Zwift

 "The difficulty comes from our lack of confidence." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Things have a way of changing quickly when you aren't paying attention.  For me, this is one of those things.

What you are looking at is a cyclist using Zwift.  Zwift is a massively multiplayer online cycling and running training program, that allows athletes to virtually interact, compete and go on group rides.

As a guy who nearly lives in the Great White North, the idea of having group rides, or even races in the middle of winter is very appealing.  Below is the view from my office right now.  Not.  Riding.  Weather.  I miss the mild SoCal winters, but not the year-round issues that go along with living there.  Maybe I should invest in some cross-country skis...

My sister has been bugging me to get a Zwift so that we can ride together.  Like she wouldn't drop me in 30 seconds and I'd never see her again till the finish... LOL.  She has a 440 yard dash (1/4 mile) record set in 1984 that to this day still hasn't been beaten.

The Zwift system consists of a software program (Zwift) that allows athletes to socialize and enter events in an online graphical "gaming" environment.  The cartoon-ish environment should be familiar to those who are online gamers.  The difference with Zwift vs online gaming is that the goal is to get fit instead killing enemies while eating Doritos and drinking Mountain Dew.  

In addition to providing the online scenery and gathering points for users, Zwift performs real-time calculations based on the athlete's performance, using some specialized cycling hardware.

The hardware part of the operation is called a "smart trainer".  The smart trainer measures the athlete's power output in watts, and measures pedal RPM.  The better smart trainers also adjust pedaling resistance in real-time as the Zwift software commands.  So for example, if you and several other cyclists were approaching a virtual hill in the online environment, the resistance would increase for each of you as you arrived at that point on the route.  Zwift resistance also takes into account drafting behind other cyclists.

The video below explains the process better than I have.

I've watched a few videos, and some of them are very entertaining.  This one looks pretty fun.  The guy below live-streamed his participation in a virtual criterium race - this one is 12 laps.  His avatar is the one with a dark blue jersey and the neon-pink bike.  Bike handling isn't important in the Zwift race, although it is in the real thing!

Below:  A real criterium race - with crashes.  The Zwift is less dangerous, and can be done all year long.  Criteriums are super fun to watch up close - you can feel the wind from the pack and hear the racers cuss at each other, LOL.

Zwift also hosts non-racing events like group rides.  Or you can ride solo.  There are no rules if you go solo, but there are social aspects that you can enjoy if you are inclined to.  Below:  This guy explains group ride etiquette and also demonstrates the effects of drafting - which is a factor in real-world cycling.

One thing for sure, it would be more interesting than staring at the wall in the basement while on the elliptical.  The mind needs input to stay motivated, and apparently Zwift provides it.