Zwift Resources

I’ve wanted to make this for a long time. I hope you find some helpful things below. Please comment if I missed anything!

Race Report | WTRL TTT #92

This was 2 laps to Tick Tock (36.33km).

Team racing WTRL TTT #92

We were recently upgraded to Latte class. We were dominating in the Mocha league getting first place at least once. Then we moved to this new faster more competitive class and in tonights race we got 32nd out of 36 teams, in our time zone and class.

The best time for the course in the Latte class was 0:49:44.230 our team achieved 0:58:06.325. So it took us 10 more minutes than the fastest team in our class.

The course was very flat with only a few 3% bumps.

Course Route – Tick Tock

This was not an especially fast race for me. I hit no new records.

avgwatts20m5m1m30s15s
2.3 w/kg1862.4 w/kg2.5 w/kg3.5 w/kg3.5 w/kg3.5 w/kg
Zwift Power Numbers

Live Streaming Zwift

Shane did a great job going over how to live stream zwift below. I’d really like to do this someday. I really should not have gotten rid of all my podcasting gear, it would come in handy for this. Cycling desks are sold out on Amazon, I need a laptop and a microphone to make this set up work. The green screen would be really cool too.

Zwift Parlee Speed Mission

Parlee RZ7

That’s right she is a beauty, isn’t she! Hidden cabling, full-carbon, and SRAM Red eTap AXS. This amazing bike comes in at just under $13,000. Ouch! Not something I could ever afford. But this month, I (or you) could win this superlight, amazingly fast bike on Zwift. But like everything on Zwift, you have to work for it. In order to be eligible for the sweepstakes, you need to enter the mission on the site and also complete 250km (155 miles) before 4/16.

In addition, to be entered to win the bike you will also get 100,000 drops. You can use the drops to help you buy the in-game version of the Parlee R27 or anything else you want from the drop shop. I’ll be focusing on getting this bike this week and of course, riding the Cervélo Gravel Rush Series which will have ride 3 on Thursday. Good luck and ride on!

Unforeseen Impacts of COVID-19

I’ve been thinking about all the secondary impacts that we may see from this new time we find ourselves in. Already, some are coming to light.

Video Conferencing – Zoom made a good business decision to give away time on its platform, but it has had privacy consequences for them. However, they have also positioned themselves as the household name for video conferencing especially with a younger set of people as they have been the choice for teachers and education since the price is right.

To go along with this video conferencing topic could we see more acceptance of the working from home or remote working arrangement? I know that it differs from leader to leader, as to if they are accepting of this arrangement or not. It also differs from person to person. Some like to go into the office, some just like the flexibility and some don’t want to go in at all. Of course, there are people who will take advantage of this newfound flexibility, but that happens everywhere for everything.

Air pollution – With traffic declining so much there has been a noticeable difference in the air quality. We have seen many pictures of this already on social media.

Does air pollution really matter to society? Will things change now that we know if we stop driving we will see a measurable and visible clearing of the skies? Will electric vehicles gain popularity even faster than they have been?

Indoor fitness – This one is especially close to my heart as I am an avid Zwifter. Zwift has seen a huge explosion in signups. Even only a fraction of these new members continues it will mean great gains for this business. Not to mention the potentially better recognition of esports since so many events, including the Olympics, has been pushed back. All these athletes need to stay in shape, so they are turning to online alternatives.

Food – It’s been difficult to buy certain things at the grocery stores and services like Instracart and Amazon Fresh are having difficulty keeping up with the demand to deliver food to those who can afford not to venture out. Which is another topic entirely, the divide as it’s called is very visible in those getting sick and those able to stay at home and get deliveries.

We have been trying new products that don’t normally appear in the grocery isles at our go-to markets, because now everything that Amazon has is available. Some of those reviews of new food are appearing here.

Will people turn towards vegan foods more? From what we currently understand this outbreak occurred from a food market where dead animals where kept in unsanitary conditions. An article on VegNews stated that there is renewed interest in egg alternatives now.

There are many more here and I may add to this post as time goes on. Stay healthy out there!

Zwifting with Tony Kanaan

Tony Kanaan

Today all Zwifters get the opportunity to ride with Tony Kanaan, 2003 Indy 500 campion. For 60 minutes Tony will join zwifters and race through the sequoias and the desert. I’m really looking forward to this race at 4 pacific. Ride on!

Tony racing

How the Race was Lost | Crit City Race

I have a few goals for fitness that are monthly:

  • 1 Race
  • 1 Alp Du Zwift Climb
  • 170 miles
Crit City

Today was race day. It was my first race in Crit City. I did the Bell Lap. It was fairly flat but had short hills up to 9% incline, that you had to power up when you are already pushing as hard as you can. A very difficult route!

Overview

I entered division D, which is 1-2.4 w/kg. My average according to Zwift Power was 2.2. So pretty good, but it only got me 28th.

Zwift Results
Really good average power for me

I think I pushed pretty hard, at least for me. I ended up increasing my FTP to 171, not necessarily what I wanted to do because now I have to keep up with that during workouts!

6th place out of 9 Zwifter on Zwift Power.

In the Zwift Power results, you can see a few sandbaggers or folks that should probably be in a division C race. If we take out those who had power over 2.4, I would have finished second!

Sandbagging describes someone who underperforms (usually deliberately) in an event. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbagging_(racing)

All in all, I’m pretty happy with these results. Ride on!

Cervélo Gravel Rush Series – Week 2

Gravel Rush checkpoint

Today’s workout was part of the Cervélo Gravel Rush Series. Week 2, in fact. I did the week 1 ride last Thursday. Week 1 was the Road to Ruins Route (18.4 miles, 905 ft. elevation climb). It was a tiring ride. Not to mention the fact that even though these are “rides” and not races, everyone treats them as races, even Zwift.

They list your position in the group, which of course brings out the competitive side of all these type A people (I include myself in there). As you can see, I am as slow as molasses. This is the last lap and I’m about to finish in the image above.

During week 1 we rode the gravel bike Cervélo Áspero and on Week two we rode it again, but on the Jungle Route (13.3 miles, 542 ft. elevation climb).

Cervélo Áspero Gravel Bike

Week 3 will be the Road to Ruins route again, but on the Cervélo R5, a road bike. That ride will be 18.4 miles and 905 ft. elevation climb, just like week 1. Then on week 4 we get to choose what we want to ride and that will be Road to Ruins again.

I’m doing this series for the kit, I like to collect the kit in the game, but mostly for the chance to win a real Cervélo Áspero bike. Everyone who finishes al four events (each week) will be entered to win this sweet gravel ride. It’s a beautiful bike!

Cervélo Áspero

Two more weeks to go. Today after finishing week 2 I got the kit. Now, I just need to get the bike! I love that Zwift is doing these series and running sweepstakes for the bikes. But you have to earn it. See you on the virtual trail! Ride on!