The Skinny

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A very hard course with magical scenery. There are two transitions, with the swim start at San Hollow located about 20 miles from T2 and finish. The bike is hilly and culminates in a ride up the fabled four miles up Snow Canyon and then a descent for about 9 miles to the finish. The non Worlds run course was an out and back that included some long slow inclines and some punchy hills.

The city is incredibly welcoming and the race finish/IM village is centrally located. The weather was exceptional for the May race (perhaps a bit warm for some people, but I live in a hot climate). The 70.3 Worlds weather was really crazy where it went from mild, to windy and stormy, and then to sunny and warm all within 7 hours. It is a Saturday race and that can be very popular with people. 

Setting: 5/5

IM Village/Finish line/T2 are located in downtown St. George, Utah and it is an idyllic setting. The community really embraces the race and seem to genuinely be happy we are there invading their city! They have wonderful restaurants. Two of my favorites that are right near IM Village are the Bear Paw Cafe (breakfast and lunch) which has good food and great coffee and Twisted Noodle Cafe (lunch and dinner) which has fantastic healthy options. For both races, I stayed at a hotel that was about .75 miles from IM Village and it was great to just be able to walk everywhere. There are tons of options to stay and eat just within two miles of there. There is a large park area right at IM that is perfect for children to run around in. They have a splash pad area, a lot of grass, and a carousel to keep kiddos occupied while you check in and buy merch! The lone downside is it is about a 25 minute drive to get to Sand Hollow State Park where the swim is, but that really didn’t bother too much as it was logistically easy to get there for practice swims and for bike gear drop off at both races. The scenery everywhere is remarkable. I’ve never raced in a prettier setting.

Weather: 3/5 

It was warm at the race in May, with my Garmin showing a low of 63 and high of 90. With it being a dry heat, I don’t remember feeling like it was very hot. There was some wind, but it was more refreshing than anything else. I touched upon the weather at Worlds already, but it is worth noting that it hadn’t rained in St. George for 4 months leading up to that race in mid-September). The wind on that day, after the storm front came through, was really strong. Living in North Texas, I’m used to it, but it was still unpleasant for the most part. The challenge came with wet roads and the wind gusts, especially on the bike descent from Snow Canyon to T2.

Swim: 5/5 Wetsuit legal 

Sand Hollow is the most beautiful setting I have ever swam in. The water is clear and refreshing and there is a lot of space to move on the course. I never felt swam over in either race. The water was cold at the race in May, coming in at 62 degrees. If you are not used to swimming in cold water, I would STRONGLY recommend doing as many pre-race practice swims at Sand Hollow as possible. I did two short practice swims there, mostly for cold acclimation, and had zero issues on race morning. A lot of people can get headaches or lose their breath in very cold water once they dip their heads in. If this is you, take the time to go and get used to the water. The swim in and swim out was well organized and there were tons of volunteers. There were no wetsuit strippers as those seem to have disappeared in these COVID times. The course itself is a basic, keep the buoys to your right, make a right turn, make a right turn, keep the buoys to your right, and then exit. 

Transitions: 4/5

Transitions were large and well organized. Split transitions seem to be more common these days and I’m getting to like the fact that they require you to pare down and be efficient. Your bags (and everything needs to stay in the bags) are with your bike in T1 and they are hanging in your spot at T2. My only complaint is that the transitions are long in that you have to walk/run pretty far to get to your things and get out.

Bike: 5/5

No one would ever describe this bike course as flat! You are either going uphill or downhill with very little flat portions. I found that most of the hills were quite manageable and made for a very enjoyable ride as you are always challenged and that keeps your head int he game. It isn’t easy, but I also didn’t find it outrageously challenging. As someone who doesn’t have the opportunity to train on hills, the course was doable for me although not ideal to perform at my highest level. The roads were really nicely maintained and had a lot of room. I felt safe from cars too. Obviously, the iconic climb is Snow Canyon which, in the 70.3 comes around mile 44. It is approximately 4 miles long and it is a slow and steady climb until you get to the last 500 meters where it gets steep and pitchy. (This is definitely a race where you need to think about appropriate gearing on your bike.) After Snow Canyon, you head downhill the entire time into transition. The road is wide and free of potholes, so depending on your comfort level, you can tuck down into aero and really get some speed. The course is absolutely breathtaking. Even when you are suffering in Snow Canyon, you are surrounded by such natural beauty that it almost makes it okay!

