Zwift is Fun Again

[@tatamis_cycle]

Hi I’m H.Tatsumi I'm a climber, so I set my try on the climb😉 Your video makes Zwift seem more fun! And thank you for your attention to me.

[@Marus1233]

Great effort man! All the best :)

[@SquareyCircley]

Hey good race! Guys, check out his videos.. He's a monster at all the hill climb races in Japan

[@thealtamedia7913]

So because of your KZbin videos I started my first Zwift race today. It was hard, I followed your advice to stick to the group for as long as possible. I didn’t have the power for that for more than 15 minutes, but I finished the race, 13/18 in d class and I’m so proud. Thank you for giving me the courage!

[@morosis82]

You've got to start somewhere, I've been getting back into it also and I had a couple of races where I just got spat out the back of the sprint group, makes it a lot of fun.

[@MrAlexLandry]

Yes we want to see "Road to 900"! We'll all be doing our Road to 750 by ourselves, so it'd be fun to see how you're getting on! Another fun idea would be to do a NorCal Cycling race series if you want to partner with Zwift.

[@square7935]

fr i love zwift content

[@briananderson5102]

Great idea. I’m also a chess KZbin fan.

[@leadxe]

Love the Zwift content. Will be super interesting how you target racing once you know the roads better. Looking forward to more on Zwift!

[@nickpereira22]

Fellow NorCal area rider who lives at the base of Hicks Rd in Los Gatos. Started cycling in March and continuing to evolve as I build my base. Went from 210lbs to 174lbs in 7 months. Exploring Zwift for the off season and appreciate the video.

[@seblatapie]

Momentum in Zwift is key! Super tuck and then smash the power right before it flattens out for lots of boost. With the aero powerup you had in the first race, I think you would have had good separation if you drafted, hit the powerup right as it flattens out, and done a long sprint.

[@RoadtoA]

The orange checkmark says that person is in any way significant (it can be good rider, famous streamer, real life broadcaster etc.). The actual pro riders have an orange "PRO" jersey next to their names. Great video!

[@RideItBetterCycling]

For not knowing Zwift, you do a really good job at both control and always being in the draft and general tactics like when you need to start hunting down the break away. Good to see that it all translates.

[@GeraldJeffs1]

I like the added Zwift content. Because where I live I have to use the platform as my primary training aide during the week, so your content helps.

[@EvansMTBSaga]

Zwift racing is so fun. I encourage anyone that agonizes with Zwift workouts to try racing. Makes an hour go by so fast.

[@psd9850]

If you're not able to stay with the front group, an hour can take a looooooong time. 😅

[@FunkZoned]

I fell off the Zwift bandwagon hard like seven years ago, back on it this winter haven’t missed a day all month

[@wanderingincircles2019]

The race within a race toward the end of the race, the head games to get to the finish.. so much fun. Like the Zwift content!

[@jeremya446]

Yes please path to 900! Love the Zwift content!

[@MrShanebizzle]

Great zwift content man! Really enjoy watching you race! Thanks

[@notpogi]

Would really like to see the road to 900 challenge! And… it’d be cool to see you join a ZRL team for next season, that would be super interesting 👍🏻

[@seaturtle7777]

I enjoy Zwift, and they are very clever to bring you on board, Jeff, because you bring credibility, an understanding of whats going on, and relentless enthusiasm!

[@mudbone59]

YES! Keep the Zwift content coming. I'll probably never even make 300, but it'll be great seeing you hit the 900 mark and beyond.

[@William_Dorrepaal]

Nice analysis of tactics and the new racing score brings people alike together in the correct category. Hope there are no flaws people can take advantage off to ruin it for others. The Zwift Ride is a really nice setup, got mine up and running two days ago, and I love it. The steering, shifting and controls such as braking takes some practice to get used to. I only ordered a seperate Zwift Click to be able to shift gears from sitting up as well. The Kickr Core is a nice trainer, the drive train is smooth, only the electromagnet resistance adds some ‘feedback’ when pedaling. Subscribed and looking forward to your next video!

[@tuxkilla615]

First person view helped me with draft and getting better positioned. It’s easier to see the surges and such IMHO

[@jolly_raider]

Zwift is sponsoring again, yeeeeeey 🎉

[@mattwheeler9867]

Only the lead rider on a group will super-tuck. You also need to be above a certain speed and on a downhill grade steeper than 3%. For this downhill, you will typically want to sprint into the bumps to keep your momentum out of them. It's a huge benefit to be in the draft of others. You were steering out of their draft in a couple of cases. (Downhill racing is more complex than it should/could be).

