I started working with a coach in 2010 and shortly after that I bought an indoor trainer for my bike. It would be great for intervals, strength training, and workouts that required hitting certain heart rate zones and later, watts. It was an essential, invaluable tool for becoming the triathlete that I wanted to be.
Except that I hated riding on it.
I hated riding on the trainer so much that I basically only used it if it was too dark to ride outside. Weather-wise, you could ride outside pretty much year-round in San Antonio. I knew a perfect flat, long road to do intervals on (Castroville!!). I remember multiple arguments with my beautiful, well-meaning, now bestie of a coach who insisted that I do certain workouts on the trainer and lost her patience with me when I repeatedly refused.
Not only was it boring to ride on the trainer, but because it was boring, it felt impossible to hit the heart rate zones and watts that I was being instructed to aim for. Sometimes loud angry music would help but usually my trainer rides were an exercise in trying to maintain focus (which I suppose is also a skill) and counting the minutes until it was over.
So, for the last five years when everyone has talked about how great Zwift is, I've resisted, feeling superior: riding outside is always better than riding inside, only weenies ride indoors because of bad weather. My trainer was gathering dust in the closet and I intended to keep it that way. I resisted with the same stubbornness as when I refused to watch "Forrest Gump" because everyone said it was a really good movie.
After a few indoor rides of his own this winter, Trent insisted that I would love Zwift and that I should try it. He enticed me with the idea that we could ride "together" even while we're living in different states. So when my friend bought a Peloton and sold her Wahoo Kickr Snap at a bargain price, I snapped (heh) it up. I brought it with me to Kansas City for the Christmas break so that Trent could help me set everything up and we could ride together in his basement.
Zwift! Where have you been all my life?
For a $15/month subscription, you have access to workouts that encourage you to hit certain watts/cadence/heartrate depending on what you're training for. The smart trainer adjusts the resistance for you, making it challenging and interesting. It does the same thing when you're not doing a set workout - it adjusts the resistance to make it feel like you really are riding up and down hills. It's amazing how much more interesting and therefore mentally easier it is to ride like this than on a "dumb" trainer.
Then there's all the video game aspects that appeal to your brain's reward center - you level up, you earn new kits and helmets and socks. Your energy output is measured in number of pizza slices earned. It's fun!
The best part about Zwift for me is being able to ride "with" friends. I have a weekly date with two of my besties who live in two different cities in Texas; another friend from down the road also joins from time to time. I started my Zwift experience this year with Orissa and Linda on the Tour de Zwift, an event where you got to pick a different stage every week and ride with other people from all over the world. We discovered that these events often have a separate women's ride and we've learned that we prefer those.
The Zwift folks seem really plugged into the cycling and triathlon communities - there's a Norseman challenge coming up next month and I can't wait! I'm writing this as I wait for today's event to start. Yes, I could bundle up and go ride outside today. But I signed up for the three-day Haute Route challenge and today is Stage 2 and I'm looking forward to it.
Well, "Forrest Gump" is now one of my favorite movies of all time. I admitted I was wrong then, and I'm admitting I was wrong now. Trent was right. I love riding on Zwift. And now I'm going to be relentless about getting all of my friends on Zwift too, so that we can all ride together. Ride on!
