On April 24, 2015, Zwift launched Watopia. Here was their message to the small community of beta testers:

Together we’ve ridden 1 million miles (@1.6M km), 333K laps and climbed a total of 44M feet (@13.4M meters) on Zwift Island. That’s like climbing Mt Everest 1.5K times! We think that’s a big deal, so today we’ve launched our new course on the next isle to celebrate. Welcome to Watopia, your new home on Zwift!

As you can see, we’ve successfully moved and we’re ready for everyone to conquer our 10k course filled with fabulous vistas, bridges, and all new terrain. We’re still under construction so please be patient as we work to bring you the best ride possible (helmets encouraged!)…

See the full game release notes from Jon Mayfield posted April 24, 2015 >

A few fun facts:

• It took the beta testers 5 months to ride 1 million miles, while in December 2017 the community rode over 700,000 miles in just 24 hours in a major fundraiser event. But in 2024, Zwifters rode/ran 1.02 billion miles on the platform – that’s an average of 2.8 million miles per day!
• The “Zwift Island” referenced is Jarvis Island, the first Zwift course. The honey-hunting bear in Titans Grove is named Jarvis in honor of this original Zwift map, which relaunched in 2024 as part of Watopia.
• When first launched, Watopia had only one 9.1km route, known today as the Hilly Route. The next Watopia expansion was Ocean Boulevard on December 30, 2015. Today, Watopia is home to 116 routes (including some running-only routes).
• In between these Watopia updates, the Richmond, VA UCI Worlds course was released September 1, 2015.
• Today Zwift hosts 262 routes spread across 12 maps (in order of release): Watopia, Richmond, London, Innsbruck, New York, Bologna, Yorkshire, Crit City, France, Paris, Makuri Islands, and Scotland.

See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.

Silca’s first electric bike pumps promise features designed to make them stand out from the crowd. However, you probably won’t be able to buy one in the US due to current import tariffs.

Mini pumps and C02 cartridges face increasing competition from a host of pocket-sized electric options from brands such as Muc-Off, Fumpa, Flextail and Topeak.

Tool specialist Silca has joined the fray with two new Elettrico models, the Ultimate and Micro.

However, the brand states that it is not currently ‘economically viable’ to sell the pumps in the US due to the impact of the tariffs on imported goods introduced by President Trump.

• Trump’s tariffs are causing chaos in the cycling industry, with Specialized and Trek hiking prices

Drone motors

The Elettrico pumps use quiet yet powerful motors, borrowed from drone technology, with Silca claiming a noise level of between 4 and 8dB – even lower when used with one of Silca’s chucks. They are compatible with any Silca chuck, such as the Schradero or Hiro.

The casing is designed to dissipate vibrations and reduce noise, making the pumps easier and more convenient to use.

Accurate and long-lasting

Silca claims the Ultimate pump’s digital display shows real-time tyre pressure with an accuracy of ~1%. You can set your desired pressure (from 3 to 100psi) at the touch of a button and it’ll inflate automatically.

The compact Elettrico Micro forgoes a digital display but has a built-in safeguard that will cut out at 72psi, the maximum pressure advised for modern hookless rims.

The pumps use USB-C for battery recharging. Silca claims the Ultimate’s capacity is equal to nine or more CO2 cartridges and charges in about an hour, whereas the Micro is equivalent to three or more CO2 cartridges and charges in 20 minutes.  

The pumps’ casings are custom aluminium extrusions that are CNC machined to both dampen noise and dissipate heat, as well as being tough enough to withstand the rigours of being carried when riding.

As with Silca’s regular pumps, a range of spares and replacement parts will be available for both Elettrico pumps.

US riders set to miss out

The introduction of tariffs in the USA looks set to prove troublesome for Silca’s latest innovation.

Silca made the following statement when announcing the release of its new pumps: “Due to the significant impact of current United States tariff policies on imported goods, these products are not economically viable for sale within the US market currently. This, unfortunately, means that Silca’s largest historical market will not have immediate access to these groundbreaking pumps. Silca remains hopeful that these trade barriers will be resolved in the future to allow US cyclists access to the Elettrico series.”

Silca says it has made only 100 units available for the entire US market.

Silca Elettrico pumps pricing

• US: Elettrico Micro $119, Elettrico Ultimate $159 
• CAD: $199.95, $239.95
• EU: €139, €179  
• AU$: $179, $219
• UK: £119, £149

Shimano has reported a 15.6 per cent increase in bicycle component sales in the first quarter of 2025, with the groupset giant pointing to signs of recovery in the European market.

This follows a tricky 2024 for the Japanese company, which saw bicycle component sales decrease by 5.6 per cent last year, due to weak demand and high inventories. 

Shimano’s bicycle component sales in the first quarter of this year have brought in ¥88 billion (about £464,200,000), with Shimano citing particular interest in its GRX gravel and 105 mid-range road groupsets.

Interest in bikes continues

Shimano says “strong interest in bicycles continued as a long-term trend” through the beginning of 2025. 

In the European market, Shimano says “signs of recovery started to appear in retail sales of completed bicycles”. Shimano adds that personal consumption recovered in Europe as inflation subsided and the economy continued to recover.

Europe is Shimano’s largest market for cycling components, but the company’s outlook on smaller markets are less positive. 

Shimano says retail sales for bikes in Asia and central and South America remain weak due to “sluggish” personal consumption, while demand was also slow in Japan due to the “soaring price of completed bicycles.” 

Sales of complete bikes have also remained weak in north America for Shimano, with the brand citing a decline in consumer confidence due to changes in “trade policies”. The report makes no specific reference to Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.

• Trump’s tariff chaos: Specialized and Trek hike prices – and one British brand describes the US president’s plans as ‘naive’ 

A cautious outlook 

Across its whole business, which includes fishing equipment, Shimano saw a 12.9 per cent increase in sales compared to the first quarter of 2024. 

Although the growth is positive news for the company after a difficult 2024, its outlook remains cautious. Shimano has revised its forecast for the 2025 fiscal year, citing non-operating expenses and currency fluctuations. 

Shimano wasn’t the only cycling company that struggled in 2024.

Giant reported that its profits plunged by 62.8 per cent and, in the UK, Brompton saw its profits fall by 99 per cent. 

Giant and Brompton have both been vocal about the potentially negative impacts of Trump’s tariffs on the cycling industry – an issue Shimano has not had its say on.

Perhaps the coolest thing about Zwift Community Live was that it offered the chance to meet members of the Zwift community in real life. In this week’s top video, Kaite Kookaburra does just that!

We’ve also selected videos about using Zwift for weight loss, feature requests, the Elite Zwift Games, and the new Zwift Companion Fitness Tracker.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!