[@ChrisPhillips-l4y]

Over 57 km/hr

[@MrMattie725]

I loved the Pinarello powered races! Narrow race score bands made it realy competitive and fun. Podiumed two times and had to actually recon and think about my race to pull of that first win :D Also loved the Zwift World Series. Those are the so called Zwift monuments and have big fields (60+ riders in eacht cat) in the evening in Europe!

[@andyaardema]

Jeff you gotta get Sauce for Zwift to really up your racing. It gives you very useful overlays like exact draft savings and alerts when riders are attacking. The install is a pain but worth it.

[@davidhofmayer1031]

Downhill technique is super hard, and seems to change each time they change algorithm. Where super tuck is possible, approach is to burst max sprint, then immediately down to 0 watts for super tuck. Thrall is one of the top 10 guys on Zwift, and he would beat you in a sprint as well, but otherwise you were good enough for 3rd with more zwiftcraft

[@blackflamesolutions526]

Yep, another way that Zwift favours riders with a strong sprint.

[@spencerbos4175]

@NorCalCycling the super tuck happens when you have a grade of -2 or more and traveling at 55 km/h or more!

[@finishstrongcycling2355]

Great to see an accomplished road cyclist such as yourself in Zwift! I hope Zwift can find the right combination to make racing fun again for all levels of riders. Get on Zwiftpower if you haven't alreaady. That's where the serious racers are at.

[@adamweb]

On the topic of downhill momentum, I feel like certain smart bikes such as the KICKR Bike have a slight advantage since they have a motor that keeps the flywheel going downhill without pedaling.

[@ImGlossy63]

We need to get you into a multi day stage race with Flamme Rouge Racing and get those on YT.

[@cahal]

Not sure if you can use 10hz mode on the zwift bike. I use it and with direct connect on my wahoo kickr. Basically it's more updates per second of your power, and it makes it much easier to not fly off the front of whomever you are chasing. Faster response on sprints too. Worth investigating.

[@waltflood3224]

TCore! Great guy! Also agree, would love to see your road to 900

[@ShawnMcAfee]

You only supertuck while on the front (not in draft), going over 55kmh and on a descent of 4-5% or greater. All three have to be met to supertuck. As someone who races on zwift up to 5-6 times a week there is so much strategy that can be played. NorCal tactic videos have helped me learn virtual world race craft.

[@briananderson5102]

Love this content. Thoughts: - Get teammates and work out some strategy while talking to each other. - Nerd out on the bike and wheel choices. - interview other zeift competitors from around the world. I’d like to see how swift riders from Japan and other places think about their zwift racing. - narrate race footage from some talented team racing highlighting equipment choice and strategy like NorCal IRL - I race for Team SISU . Well organized with dedicated radio Discord, etc. she’d some NorCal light on different teams, how to choose, how to collaborate, etc. zwift team feature is rather opaque

[@tulsa6969]

My Zwift bike comes today. I’m so pumped 😊

[@LaBestiaHumanaMX]

Just started racing on Zwift, I'm always in the last 10 to finish. That being said, I'm getting new PR, essentially better than I was a few months ago. That's a win for me.

[@michel0731]

I am still wondering why most lightweight ( - 69 ish kg) still beat almost anyone in a sprint. Zwift seems to still always favor lightweight, no matter the terrain (?).

[@emokid363]

Couldn’t agree more. The racing score has made Zwift fun. The races allow for dynamic races (sprint finishes and breakaway attempts). I still won’t win, but I can hold onto a pack much later into a race. Definitely a big upgrade for racing, especially at the introductory categories!

[@6SpeedsGood]

I think the super tuck is available over 38mph + grade above 3%.

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

It also works in flatish routes but tapers off quite quickly. If I recall the it activates when you hit 60kph and keeps tucking as long as you keep that speed.

[@MrD300]

Glad to see you trying out swift . would love to see you talk about in real world training and swift training

[@MichaelThorne_za]

Love these Zwift vids! Once you fix your sock game in Zwift (short socks, eeuuww) your results will improve. 😂

[@StellasVegetablegardens]

😂😂😂

[@Lilliputian63]

Oh Hill No!!! That's my warmup ride. Love it.