Run: 4/5

This run is hard. There are no two ways about it. However, I loved it in both iterations I did it on. You leave T2 and run 3.5 miles up Diamond. For the regular 70.3 it was a sort of looped out and back once you got to the top of the climb. That out and and back had some very punchy pitches on it, but it also has some flat sections. For the World Championships, athletes went in a double loop course that went up that 3.5 mile climb twice. I preferred the World Championship course despite it being harder. Either way, you are going to bang the heck out of your quads when you are descending. The top of the course was a bit exposed, so you are going to feel any wind and there isn’t much shade outside of being next to a canyon wall. You need to be very judicious about how you burn your matches on this course. 

Finish: 5/5

The finish lines at both of St. George's races were remarkable. A wide, beautiful street with a huge crowd in a beautiful area. One of my favorite finish lines ever.

Family Friendliness: 5/5

This is probably the most family friendly race I’ve participated in. Ironman Village was in a gorgeous expansive park area that even had a small carousel. There was a splash area as well as a manmade stream for kids to play in. The restaurants are all family friendly and there are plenty. There are cute shops along the main road and it is easy to walk around. You can go to the Sand Hollow area and play on the beach as well. Not to mention there are national parks and hiking areas everywhere around there. This is an ideal destination/vacation race for a family

For some that feel the itch to do something insane during their lifetime, an IRONMAN is often a one and done bucket list kind of achievement. For others, it’s a lifestyle. Often planning their vacations and work/life schedules around which race they have coming up next. Always in search of that perfect race, if one does exist. And for a rare few, the challenge of just one in a short time period isn’t enough. 

By setting out to compete in multiple IRONMAN races in short succession; the standard build up, race, and recovery routine is thrown out the window. What is left is a jigsaw puzzle of how to manage your training and recovery for such a monumental task.

But just like any other puzzle, there’s a right and a wrong way to put the pieces together, and a strategy to help you get to the end. Up next, my thoughts on how to scratch that IRONMAN itch, so you can scratch that one off your bucket list… or make it part of your lifestyle!

Make Your Training Routine IRONMAN Approved

Whether your races are 2 months apart or 2 weeks apart, many aspects of a quick turn around between IRONMAN races remain the same. The most direct way to make this challenge a bit “easier”, is to get fitter! Put simply, the faster and fitter you are, the shorter each race is. 

Each person will be different in what is the best way to achieve this, but my general advice here is to hire a knowledgeable coach. Particularly one that has a track record of success with other athletes that have done what you are attempting. 

This can be invaluable to help you manage not only the complexities of getting fitter, but helping you get the most out of each race with proper planning and execution.

How to Race… the Right Way

Once you are set and have the training side of things taken care of, then comes the race itself. I find a shorter taper into the first race helps me, as it allows me to carry some of that fitness past the first race and into the second. 

This can also be tricky though, as you still want to be well enough rested enough for the first race to go well! So managing good nutrition, sleep, pre-race travel and stress is super important here. I’ve made mistakes here in the past with super long car rides and overnight flights leading to poor race results. Just remember that you want to avoid any extra pre-race stress that you can!

Work with your coach to be able to implement a rock solid race execution plan, especially focusing on nutrition. Your body at the end of an IRONMAN where you bonked hard is way more trashed than if you were able to stay strong to the end. 

Make sure to take into consideration the conditions on the day too, as nutrition and pacing demands will vary a good bit here. Ending up in the medical tent because you got super dehydrated is also another way to ruin your chances at a quick turn-around.

Don’t Skip Out on Post-Race Physical Recovery…

After the race, your first priority is recovery. I break recovery down into 3 different categories. The first of which is physical, or muscular, recovery. I’ve never met anyone that wasn’t immensely sore the day following an IRONMAN. The quicker your body can turn around from this, the better. 