Factor has announced the release of the Monza, a new aero road bike targeted at amateur racers and riders instead of elite athletes.

Inspired by the WorldTour-spec Ostro VAM aero bike, Factor says the Monza – which takes its name from the iconic race track in northern Italy – uses a simplified design aimed at making it more practical and affordable.

Headline features include clearance for 34mm-wide tyres, a more “democratic” fit geometry, integrated frame storage and a simplified cable routing system. Factor has also designed a new set of aero wheels and an integrated cockpit designed to better serve the needs of amateur riders.

Despite these changes, Factor says the Monza is “refined, not compromised”.

As a complete bike with two water bottles, Factor says it’s only 2.5 watts less aerodynamic at 45kph than the Ostro VAM and even claims it’s ”faster than the Cervélo S5, [Specialized] Tarmac SL8 and others”.

Prices for the Factor Monza start at £6,399 / $6,799 / €7,999, for a build with Shimano Ultegra Di2. A build with SRAM Force AXS is also available for £6,599 / $6,999 / €8,299, including a power meter.

Made for more racers

While Factor claims its Ostro VAM is “the world’s fastest race bike”, it acknowledges that its singular focus on pro racing makes it somewhat impractical (and unaffordable) for everyday racers.

In contrast, the Monza is aimed squarely at everyday racers and riders who want to go fast but don’t want – or can’t afford – a WorldTour-spec race bike.

Factor’s engineering director, Graham Shrive (formerly of Cervélo), says the Monza is “the bike we’d design for ourselves”.

Rather than simply offering a version of the Ostro VAM from the same moulds with a cheaper carbon fibre layup, though, Shrive says the goal was to “accommodate riders for how they’re actually using the bikes, rather than dictate to them”.

It’s a similar concept to Cervélo’s latest Soloist – a simplified version of the S5 aero bike more commonly used by the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma–Lease a Bike teammates (outside of Paris-Roubaix, at least).

As such, the Monza uses a more relaxed fit geometry than the pro-spec Ostro VAM, with increased stack height and reduced reach (when the new cockpit is taken into account) to better suit amateur riders, as opposed to elite athletes.

Factor says the handling geometry is unchanged from the Ostro VAM, however, in order to keep that bike’s responsiveness and quick handling.

The Monza’s frame tube shapes have also been subtly reshaped in order to reduce the layup complexity and, ultimately, production costs.

The head tube, seat tube, seatpost and seatstays are all wider, for example, while the rear of the fork isn’t sculpted to meet the down tube to the same extent.

Practical features

The Monza also gets a number of features designed to make it easier to live with for everyday riders.

The rear dropout, for example, uses SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) standard. This enables compatibility with SRAM’s recently launched, 13-speed Red XPLR AXS groupset, and – we imagine – future-proofs the frame for any upcoming groupsets.

Leaks suggest a new SRAM Force AXS groupset could launch soon, for example, meaning a UDH-only XPLR version might not be far off either.

Adding a saddle bag to a bike can incur a drag penalty of up to 6 watts at 45kph, according to Factor’s testing, so Shrive says it made sense to add an integrated storage port on the down tube for storing tools and essential spares.

Shrive acknowledges this features adds weight to the frame (around 80-100g), but he reasons that since a saddle bag weighs a similar amount, it evens out in the real world, where riders need to be self-sufficient.

With the space behind the saddle freed up, Shrive says Factor has also designed a dedicated saddle rail mount for accessories such as rear bike lights or rearview radars.

Tyre clearance on the Monza is also increased to 34mm, up from 32mm on the Ostro VAM.

While 28mm-wide tyres are still dominant in the pro peloton, Shrive says bigger tyres allow for better performance on the rough roads local races and group rides often take place on.

Echoing this theme, Shrive says the new Black Inc Forty Five wheels, which have been designed alongside the Monza, present a “fast solution that’s versatile and robust, and will withstand that day to day pounding”.

Built using carbon rims with “modern” dimensions, the Black Inc Forty Five wheels use steel spokes and “readily available bearings” to reduce cost compared to the pricier 48/58 wheelset specced on the Ostro VAM.

A simplified front end

While an integrated front end is practically de rigueur for any modern aero road bike, Factor says it aimed for the Monza to be more “pragmatic” in this area than the Ostro VAM.

As such, Factor has specced a larger, 1.5in upper headset bearing from the Ostro Gravel, which affords space for a round steerer tube and “more straightforward internal cable routing”.

Factor has also designed a new integrated handlebar specifically for the Monza, rather than opting for a cheaper two-piece setup.

The HB04 cockpit features a “semi-aero profile” on the tops, to offer a better feel in the hand than the AB01 cockpit found on the Ostro VAM.

The reach and drop of the handlebar have also been reduced by 5mm on the HB04, compared to the AB01, while the drops flare out by 8 degrees from the ramps to offer improved control when sprinting or descending.

Factor Monza specifications and pricing

The Factor Monza is available in two builds, with Shimano Ultegra Di2 or SRAM Force AXS.

Alternatively, riders can purchase a frameset kit for £3,799 / $3,999 / €4,699 that includes the frame, fork, seatpost and HB04 cockpit.

There are three colour schemes available: green, blue or white (although, of course, Factor has fancier names for each).

A robotics expert has created a motorised bike that has balls instead of wheels.

James Bruton, based in Hampshire, has created what he calls an ‘omni-directional’ bike, which uses the same balls used by circus acrobats.

Bruton told the BBC his drive was to create videos people want to click on – and he has succeeded. 

The YouTube video documenting how he built the bike has received 8.5m views since it was published three months ago on Bruton’s channel, which has 1.37m subscribers.

Bruton, who used to work in IT and was a toy maker before becoming a content creator, has previously built three other omni-directional bikes, which grew in complexity. 

The first simply adapted a standard bike with a motorised ‘omni-wheel’ at the front, the second was a bike with two omni-wheels, and the third had four wheels and could move in any direction. 

For his latest omni-directional bike, Bruton used 11 3D printers. He had to import motor parts from America and the 2ft balls from the Netherlands. 

The bike uses omni-wheels, which are essentially wheels with smaller wheels around the edge, to drive each ball and prevent the bike from falling over. 

Bruton’s description for the video documenting his invention says: “This bike balanced like a Segway sideways, and drives in all directions, which makes it the ultimate drift bike!”

Canyon has unveiled its latest future concept from the Innovation Lab – the MPACT.

The new concept bike follows on from the Future Mobility Concept in 2021, but Canyon’s latest look into the future of e-mobility appears much closer to reality than most concept bikes.

I, for one, would like to see this concept made a reality.

The modular frame is intended to be produced from recycled aluminium in Europe to maximise the bike’s sustainability.