[@benkoh178]

Zwift needs a verification process for weight and power, like a crazy protocol you have to run through like when racing at MyWoosh!

[@damodamo7219]

Amazing how excited one gets when free stuff comes in. Positive review no doubt 🙄

[@anwidocu]

100% agreed, was wondering before watching the video how Zwift got amazing all of a sudden after the price hike I'd rather have them lower prices over getting deeper in sponsoring with the increased prices

[@willdavid989]

I appreciate the chess comparisons and lingo

[@DennisNowland]

Well, young man, fun to me. At 70 years of age I love free riding. No more worrying about the weather, traffic, punctures or pot holes. Bliss.

[@mattj9163]

Really love these types of videos

[@Highlyfe_]

Love the Zwift content!

[@itsucram]

those three checkmarks were verified elite riders. meaning they race "elite races" on zwift and their performance is verified (equipment, power, weight, height,...)

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

They can also be notable people. Usually pro athletes have them as well as notable people like the GCN crew. The esports guys usually have PRO instead if I recall.

[@itsucram]

@@ryoukokonpaku1575 I'd say 95% of checkmarks you see on zwift are "E-Sport pros". I have a checkmark myself and I know the three guys shown in the video. The rest are notable people like you say. For the pro jersey next to your name you need to have a contract with a pro Continental/world tour team or something with similar importance

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

@@itsucram oh TIL. thanks for the clarification. I met a few during my rides and allured to them being notable people in general as I saw WT pros having them along with GCN guys.

[@dazcarter73]

The tick for these guys in Race2 means they competed in the ZGP last series

[@mattiapalombi1597]

You should look into aereo frames and wheels set combo

[@Peakabike]

27:42 so how much of a bump did you get ? You were at 762 before that race I think.

[@MrD300]

iso that 2nd race in this video , on the zwift channel you can watch the e sport guys race that course in what is called the swift world series . you watch find it interesting on how that un folded.

[@ovning]

you just got a new bike ... the ultimate motivator

[@kestralrider313]

Nice video Jeff, I will admit that I too am sometimes baffled by the Zwift physics and the required tactics to optimize my avatar's performance. I ham expert by any means, but I have learned some weird phsics that make a zwift sprint and drafting tactics very different from a real world sprint or drafting tactics. For example, you need to start sprinting way before you get to a sprint segment, there's a big lag in winding up the bike speed, and a longer coast down after a sprint. If you ever figure out all the tactics/tricks, especially for us fast twitch sprinters, that would make for an awesome future video. I have found that I need to watch a rider's W/Kg on the screen, not their avatar position; if you want until the Avatar has gapped, they probably started their sprint many seconds before the gap formed.

[@Xhadp]

Haven’t gotten on zwift yet, still too nice weather up here (PNW). And wow that revamped dark theme with the hill climb visualization looks amazing. Such a simple change that works wonders.

[@keepit100kg]

This absolutely makes me want to try Zwift again.

[@DipBuyer83]

I currently am set up with Rouvy, I couldn't get my kurt kinetic trainer to work with zwift.

[@andymiller54]

It’s hilarious seeing you smash climbs you have no idea what they are 😂 The grade fresh takes me 15 min @ 3.9 w/kg 🤦🏻‍♂️ Would love to see you get into team racing // WTRL // ZRL // Ladder racing. There is a great community to Zwift racing but Zwift isn’t the platform where a lot of the organization happens (at this point at least) unfortunately.

[@floam11]

Do 2 rides on a zwift circuit with different bikes on the trainer and publish aero data

[@sanj-m]

😂

[@sanj-m]

😂

[@sanj-m]

😂

[@sanj-m]

😂

[@jujusurf17]

I want to see the journey to 900 !

[@Andi69155]

Great Video! Thanks. Are you happy with the Zwift bike? Did you also never thought about kickr climb? I’m just thinking about if it would make sense to do without the climb and go for the Zwift bike. What’s your opinion?

[@nebukanezer73]

How close is the 343w estimated FTP from "The Grade" hill (2nd race)? 😊

[@nic9972]

is it easier to ride out of saddle with zwift bike?

[@jeffreyanthony7348]

I'm thinking about signing up for your master class, but fitting the workouts in might be difficult do to my schedule.

[@rivierareefer5318]

Path to 900 would be cool. Also doing some livestream races is always interesting to watch I find.

