as told to Barb Blakley Millott by Adam Zimmerman, one of our resident Zwift Racing Rockstars

As an early Beta adopter to Zwift I have been fortunate enough to witness the progression of the racing scene. Before organized racing was formed, a bunch of riders used to agree on a time to meet at the start / finish banner. Someone would do a countdown to start the race. Three, Two, One, and we were off! Aside from racing each other the game wasn't advanced enough to know which way to turn as there were no pre-set race courses. You would need to memorize the course chosen by the group and be ready to hit the left / right arrow keys when a turn was coming up. As the game became streamlined, organizers took to the app to put their events up for people to join. As it stands now you could jump into a race or event every five minutes! This weekend I should hit my 400th race on Zwift. I hope to share some tips and tricks with you so you too can become a better e-sports racer!

Learn to play the game:

Yes you are pedaling a bicycle but you need to play within the rules of the game. Sure many race tactics you've implemented racing outside in the real world can translate to Zwift, but it's important to understand the movement of the game when it comes to drafting dynamics, attacks, and finishing sprints. You do not have the same outside elements as a variable; wind, rain, crashing, and so forth. However, the game presents a new set of challenges for you to overcome. Trainer resistance, core temperature, screen fatigue, and intrinsic motivation. Treat Zwift racing as an entirely new sport and try not to compare it to your outside results and efforts. You will be much better off as you move through the ranks.

Set up a proper Pain Cave:

We all have different size spaces to set up our trainers. Some of us are able to have an entire room while others cram their setup into a corner of a room. No matter the space, make it cool and dark and you will have a more immersive riding experience. I see a lot of photos of riders who keep the room as bright as possible. In my opinion light will distract you from the screen. It will also in some cases make the room temperature go up. Even if the incoming light does not affect room temp, a dark room will provide the illusion it's much cooler. If you plan to make Zwift racing a regular part of your riding invest in a powerful fan. I would recommend the Lasko Blower fan. They are a bit loud but very powerful and the air tends to be cooler when compared to a traditional fan.

Powerups are not a lifesaver but a game changer:

Each power up in the game can be used to change your end result in a race. If the race is flat so everything you can do to get an aero helmet power up. Personally I will burn all other power ups until I get a helmet. Even if I risk not having any power up for the finish, a helmet will greatly increase your speed in a finishing sprint. Keep in mind, power ups only last between 15-30 seconds. They can help you at the end of a race but it doesn't guarantee you a win. I've seen plenty of riders will a bunch sprint with no power up while everyone else had the helmet. How well you draft during the race, your timing in the final 300m, and your ability to launch your sprint with perfect timing will likely give you a better result. Having a power up can be a huge mental boost for a rider in the closing kilometers. It can also be a rider's kryptonite if they do not have one. I've been in this situation many times where I did not have a power up during the finish. Many riders will beat themselves up if they end up power-up-less. Don't be that rider! You cannot control what everyone else is doing in the field, so you may as well harness all the energy you have on your own ability.

Learn the courses:

Each race course has its own quirky personality. Study the race courses by riding them several times in training. Another way is to subscribe to those Zwifters who stream their races on social media. I've learned a ton just by watching other people race. If you have the ability to stream or record your races I would highly recommend it. Professional boxers constantly review their fights as well as their competitors. Why shouldn't you do the same thing? I record the majority of my races and study the positives and negatives from each experience. It's also a bit comical to go back and watch yourself suffer!

Have fun! Remember at the end of the day this is a video game training tool. If you use the game in a manner to better your outside racing you will yield positive results and fitness goals you never thought you could do. I personally treat Zwift as its own racing season. I also race XC MTB during the Spring and summer. Both go hand in hand to make me a better athlete. Figure out what your goals are and jump into races that simulate what you do in the real world.

Zwift Racing Checklist:

• Bottles Full

• Fan On

• Music Mix

• Dark Room

• Thermostat Lowered

• Shoes tightened

• Towel (Towel in ice water)

• Game Face!