It would be available in one size to suit riders between 1.55m and 1.99m.

Customisable concept

The MPACT concept is designed to be customisable with artwork or decal kits on the single-spar frame.

It has modular luggage racks both front and rear, with the rear having a 25kg load capacity.

Canyon has designed the cockpit as a single piece, much like its line-up of road and commuter bikes.

However, the high-rise, almost cruiser-style bar has a boxy profile, like the frame itself, that gives the concept a fresh, bespoke look.

The brake hoses are routed through the handlebar and into the frame, as on Canyon’s production bikes.

The brakes on the concept are confirmed to be Canyon’s own GP0404 integrated units, as found on the current Precede: ON Comfort 7 urban electric bike.

The wheels also offer the potential for customisation, with the mountable/dismountable discs on the concept much like hubcaps on a car. This opens up the possibility of custom artwork, colours and finishes for the customer, or even branding for fleet bikes.

Electric motor and drivetrain

The frame also houses the motor and battery, with the battery charged by lifting the seatpost and pulling it out from its top tube housing.

The motor battery also powers the large front light integrated into the head tube of the frame, with a matching rear light integrated into the frame.

The drivetrain looks to be a hub gear, combined with a Gates belt drive, something we’ve seen on Canyon’s value-packed Comfort 7 commuter bike.

Will it get made?

This concept shares some of its design language with bikes such as Canyon’s innovative Precede:ON CF 9 commuter.

That said, there’s no commitment that the Canyon Innovation Lab concept bike will go into series production. If it does, the guide price would be under €3,000. 

Canyon told us: “It’s different enough that we thought we’d canvas opinions from our audience to ask if we should bring it out.”

Let us know what you think of the MPACT in the comments.

See zwiftinsider.com/route/ven-10/

See zwiftinsider.com/route/bon-voyage/

Strava has revealed the top cycling commuting cities in the UK to mark Earth Day.

The information Strava used to compile its results is a combination of activity data from its 150 million global athletes and insights from Strava Metro, which provides aggregated data to help improve active travel infrastructure.

Strava has also revealed how cyclists engage with its app based on age and gender. 

• Why I’ve got a big problem with Strava and will never use it again

The top cycling city is…

Strava’s data show the top UK city for cycle commuters in 2024 was London.

The UK’s capital was ahead of every other city in terms of distance, carbon saved and the active commuter base. 

London’s a big place, and so the average cycle commute was 9.1km and took 31 minutes, 58 seconds. 

This shows that Londoners are now commuting further than before. In 2022, the average cycle commute in the city was 7km and took 27 minutes, 13 seconds. 

Strava predicts that the cycle commutes uploaded to Strava in London saved a total of 18,489,808kg of carbon in 2024, compared to if these journeys had been taken by car – which is unlikely considering the prevalent use of public transport in the city. 

In total, Londoners commuted 52,800,000km (roughly 32,808,400 miles) by bike, which is 13 times around the Earth. 

71 per cent of total Strava rides in London were recorded as commutes, which is an increase of 8 per cent over 2024. 

The runners-up

Completing Strava’s top 5 are Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Cambridge. 

Coming in second behind the capital, cycling commuters in Manchester racked up 9,500,000km. Edinburgh was third (4,500,000km), Bristol fourth (2,900,000km) and Cambridge fifth (1,130,000km). 

In terms of the percentage of rides recorded as commutes, the order of cities behind London changed. Bristol came in second with 66 per cent, followed by Edinburgh at 62 per cent, and Manchester and Cambridge level on 54 per cent. 

Millennials are commuting by bike the most in London 

Strava says 58 per cent of riders recording a cycle commute on the cycling app in London were millennials – more than any other age group in the capital. 

Elsewhere, other than those aged over 60, at least half of riders on Strava from all generations recorded a commute last year. 

Here are the full stats:

• Riders aged 40-49: 55 per cent
• Riders aged 50-59: 52 per cent
• Riders aged 18-29: 50 per cent
• Riders aged 60+: 44 per cent 

Over half of men and women use Strava for logging commutes

When it comes to cycling to work, Strava reveals that last year just over half of men and women uploaded commutes to its platform. 

54 per cent of men and 52 per cent of women uploaded cycle commutes. 

First held in 1970, Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

Over the past few weeks, Zwift has rolled out an important, powerful set of fitness tracking and reporting features. These tools expand the activity data Zwift consumes, allowing us to feed our outdoor rides into the platform for the first time ever. This, in turn, enables Zwift to build a more accurate profile of our current fitness to help us train smarter.

Let’s dive into Zwift’s new Fitness Tracker and all the moving parts that make it function…

Outdoors… On Zwift?

You may be wondering why would I even want Zwift to track my outdoor riding? It’s a fair question, especially if you see Zwift as simply an indoor cycling platform.

The big reason Zwift needs to track your riding outdoors as well as indoors is so Zwift can put together an accurate, current profile of your fitness. Zwift wants to help its users choose appropriate workouts, but they can’t do that unless they know a person’s training load. How fresh are their legs? How fit are they overall?

Secondly, on a customer retention level, tracking outdoor riding (and letting outdoor rides extend our week streak and earn XP) is a smart move from Zwift. It won’t change the minds of every “winter-only Zwifter”, but it will surely convince a few to keep their monthly subscription going.

Eric Min, Zwift’s CEO, has said for years that Zwift’s goal is to get more people more active more often. Tracking outdoor rides falls perfectly in line with this goal, helping Zwift better position itself as a year-round fitness platform.

Connecting Garmin/Wahoo to Zwift

Getting your outdoor rides into Zwift is easy, assuming you’re recording those rides on a head unit/app from Wahoo or Garmin. All you need to do is connect your Zwift account to your Wahoo and/or Garmin account.

You can do this via the Companion app under Settings>Connections, or by logging into your account at zwift.com and going to Account>Connections.

Wahoo requires a simple login to your Wahoo account, and if you already had Wahoo connected, there’s nothing more you need to do.

Garmin will require a reconnection even if you already had your Garmin account connected, because there’s a new level of permission you need to authorize so Garmin can send data to Zwift. (Previously, you could only authorize Zwift sending data to Garmin.)

Simply enable both toggles, click “Save”, then “Agree” on the next screen:

Zwift tells me that when you first connect your Wahoo account, it should import the last 90 days of activities into Zwift. Garmin should import the last 30 days of activities. It may take up to a week for old activities to show up on Zwift.

