We’ve also selected a video with a recap of the latest Zwifty news, a rider’s journey to climb the Alpe du Zwift at 6 w/kg, a review of the FTP Builder plan, and of course… more Zwift racing!

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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We’ve also selected a Zwift Big Spin hack, zone 3 training, an Alpe du Zwift personal record attempt, and a race finale recap.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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We’ve selected a video about a rider’s 2-man breakaway attempt, one Zwifter’s FTP test experience, and a video contemplating the optimal length of a Zwift race.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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We’ve also chosen videos covering indoor cycling news, the discontinuation of the Zwift Hub One, a newer category B rider’s race recap, and a race recon.

Ramp Test Number One, First of More to Follow!

After a couple of years of not having done an FTP test, Linda Messinger, Zwifting with Granny, decides to do a Ramp Test on Zwift. Watch as she tackles the dreaded FTP test. Note: Hit the subscribe button to help her get to 1000 subscribers!

Indoor Cycling News

Were We Duped By Zwift? The Hub One Has Been Discontinued!

Following the discontinuation of the Zwift Hub One, lots of Zwifters were left frustrated, questioning whether their purchase was right. Team Saunders shares their thoughts on the situation and shares their story with the Zwift Hub One.

Zwift Racing in Category B – What is possible for the new guy?

As a newer category B rider, Georg attempts a category B race as part of Zwift’s Race Like a Champ series. Can he hold onto the lead group?

Zwift Loop de Loop New Route Recon

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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Workout Browser

You can now explore all the Workouts and Workout Collections available in Zwift from the Zwift Companion App. Select a particular workout to see its details, including difficulty, length, intervals (customized based on your FTP), written description, and more. Here are some screenshots:

The new workout browser actually has a feature you won’t find in game: the ability to sort workouts by duration, effort, or name.

Here’s a quick video walkthrough:

iOS 15+ Required

Time marches on, and so does tech. Starting with this release, Zwift Companion on iPhone will require iOS 15 or newer. Zwift says Companion version 3.53 will continue to function, but will be the last version compatible with iOS 13 or 14, and Zwifters on iOS 13 or 14 may not see feature updates.

FYI: The iPhone 6s and newer models can be updated to iOS 15. See this forum thread for details

Additional Changes

Zwift supplied the following additional notes in yesterday’s release:

• Removed Today’s Plan logo from the Save Activity screen, which removes the functionality to save activities to your Today’s Plan account. On February 15, Zwift will no longer support syncing workouts from Today’s Plan. See this post for more information.
• Fixed an issue that prevented showing all Bluetooth devices from the paired device dialog.
• Fixed an issue where the workout dashboard presents an error when not performing a workout.
• Fixed an issue to prevent the “Keep Together” setting from appearing as part of group workout settings.
• Updated the “Keep Together” toggle behavior and added improved messaging for Club events.
• Fixed an issue where campaign progress on the Home Screen was not showing completion correctly.
• Updated “hardware” event filter to now include steering-only events.
• Fixed an issue where Zwifters with deleted accounts would show incorrect values on race results.
• Added the ability to see other users’ pace group category on their profile if their privacy setting allows it.

Android:

• Fixed an issue that impacted bridging performance if the user recently performed a firmware update for Zwift hardware.
• Improved “Find Zwifter” search to return better results when searching by first and last name.
• Fixed an issue where Zwift Play disconnects would generate repeated error messages.
• Fixed an issue on the Zwift Hardware screen where error dialog would persist if the Bluetooth was disabled during a firmware update.
• Improved color contrast on “Zone 3” workout blocks

iOS:

• Fixed an issue where the player pin unexpectedly spins on the minimap.
• Fixed an issue where tied race results would lead to incorrect data in the results page.
• Fixed an issue where event restriction icons could have the wrong size.
• Fixed an issue where the pace group category would show incorrect as ‘A’ for Zwifters without power data.
• Updated calendar permissions to work with EKEventStore and iOS 17.

Questions or Comments?

Got questions or comments? Post them below (unless you’re hoping for a direct response from a Zwift employee – it’s better to post on Zwift’s official forum thread for this update in that case.)

My First Year Training On Zwift & Hub One Conversion Guide

PEZ Cycling News has been on Zwift for a year now, and in this video, he discusses all things Zwifty including the Zwift Hub One, Zwift Play Controllers, and his take on Zwift.

Tour de Boudicca

How I Increased My FTP in 4 Weeks

Racing Freddy Ovett in Tour De Zwift

Max from The Watt Life provides commentary over his Tour De Zwift ride with none other than Freddy Ovett, who came 2nd in the UCI E-Sport World Championships. Can Max keep up with him?

