Just like outdoors, it’s tough to keep
your power low on a Watopian climb.
Don’t start too hard up the Alpe—this
may be the longest climb you’ve ever
attempted! I try to pace myself so I can
bump up my effort when I hit MacReady
Point (turn 3), then go all-out once I
make the final hairpin.
If the Alpe is a bit much, the Epic KOM
is Watopia’s next-largest climb, gaining
1,361 feet over 5.8 miles. This was Wato-
pia’s first “big” climb, and I love how the
atmosphere changes as I ascend. Thewarning of “Sand” (you’re surrounded by
it). When I’m looking for a hard, hour-
long effort, I choose the Road to Sky route
and climb Alpe du Zwift. Even if you’re
not a climber, you’ve got to tackle the
Alpe at least once. Every other Watopian
road is pure fantasy, but Alpe du Zwift is
a GPS-perfect replica of the iconic Alpe
d’Huez and its 21 hairpins. Indoor times
mirror outdoor on this 3,400-foot climb:
The strongest Zwifters get to the top in
under 40 minutes, but many riders shoot
for the hour mark.surround sounds of the German village
make me feel like I’m really there, but
it’s when the snow starts falling and I
actually feel a bit cooler sweating in my
pain cave that things get a little weird.
If you’re looking for a mix of f lats,
rollers, and shorter climbs, I suggest
Titans Grove, the newest addition to
Watopia—and probably Zwift’s most
stunning landscape to date. Then again
I may be biased—the virtual redwoods
remind me of my home turf. I like the
challenge of the Sand and Sequoias route,
which begins in the f lat desert, then takes
me into Titans Grove, where I have to
pay attention and work hard to keep my
speed up over the rollers and timed KOM.
You don’t have to be working hard to
enjoy Watopia. When you decide on a
recovery ride, look around and take in
some of the quirky details, like Jarvis
the Bear, who lives in Titans Grove and
is engaged in an eternal battle to obtain
honey. Or there’s the Mayan Jungle sloth
who waves as you pass beneath. I imagine
him saying, “Enjoy the descent, but you’ll
have to climb out!”FILLING THE SOCIAL CALENDAR // New roads
and dramatic vistas are great, but it’s
Watopia’s social scene—the interaction
with real people—that keeps me coming
back. Where else could I jump on my bike
before sunrise and ride with others from
around the world?
If this is your first Watopian winter,
make sure you try a group ride or two.
There are numerous rides that have been
going steady for years, and each has its own
f lavor. I may pick Monday night’s “Back
to Work” ride if I want something close
to race pace, or the TGIF Ride on Friday
night to wind down from a long week.
After trying a group ride, take it to
the next level with a Zwift race. Back
in 2015, my first Zwift races taught me
that I had more in the tank than I real-
ized. This changed my outdoor riding
forever—maybe it’ll do the same for you.
Take some time and find what grabs
you. Watopia is a paradise for all types
of riders, and once you find what works
for you, you’ll want to do it again and
again—and not only in winter.BEST
ZWIFT
SETUP
You can visit
Watopia on a
budget, but if you
want the best
experience, here
are four key pieces
of equipment I
recommend:1 / SMART TRAINER
These bike trainers
communicate wire-
lessly with Zwift to
adjust resistance
based on road
incline and other
factors. Go with a
direct-drive trainer
(where your rear
wheel is removed)
for realistic ride feel
and super-accurate
power.2 / GAMING PC
This data-driven app
provides a personal-
ized approach to
training by offering
workouts, training
plans, a customiz-
able calendar app,
and performance
analytics.3 / BIG SCREEN
Plug that gaming PC
into a screen that
rivals your bike’s
wheelbase and enjoy
all of Watopia’s
beautiful landscapes
in pristine detail.4 / STRONG FAN
Stay cool so you
can make your best
effort. I prefer fans
like the Stanley
Blower or Wahoo
Headwind that put
out a lot of air in a
focused area.Titans GroveFuego FlatsCol du
ZwiftISSUE 1|2020 • BICYCLING.COM 39Co
urt
es
y^ E
ric
Sc
hla
ng
e/Z
wif
t^ (m
ap
,^ sc
en
es)
;^ C
ou
rte
sy^
Eri
c^ S
ch
lan
ge
(h
ead
sh
ot)