Fitness Tracking

The Companion app has a new section at the top of the homepage that Zwift has dubbed the Fitness Tracker:

That screenshot is a bit boring, though, since it was taken on Monday morning when I haven’t ridden yet! Scrolling back a few weeks, you can get a better idea of what the Fitness Tracker shows:

There’s a lot of information packed into this little box, including:

• Training Score: Zwift’s version of chronic training load (CTL), a commonly-used metric that summarizes the amount of training you’ve been doing. Your Training Score is the weighted average of daily Stress Points over the past 42 days, which means if you rode at your FTP for 1 hour every day (which equals 100 Stress Points on the day) for 42 days, your Training Score would be 100. (In practice, most riders who train regularly are probably in the ~60-80 range for Training Score). Read more about Stress Points >
• Training Status: this is only shown when viewing the current week, so in the first screenshot, you can see my status is “Fresh”. Training Status is determined by comparing your long-term fitness (over 42 days) and short-term fatigue (over 7 days) to place you in one of these categories:
  • Ready: New to training.
  • Fresh: Active and ready for challenges.
  • Productive: Consistently challenging yourself and recovering well.
  • Overreaching: Training heavily.
  • Detraining: Loss of fitness due to reduced training.
• Weekly Goal Progress: the top-center section shows your weekly goal (which can be based on Time, Distance, Calories, Stress points, or Kilojoules) and your progress toward that goal. You can tap to easily modify your goal as well (more on this below).
• Daily Activity Summary: each day’s activities are summarized with a few visuals. First, you have a color bar chart showing how much relative time you spent in each power zone (learn about Zwift’s power zone colors here). You’ll see a sun at the top if the day includes an outdoor ride that earned XP (touch a day and it will expand a bit to show how many XP you earned on the day). Lastly, each day shows how many Stress Points your riding achieved.
• Weekly Activity Zone Summary: At the top-center, in the goals section, is a bar showing the amount of relative time you’ve spent in each power zone.
• Current Week Streak: when viewing your current week, your Week Streak is shown on the right.
• Streak Savers: if you’ve earned any Streak Savers, these are shown next to your Week Streak on the right.

Reminder: Accurate FTP Required

It’s worth noting here that your Training Score and Status are computed based on your daily Stress Points, and those Stress Points are calculated based on your FTP setting in Zwift. If your FTP isn’t set accurately, your Training Score and Status won’t be accurate, either. Zwift will automatically detect FTP increases based on an internal algorithm, but you might consider taking an FTP test or even setting your FTP manually in game to ensure it’s accurate.

Related: “How (and Why) to Take an FTP Test on Zwift” >

Goal Tracking

This big fitness tracking release includes an expansion of what used to be very limited goal-setting/tracking capabilities in the Companion app. The app used to support only basic weekly time or distance goals, but now supports the weekly goals based on:

• Time
• Distance (KM/Miles)
• Calories (kCal)
• Stress points (SP)
• Kilojoules

Additionally, now that Zwift can see your outdoor rides, your goals can be based on what you want to accomplish overall in your weekly cycling, instead of what you think you’ll accomplish on Zwift. (It always felt clunky in the past to have a weekly Zwift time or distance goal, especially when the weather changed and your ratio of indoor to outdoor riding changed with it.)

As before, the in-game ride report will show your goal progress at the end of each ride, and you’ll get a notification in game if you hit your goal while riding on Zwift.

Level Up, Outside

Apart from better tracking of our fitness, this new functionality from Zwift also means we can continue to level up while riding outside.

Outside rides now earn 5XP for each kilometer, up to a maximum of 200KM/1000XP per ride. Yes, this is significantly less than the 20XP per km you earn for Zwifting. But it’s still something.

Related: “All About Zwift XP, Levels, and Unlocks for Cyclists” >

There are a few details worth mentioning here:

• You won’t get XP for past activities that are imported when you first connect to Wahoo/Garmin, but they will be imported and count toward your fitness tracking.
• You don’t earn Drops while riding outside.
• Time/distance/elevation accumulated outdoors will not apply to in-game bike upgrades.
• Only paying subscribers earn XP from outdoor rides.

What’s Next?

This is just the initial launch of fitness tracking on Zwift, and they’ve assured me that there is more to come.

First, while these new features only apply to cycling right now, Zwift says they’ll be rolling out support for running later this year.

Second, support for importing activities from Hammerhead is coming this summer. Zwift says other platforms may be added (DC Rainmaker mentions Polar/Suunto/COROS/Apple as the likely candidates). Why doesn’t Zwift just import activities from Strava, you may ask? Zwift isn’t saying, but my guess is that Strava’s API terms of service changes over the past year made Zwift nervous. On top of that, this move into outdoor ride tracking is a move into Strava’s territory, so Zwift may be steering clear for that reason as well.

Third, duplicate activities are a concern for some users based on their current setup (which devices/services they use to record which activities). Zwift says automatic de-duplication is coming soon, but for now you can delete activities manually if you’d like, using the Companion app. We also know Zwift has been testing in-game dual recording, which would eliminate the need to record your power data on a head unit (something that could lead to more duplicate activities).

Fourth, “Smart Goals” are coming, where the game will automatically recommend a goal based on your current fitness, to help you get started. Great for beginners.

Fitness Trends

Lastly, Zwift knows we don’t just want a snapshot of data… we want charts! So they have promised a “fitness trends” feature, and even delivered screenshots of it:

What else?

The items above are what we know Zwift is working on. But what else could these fitness tracking changes lead to? The answer is: so much.

You may not realize this, but solo structured workouts are the most popular activity done on Zwift. At Zwift Community Live, Zwift staffers shared the following activity stats from the last 30 days on Zwift:

• 2.2M free rides
• 2.3M solo structured workouts completed
• 632K group rides
• 483K Robopacer rides
• 282K races
• 106K climb portal rides

That’s a bit wild when you think about it, especially considering the popularity of Robopacers and all the focus Zwift puts on events.

Given Zwifters’ obvious interest in structured training, I believe the holy grail for Zwift would be some sort of AI-based coaching built into the app, not unlike third parties such as TrainerRoad, XERT, and FasCat currently offer.

Imagine if you could set some simple goals (“I want to perform better in Zwift races” or “I want to lose some weight”) and the app could recommend daily activities for you based on your training history, including outdoor rides. For extra credit, Zwift could recommend more than just boring ol’ structured workouts. What about a race or group ride that fits the bill?

So many possibilities.

Questions or Comments?

What do you think of Zwift taking in our outdoor rides and delivering fitness tracking? What sort of functionality would you like to see Zwift build on top of these new capabilities? Share your thoughts below, along with any questions you may have about these new features…

The conversation around Trump’s tariffs, which were unveiled at the beginning of April as part of the White House’s ‘Liberation Day’, is clouded by uncertainty. 

With the situation changing every day, trade negotiations ongoing, pressure from financial markets and the sense that President Trump can change his mind on the flip of a dime, that’s understandable. 