Zwift Race: Don’t want to do that again

The Cycling Greek recently raced in the “Flat is Fast” race on Zwift. During this race, he makes a huge mistake that he learns to avoid in the future.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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When life is good, my go-to is the bike to enjoy life. When life is a struggle, my go-to is the bike to cope with life. When life is mediocre, my go-to is the bike to lift my spirits. Since I was 10 years old with my trusty Schwinn 3 speed, being on a bike has been an essential. It’s like breathing to me.

Around 2017 I heard about Zwift from my LBS, but I just didn’t have the room in the little bungalow I had been renting for years. In July 2019, I had the opportunity to buy a 1400-square-foot ranch house that, to me, seemed like a mansion. Cycling really helped my arthritic knees, but in the colder months it was counterproductive and made them hurt more. So, in November 2019, since I now had plenty of room, I started on Zwift. Little did I know what a huge impact that decision would have on my life in the future.

In January 2023, I was emotionally torn and grieving the loss of my dog Morgan, who had died in my arms unexpectedly a little over a month before. She was so much more than merely my dog to me. It was just the two of us for years until we brought my cat Brian into the picture in 2021. When Morgan left us, Brian had a rough time of it. He was lost without Morgan. He had looked up to her and began imitating some of her habits and became a “dogcat”. Morgan was loved by people all over the world as a result of her portraying my coach on my YouTube channel I had started in 2020, Zwifting with Granny. I received hundreds of messages of support on Facebook, saying how Morgan had touched their lives. Losing Morgan was a major blow. I felt broken and went into a deep depression. To be honest, it still feels like she just died.

There were other stressful issues in my life going on as well. I fully understand that millions of people in life have it much worse than I did, but it just felt like constant pressure 24/7 and it was not easy for me to handle. Fortunately, one of the issues was not work. I work for and with some great people and we truly are there for each other inside and outside of work.

One issue that puzzled me was why I was always tired. I noticed it the most when I would get on Zwift on any course other than Tempus Fugit. I attributed it to my age, even though in retrospect, I had been lying to myself, inwardly knowing something had been wrong for years. I became the ostrich who hid her head in a hole. 

Of course, my first thought when I got really stressed out was always to get on the bike. But I was noticing that sometimes I didn’t even have the energy to do that. I tried getting up early to ride on Zwift before work. Sometimes I could, but mostly my rides would just have to wait until the weekend. If I did ride before work, it was maybe 5ish miles. Weekend rides would be 15 and more sometimes. But that was a push. When I was able to do that, I was physically done the rest of the day.

In March it became apparent that something was very wrong. I went to my doctor, who, to be honest, I had never been totally truthful with before because I have a distrust of doctors. I kind of trusted her. But I knew anything I told her would mean I would be redirected to see another doctor. However, now things were getting scary. As I told her what was going on, her expression became alarmed. She immediately ordered a bunch of tests and sent me to another doctor.

And so began the merry-go-round of doctors and tests in April, May, and June. I was told it was uterine cancer. We wouldn’t know what stage until the uterus was removed and biopsied. I was told that the uterine wall had become dangerously thin, and surgery had to happen quickly so that the cancer didn’t break through the wall.

I started thinking in terms of dying within the year. I accepted it as a distinct possibility. I took care of having my will, power of attorney, and a living will drawn up. But my main concern was Brian. Fortunately, both of my next-door neighbors offered to adopt him if the worst-case scenario occurred, and Brian was comfortable with both of them. It felt like an anvil came off my chest.

I tried to ride on Zwift as much as I could during those 3 months. Mentally, I felt like I was suffocating. I’m pretty much a lone wolf by choice. I like my solitude and freedom, but sometimes just one person handling everything gets tough. There were weeks I had spurts of energy, and there were days when I pushed myself to get on Zwift, hoping I would feel better afterward thanks to exercise and endorphins. Riding on Zwift and going to work had become my priorities to maintain some semblance of normalcy.

My surgery in July was difficult. A 2-hour procedure turned into 5 hours due to complications. I remember laying in that hospital bed, almost wishing I had never woken up from the surgery. I didn’t even think being on the bike would help me mentally. Work couldn’t even be a distraction. I ended up being away from work for 3 months, although every day I would hear from either my employers or my coworkers.

Once I was well enough to go home, I was told no bike riding for 2 weeks. My friend Dana, who knows me very well, insisted upon staying with me for a few days. I would sit in the living room from where I could see my Zwift setup. I would tell her I just want to sit on the bike, I’m not going to pedal it. Dana said no, you might fall off because you’re weak and dizzy. She wasn’t wrong. So, I downloaded Zwift onto my iPad and randomly clicked on people to watch them ride, just so I could feel like I was a part of it.