There are a couple ways that you can aid your body in recovering from this soreness quicker. My personal favorite is using a compression device such as the Speed Hound Pro-Performance Recovery System. These use sequential compression to encourage blood and lymphatic flow in your extremities, especially in those super sore legs! After an IRONMAN, your body’s ability to do this on it’s own is severely diminished and these will help diminish the soreness and swelling that will otherwise take longer to dissipate.

Other light interventions to keep the blood flowing will also help in aiding recovery, including massage and even light movement. Though these are best to save for the days following the race. The first exercises to ease back into after the race will typically be swimming and riding, with super easy running being the last. 

Once you are able to run with a normal gait again post-race, you’ll know that your muscular recovery is going well. Though it is important to not constantly test this and set your recovery back even further.

…Or Ignore Systemic Recovery

The next type of recovery that can often be overlooked is systemic, which I like to correlate with hormones and the nervous system. There’s no avoiding that you’re a combination of amped up and dead tired at the end of an IRONMAN. 

While it is good to have that post race celebration, you eventually want to make sure you focus on letting your body and mind rest after the race. Eating a high caloric meal is the first thing you can do once the adrenalin starts coming down to give the body what it needs to repair and find a sense of balance. Refueling nutritionally will be very important after putting yourself in such a big hole on race day.

Following that, the most important thing is SLEEP! While you may not be able to sleep very well the first night, make sure to put a priority on restful sleep and even naps if you can in the days following the race. 

Even trying to have your travel back home being a day or so later can really help your body reset a bit post race. This can be the trickiest aspect of recovery as you never fully know when your body is 100% recovered systemically, and I’ve made the mistake of thinking I was ready to race again before my body was fully rested and recovered.

Take Your Mental Recovery Seriously, Too

While your body can be fully recovered and ready to race again, your mind has to be in it too. I’ve had some races that were a mental struggle all day, and at the end, the last thing I wanted to do was think about another IRONMAN. 

So it’s very important to have your mind in a good place and to have others who you can rely on to help lift you up in the low points. This sport is extremely tough and challenging, but we all choose to do it. Probably the most important thing in all of this, is to remember your why. And to let it never stray too far from your mind during the good times and the bad.

Good luck to everyone out there considering this challenge and if you ever have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out! 

Adam Feigh - Pro Triathlete

It’s been a long winter… to say the least. But finally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! Tri season is right around the corner. Maybe you’ve been training hard to compete in your first-ever swim, bike, run event, or maybe this isn’t your first rodeo. Either way, you’re ready for some action! 

Training is of course your number one priority, your body has to be in tip-top shape to even consider competing. But beyond all of your training efforts, what else do you need to prep for the season ahead? Checking on all of your gear and equipment is right up there at the top of the list, along with researching your upcoming events.

So what exactly should you be looking for in your equipment checks? How should you organize your gear for maximum efficiency? What questions should you ask about your race sites? If your brain is bursting with these questions and you’re slightly (or majorly) overwhelmed with the thought of finding answers, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading and we’ll share all of our secrets, from our very own Speed Hound athletes, on how you can make sure you’re organized and ready to go on race day. 

Find the Right Fuel

Race day is NOT the time to try new foods. This is just an all-around no-no. Your body needs the next 30 days to get used to fueling for the big day, so start your meal plan now. Where are you going to get your calories from? Are you accounting for an increase in electrolytes? 

Start answering these questions now. Then, adopt a routine and stick with it. Give your digestive system a chance to adjust. These things need time, so the more you give, the better. The right fuel for your body is something only you (and your trainer) can navigate. 

There’s a significant amount of science that goes into your pre-race and race day nutrition, so don’t hesitate to reach out to other athletes and ask for help. If you’re not 100% sure of your nutrition game, it’s best to ask questions before it’s too late. 

Make Sure Your Bike is Race Ready

This is another area where you might want to enlist the help of a professional. If at all possible, get your bike to a local bike shop for a good once (or twice) over. Surprises are great, but not when it comes to your bike and triathlons. 

If your bike’s been in storage for the off-season while you’ve been using a trainer, this step is still important. A bike that hasn’t been used can still sustain wear and tear. But, on the other side of things, there are different kinds of issues that your bike can face if it’s been used regularly.