But the cycling industry is beginning to signal the real – and potential – consequences of Trump’s plans in the US and the rest of the world. 

Trouble in the USA

Last week, two of the world’s biggest bike brands – Specialized and Trek – announced they are hiking their prices in their home country. 

In an email sent to dealers, Trek said it will raise prices across most of its bike lines. The increases are unspecified, but they will be applied as dealers make orders.

The Wisconsin-based brand says it has applied the increase to back-ordered items, too, in order to discourage a run on inventory at pre-tariff prices, according to Escape Collective.

Specialized, based in Morgan Hill, California, is taking a different tact. In an email sent to retailers by North America Regional Leader Jesse Porter, Specialized said it’s adding a 10 per cent line-item surcharge to B2B invoices on select models, including the new Turbo Levo 4 eMTB, after May 1. The surcharge will also apply to orders made from the brand’s consumer site. 

Specialized wrote: “We maintain flexibility to update or remove the charge if government tariffs change.”

This approach speaks to the speed at which companies are having to react and to the uncertainty around tariffs moving forward. 

Speaking to the Financial Times, Arnold Kamler, chair of Kent International, one of the biggest US bike manufacturers, said the company has already raised prices by 12 per cent this year off the back of Trump’s initial 20 per cent tariff on China.

“Our sales have been steadily dropping because of our prices being so high now,” Kamler said. “There has been no consideration to us despite the hundreds of jobs we have created so far.”

Beyond price hikes, tariffs are already upending brands’ plans for new product launches. We know of at least one brand with an upcoming launch that will limit imports to the US, citing the impact of “current United States tariff policies”.  

Elsewhere, smaller brands are simply cancelling shipments to the USA. After the initial announcement, Borealis and Tern announced they would pause shipments to the country. 

And although Tern has resumed shipments, that could change. Uncertainty, indeed.

The impact in Asia, the impact in America

Trump’s announcement revealed huge tariffs on countries including China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand and more. 

Writing for BikeBiz, a UK trade publication, Madison CEO Dominic Langan described these countries not as “fringe manufacturing locations” but the “beating heart of the global cycling supply chain”.

“For an industry still navigating oversupply, squeezed margins, and consumer price sensitivity, this couldn’t have come at a worse time,” Langan wrote. 

The US government revealed a week later that the heavy tariffs would be suspended for 90 days with a lower reciprocal rate of 10 per cent on all goods coming into the country.

This will likely come as a relief for Giant, even if it’s short-lived. The Taiwanese brand last month revealed its profits plunged by 62 per cent in 2024 as it faced discounting, inventory challenges and reduced demand in Europe and the US, its second largest market after Europe. Now, there’s Trump to deal with.

Giant says the US president’s actions are “absolutely not positive” for the cycling industry and it “will inevitably be forced to reflect the cost” of the tariffs, which could be as high as 32 per cent in Taiwan after the 90-day delay.  

The impact of Trump’s tariffs are being felt across all four corners of the globe, but the recent Sea Otter Classic in California – one of the world’s most important bike shows – ensured the president was top of the agenda on home turf.

Reflecting on conversations Langan had at the show, the CEO of Madison, UK distributor for brands including Shimano, Park Tool and Lazer, wrote: “Brands were reeling. Initial mitigation plans crafted during earlier tariff rounds had now collapsed. Production lines were being paused, containers rerouted or cancelled altogether.”

Langan added that the “path forward is anything but clear”. Should bicycle manufacturers in East Asia “buckle”, Langan predicts the industry will face new pressure just as it begins to stabilise after the pandemic. 

The escalating trade war with China could have the biggest impact. Trump imposed new 125 per cent tariffs on China in response to its retaliatory tariffs on US imports. 

According to a 2021 study, 87 per cent of bikes imported to the US are from China, making it one of the most China-dependent industries in the country. 

If Kent International’s 12 per cent price hike wasn’t troublesome enough, Kamler, the company’s chair, warns prices across the industry could rise by 50 per cent if Trump retains tariffs at the current level.

The tariffs are ‘naive’

On the other side of the Atlantic, Brompton’s CEO Will Butler-Adams is no stranger to frank words, and in an interview with The Telegraph he has labelled the US administration’s plans as “a little bit naive”. 

Brompton manufactures its folding bikes in London, with welding aided by a facility in Sheffield, 150 miles north of the capital, but parts are sourced from countries such as Taiwan and China. The US is also one of Brompton’s largest export markets, where it sells bikes through 120 dealerships and two stores. 

Trump has said his tariffs will help jobs and factories return to the US, but Butler-Adams says shifting production to the country is far more complicated than Trump has claimed.

“You could build the factory. You could buy the equipment. But the know-how, the engineering, the skills and experience, you’d have to open up your immigration if you want to sort that out and obviously that’s not at the top of the agenda for any of the political parties,” Butler-Adams told The Telegraph. 

Brompton’s CEO also revealed that the company has paused plans to open a store in Los Angeles and possibly one in San Francisco, saying “things are all over the shop” and “need to settle down a bit first”. He said Brompton will likely raise prices in the US “between 5pc and 10 pc” to offset the tariffs.

Butler-Adams’ most intriguing remark to The Telegraph is arguably in relation to logistics. He says shipping goods from Europe into America will likely become more expensive, but shipping goods from Europe to China “will probably get very cheap”. 

Considering China is already a major market for the folding-bike brand, could that mean Brompton shifts its focus away from the US?

Even though uncertainty reigns, the actions of companies such as Brompton, Trek, Specialized and Kent International will reveal how the cycling industry and wider manufacturing landscape is likely to change – and, in turn, the USA’s future relationship with the rest of the world.

Insta360 has launched the X5, a new flagship action camera that offers 8k 360-degree video, has an AI-powered low-light mode and features a replaceable lens for on-the-fly repairs.

Insta360, along with DJI, has established itself as a key challenger to GoPro’s once-dominant position in the action camera market, carving out its niche in 360-degree video, and the X5 arrives as the successor to the X4.

Key features include:

• 8k, 360-degree video at 30 frames per second
• Enlarged 1/1.28in sensor
• An AI-powered low-light mode called ‘PureVideo’
• ‘InstaFrame’ – a new mode that records two files simultaneously: flat video and 360-degree video
• A replaceable lens system, built-in wind guard and claimed battery life of 185 minutes (recording in 5.7k)
• The X5 is available now via the Insta360 official store and Amazon, priced at $549.99 / £519.99 / €589.99.

Bigger sensors, better image quality

Insta360 says the X5’s enhanced image quality comes as a result of the new 1/1.28in sensor, said to be 144 per cent larger than the X4’s, and a ‘Triple AI Chip’ system, comprised of one 5nm ‘AI Chip’ and two ‘Pro Imaging Chips’.

