2019-11-01_Bicycling

ERIC SCHLANGE | FROM: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | CREDENTIALS: CREATOR OF ZWIFTINSIDER.COM | GO-TO BIKE: SPECIALIZED VENGE VIAS | FAVORITE PIECE OF GEAR: ELIEL CYCLING CALIFORNIA

KIT | HARDEST RIDE EVER: 100KM ZWIFT TIME TRIAL: PURE SUFFERING, AND NO SHELTERING IN THE DRAFT | BEST RIDE EVER: 20 19 GIRONA GRAN FONDO: THE ROCACORBA DESCENT WAS PERFECT |

SOUL ROUTE: IMPERIAL CENTURY LOOP AROUND CLEAR LAKE, OUR LOCAL FISHING HOLE | CYCLING PHILOSOPHY: GO FAST, WITH FRIENDS

MAKE SURE YOU GET TO ONE of the hot-

test riding destinations this winter—a

place where you never have to gear up

for bad weather, the scenery is beautiful,

the group rides are friendly, the racing is

crash-free, and maybe best of all there’s no

traffic or stoplights.

If it all sounds too good to be real, that’s

because it is. Sort of. Watopia, of course, is

the centerpiece of Zwift’s virtual world, an

indoor cycling paradise that offers some-

thing for everyone. In just five years, it has

arguably become the number-one winter

destination for cyclists, hosting hundreds

of thousands of riders.

I’ve spent countless hours riding and

researching the roads, scenery, and customs

of Watopia. It may sound strange to the

uninitiated, but for myself and many others,

Watopia has grown into a real place with its

own history, inside jokes, and social norms.

Here are my tips for making the most of

your winter in Watopia.

RIDE HERE // While you can choose your

own turns in Watopia, its 30+ predefined

routes remove the need to navigate. Very

few Zwifters have completed every course.

I’ve put in over 17,000 miles on my smart

trainer and I’ve still got a few to cross off

my list! Routes range from just a few miles

to the Über Pretzel’s 79.7 miles, so there’s

a course for every ride plan.

Riders looking for a steady effort on f lat

roads have traditionally chosen to ride

Watopia Flat, with its underwater ocean

tube, or Volcano Flat, with its smoking lava

pools. But lately my favorite f lat route has

been Tempus Fugit in the recently added

Fuego Flats desert. The scenery is expan-

sive and entertaining, including a road sign

The equipment your avatar uses

affects your in-game speed on

Watopia, so use your Drops

(Zwift’s virtual currency) wisely.

For beginners, the Specialized

Allez Sprint is the most attain-

able aero frame, and it’s one

slippery machine when coupled with the affordable

Zipp 808 wheels. Want the best climbing bike? Go

with a Specialized Tarmac Pro paired with Meilenstein

Lightweight wheels from the prize spinner atop Alpe

du Zwift. (If you’re lucky, it’ll only take you a few tries

to get the wheels. It took me 13!)

Get

Virtual

Gear

for Real

Speed

❯❯

THE BEST

PLACE TO RIDE

IN WINTER

Vol

can

o

Alpe du

Zwift

Mayan

Jungle

38 BICYCLING.COM • ISSUE 1| 2020