This morning while eating breakfast I watched a YouTube video from GPLama on how to create a Zwift club, select various options and create an event. The club name is TexbikerClub. I created the first event which started at 11:30 AM today about an hour in advance. Zwift does not promote club events so I posted the share link on Instagram.com and Twitter. I didn’t expect anyone to join the event and that was the case. Feature club events have over a meetup: the event starts in the pen for the route you select, the event can be distance, time, or laps. I chose 4 laps plus the lead-in for the Makuri Islands Twilight Harbor route, a total of 17.2 miles with 447 feet of climbing. My actual distance came in at 17.29 miles and 446 feet of climbing. Pretty close; I probably continued pedaling after the ride end. The progress bar showed the lead-in and 4 laps, counting as each lap passed. Unlike a meetup if no one joins the event you are alone on the ride with the event leader icon above. If no one joins an event I prefer the meetup format.
I passed on stage 7 of the Tour de Zwift to ride the club event. I can ride it tomorrow.
This was my first ride on the Twilight Harbor route and I collected the badge after the first lap. ZwiftInsider.com describes the route, “This simple route begins near the Harbor and proceeds in a clockwise direction along the canal to the Tower Sprint. Then we turn right, riding under the overpass and past the neon trucks, making our way down to the Alley Sprint Reverse before finishing off our lap at the same virtual banner where we began.” It was strange to ride a sprint section and my name was the only one. I think another route used part of the sprint sections because 4 names popped up but disappeared when I got close to the line.
I think I rode a good pace for being by myself: average speed 17.6 mph, max speed 23.5 mph, average power 117 watts.
Since it was the first time on this route I earned 4 top results medals.
This was the last ride of January. I missed my road mile goal of 300 miles riding 259.5 miles. I exceeded the miles I thought I would ride in Zwift due to weather with 332.3 miles, 42% of my 800 mile goal for the whole year. The month totaled 591.76 miles, not as much as last year’s 649.06 miles. This month I rode 8 times on the road and 23 times on Zwift. In January 2021 I rode 30 days: 20 Zwift rides and 10 outside. I hoped to ride today (the 31st) but rain was approaching. February will be a different month. I have 2 cataract surgeries that will limit my biking days. My goal is 300 road miles. With fewer days and the off the bike days reaching the goal may be tough. If the weather is good I plan on riding the Jalapeno 100K in Harlingen on February 26th. I like this ride because it tends to be much warmer there.