There’s a dedicated mode for low-light shooting, called ‘PureVideo’, which uses “advanced AI noise reduction and dynamic range optimisation”, according to Insta360. 

As the name suggests, Insta360’s specialism is 360-degree video – you may have noticed a video shot with an Insta360 camera, thanks to the ‘invisible selfie stick effect’ – and that continues here.

However, Insta360 has introduced a new mode – InstaFrame – for the X5. Here, the X5 records two files: the first a typical ‘flat’ video that follows a constant direction or a selfie view, and the second a full 360-degree video.

Enhanced editing

The accompanying app has been updated to coincide with this launch, “with a sleeker user interface and new tools that make editing easier than ever”, Insta360 says.

New features include a ‘Dewarp’ button to remove fisheye, and a ‘one-tap’ export option, without any editing or reframing.

Existing app features that carry over include ‘Quick Edit’ (semi-automatic) and ‘AI Edit’ (automatic) options. Insta360 also offers desktop editing.

Lights, camera, action

Back to the camera itself, and Insta360 says the X5 is designed for the rough-and-tumble of action sports – take note, mountain bikers – and the lens itself is replaceable.

A lens replacement kit is available to buy separately, and Insta360 says the lens itself is simple to swap out on the move.

Other features include a multi-layer steel mesh wind guard, algorithmically boosted sound and a 2400mAh battery.

This supports up to 185 minutes of recording in 5.7K in ‘Endurance Mode’, according to Insta360. The camera can charge from empty to 80 per cent in 20 minutes, the brand claims.

Last week, Zwift launched a 6-week workout series featuring one fresh workout each week to help us “lock in consistency and keep up with your friends.” Dubbed Zwift Camp: Inside Out, this is effectively an updated version of the Spring Training series Zwift ran in 2024 and 2023.

The big idea, Zwift tells us, is to help Zwifters build fitness with effective indoor workouts so they’re stronger than ever as they head outdoors.

Here are all the details of this short series…

Getting Started

To register for Zwift Camp: Inside Out, click the large banner on the homescreen or the smaller card in the “Challenges” row. Then click “Register”, and you’re all set!

Workout Details & Schedule

Zwift Camp: Inside Out can be completed “on demand”, meaning you do the workouts and Hilltop Hustle route by yourself, whenever you’d like. Keep in mind the workouts scheduled for future weeks won’t be available until that week arrives.

The other option is to join the group workout events scheduled hourly each day at the top of the hour.

Regardless of how you choose to execute the workouts, you get your choice between the standard workouts (around an hour long) or “lite” versions (around 30 minutes long).

Stage 1 – Ramp It Up (April 14-20)

“This first session of Zwift Camp: Inside Out sets the tone for building a strong endurance base.”

Stage 2 – The Endurance Groove (April 21-27)

“With progressive blocks that challenge your ability to sustain effort, this session builds muscular endurance and mental focus.”

Stage 3 – Cadence In Control (April 28-May 4)

“Time to tackle intervals at varying cadences, training your body to adapt to different terrain and riding styles.”

Stage 4 – Surge Protector (May 5-11)

“Workout 4 is all about real-world challenges like breakaways and hill sprints—helping you build strength, resilience, and faster recovery.”

Stage 5 – Climb On (May 12-18)

“Get ready to alternate between steady efforts and surges, building strength and endurance while learning to handle varying gradients.”

Stage 6 – Hilltop Hustle (May 19-25)

“Wrap it up and put all your hard work to the test on Hilltop Hustle, a route featuring The Grade!”

Make-Up Days: May 26-June 1

If you missed a stage but want to make sure you complete all six, there is a make-up week at the end of the series. (Again, you can also do the workouts on your own whenever you’d like.)

Kit Unlocks

Riders will receive the Inside Out socks after completing one stage, the visor after completing three stages, and the 2024 Zwift Camp: Inside Out kit after completing all six stages.

Printable Worksheet

Zwift created a printable worksheet to guide you through this series. It includes tips for getting some outdoor riding in alongside the workout series.

Download the Zwift Camp: Inside Out Worksheet >

Learn More

See all upcoming events, track your progress, and learn other details at zwift.com/zwift-camp.

Questions or Comments?

Post below!

In a time of ultra-adjustable frames with increasingly intricate tech, Canyon’s latest Spectral AL strips back the complexity and complications from your riding.

Its aluminium construction, lack of flip chips and internal frame storage, industrial bearings and reasonable retail prices for the three-model range should appeal to those sick of puzzling over whether their bike setup is performing perfectly.

Starting at £2,249 / €2,299 for the Spectral AL 5 and rising to £3,749 / €3,999 for the Fabio Wibmer signature bike, this 150mm front, 140mm rear-travel bike represents the excellent value for money we’ve come to expect from the German direct-sales brand.

The geometry figures are bang-on for a bike of this ilk. The five-size range (XS to XL) runs a 64-degree head tube angle, 76.5-degree seat tube angle and 437mm chianstays.

But just because the bike lacks complexity, that doesn’t mean Canyon hasn’t paid plenty of attention to the details.

Canyon’s Spectral AL frame is packed with details

Simplicity doesn’t have to mean basic – and the Spectral AL proves that.

Along with the usual things – think SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger and plenty of chain-slap protection – the Spectral AL’s also got some neat features.

The internal cable routing channels have foam linings to reduce rattling. There’s protective tape to reduce heel rub on the chainstays.

The bike has anti-rock-impact protection on the down tube, too. A straight, steep seat tube means long-travel dropper posts – up to 200mm on the M and L sizes and 230mm on the XL – should quench the appetite of the riders with the longest legs.

Each of the pivot points runs on industrial bearings and they’re filled with Canyon’s special grease to help them run smoother for longer.

The pivot hardware – the bolts – screw intro steel helicoil inserts, rather than directly into the frame’s alloy. In theory, this should reduce the chances of stripped threads and make fixing them if they do strip much easier.

Forgoing internal frame storage might be a deal-breaker for some and, if it is, Canyon has thought about you. Accessory mounts on the underside of the top tube can holster either Canyon’s own accessory bag or storage solutions from other brands.

Honing things in further, the bike’s front and rear ends have been tuned with stiffness and compliance in mind respectively.

Add in the one-piece rocker link, which is designed to isolate lateral loads from the rear end impacting shock performance, and there’s plenty of tech behind this simple frame.

Trail bike geometry with no adjustments

Despite forgoing the CF model’s flip chip, the Spectral AL can be run in either a mixed-wheel (29in front, 27.5in rear) or full-29in configuration.