[@Buwtz]

Road to 900! Let's goooo!

[@__marshie]

57kph on 3%+ decline for supertuck. Don’t forget to steer when descending, a lot quicker.

[@phillipracic5062]

can you do a review of your zwift ride? thinking of getting it based on price vs other smart trainers

[@BizonBeats]

I just did my third race this zwift season. I always race top B. The first one I didn't have a score so had to do E, I wasn't allowed to race in another catogery. Rode hard in the hope I'd get a higher score and won that race. Zwift gave me a score somewhere around 450. Then I did the old skool type race in B and got like 10th and didn't change my score. Just did my 2nd race in the new system, it really felt like I was in a category to low. Attacked on the final leg snapper and then I had an angry chat. My score is now 500, so I'd still be in the same category.

[@morecklgust]

How happy are you with the power meter accuracy?

[@DipBuyer83]

Does the zwift bike work with Rouvy?

[@SirCharlesLikesChurros]

Hi. Could someone let me know how he gets the 2-8, 2-11, etc. gears on the top left? I got the wahoo core and frame and mine only says 1 number. There's no "1-” or "2-" in front of the number. Is it because he has the more expensive wahoo trainer maybe? Or is he not using the cog2 that comes with the zwift frame? Or something like that? Just trying to make sure mine is not supposed to look like that as well, and I messed something up lol. Also, do you only get that middle view, showing the current and upcoming grades, when you race? Or can you use that anywhere (free ride or workouts)? I've never seen it. Ty

[@ChrisOwenHalper]

I'm unclear as to how the new Racing Score makes things better or more fun. At the start of the video, you indicated the dopers would be at 900+ points and it was 'inconsequential" since you were at 500-ish. But by the end of the video, were were going to do a "Path to 900." That would mean you are once again chasing / competing with the dopers. Does this point system do anything to categorize similar riders together for challenging races?

[@NorCalCycling]

You’re right, the new system doesn’t solve the weight doper problem. Racers are categorized by their score so the further you advance the more likely you’d be to encounter weight dopers who have inflated scores

[@fireball1462]

idk if 400w sandy is doping, 400 w at 4.2 wpk so he would have to be reverse weight doping to get that low of a wpk

[@MrRoyGS]

Great video. You also managed to stay in the 2-6 gear ration through the entire steep 9% climb.

[@jamiesharp3421]

How's the Zwift Ride vs. the SB20?

[@adamcoppock5018]

Nice work dude. For Zwift to get to the next level I feel it needs to build a proper physics engine to get things like wind nailed. I would like to try one of the new trainers for quicker watt engagement in the game.

[@pierrerivard4884]

A very nice video and i can relate better to this than real life crit for which I am too old to really participate.

[@TrRic]

Hello! I cant choose beetwen wahoo kicker core and v6 ….what is your thought about it?

[@TrRic]

I am 87 kg and 190 cm tall!

[@ultramaterunner]

Question about indoor riding on Zwift app with a road bike. Do you shift gears while riding? Or just keep chain on the small cog upfront and center cog in the rear?

[@6SpeedsGood]

You have to shift gears. The trainer will add load based on grade/speed, so to go uphill you’re going to need an easier gear or else go into a super low rpm/high torque state, just like a real road. There is a trainer mode called Ergo Mode too, which is a target power mode. Say 150W. In this case you do what you say, pick a gear combo, and the resistance adjusts to keep you at 150W. Your Zwift speed then reflects whatever 150W would produce. Climbing a steep hill? You’ll just go like 2 mph, but you can still pedal at whatever rpm you like and it will always feel lime 150w. This mode is useful for Zone training sessions. Zwift has workouts that will use Ergo mode to force, say, 5 perfect 5 minute intervals at exactly 300w and 120W recover, etc.

[@siegfriedpfeifer1379]

Loved this!

[@fwschnaar3179]

Hopefully you’ll do more Zwift Races over the Winter 🤔👍🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️

[@Shadowboost]

400 Watt weight doper? A couple of guys did Old La Honda a couple of days ago at 400W average. For sub 16 min

[@dazcarter73]

Downhill you’ll supertuck on 55kmh and -5%. You need to sprint in to the kickers. There’s more emphasis on weight now, so heavier riders will get away from you if you don’t work in their draft. I’m not a fan of ZRS. If a strong rider makes a big break from a pack, but eventually gets rolled over and finishes last at the sprint they get a massive penalty on the ZRS, despite their efforts.

