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    FeaturedGame Updates

    This Season on Zwift: Route-Based Workouts

    Eric Schlange
    By Eric Schlange
    September 5, 2022
    LAST UPDATED September 2, 2022
    16

    Zwift recently published their “This Season On Zwift” (TSOZ) press release summarizing plans for new Zwift features through the end of 2022. And while that press release gives some high-level details of upcoming features, we like to dig a little deeper here at Zwift Insider.

    This is one in a series of individual posts discussing specific upcoming features in more depth.


    Since its inception, Zwift’s definition of a “workout” has been very structured and anchored in ERG mode. This narrow definition can be good or bad, depending on who you talk to. Most everyone agrees that structured ERG workouts are a very effective way to build fitness due to their precise control of your power outputs. But others will say training in ERG doesn’t prepare you for “real” riding where you have to manage your power output with a combination of cadence, shifting, and gut feel.

    Others might add that, while ERG training is effective, it’s no fun. And they have a point.

    So when Zwift announced route-based Baseline and Finish Line workouts for Zwift Academy Road 2021, we were excited about the possibilities. Instead of completing a structured ERG session, these rides let us essentially free ride a route, going all-in on particular segments in order to test our sprint, VO2, and FTP power intervals.

    While the implementation was a bit rough in 2021, the idea was solid. And now it appears Zwift has taken their learnings from last year and improved on the concept for Zwift Academy Road 2022, with the intention of bringing route-based workouts into the game as a regular feature alongside structured ERG workouts.

    What Is a Route-Based Workout?

    Preview of on-screen messaging for a route-based workout

    Let’s begin with a definition. What Zwift is calling a “route-based workout” is similar in concept to what most cyclists have done when training outdoors. Hill repeats, sweet spot training on a long flat route, or sprint training up the kicker on your short crit loop would all be examples of outdoor route-based workouts.

    On Zwift, a route-based workout will use one of Zwift’s predefined routes to underpin the day’s efforts. For example (these are our ideas, not Zwift’s):

    • Sweet spot training: Beginners could ride Watopia’s Whole Lotta Lava route, for 3 laps, while more advanced riders might try Innsbruck’s Lutscher route. In either case, try to hold 90% of your FTP while on the climbs, then recover in between.
    • VO2 workout: Ride Watopia’s Jungle Circuit, going hard on the climb (110-120% of FTP) all the way to the start of the rope bridge each lap.

    Confetti, Messages, and Automatic Bike Swaps

    Zwift’s route-based workouts include a few features you won’t find in an outdoor ride. On-screen messaging will tell you when you’re approaching the next segment, and even coach you through it. Virtual confetti will celebrate your efforts, and automatic swaps on and off a TT bike will ensure that your timed segment intervals are consistent between efforts.

    An Accessible, FTP-less Pathway

    While we mentioned FTP in our examples above, one of the beautiful things about route-based workouts is that you don’t need to know your FTP in order to do them.

    We all know FTP testing is no fun. Beginners have a particularly challenging time with the pacing and mental toughness needed to return accurate FTP test results.

    While knowing your FTP may help you pace a route-based interval a bit better, riders can simply be told, “This climb will take you around 4 minutes, and we’ll be doing this 4 times. Pace yourself accordingly!”

    As a bonus for Zwifters who don’t know their FTP, Zwift can take your longer route-based efforts and calculate your FTP automagically. Simples!

    More Immersive

    Route-based workouts feel more realistic than ERG-based workouts, because they are! If you’ve ever done a workout up Alpe du Zwift which included hard intervals and recovery sections, you know how silly ERG mode can feel.

    It’s natural to let terrain define the efforts. Route-based workouts will work in concert with Zwift’s routes, instead of using ERG’s method of nullifying the terrain.

    Release Date

    The first route-based workouts of the season will be the Baseline and Finish Line rides rolling out for Zwift Academy Road 2022. Zwift says, “We expect to unveil more of these workouts later in the fall/early winter,” and their TSOZ FAQ makes reference to a “Getting Started Collection” of route-based workouts which is forthcoming.

