These are hopefully a simplistic guide to getting started on Zwift races, specifically TTs.

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Firstly, you do not need to be a set level to enter the race, as a club we submit riders to the;

Cycling Weekly Club 10mile TT at 1800 every Wednesday

 

HOW TO ENTER

In order to join and to monitor the event and results your best option is to have the Zwift Companion App, preferably but not essentially, on a separate device to your main Zwift screen device.

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On companion use the EVENTS> banner to go to a list of all events being held.  You can at this point filter the events, (menu top right) to just show Time Trials.  Scroll across to Wednesday and down to 1800 where you should see the above event.  If you tap on it you will see two groups, D & E.  they are both for the same output riders 1-5 w/Kg and as a rule we will all try and join group D.  If it is full don’t worry join E.  Both groups ride on the same course at the same time so you won’t miss anything.

 

BIKE CHOICE

The TT is held on a variety of courses and choice of bike can make a big difference to your time.  Every rider will be different given their physique, level of fitness and sheer bloody mindedness, so you may need to experiment on each course to find out your best bike choice.  As a very rough guide; 

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• Tempus Fugit & Tick Tock are very flat – go for a pure TT bike with your most aero wheels.
   

• London 8 – primarily flat but with the steep ascent of Box Hill at the end, TT works well but will slow you down a little on the climb.
   

• Bologna – flat, hill, downhill, flat.  A difficult choice, you need to ride it twice on different bikes to be sure.  (for me I go Road bike and light wheels, others prefer a TT). WARNING, the hill is a sickener.

 

HOW TO CHANGE BIKE

A weakness in Zwift here makes changing your look or ride fiddly but not difficult.  You will need to enter Zwift as for any other ride, (Open, pair, Ride).  You do not need to choose route etc if you are just logging in to change your appearance, if you intend to ride straight away choose your route for the day first.  When you “spawn” at the side of the road for the start of a ride click on the Menu button, bottom left.

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This will put you in a menu screen with loads of info.  On the right are a series of small orange icons.
 

• Training, allows you to choose some training programs that are not time sensitive.
   

• Badges, allows you to view your achievements on Zwift and decide what to choose next.
   

• Bluetooth, used to pair your devices.
   

• Garage, this is what you want.  Within here you can choose the way you appear and what you ride.
   

  • The first choice is arguably the most important, Frame.  You will automatically own a road, TT and MTB frame courtesy of Zwift.  Your default will be the Zwift Carbon road frame, if required change to the TT frame.  
     

  • Wheels, equip the most suitable for the TT course, lightest for climbing, aero for flat.
     

  • Clothing, look sharp.
     

  • DROP SHOP.  This is where all those sweat drops you see mounting up on your rides can be spent. Choose wisely as those drops are hard earned but some items here can make a big difference to your time, specifically light wheels for climbs and aero ones for flat TTs.
     

https://zwiftinsider.com/what-to-buy-at-each-zwift-level/ 

• Settings, here you can choose how hard your ride feels via a smart trainer.

 

You can exit Zwift after this set up session if you don’t plan to ride.  Just discard the ride, your bike choice will remain.  You can obviously do this just before the TT if you give yourself enough time but I would suggest doing it separately or at the end of your last ride before the TT.

DO calibrate your trainer regularly to get consistent results, DO give ride ons,  to your club mates, everyone is doing it for their own reasons, (not just to beat you).  Just for fun.

If you feel I have missed anything or need to clarify it please let me know and I’ll update it.

 

GOOD LUCK.  

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GET ON, RIDE LIKE HELL, GET OFF.  (Eat cake)