Regardless of how often your bike’s been used, it needs to be cleaned, lubed, and completely checked from handlebars to chains, the cassette, the tires… and everything in between. The whole shebang has to be race-day-ready. 

Just Say No to Brand New Shoes

Race day isn’t the time to try new foods… OR new shoes. If you do need new shoes, give yourself a couple of weeks and plenty of workouts to break them in before the first race of the season. Your race shoes need several miles on them to ensure there’s no hot spots that will inevitably be a huge issue at the worst time… mid-race. 

Even the slightest bit of discomfort from your shoes can blow up into a major issue, either during the race or even after. It’s also imperative to make sure you’re practicing and training in the exact shoes you’ll be wearing for the race, so make any adjustments before you train… we’re looking at you, speed laces! 

Gather Your Gear

Before you can make your list and check it twice, do a little background check on your race location. If you’re going local, you won’t need to pack nearly as much, of course. But if you're traveling, especially to a region with a big climate difference, you’ll want to plan accordingly. 

Check any race reviews from years’ past, and scan social media. Anything you can gather to keep in your back pocket will help you prepare… there’s really no such thing as over preparing, here. And don’t be shy! While you’re scrolling the social feeds, ask questions and leave comments. The race community is such a supportive one, everyone’s willing and ready to help one another get across that finish line. 

Here are a few essentials that are often forgotten or neglected, so do yourself a favor and start inspecting these now: 

• Goggles: you won’t want a brand new pair for race day, but they should be relatively fresh. Do a swim or two with these to ensure they’re a good fit, and if you can, test them out in an open water swim. 

• Flat Tire Kit: things get used, lost, and sometimes just disappear. Especially when you’re focused on the finish line- so comb through your flat kit to make sure it’s all there. It’s entirely possible you used it last season, or lent it out to someone else, and don’t even remember. 

• Transition mat: don’t forget to pack this baby! You’ll want to do a few practice runs with your mat, but then go ahead and give it a good wash (along with your race kit) so it’s fresh for race day. 

The Wrap Up

These are just a few things that we at Team Speed Hound always do before our season begins. And, even a few times throughout the season. You and your trainer can nail down all the specifics, but in our attempt to help everyone crush tomorrow, we wanted to share some of the things we’ve learned along the way. 

Want more race day tips and inspiration for the everyday athlete? Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram! 

At a Glance

Rouvy is one of the largest platforms for indoor cycling/running. Many Zwift users are leaning towards Rouvy because of the cost and the lack of a family payment plan on Zwift. Zwift, however, is a lot larger and more developed. Whenever you log onto Zwift, you will see at least a thousand riders riding at that very moment; Rouvy… not so much. You may catch 1000 users at peak times. The key difference between Rouvy and Zwift is whether you are someone who really wants the social (racing, group rides) and gaming aspect of an indoor training platform, or someone who just wants to have something better than staring at the wall when riding indoors.

Rouvy First Thoughts

When I first opened up Rouvy, it wasn’t the most attractive indoor cycling app out there. The Rouvy home screen just didn’t look as refined as Zwifts home screen. When navigating around the app, I realized how slow it was compared to Zwift’s home screen. Some of the clicks were delayed (which had never been an issue on any other platform). Pairing my devices was very straightforward, however, selecting which route I wanted to do was confusing. The app defaults to time trial mode, which is not what I wanted. I just wanted to free ride, but it took me a good 10-15 minutes to figure out what mode to select. Keep in mind, I was not familiar with the platform at the time. Once I started my ride it was fairly straightforward and intuitive.

Side by side of the two home screens.

Event Organizing

Event organization on Rouvy is pretty good - the feature works very similar to Zwift’s meetup feature, but is web based rather than through a separate app. Zwift offers a few forms of event creation: meetups, clubs, and requesting public events. The meetup feature is the most basic(create your meetup, invite up to 100 riders, select route, date, and time). The clubs feature allows you to create a club and club events along with it. The club events are pretty much public events but on a public calendar. Requesting a public event can be a bit tricky and most events do not get accepted onto the event calendar.

