Beloved people of my generation,
Do you remember that hopeful feeling you had when you first stepped onto a Wii Fit board? Do you recall those days you spent Just Dance-ing along to your Xbox or PlayStation Move? Can you think of the excitement you felt when Pokémon were finally out there in the real world, ready for you to catch ‘em all?
Stimulating physical activity is something the video game industry has been aiming to do for a while now. And it seems it finally may have gotten its big breakthrough. The credits go to Zwift Inc. and its founding fathers. In 2014 they created a multiplayer online game that allows people to run and ride both virtual as well as existing routes that take you through places like London, Innsbruck, Richmond and New York, via simulation.
With over 225k likes on Facebook, the community of ‘Zwifters’ grows every day and people happily pay for their monthly subscription so that they can move around from within the cozy confinements of their homes.
Combining two of my favorite sports, it goes without saying that I needed to check this out.
Sweat It!
Motivation is key and boy, don’t they know it. The Zwift app plays on an entirely different level when it comes to motivational strategies. It’s got achievements, challenge, races, group rides, and allows users to level up based on the traveled distance, unlocking new items like special shirts and faster bikes as they go. They even have a ‘drop shop’ in which you can buy more cool stuff based on the effort you’ve put in. So basically, next time people tell you “don’t sweat it”, you might be less inclined to take on their advice.
I Want to Ride My Bicycle
Joining Zwift is simple though not as accessible as it may seem. For starters: you need a treadmill and/or a bike. But the list of essentials on your Zwift starter kit goes beyond that. If you’re ready to join the virtual sensation, you’ll also need smart trainers, the aforementioned monthly subscription and a smartwatch or something of the kind that can connect with the app and send out data such as your heart rate and pace. If you’re a fan of Apple, you’re in luck, as Zwift recently became a standard feature on Apple TV, which makes it a lot easier to set up and provides users with much more detailed routes.
If you’re scared about spending money on yet another video game that claims to get you on your feet but then leaves you wanting more: don’t be. Unlike all the things I’ve tried in the past, Zwift doesn’t seem here to hype you and then leave you feeling unsatisfied. Zwift is here to stay. One of the key reasons as to why I know I won’t be leaving soon is that the game doesn’t facilitate its sports: they’re hella hard and cannot easily be cheated. For instance, one of its interesting features is automatic inclination, which makes every ride you undertake incredibly realistic. I dare even say that I have yet to experience an outdoor ride that will challenge me more than the ones on Zwift have done so far. Of course, that might be due to the flatness of the area I live in.
Something to Lava
Now, when you’re a Zwift newbie, you start out wearing a basic orange kit which shows your lack of experience to any user that passes you on your journey. Because of this, most people want to level up as soon as they can and they want to do it fast. Luckily, there are a few hacks circulating the internet to make you gain XP more efficiently.
One of the easiest ways to gain experience points faster is by changing your metrical settings to kilometres instead of miles. For example, after riding 50kms users get awarded 1000XP. That distance corresponds to 31 miles, for which one would only be granted 930XP. Over time, a deviation like this tends to add up.
Secondly: make sure you end a workout on a round number. For running, you get awarded 10XP for each 250 metres. For cycling, it’s 10XP per kilometer. So even if you’re tired at let’s say 12.8 kilometers, it’s worth to keep going and hit those extra 200 metres. Also, there’s bonus XP to be gained from the amount of calories you burn, so keep an eye on that number as well.
Finally, if you’re only just starting out with cycling, you might be discouraged by the level of inclination some of the routes comprise. If you’re interested in leveling fast and giving yourself an easier time doing so, check out the ‘Vulcano Circuit’ in the virtual world Watopia. It’s a 4 kilometer route with an elevation of only 17 metres. New Zwifters are highly encouraged to spend time on it as it allows you to do multiple laps at a higher speed. Also, I find it an esthetically pleasing one to ride as it quite literally takes you through lava.
Ride On!
If after all this you’re intrigued to find out more, you can do so on the official website Zwift.com or join one of the many Facebook groups that bring users together from all around the globe.
With an app gaining this much popularity, you don’t want to miss out on the fun. Time to board the hype train, ’cause next time Beyoncé asks who runs the world, the answer could just as well be “Zwift!”
Hope to ‘run’ into you soon,
Julie
