zwift Archives - Tailwind Coaching

New Zwift Workout: The Early Base Grab Bag
New Zwift Workout: The Early Base Grab Bag

Coaching discussion, Indoor Training, Zwift

New Zwift Workout: The Early Base Grab Bag

If you're looking for a way to kickstart your fitness this year, or you want to try something different, Zwift might be the thing for you. If you don't know what it is, Zwift is an online social media style cycling platform. You ride through virtual worlds, tackling KOMs, sprint points, chasing your friends and completing mileage goals to unlock virtual gear and new routes.

One of the most valuable aspects of the Zwift experience is their workout builder. This allows you to complete pre-built workouts in the game environment. During these workouts, it provides you guidelines for power, time, heart rate, cadence and all other data you'll need to know to target specific fitness parameters. And while Zwift comes loaded with its own sets of workouts, you can easily add your own workout files to the program and create your own workouts.

Just like my previous Zwift Workouts, you can download this one and add it to your library to use any time. Click through the jump to get the details and grab the new Early Base Grab Bag workout!

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Tags: Coaching, indoor training, training, zwift|

Is Zwift Killing Cycling?
Is Zwift Killing Cycling?

Indoor Training, Training discussion, Zwift

Is Zwift Killing Cycling?

There's no doubt that the online training platform Zwift has experienced exponential growth in the last few years. In fact, Zwift users have managed to rack up more than 200 million kilometers in 2017. That's a LOT of miles, and probably a lot of fun too.

There's also little doubt that Zwift is an amazing training tool. In fact, I've relied on it for much of the past two winter seasons to both build fitness and maintain motivation. What seems to have risen recently, however, is the concept of Zwift racing. More than once, I've seen people comment about the validity of these competitions. Are people using the online format to easily cheat? Is it even racing if you're not in the same room with someone else?

There are even plenty of people on various Zwift Facebook groups that eschew outdoor riding completely in favor of a virtual riding platform.

A few years back, I wrote about how Strava had the potential to be a fitness wrecker. Now, hearing that people are turning to Zwift instead of the outdoors, I'm wondering, “Is Zwift Killing Cycling?”

Click through to explore the pros and cons of this burgeoning platform:

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Tags: group riding, indoor training, training, zwift|

Motivation Monday: What’s London Got To Do With It?
Motivation Monday: What’s London Got To Do With It?

Coaching discussion, Dirt roads and gravel grinders, Motivation

Motivation Monday: What’s London Got To Do With It?

If you read my last “Motivation Monday” you'll know I was somehow suckered into riding the Monkey Knife Fight in April. I'd suggest you read the previous column to learn a little more about the race itself. The short, short version of it is this: it's a spring classic, PA style. That means dirt roads, gravel, steep climbs, shitty weather and lots and lots of fun.

Since I've been suckered into this via a good buddy of mine (thanks again Nate…) I can't let him take me out to the middle of nowhere and leave me for dead. No sir. That's not an option.

This week, I'll explore a little of my training theory and what I'm going to do to get my butt in shape to actually finish this ride without breaking down and crying.

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Tags: Coaching, indoor training, Motivation, motivation monday, trainer, training, zwift|

Happy New Year Training Tips and Zwift Workout!

With the final hours of 2017 slipping away, I spent some time on my [easyazon_link identifier=”B01GA6Z8FO” locale=”US” tag=”taicoaandthed-20″]Elite Drivo[/easyazon_link] trainer this morning putting the finishing touches on a new holiday workout for you! Most cyclists view their new year training as a continuation of their usual routine. But there's no better time to switch it up and make a difference than in the new year!

I've also got a couple of tips in the video below that will help you kickstart your New Year training. Remember these two things:

1: Most of us are amateur athletes. As I said in my last podcast of 2017, amateurs plan their training around their life, while pros plan their life around their training. That means every single minute of training time is precious. You need to make every minute count, so aim for quality over quantity. Spend those precious hours training your weaknesses, building a solid functional base and ensuring your body is strong and resilient to ensure a quality cycling season.

2: Consistency is the key to improving your fitness. If you're not riding with any consistency, you're wasting your time. Building fitness requires your body to consistently be stressed to force it to adapt. Get on a plan, stick to a training schedule and you'll see bigger gains than you ever saw before.

In addition to those points, take a look at the short video I put together giving you the details on my new Zwift Aerobic Round Robin workout:

I've also updated my Tailwind Coaching Season Planning Worksheet for 2018. Yep, it's still a free download, and it's got a couple of additional bits of information attached to it. There's also a nice coupon code attached to it that applies to any of my downloadable training plans. All you have to do is download the worksheet and you'll get the coupon code in your inbox! So what are you waiting for? Get planning for 2018 and above all, have a happy, healthy and safe new year! I'm looking forward to helping as many of you as I can in 2018!

Tags: Coaching, indoor training, tips and tricks, video, zwift|

Training With the Zwift Mayan Expansion
Training With the Zwift Mayan Expansion

Coaching discussion, Indoor Training, Skills and techniques, Zwift

Training With the Zwift Mayan Expansion

Zwift continues to expand their offerings with the new Mayan expansion to Watopia. Yes, the south pacific island wonderland just got a little bit bigger and unlocked yet another set of training options. With the mountain, the volcano, and now the Mayan expansion, Watopia has a huge variety of training possibilities. You can do a little bit of everything in a single 26 mile loop or you can focus on smaller loops and more specific training goals.

For more information about Zwift training, check out these links first:

Once you're up to speed on the different training options Zwift offers you, click through the jump and get the low down on the new Mayan expansion!

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Tags: Coaching, indoor training, skills, training, zwift|