I was also told it would probably be a week or so before I could be fairly mobile around the house. The stitches in my abdomen made it very difficult to move. But after 3 days, I was able to get up out of my recliner without assistance, and walking around was no problem. Dana was shocked because she had just had an appendectomy and couldn’t do that for two weeks. It had to be from my core muscles acquiring some level of strength from riding on Zwift. Zwift had actually accelerated my recovery.

I was finally okayed to ride on August 4th. You had better believe the first thing I did was get on Zwift. But I could barely pedal because my body was just not cooperating. I felt drained. I got on Tempus Fugit and couldn’t even make it to the stone arch.

On August 10th I finally got the news I had been waiting for. The doctor walked in the room with a big smile and told me it was stage 1 and he had gotten it all out. I was in absolute shock. Stage one? I would need radiation, but that was a small price to pay. The obvious truth is that all the other issues going on wouldn’t matter if the end was coming soon anyway. 

I knew I had been given a gift, a reprieve. I promised myself I would start taking much better care of myself. I texted the people I work with to let them know the good news. I later learned one of my bosses, Ellen, had been walking to her car when she got my text, but then turned around and ran into the building yelling, “It’s stage one!” Another coworker in a company meeting interrupted it and told everyone the news. I also messaged several of my Zwift friends to let them know. They mean as much to me as my friends that I see face to face.

Now at least one problem, the big problem, had been solved. Some of the stress and depression started to lift. I kept trying to ride on Zwift, hoping that I would be able to actually do some miles. Finally, on August 17th, I was able to do a 7-mile ride. It was a major victory.

But now I had another concern. Earlier in the year I had signed up for the Great Cycle Challenge, where you pledge to ride so many miles to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Cancer Research. I had picked 200 miles because at the time I figured I should be able to do 50 miles a week by September. It really didn’t matter how much you rode because the money was raised beforehand, but I wanted to do the mileage because now cancer was personal. The radiation I was going through every morning was making me very tired. There was a window of time between 11:30 and 1:30 where I would be okay, so that’s when I would ride, and then the rest of the day I was exhausted. I was finally able to work myself up to some longer rides and completed it the third week of September. Zwift was getting me stronger. I would never have been able to do those miles outdoors. Just knowing I could get off the bike and onto the couch helped me ride more.

I slowly started making videos again. Previously I had decided to just let the channel go because I could never see myself making another video without Morgan. But at a friend’s urging, since I had an existing platform that could be used to help people, I was able to finally make a video to inform my viewers of Morgan’s passing, as well as another video detailing my cancer journey. Since Zwift had been such a huge part of my recovery, I felt it was relevant to put on the channel. I figured if I could help just one person avoid what I had gone through, making the video would be more than worth it. I added my email address on the bottom of the screen, telling people to feel free to email me if they had any comments or questions. To my surprise, I received one email that said that video was meant for her. She was a fellow Zwifter and a loyal viewer of my channel. Upon reading it, I had actually burst into tears because I was so grateful I had reached the one person that video was supposed to reach.

I had also been trying to lose weight because I believe that was why I had the cancer in the first place. I was told by a friend who had retired from the medical field, and I also confirmed it elsewhere, that women between the ages of 60 and 70 who are overweight produce more estrogen. High levels of estrogen produce women’s cancers. I had already been through one cancer. I didn’t need another. Now I was on a mission to lose weight and get in shape. The same friend, with whom I had run a marathon back in the day, told me to walk instead of riding because it would burn more calories. I tried to explain to her what Zwift was, and she had seen my videos, but I think the only comparison she had was an old Schwinn exercise bike that had no resistance. I did try to walk and completed a mile or two here and there, and once even three miles. But for the time I spent walking, because of my bad knees, I was walking so slowly that I could burn more calories in a shorter time on Zwift.

So, on October 31st I began riding twice a day; at least 10 miles before work and at least 10 miles when I got home from work. I also played around with different calorie levels and what foods I could eat at what time until I was able to get it right. I knew that riding in the morning would raise my metabolism. I knew that riding at night would burn more calories as well as grounding me mentally from the day. This routine also started putting me over the 200 miles a week mark, which I was shocked to see. I started losing weight, which helped my arthritic knees because it was less pressure on them. For the first time in over a year, I was able to easily walk without a cane.