Getting Started

Getting started with Zwift is very easy - you simply create an account, complete the payment process, and then you are ready to ride. However, lots of Zwift users complain that it is a very complicated process, and the UI is very confusing (this has recently been improved with the new home screen, but the in-ride functions can still be confusing). Account creation and app download is very straightforward with Rouvy. I personally found Rouvy very confusing when trying to start an activity, but once you are in the game, it is relatively simple to figure the rest out. One of the key things that drives people towards Rouvy is the option for a family plan (up to 3 users per 1 account). Rouvy pricing is $14.99 with a 14 day free trial for new users. Zwift pricing is $14.99 with a 7 day free trial.

Training

Neither of these indoor cycling platforms have very good workout selection and training plans. For plans and workouts that guarantee results, I would recommend checking out Wahoo SYSTM or TrainerRoad. In terms of the number of workouts that the platforms offer, I think Zwift definitely has more workouts. In terms of workout quality, Rouvy is a lot more specific on the purpose of doing the workout and how it helps you improve. Zwift tends to have more ‘fun’ workouts by coming up with cool names, while Rouvy sticks to the titles like ‘6x4 at 95% of FTP - Intervals.’ I still would not dedicate 6-10 weeks on a training plan/workouts from either of these platforms because they do not specialize in their structured training plans.

Courses/Routes

Zwift by far has much better designed courses and a lot more selection and variety. Rouvy offers tons of routes, but since there are fewer riders on Rouvy, the roads are pretty empty. At one time you will likely see MAYBE 100 riders on one course at peak times. The amount of detail that Rouvy has in their courses is very minimal, while in Zwift there are fun easter eggs hidden throughout the routes, such as the changing weather and moving creatures. One place where Rouvy really wins over a lot of riders is the ability to upload your own routes to Rouvy. Rouvy features the ability to upload your outdoors rides to the platform for you to ride them whenever you want! One thing that I noticed even while just reading about Rouvy is that Rouvy offers a lot of routes that you would actually ride outdoors. They have routes that are exact replicas of the IRONMAN courses, TDF routes, and more. This is great for riders participating in these events because they can recon the route without even leaving their house.

Customization

In terms of data customization, Rouvy does not allow you to customize the HUD (heads up display). It does allow you to turn on and off some things like power graph, nearby riders, or elevation. You can also view additional stats by going to the menu, then stats. This will get you things like average power, tss, average cadence. In Zwift you only have the option to turn the HUD on or off. More on the Zwift HUD can be found in this article here. Neither apps have great customization in terms of data, but no apps out there do. In terms of rider customization (changing kits, glasses, wheels, and other things like that), Zwift definitely wins on that. Zwift offers hundreds of frames and wheels that you can purchase with their in-game currency. Rouvy allows you to change what type of bike you are riding (road/TT) in addition to the ability to change your skin tone and jersey. Rouvy only has ~ 5 different kits to choose from, while Zwift has hundreds. Zwift also uses a level system to motivate you to ride more in order to unlock more gear. Rouvy has a level system but it doesn’t offer any in-game rewards, instead offering discounts and subscriptions to popular brands like Santini, Training Peaks, Tridot, and Never Second.

Ride Feel

Zwift has been working on their pack dynamics/draft for awhile now. For those who really want an accurate and realistic ride feel, RGT is probably the better option for you because of how realistic the ride feels. I was unable to experience the Rouvy draft because there were hardly any riders on the route. The speed when riding solo felt pretty accurate and it was around the speed that I would be going at IRL. Rouvy also doesn’t have some dynamic features that RGT offers (wind, cornering, and accurate sprinting position).

My thoughts

As someone who prefers racing and gamification, I do not see myself using Rouvy in the future. I didn’t really enjoy riding on the platform and nothing about it really stuck out to me. If I were to compare this to the other platforms I have compared (RGT, Bkool, Zwift), Rouvy is the last platform I would use.

Summary

Rouvy and Zwift are two great platforms and your decision will ultimately depend on what feature you want most. Rouvy is definitely growing, considering that the platform has hundreds of routes, with around 5-10 riders on each route, it’s pretty good. 