However, the consumer needs to decide which wheel size they want when they buy the bike because the entire chainstay is different.

Canyon alluded to the fact it’s more efficient (cost, time, manufacturing, design) to have two different rear ends than build in flip chips.

Canyon Spectral AL mixed wheel size geometry chart

Bar a few differences dictated by the smaller rear end, the 29in and mixed-wheel (mullet) bikes share their figures.

There’s a 64-degree head tube angle, 76.5-degree seat tube angle and 437mm chainstays.

The 29in bike is only available in small to extra-large, while the mullet bike has an additional XS size.

Canyon Spectral AL 29 wheel size geometry chart

Reach figures start at 425mm and lift to 525mm. The medium size is closer to other brands’ large bikes, at 475mm.

The Spectral AL is a trail bike through and through.

Canyon Spectral AL models, specfications and pricing

The three models in the new Spectral AL range share their aluminium frames, but each has increasingly luxurious specs.

Prices start at £2,249 / €2,299 for the AL 5 and rise to a very reasonable £3,749 / €3,999 for the Spectral AL CLLCTV FW.

Canyon Spectral AL 5

• Frame: Spectral AL
• Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+
• Fork: RockShox Lyrik
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
• Brakes: Shimano Deore
• Wheels / tyres: Race Face AR30 / Maxxis Minion DHRII Maxx Terra 2.4in (front and rear)
• Price: £2,249 / €2,299

Canyon Spectral AL 6

• Frame: Spectral AL
• Shock: Fox Float X Performance
• Fork: Fox 36 Performance Elite
• Drivetrain: Shimano SLX
• Brakes: Shimano SLX
• Wheels / tyres: DT Swiss M 1900 / Maxxis Minion DHRII Maxx Terra 2.4in (front and rear)
• Price: £2,799 / €2,999

Canyon Spectral AL CLLCTV FW

• Frame: Spectral AL
• Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
• Fork: RockShox Lyrik Ultimate
• Drivetrain: SRAM S1000 AXS Transmission
• Brakes: SRAM Maven Silver
• Wheels / tyres: DT Swiss XM 1700 / Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro M (front) T (rear)
• Price: £3,749 / €3,999

This year, Zwift announced upcoming game features at the Zwift Community Live event in Mallorca. This week’s top video covers everything you need to know about the new features (most of which have arrived by the time this post goes live).

Also highlighted in this post are videos about the new France expansion, a Zwift Community Live vlog, a tactical race win, and tips on bike swapping.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!

First introduced to Zwifters in December 2023, Week Streaks (sometimes called Ride Streaks) is a game feature designed to encourage consistency in training. Riders build up their streak by logging at least one ride per week, and as your streak grows, you unlock some in-game rewards.

Here’s how it all works…

Week Streak Basics

Your Zwift Week Streak is counted in weeks (not days), and you earn certain rewards each week your streak is extended.

When you save a Zwift ride that extends your streak, you’ll see the Week Streak progress screen:

This once-a-week screen shows lots of streak details, including:

• Your Streak length (number of weeks)
• Your current level and how many XP you’ll need to earn to reach the next level
• How much bonus XP you’ve just earned by extending your streak by another week
• Total calories burned during your streak
• Total distance covered during your streak
• Total elevation climbed during your streak

Starting and Extending Your Streak

Starting your streak is easy: just record a ride at least 2km (1.25 miles) in length! This can take place on Zwift, or outside if you have your Wahoo or Garmin account connected to Zwift.

Extending your streak is just as easy: record a ride at least 2km long, indoors or out, and your streak will be extended for that week.

Streak Savers

Zwift knows that riders may be unable to ride for a week or more, though, due to vacation, injury, or other factors. So in April 2025 they introduced Streak Savers to the game. These are automatically used to extend your streak if you have a week with no qualifying activities.

Streak Savers are displayed in the Companion app, next to your Week Streak score:

You earn a Streak Saver by accumulating 12 consecutive weeks of riding, and you can hold up to two Streak Savers at any given time.

Streak Rewards

Seeing your weekly streak count continue to climb is certainly a reward in itself, which is why so many apps use daily streaks to encourage consistent use (looking at you, Duolingo!)

Zwift sweetens the deal even further, though, by giving us bonus XP every time our streak is extended:

• Week 1: you’ll earn 300 bonus XP just for starting your streak.
• Week 2: extended your streak to 2 weeks? You’ll earn 400 bonus XP.
• Week 3+: every time you extend your streak past week 2, you’ll earn 500 bonus XP.

Related: Read “All About Zwift XP, Levels, and Unlocks for Cyclists” >

Streak Flair

On top of the bonus XP, in April 2025 Zwift introduced the concept of Streak Flair: a visual upgrade to our avatars that changes based on the length of your streak. Right now, Streak Flair is simply different versions of “pocket Scotty”, Zwift’s squirrel mascot. There are three levels of Streak Flair available:

• Level 1 (4 weeks): a pocket Scotty medal
• Level 2 (12 weeks): medal is upgraded to a keychain Scotty
• Level 3 (24 weeks): keychain Scotty is upgraded to a larger, animated Scotty! This Scotty will stay with you as long as you hold onto your streak.

Streak Flair is turned off by default, so if you want your pocket Scotty to be visible to you and others, you’ll need to go into Settings>Audio & Video and set “Streak Flair” to “Fun”:

Checking Your Streak

The easiest way to see your current streak count is via the Zwift Companion app (available on iOS and Android). Your week streak is displayed in the Fitness Tracker at the top right of the homescreen:

You’ll also see your streak count each time you save a ride on Zwift that extends your streak.

A Few More Details

• Ride only: streaks currently only apply to riding. Running on Zwift does not extend your streak.
• Time window: Zwift counts a new week from 00:00 Monday through 23.59 on Sunday, local time, as defined on the device you’re using to run Zwift.
• Earning Streak Savers: you must actually ride 12 weeks in a row to earn a new Streak Saver. Whenever you use a Streak Saver, the 12-week counter resets.
• Pocket Scotty is weightless: I tested it myself. Having him in your pocket won’t slow you on climbs (or make you less aerodynamic).

Questions or Comments?

Got questions or comments about Week Streaks, Streak Flair, or related topics? Share below!