[@griffithd05]

once they dial in the ZRS scoring it will definitely be better!

[@blaquaman1739]

I’m glad you approve of Zwift because all I do is Zwift these days 😂

[@aRlyWeakCyclist]

Nice video. Are those the new bont riots?

[@jeremykemp3782]

Do you have to wear the heart monitor to race legitimately?

[@ilgour]

Any zwift bike review plz?

[@stevesimpson6021]

If you want to monitor your draft effect, get the Zwift sauce overlay. Tells you the % draft effect.

[@drewbuffington]

Can’t use it in elite zwift racing so I’d opt out.

[@stevesimpson6021]

@@drewbuffingtonI’m definitely not in the elite racing category. Thx for letting me know

[@stevesimpson6021]

@@drewbuffingtonit’s still a good way to practice what to do in races though

[@blueninjasix]

Why no racing for age groupers?

[@CyclingwithVovo]

12:49 1st and 2nd place both riders are 137 pounds??? Are they 12 year olds??

[@TimothySlattery]

Shit... Now I need to clean out my office to set my bike back up for the fall and winter.

[@DRUmat404]

Nice rides. Once you learn how to steer, courses and integrating that with appropriate virtual gearing set up. You’ll enjoy even more.

[@bomba117]

definitly want to se more Zwift!

[@anthonyskrillex6981]

Very very cool. Enjoyed the video. Definitely the idea of of the path to 900 sounds awesome. But now….the serious question is….why the clear glasses while zwifting? 😅

[@NorCalCycling]

Prescription. I need them to see 🤓

[@anthonyskrillex6981]

@@NorCalCycling lol what a silly question of mine. You made me realize I should get some prescription sport glasses though 🤔

[@MaxwellORoark]

How does 0-1000 map to percentile? You're obviously well beyond the 25th percentile so I'm assuming the scale is logarithmic right?

[@ianbent0n]

It's probably a bell curve like chess elo

[@1robdougherty]

I think the Zwift Racing Score is a good addition, when used appropriately. I'm down in the 370s (currently 377, but was 372 prior to a race today), but the fields are much tougher overall for me now. I was Cat C, in my ZRS race today people were doing 4.0-4.3 w/kg at the front, which is way above what the typical Cat C races were before (and my capability at like 2.9-3.0 w/kg). I'd like to see some modification on the more popular races at least to have a more level playing field. I'll keep working to get stronger, but at these current score categories, it's going to take a long time for me to be competitive.

[@fraserp2377]

You have unfortunately slotted in near the bottom of the typical ZRS bandings. I am coming up on 350 and not particularly looking forward to being dropped, but I guess someone has to be there.

[@1robdougherty]

@@fraserp2377 Yea, what stood out to me was how much harder the race was, I was fading to the back and couldn't position myself up front in the flat even because of how hard the tempo was, by the time I reached a climb I had to ride at my own tempo or else I would've bonked. When they were doing the ZRS tests they had a lot more races and score ranges so it was more competitive. My race was just me getting obliterated by the top of C/low end B riders, so I'm hoping they will at least offer more score ranges in the more popular races, otherwise it's like I've been upgraded to a higher class of racing despite not being a top C rider.

[@fraserp2377]

​@@1robdougherty Yeah I feel your pain. If you haven't tried one I usually find smaller races are slower with between 5 - 10 riders. They tend to be more tactical.

[@nateconwi]

get the tron bike or uranium, bikes matter in racing can save upto 1min. idk what is the fastest bike now you can ssearch it though

[@MultiMick2000]

but why should the new scoring system prevent the weight dopers to weight dope?

[@blackflamesolutions526]

It doesn't stop them entering races, but if they win all the time they'll be promoted (at which point they'll keep reducing their weight), but hopefully Zwift will be able to spot riders who have reduced their weight from 70-30kg as they ascent to 900 racing score.

[@ryoukokonpaku1575]

As another posted above. It works similar to how match making rank works in competitive games like LoL and Dota. Smurfers and cheaters basically get bunched into the same category which kills their fun as they also compete with other dopers. Then when they can't lower their weight anymore to anything realistic else they'll be easier to spot by zwift as doping.

[@nathanwforrest]

So, if my racing score is 46, why do I have to race in the 350-520 category?

[@lucygardens]

Wow. Jeff, you've never looked better.