At the end of 2024, I was invited to join Zwift in Mallorca in April of 2025. My first reaction was incredulity: Could Zwifters ride outside in a group without crashing? After my husband told me he would divorce me if I didn’t go, I reluctantly agreed to sign up. I knew at least that I would meet people whom I respected and counted as friends in the organizers’ community. And if need be, I would give everyone a very wide gap.
To make the trip from California worth it, I also went before the start of ZCL to ride with my COALITION teammates on a different part of the island. Riding with the women that I had known for years was fun, and when I transferred to ZCL, I thought it couldn’t get better than that.
Turns out it could. The beauty of such a large group of bikers getting together to ride without their families in tow was as unexpected as it was awesome. Each day I chose whether I wanted to ride slow, medium, or fast and whether I wanted to go for a short ride, a medium ride, or a long ride. Those crazier-than-normal bikers got to choose a long, fast ride with an after-party thrown in. Each day I got to talk to another rider from a different part of the world who also loved Zwift. The group leaders were amazing, had different backgrounds and expertise, and made the rides enjoyable for all. And everyone got just what they wanted, whether that was a soul-crushing, hours-long climb or a sampling of pastries bookended with a flat, short ride. And after the rides? No one had anything else to do, so everyone hung out.
I saw so much potential in that gathering, which was big enough to support everyone’s perfect day. While in a small group setting, everyone has to sacrifice a little bit so everyone can get mostly what they wanted from the training camp. But in a bigger group, everyone got just what they wanted from the rides. As an extremely mediocre rider who values cookies and cocktails over a bump in FTP, I may have been an outlier in many of the groups. But I found former chef Karla to be similarly impassioned and the head of TBR (James) to be as curious about the island as me.
Even though I self-describe myself as mediocre, I also saw the potential for these days to teach me something about riding in groups. At home, I use my personal draft van, which is my husband, but I rarely follow a stranger’s wheel. I’ve always thought myself to be too old and too bad a biker to react to an unexpected brake or blind descent, but in that one week I learned that I was stronger than I thought. And I want more of it! I want to be in that position again, and this time, I want to bring some of my friends with me—friends that I am willing to brave Fox Hill three times for, for instance.
Benefits of Attending a Cycling Training Camp
Cycling camps can be awesome for so many reasons, both the stuff you can measure and the good vibes you can’t.
Increased Fitness and Endurance
Putting in sustained effort over multiple days typically results in a significant boost to cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance. Getting intense, focused training is a massive plus. When you dedicate several days just to cycling, you can really dial in structured, high-volume workouts—something that’s tough to manage with all the usual daily commitments. Plus, pushing hard for multiple days usually gives your cardio and musclular endurance a serious upgrade.
Cycling camps are also perfect for honing your skills. You get the chance to practice things like riding in a group, descending, cornering, and pacelining in a supportive setting. And finally, you get vital exposure to different terrain, letting you take on challenging routes (think long climbs, technical descents, and varied roads) that you might not have back home.
Socializing and Community
Camps are fantastic for meeting people and making friends. You bring together like-minded cyclists from all walks of life, and that really builds a strong community feel. Going through the shared “suffering” and triumph on the road creates truly unforgettable memories. You also get insider tips and encouragement by talking directly with group leaders, former pros, or coaches who can give you personalized advice.
Making It Easy (Practical & Logistical)
Cycling camps take the headache out of everything. The organizers typically sort out all the meals, routes, support cars, and places to stay, so all you have to do is pedal. This is backed up by supported rides, which usually include a mechanic, sag wagons, and medical help. That takes a massive weight off your shoulders regarding potential mechanicals or emergencies. Finally, camps are usually set up in places with perfect cycling weather, which means reliable conditions for consistent, quality training.
Cycling camps are honestly a win-win-win situation, delivering major benefits: you get physically fitter and more skilled, you feel awesome thanks to the shared effort and achievements, and you make amazing social connections both during the rides and afterward. For the indoor crew, especially the Zwift folks, taking those technical smarts and building real-life community at camp creates stronger relationships out of the real bonds forged in game. When this motivated and organized group transitions from the screen to the open road, they’re perfectly positioned to bring a huge wave of new energy and camaraderie to the wider cycling community.
What About You?
Have you ever done an IRL training camp with Zwift friends? Share below!
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