    Conclusions

    Route-based workouts, if done right, should be more accessible and immersive than structured ERG workouts.

    While many riders will still love the effectiveness of ERG workouts, we think route-based workouts will become popular due to their accessibility and real-world feel. And as any coach will tell you, “The best workout is the one you actually complete.”

    Your Thoughts

    Share below!

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      Eric Schlange
      Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
      Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

      16 COMMENTS

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      16 Comments
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      Jimmy
      Jimmy
      1 year ago

      I really like this idea. Makes workouts feel a bit more flexible and enjoyable rather than the rigid structure that can sometimes feel like hard work instead of an enjoyable ride.

      3
      Reply
      Chuck
      Chuck
      1 year ago

      It will be a good change of pace to complement the erg workourts.

      3
      Reply
      Curtis
      Curtis
      1 year ago

      This sounds really great, especially since future worlds/courses can be designed with this in mind!

      1
      Reply
      Matthew
      Matthew
      1 year ago

      Really looking forward to this feature. Not sure if this idea would be difficult to implement, but it would be great if non-sprint segments could calculate average watts for that segment as you go. It would be helpful to either pace ourselves through a longer segment or to shoot for PBs. Would also love this feature for KQOMs in races, but I could see a larger appeal for training.

      1
      Reply
      Michael "Gasgano" Günther
      Michael "Gasgano" Günther
      1 year ago

      I will definitely try these, i don’t do workouts because i despise ERG. Last hurdle for me would probably forced cadence

      4
      Reply
      Charles H
      Charles H
      1 year ago

      I’d love to see some heart rate training included too. Say ride in-between certain heart rates for a given time or distance.

      5
      Reply
      Jerry king
      Jerry king(@jdkingphoto)
      1 year ago

      Love this idea. I really don’t like the ERG workouts at all.

      2
      Reply
      TheGlutenFreeCyclist
      TheGlutenFreeCyclist
      1 year ago

      I actually don’t mind the ERG mode, I’ve done hundreds of workouts with it. That said, I hope this new feature would be a good one, even though I would have preferred to have like a “ghost” avatar that replicates your overall best performance on a specific course, allowing you to know if you’re doing better or not.

      1
      Reply
      Bernie
      Bernie
      1 year ago

      I actually like ERG workouts a lot (they let me be mentally lazy…). I also like the idea of the workout matching the terrain (I often route myself so that my SST short workout finishes me at the top of the radio tower climb). I’d love ERG route-based workouts!

      1
      Reply
      RIch
      RIch
      1 year ago

      How will this work with keeping a group together on an event route-based workout? Will the rubber banding be applied, or will the group be split up?

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      1 year ago
      Reply to  RIch

      Group would be split up. It acts like a normal group ride.

      0
      Reply
      Nate
      Nate(@nlipke)
      1 year ago
      Reply to  Eric Schlange

      Looked like Rubber banding was on today for the non-segment areas. Hard to tell on the segments.

      0
      Reply
      Nate Lipke
      Nate Lipke(@nlipke)
      1 year ago

      Any idea if it will set Trainer Difficulty? EG: For ZA Baseline rides, should the climbs/sprint be at 100%?

      0
      Reply
      Wout
      Wout
      9 months ago

      I would like to try this, but am I correct that there are currently no route-based workouts available? The Zwift Academy Baseline and Finish Line rides can no longer be selected, and I can’t find any other route-based workouts in the list. I guess we just have to wait for Zwift to re-launch this feature…

      0
      Reply
      Lloyd
      Lloyd
      6 months ago

      Do we know when these might be coming out?

      0
      Reply
      Claus Jensen
      Claus Jensen
      6 months ago

      So, “This season on Zwift” is about to end for me. And this turned out to be more wet dreams from the marketing department being announced as ready to launch. This was one of the few improvements on Zwift i was really looking forward to 🙁

      See you next year and hope this feature arrives “Zoon”…

      0
      Reply
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