Menlo Park, CA (March 7, 2022)-  Earlier today, Speed Hound announced their collaboration with Dare2Tri, an organization focused on breaking down barriers to make fitness accessible for all, regardless of physical ability. “Our brand’s mission are well aligned and Speed Hound is beyond thrilled to be joining forces with Dare2Tri in the quest to equalize sports and fitness,” said Sam Chi, Founder and CEO of Speed Hound.

Although the official partnership is new, it’s been in the works since Sam met co-founder and director, Dan Tun, of Dare2Tri at the Clash Daytona event. The collaboration is a natural fit, with both Speed Hound and Dare2Tri sharing the vision to provide the resources for everyday athletes to cross the finish line and realize their fitness goals. Some Dare2Tri athletes have already been using Speed Hound’s FREEDOM bike travel case, it’s a perfect travel solution for handcycles. 

Much of the mission behind Dare2Tri is founded within the community they’ve created as an adaptive sports organization. Dare2Tri hosts a variety of events, some directly fitness-related like clinics and camps, while others are geared toward strengthening bonds within the community, like the paralympic watch party. And this year, Speed Hound will be available for many of these events.

The partnership is supported by individuals like Robert Anthony, a Speed Hound and Dare2Tri athlete:

"Our community of multi-sport has changed my life, I am a Speed Hound Athlete & Dare2Tri Athlete. To know both of these amazing organizations are partnering to inspire and create a platform for others is exciting!” 

With so many Dare2Tri athletes overcoming physical challenges, recovery is a big part of the events. Speed Hound will fund the recovery efforts by donating their Pro Performance Recovery Systems for Dare2Tri athletes to use on-site during their programs. Dare2Tri doesn’t just focus on programs for paratriathletes, they also host events like ambulatory run clinics and even adaptive sports clinics for children. 

Dare2Tri does have several programs that are geared towards paratriathletes, just like their name says. These include multisports clinics, the Train2Race camp, and Learn2Tri camp. And we can’t leave out the Kids Tri camp! As you can see, Dare2Tri is zeroed in on adaptive sports and fitness for all, and Speed Hound is ready to join their efforts.

Speed Hound is a leading recovery brand that leveraged dynamic compression technology used in hospital settings and applied it to sports recovery.  Its Pro Performance Recovery System is an advancement over prior systems by offering a wider range of adjustable settings such as pressure while striking the right balance with ease of use. With zone toggles that allows more targeted therapy, this recovery system can be tailored to each Dare2Tri athlete’s needs, leading to a more personalized and effective recovery experience.

In addition to financial and product support, Speed Hound will be lending a hand during events for athlete support and supplement fundraising efforts. 

About Dare2Tri

Dare2tri is an Illinois-based 501(c)3 non-for-profit organization with the mission to enhance the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments by building confidence, community, health and wellness through swimming, biking, and running.

Since its 2011 inception, Dare2tri has encouraged recreation, racing, and competition in this trifecta of sports, while also cultivating a sense of community for all athletes, who are not labeled by physical ability, but rather their determination and will to succeed.

Dare2tri empowers athletes of all ability levels from beginner to elite to be physically active, engaged with their community, and set and reach goals. We transform lives by boosting individuals’ self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth.

About Speed Hound

Founded in 2016 by Ironman triathlete and physical therapist Sam Chi, Speed Hound is a California based sports performance company with a mission to unleash the potential of everyday athletes by providing professional quality products at accessible price points. Over 100,000 customers trust the broad categories of the Speed Hound products which includes recovery products, performance apparel, swimming and cycling equipment. 

Living with muscles soreness, pain, and swelling might seem like it’s inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be. Sure, some of this pain is natural whether you’re recovering from surgery or even your training regimen. But pain doesn’t have to be permanent. In fact, there’s something out there that you can use right now to remedy these issues.

Ice baths, cryotherapy, stretching, massages… what haven’t you tried for recovery? The options are truly endless. And it seems like every day we’re learning a little more about the best recovery methods for those of us living the everyday athlete life. If you’re ready to get serious about your recovery, then dynamic compression, a.k.a intermittent pneumatic compression, is an option worth exploring. 

