Team OWL’s ZRL Lessons: Why w/kg Falls Short in Women’s Racing
If you’ve followed my work, you might remember my piece from last March, Women’s Racing on Zwift: An Unfinished Journey Towards Equality, where I explored the flaws in how women’s performance in Zwift racing is measured. This time, I’ll build on that discussion, reflecting on what ZRL racing has taught me...
New Roads: Team OWL Takes on ZRL
Even when you think you know exactly what something is, experiencing it differently can make it feel brand new. When we add the challenge of learning new racing tactics—when we push ourselves to understand something unfamiliar and practice it until it becomes second nature—we're training our minds with the same...
Why is My Zwift Workout FTP Different Than My zFTP?
Have you ever hopped onto your Zwift Ride, ready to crush a workout, only to have a mini heart attack at the FTP number Zwift has decided is right for you? Yeah, me too! It’s like Zwift is saying, “Surprise! You’re 15 watts stronger than you thought!” Thanks for the...
Zwift Ride: Shift Styles and Gear Options at any Age
TL;DR Heads up—this post gets a little nerdy! If technical talk isn’t your thing, feel free to skip to What’s Special About Zwift Ride Gearing for OWLs and the Shifting Style and Gear options I chose for my Zwift Ride. No hard feelings—I promise! Next on the docket of my...
Relearning to Climb: Kicking That Pain in the Butt Goodbye!
Ever wonder what cadence feels right on climbs? For me, the answer hit hard: it’s time to spin faster. Why? Because at 65, racing with Team OWL toward my goal of still riding at 80+ (like our incredible Wendy Skean!) means protecting my body for decades of watts ahead. This...
Is That a Scotty in Your Pocket?
There’s a new must-have accessory on Zwift—and no, it’s not a wheelset or a frame upgrade. It’s a squirrel. Specifically, Scotty the Squirrel, Zwift’s mischievous little mascot who has officially moved into your jersey pocket as part of the platform’s new Streak Flair system. If you’ve spotted riders with a tiny squirrel medal,...
Zwift Ride: The Indoor Trainer That’s Got Our Backs (and Our Glutes!)
Last November, Team OWL, our Grandmasters TTT team aged 65 to 80, did something truly epic. We’d been racing together online for over four years. But this time, we raced a Team Time Trial (TTT), in person at Zwift HQ in Long Beach, California. It was an unforgettable experience! That’s not all. Not...
Women’s Racing on Zwift: An Unfinished Journey Towards Equality
Zwift’s influence on women’s cycling “in real life” is undeniable. In 2016, Kate Veronneau was brought on board to lead Zwift Academy, a game-changing global virtual cycling competition. In its first year, this revolutionary challenge awarded Leah Thorvilson a pro cycling contract with Canyon/SRAM. Zwift Academy has completely transformed the landscape of women’s cycling,...