Name: Mel Scrivin

Hometown: Dunoon, Scotland

How did you get into cycling?  As an asthmatic kid I did very little sport – cardio was just not accessible for me. I met my partner in 2013 and she was a serious cyclist – one of the first ‘dates’ we had was me supporting her at Ride London (which she completed in 6 hours – so far ahead of schedule that I nearly missed cheering her on at all!) She bought me a bike as a housewarming present when we moved in together, but our first (tiny) ride nearly killed me. Due to work travel and because of me not riding, she had practically stopped cycling and was getting quite seriously depressed. In July 2016 I said “‘”Right, you need to start riding again, we’re cycling. Together!” I told her if after a mile she hated it she could go home, but that I was riding the 7-mile loop from our home. Of course by 1 mile, where there’s a little hill (to me at the time!) she was out of sight and I was puffing up it like a snail. Miraculously I discovered I COULD cycle, and in July 2017 we did Ride London, and in 2018 London to Paris.

When Covid hit, and cycling was one of the few things you could still do, we decided to join a local cycling club to discover new routes (and cafes once they were open again). It became apparent that there was very little provision for women who couldn’t ride far and fast, and, shockingly, unexpected resistance to such provision from those women who *could* ‘hang with the boys’. I’m a fairly strong personality (as you’ll come to see ) so if I felt utterly rejected, how on earth did less forceful women feel?

This lead to me training as a British Cycling Breeze Champion (women’s ride leader), and I quickly gathered a group of regular riders. Soon, though, they reached beyond the limitations of Breeze (especially living near the Cotswolds, where a limitation of 12% gradients was near impossible to stick to!) and I ended up forming a women’s cycling club called the Severn Belles. Many of the riders had no cycling wardrobe and once they got beyond short flat rides they were in need of more technical kit. I designed a striking kit for us which always gets lots of looks and comments when we’re out and about.

The progress by some of them was incredible – from shy ladies simply wanting to improve confidence on their tri cycling leg, to confident women tackling some pretty long and spicy sportives. 

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? I started riding on Zwift in Oct 2023, because even if it’s not cold or wet where I live it’s windy, so I was never going out. I decided to have a go at racing in about April 2024 because the barriers are so much less than outdoors – no entry fees, no slogging back to your car if you have a mechanical or get terminally dropped, no bad weather, no potholes, and no chance of falling off (unless you sprint REALLY hard and topple the turbo ) I really enjoyed it and was soon jealous of the folk in teams getting to ride WTRL TTT and ZRL, then in July 2024 there just happened to be a call for C and D cat riders, and I’ve never looked back. 

Are you part of a Virtual team? Yes! eSRT were looking for riders last summer and I was so lucky to join them. We have some of the best racers on Zwift (check out the ZwiftPower rankings of some of our guys!) and women who’ve raced for Sweden in the eSports World Champs, but they’re SO encouraging and supportive of all the lower cat riders. We joke that there’s no ReST in eSRT, but we just like to go hard when we race. I just love them and have really found my home I’ve even started learning Swedish on Duolingo for the odd occasion when someone posts in Swedish or links to a Swedish event or website, and so that when we have IRL meetups (yep this really happens, despite the geographical spread, and yes, ABBA is a universal theme ) I can try to repay some of the riders’ brilliance in conducting everything in a foreign language. Ja är hemma med eSRT

What do you love most about racing? I love that I just can’t let someone get away from me. Racing makes me push myself far harder than I would on my own, even in a workout. I may not have the power or endurance to catch the girl in front, but I’ll push myself to and beyond my limits trying! 

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)?  TTT. There’s nothing like racing with a bunch of friends to share the pain. 

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? Iceni, probably cos I won it  

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH Flamme Rouge Racing Tour France Queen Stage on Quatch Quest. Honestly that was the hardest 10 days of my life! We even had ZRL on the rest day. 9 stages, 221 miles. I may not be the lightest or the strongest or the fastest rider on Zwift, but I’m probably the most bloody-minded – when I decide to do something I’m committed to seeing it through. I must admit, though, I questioned this several times during the event, and swore never to ride the France map again By the final stage I was resigned to just dragging myself round (and to facing divorce if I ever tried anything this stupid again) and I just watched the other riders streaming away. I wasn’t going to be beaten though and on I plodded (climbing is DEFINITELY not my strength, and we’d done an iTT up La Reine the day before…) but as I crept up the Alpe my nemesis popped up on my rider list. I assumed it was a glitch of the hairpins, but then the time gap was suddenly only two minutes. That really fired my motivation so I kept slogging away, watching the gap inching down, until suddenly there she was, stopped on the side! A real tortoise and hare moment. I gave it another burst to try and get as big a gap as I could while she recovered but once she started moving again she was soon eating into it. I was SO determined not to be caught though, and I guess having gone into the red she was the one at a disadvantage.  Somehow I held her off – she was right on my heels – and I won the Queen Stage for my category. I was completely astonished and so proud of myself (and nearly in tears because my good racing pal Manon Holtman totally unexpectedly teleported to the end of the race to cheer me on)

(Also fairly fond memories of eSRT Flashcore winning round 1 of ZRL this season – my first outings with the team.)

What is your favourite food to eat post race? I like a good soak in an Epsom salts bath after a hard race. I haven’t really got a sweet tooth so my usual in-bath protein hit is nachos and houmous. If I’m not in the bath it’s a blueberry smoothie (milk, frozen banana, frozen blueberries… freezing the banana gives you the ice cream creaminess without the excess sugar, and blueberries are full of inflammation-zapping antioxidants and immunity-boosting vitamin C)

I also have a weakness for Powerbar 30% Protein+ Chocolate. I’m not great racing in the evenings, but after ZRL I have tortellini with cherry tomatoes and feta. It means I can cook for my wife before the race, and then cook mine in about 5 minutes post-race.

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? JUST DO IT! Warm up first because Zwift race starts are HARD (my go-to here is the INEOS Pre Race Warmup workout on whatever course you’re racing. The routine of completing the same warmup each time relaxes you and prepares you for the race). But get in there, be prepared to be pushed harder than you’ve ever been pushed before, and be prepared to have FUN. Prepare seems to be my mantra here  

Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? Always ZRL racing with my Flashcore teamies, but also looking forward to Iceni coming back round to see if I still have what it takes. And of course the unique ‘All cats in one pen’ eSRT Tiny Races, which are brutal but if you’re a powerpack who is good at drafting you can get the A cat girls to drag you along until you die I’m usually totally out of watts by race 3 though.

Where can people follow your racing adventures? If you want to follow me you’d better get yourself in the D Pen for a race, hadn’t you?  

A nice mix of featured events this weekend, including two group rides on new France routes, some short races, and a popular ride with a cause. See our picks below!

Sir Chris Hoy’s | Tour de 4

The Ultimate Women’s Mini Races – Tron Tastic

JETT Endurance Ride 100km 2.5~3.3w/kg

Tiny Races – “Getting Longer”

Bikealicious Weekend Social Mixer

How We Make Our Picks

We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:

• Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
• Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
• Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
• Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
• Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
• Is it for a good cause?
• Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
• Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?

In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!