The whole time I was so grateful that I had something like Zwift that served so many purposes for me. It helped me emotionally, it helped me physically, it helped me mentally, and even helped me spiritually. Earlier in the year I had felt like my life was becoming a debilitating maze of major issues. Zwift made it so easy to come in the door, feed Brian, and get on the bike. The knowledge that I could ride on Zwift through these difficult months (barring a power failure) had literally started to give me my life back.

The 200+ miles a week carried over into December. I started thinking about doing the Rapha Festive 500, where you have to ride 500km in 8 days between December 24th to December 31st. It comes out to an average of about 39 miles a day. I could never do it before, but now it seemed achievable. I actually finished it a day early. That was one of my major lifetime achievements.

The other issues in my life started working themselves out, one by one. I do attribute a lot of that to Zwift. Riding helped my brain to clear up and allow other thoughts to enter which were constructive.

It was a rough year. I know it sounds weird for me to say a game helped me make it through the year, but to me, Zwift is much more than a game. It has allowed me to use the one thing I’ve always depended upon, my bike, to bring me to a state of mind where I can see more clearly.

As I now sit in my bike room, glancing over at my setup, I am filled with a sense of gratitude. I am sitting here with peace of mind and physically healthier because of Zwift. I have cultivated friendships with people I will probably never see face to face, but nevertheless hold a special place in my heart because we have the same basic love of cycling and we connect in that manner.

Zwift, indeed, gave me my life back.

Today we’ve selected videos about the latest changes in Zwift, predictions for a 2024 peak, a budget-friendly Zwift setup, zone 2 training for the average Zwifters, and two racing videos.

Zwift Game Updates v1.56 // Peak Zwift 2024

Zwift season is in full swing as temperatures bottom out in the northern hemisphere. Shane Miller, GPlama provides all the details on the latest changes on Zwift. Additionally, Simon (Zwiftcast), Eric (Zwift Insider), Nathan (Zwift Community Live), and Shane (GPLama) share their predictions for the peak Zwift of 2024. Share your prediction in the comments section of the video!

My Simple And Budget-Friendly Zwift Setup

Is Zone 2 Training Worth It For The Average Zwifter?

Improve your FTP with Zwift Racing | Alpe du Zwift in 49:48 as proof…

Max from The Watt Life has been racing and training for the past few months. In this video, he puts his fitness to the test on the iconic Alpe Du Zwift.

Zwift Racing: My Best Race Yet

Tyler Sinden recently moved to Tucson for a few months so he can continue to train during the winter months. Watch as he tackles a Zwift C race in a pretty competitive field!

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Can I Burn 10,000 Calories Before Dinner?

The Vegan Cyclist attempts to burn 10,000 in a single Zwift session. Along the way he talks about pacing, nutrition, the mental aspect, and more.

What’s Next For Zwift Academy?

ZWIFT Update 1.55: Race Timing Display Changes // Christmas Jersey // 10 Things For 2024!

Wahoo Fitness CEO Interview: What failed, and what’s coming in 2024

DC Rainmaker sits down for a fascinating and open conversation with Chip Hawkins, CEO of Wahoo Fitness. They cover a ton of topics, including Wahoo’s relationship with Zwift, shutting down RGT, the state of the indoor cycling industry, and some future Wahoo hardware plans.

Spinning (Seated) vs Grinding (Standing), which is more efficient for Zwift Racing?

It’s an age-old debate: is it better to climb seated or standing? To spin your way to the top, or grind it out? What works better for Zwift racing? Zwift Analysis Network takes on the topic…

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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Read below to learn all about the schedule and workouts of this unique series open to all riders!

Who is Kristin Armstrong?

Kristin Armstrong is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, mother, entrepreneur, and cycling coach for athletes of all abilities, from world-class level to every day cyclists. Learn more about Kristin at kristinarmstrongusa.com >

Series Schedule

The series begins on January 1, 2024, and ends on February 25.

Group workouts will be scheduled throughout the series – two new workouts each week for eight weeks.

How to Participate

There are three ways to take part in this series:

1. Sign up for the group workout events – see upcoming events at zwift.com/events/tag/fitnessjumpstart
2. Do the workouts on your own by selecting them from the “Fitness Jumpstart Workout” collection in your workouts folder
3. After January 2, Club owners will be able to create private Club events using these workouts – learn how to create Club events >

Note: The Zwift Women’s Training Club will also be hosting the workouts in women-only events in the public calendar on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can join the club here. 

Workout Details

Week 1: How to Set Goals

Workout 1: Let’s Get Moving

This is your first stop in the Fitness Jumpstart series. We’re going to get those legs moving and hearts pumping, while also clueing you in on some smart goal-setting tips. Today’s plan? Three sets of six-minute intervals, gradually upping the power every 30 seconds in Zones 3 and 4. It’s all about fun and building endurance!

