have been contemplating the “on fire” trifecta + 100 klicks achievements for an XP bump. See you bright and early on Thursday!
Sounds good!
Eric… any plans to cover Tour style events and stay on top of what’s coming up in terms of multi-stage racing? Increasing use of Zwift to push this format… but tough to stay ahead of all these types of events and plan the training around these intense series of efforts. If I’ve missed a page or two where you have covered this, sorry!
Yawn, this is before I get off work, would have been fun. Have a nice ride!
Yeah, 8am on a Thursday is a no go for me too, even if I was in good enough shape right now to do that distance.
That was a very nice event, nice group (aka “the in-between fliers”), and finally the crazy badge for 25 volcano… I can’t imagine doing this solo… Thank you Eric and James🌟
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the great ride! What’s next!?
Watopia’s Waistband next week. Same day/time!
I like the idea but despise the time options only due to I am working.looking down the road if this takes off is a evening time slot something to be considered.
wish we had fun rides during evening hours on pacific coast :c
My long rides (100k+) traditionally are taking place at Sunday, because I have plenty of time. Therefore I can’t join on Thursdays for longer rides.
Was excited until I saw the 5am start time. 🙁