Thinking about giving Zwift a try but not sure what value it could add to your indoor training? From being able to dial into specific efforts, to opening up an entire virtual community to train with. There are plenty of reasons to get set up on Zwift. We spoke to four experienced Zwift riders to get their insights on why they use the platform, so you can find out how it could support your own cycling training.
Riding on Zwift can be a valuable tool to support injury recovery
Indoor cycling gives you the ability to have far more control over your ride than you would cycling outdoors. On Zwift you can take charge of the intensity of your ride by adjusting your FTP for workouts, or selecting a flat route to ensure you won’t have to get out of the saddle or put in any surges to scale any climbs.
If you’re managing an injury, or getting back to fitness after surgery this ability to control the variables during your ride is essential for ensuring you don’t do anything that will set your recovery process back a step. Out on the roads you might have to push higher power than is appropriate to get to the top of a climb, or put a surge in to negotiate a traffic junction. If something doesn’t feel right, you’ve still got to cycle home. Meanwhile using Zwift means no nasty surprises, and if you need to stop – you can just stop.
Cycling through pregnancy
The ability to really take control of your cycling environment and intensity is also a reason that many women who are looking for support to cycle safely through pregnancy choose to do so on Zwift.
For cycling journalist and TV presenter, Rebecca Charlton, riding on Zwift during her pregnancy meant she could adapt her position on the bike to remain comfortable – and ensure she was keeping the intensity at an appropriate level.
Many female cyclists want to keep up their riding as much as they can through pregnancy, but the uncontrolled variables (such as traffic and ride intensity) out on the road make that more difficult. The Baby on Board section in Zwift’s workout library that Rebecca mentioned has over 20 workouts aimed at women who are cycling while pregnant, or getting back on the bike after pregnancy. The intensity levels are all kept between 1/5 and 2.5/5. And the use of a static bike or turbo trainer means you can adapt your position to whatever is comfortable.
Efficient – and specific – training made easy
For the riders we spoke to, being able to really dial into specific efforts, train efficiently and ride course profiles they wouldn’t be able to access from their own front door were strong reasons they like to ride on Zwift.
By taking some of your bike training indoors, you take away the added complication of having to find that small window in the day to ride when traffic won’t be too busy and visibility is good. Completing your interval sessions on Zwift means you can create the right conditions to be able to achieve the desired training effect.
If you’re training for a specific event, riding on Zwift also creates an easy way for you to replicate the course profile you’ll experience – whether that’s a fast and flat time trial course, or a hilly triathlon.
Expand your cycling community
When you think of turbo training, ‘sociable’ might not be the first word that springs to mind. In fact, something that puts a lot of cyclists off indoor training is the thought of boring, solo rides. But the riders we spoke to all mentioned the social side of Zwift as a major benefit to training on the platform.
Getting involved with the community side of Zwift gives you the opportunity to connect with other riders from all around the world. The support, motivation and advice you can find as a result is not to be underestimated.
For more Zwift tips, head over to our dedicated Zwift section where you’ll find information on getting started, the best Zwift routes and our very own selection of custom workouts.