Official events held on Castle to Castle route

Workout 2: Get in the Zone

This workout is all about exploring different training zones, giving you a feel-good workout while fine-tuning your fitness. Think of this session as a ramp-up, just like our warm-ups. Perfect for checking in with how you feel as you spend time in each zone. Let’s get to it!

Official events held on Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop route

Week 2: How to Fuel & Hydrate

Workout 1: Rainbow Pyramid

The “Rainbow Pyramid” is all about mixing endurance with bursts of power. We’re going to challenge your legs with short, intense efforts, followed by a progressive climb. Get ready to see all the colors of your effort as we build your stamina!

Official events held on Sand and Sequoias route

Workout 2: 30-20-10-GO!

The “30-20-10 Ride” is a fantastic fat-burner and endurance enhancer, all wrapped up in a short, sweet package. We’re talking controlled 30-second efforts, spicier 20-second pulls, and all-out 10-second sprints. Repeat 5 times with 2-minute recovery breaks. Time to feel the burn!

Official events held on Two Village Loop route

Week 3: How To Get In the Right Mindset

Workout 1: Climb Time

Today, we’re simulating an epic outdoor climb, right here indoors. We’ll progressively work through all the training zones, stepping up the challenge as if the climb’s getting steeper. Get ready for an aerobic fitness boost, Zwift style!

Official events held on The Muckle Yin route

Workout 2: Tabata Time

This workout is a metabolism-boosting, calorie-crushing session. We’ll alternate between high-intensity 20-second bursts and 10-second rests, 8 times across 4 sets. It’s not just about burning calories; it’s about supercharging your heart and muscles. Let’s Tabata!

Official events held on Neokyo All-Nighter route

Week 4: Knowledge is Power

Workout 1: Hustle & Flow

Today’s ride is a mental and physical test, aiming to stretch the duration of each segment. We’re building aerobic fitness and efficiency, starting with 30-second hustles and flowing into longer builds. Three sets, each longer than the last – let’s hustle!

Official events held on Rolling Highlands route

Workout 2: Build & Release

Today’s challenge? We’re building intensity every two minutes, like tackling a steepening climb. Then, we hit five 20-second powerful efforts, earning double the rest–for 40-seconds. It’s a ride that demands focus and loads of energy!

Official events held on Island Hopper route

Week 5: Embrace the Challenge

Workout 1: Staying Alive

Today, we’re pushing beyond our threshold for longer durations. This kind of effort is key to lifting our Functional Threshold Power to new heights. Prepare yourself for a challenge!

Official events held on Sugar Cookie route

Workout 2: HIIT it Don’t Quit it!

On today’s agenda are microbursts – short, sharp shocks that are fantastic for improving speed and power adaptability. Expect an entertaining yet challenging ride, with noticeable improvements each time. Let’s HIIT it!

Official events held on Neon Flats route

Week 6: Recovery is Key

Workout 1: What Goes Up Must Come Down

Today, we focus on building our fitness foundation with high-intensity short intervals. You’ll certainly earn each recovery. It’s a great balance of pushing hard and resting well. Ready to challenge yourself?

Official events held on Chain Chomper route

Workout 2: Power Bookends

This session mixes endurance with bursts that take you from Sweet Spot to Threshold power. It’s not just a workout; it’s a fitness builder designed to keep you on your toes!

Official events held on Kappa Quest Reverse route

Week 7: The Power of Community

Workout 1: Give & Take

Today, it’s all about giving your best using cadence to hit the zones. It’s a workout that challenges both your heart and muscles, focusing on cadence over resistance. Get ready to give it your all!

Official events held on Watopia’s Waistband route

Workout 2: Through Highs and Lows

Today’s all about high-intensity microbursts – short but powerful efforts that are super effective and fun. These bursts are great for keeping your speed and power output sharp. Let’s see some progress and enjoy the ride!

Official events held on Suki’s Playground route

Week 8: Welcome to the Start Line

Workout 1: Mix it up

We will jump through different intensities with short intervals, offering an efficient and fun-filled session. We’ll touch every zone and finish with smiles all around. Let’s mix things up!

Official events held on Legends and Lava route

Workout 2: Power Party

This workout is a lively blend of steady, longer efforts and quick, explosive bursts. It’s about enjoying the ride while pushing the pace. Prepare for a dynamic, fun-filled session!

Official events held on Flatland Loop route

Power Up Kit Unlock

Complete any of the official group events to unlock the Zwift Power Up kit:

(Note: this is an existing kit in game which you may have unlocked from past Power Up events.)

Questions or Comments?

Post below!