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This post might be the first of its kind. It is a ride report for Zwift rides. Wait, don't hit the back button yet. This is a multi-month project.
In early September I returned from a hiatus from my bike and also Zwift. As I logged in, I noticed all the format in the game had changed. Much of this is a great improvement. As I selected the new icons, I came across one that listed my badges. For most of us, “We don't need no stinking badges”. As I came across this screen over the course of a week. I thought how I could improve on my current position of 74 of 174 badges. As I looked at the list of badges I needed, (did not have) many were from completing routes. You ride a specific route, win a badge. This was a way for me to explore the game while getting my legs back. I needed 100 badges. I'll start a “quest” (CB word) to acquire badges. How about 100 badges in 100 days. This may be a little ambitious, especially with vacations coming. None the less, we are off.
As I write this, I'm 20 days in. I've been picking them off each day. Most of the rides are not overly taxing. Maybe 90 mins, effort at the most. I have ridden 2 routes that were off the chart as far as effort,
Effort? For each ride Zwift will assign a value of effort on a 1-5 scale. It will also list an estimated time of completion i.e. +30, <60, +90. Most of the effort values have been accurate. A 3/5 has been harder than a 2.5/5. The 2 routes I spoke of earlier, have been rated a 5/5. They were more like a 7/5. They were tough.
After a week on this quest. I attempted a level 5 ride. Ven-Top. That was a lot of riding at 5 mph. I stopped halfway up to refill my water bottles and a little sustenance. I made it to the top. A place I had never been. (not sure when I'll be back) I was tired. I knew then a little preparation was needed prior to riding the level 5 rides. They were not 2x the 2.5 rides.
Zwift - Ven-Top in France | Virtual Ride | Strava
About a week later I set out to ride “Four Horsemen”. It's the volcano, radio tower hill and Alp du Zwift. I stopped 2 hours in at the base of Alp du Zwift, to rest a little and refill my body and bottles. I got back on the bike and disaster struck. I reached for my water bottle on the shelf next to me and bumped it on to my keyboard. Out of all the keys it could have hit. It hit the one that reverses the rider's direction. Since I deviated from the course, I could not get the badge. Waaa, Waa. One thing I did receive from the ride was a badge for riding over 62mph. (100 kph) If you take a feather up radio tower hill and use it mid-way down the hill you will get that badge.
A couple days later I rode the 55 miles and 6950' of climbing in 4:35. I was blitzed.
Since then, I have continued to ride 2 and 3 level rides each day.
I will continue to keep you informed on my progress. I still have about 75 days left.
If you want to follow me in this adventure. I can be found on Zwift at “Ken Holzhausen-Cruzbike”. On Strava Strava Cyclist Profile | Ken Holzhausen
"Ride ons" are always appreciated.
In early September I returned from a hiatus from my bike and also Zwift. As I logged in, I noticed all the format in the game had changed. Much of this is a great improvement. As I selected the new icons, I came across one that listed my badges. For most of us, “We don't need no stinking badges”. As I came across this screen over the course of a week. I thought how I could improve on my current position of 74 of 174 badges. As I looked at the list of badges I needed, (did not have) many were from completing routes. You ride a specific route, win a badge. This was a way for me to explore the game while getting my legs back. I needed 100 badges. I'll start a “quest” (CB word) to acquire badges. How about 100 badges in 100 days. This may be a little ambitious, especially with vacations coming. None the less, we are off.
As I write this, I'm 20 days in. I've been picking them off each day. Most of the rides are not overly taxing. Maybe 90 mins, effort at the most. I have ridden 2 routes that were off the chart as far as effort,
Effort? For each ride Zwift will assign a value of effort on a 1-5 scale. It will also list an estimated time of completion i.e. +30, <60, +90. Most of the effort values have been accurate. A 3/5 has been harder than a 2.5/5. The 2 routes I spoke of earlier, have been rated a 5/5. They were more like a 7/5. They were tough.
After a week on this quest. I attempted a level 5 ride. Ven-Top. That was a lot of riding at 5 mph. I stopped halfway up to refill my water bottles and a little sustenance. I made it to the top. A place I had never been. (not sure when I'll be back) I was tired. I knew then a little preparation was needed prior to riding the level 5 rides. They were not 2x the 2.5 rides.
Zwift - Ven-Top in France | Virtual Ride | Strava
About a week later I set out to ride “Four Horsemen”. It's the volcano, radio tower hill and Alp du Zwift. I stopped 2 hours in at the base of Alp du Zwift, to rest a little and refill my body and bottles. I got back on the bike and disaster struck. I reached for my water bottle on the shelf next to me and bumped it on to my keyboard. Out of all the keys it could have hit. It hit the one that reverses the rider's direction. Since I deviated from the course, I could not get the badge. Waaa, Waa. One thing I did receive from the ride was a badge for riding over 62mph. (100 kph) If you take a feather up radio tower hill and use it mid-way down the hill you will get that badge.
A couple days later I rode the 55 miles and 6950' of climbing in 4:35. I was blitzed.
Since then, I have continued to ride 2 and 3 level rides each day.
I will continue to keep you informed on my progress. I still have about 75 days left.
If you want to follow me in this adventure. I can be found on Zwift at “Ken Holzhausen-Cruzbike”. On Strava Strava Cyclist Profile | Ken Holzhausen
"Ride ons" are always appreciated.