Compression therapy via recovery boots and dynamic compression, is a way to maximize each moment of your recovery, using a specialized system to stimulate both superficial and deep veins in the lower extremities of your body. This increases blood flow and targets areas that otherwise don’t receive a lot of attention. Just 30 minutes of using intermittent pneumatic compression is equivalent to six hours of natural recovery. 

Hoping to cut your recovery time in half after you’ve just completed another tri? Compression therapy can help. Living that work from home life, but not loving the side effects of sitting in a chair all day? Yep, a compression system will help boost your recovery, too. 

If you’re interested in taking your recovery to the next level, and letting go of those aches and pains,  then you’ve come to the right place. Stay tuned for all the details on using dynamic compression, whether or not it’s right for you, and how to integrate it into your life the right way. 

What is Dynamic Compression Recovery?

Compression therapy using a pneumatic compression device (i.e. compression boots)  is a fantastic recovery option that requires very little effort, but the impact is huge. Blood flow is not only important to your athletic performance, it’s literally what keeps us alive, right? The overall goal here is to get blood flowing back to the heart- while there are multiple ways of doing this, using a compression system is hands down the fastest. 

Massage therapy as a means of speeding up recovery through boosting flow has been on the recovery radar for awhile, but we now know there’s something even faster and more efficient… enter dynamic compression recovery. 

A compression system, usually worn on the body’s lower extremities, the blood vessels are constrained at just the right frequency to prevent any swelling while sending blood all over the body. Without compression recovery, the body is responsible for doing this all on its own, at its own pace, so using a recovery system to do this for you gives the blood vessels a little encouragement to get the job done faster, and more efficiently. 

Gently compressing veins at a controlled rate also prevents them from expanding and contracting on their own, which over time makes the walls more thin, causing future blood flow issues. 

Compression therapy has been around for some time, but until recently it’s been mostly in hospitals as a post-surgery means of recovery. Now there are recovery systems available for use in your own home, so you don’t have to be recovering from major surgery in order to reap the benefits. 

Here’s just a quick breakdown of what exactly compression recovery can do for you:

• Reduce your pain level from muscle soreness and stiffness.
• Increase overall flexibility. 
• Cut your recovery time in half… if not more! That means more time for the good stuff.
• Prevent lactic acid and metabolic waste from building up by promoting circulation- less toxins sitting in the blood is always a good thing. 

Basically, you’ll notice a change for the better after adding a recovery system to your daily routine.

Compression Socks vs. Dynamic Compression

It’s worth noting here that there are multiple types of compression therapy out there, one of them being compression socks. This might be one of the most common methods of compression therapy, as it’s so widely available and easy to find. 

While compression socks do add an extra level of support by encouraging blood flow, they don’t have the same benefits of compression boots, or a compression system. 

Who Should Use Compression Systems

A compression system is really for anyone in need of recovery from something. Whether you’re a triathlete looking to get your body to bounce back after an event or you’re experiencing poor circulation from an illness, dynamic compression recovery can help. 

Chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI, happens when the walls of veins become weak. This leads to all kinds of health issues, some of which are very visible (oh, hello, varicose veins) while others are harder to find until they’ve caused other issues. Decreased blood flow to any part of the body is incredibly dangerous, and not worth the risk.  

Using a compression system helps prevent this sort of health issue before it becomes a problem. Being proactive with your health is always of the utmost importance. 

At any time, 3-11% of adults are experiencing some sort of complication as a result of CVI- sometimes it’s in the form of skin discoloration, other times it’s swelling. But most of the time, these issues are the result of a more superficial CVI issue, not one that’s buried deep in the veins. Therefore using compression therapy is a great remedy, or preventative tactic, for keeping these issues from arising. 

Here are just a few folks that might benefit from dynamic compression recovery systems:

By slipping on a specialized boot that targets the legs or hips, a compression system is able to slowly inflate and deflate, encouraging blood flow, and sending anyone wearing it down the path to a faster recovery. Using an external compression system can also help reduce future injuries through increased flexibility and circulation. 

How to Integrate Compression Therapy Into Your Recovery Routine

Once you’ve discussed compression therapy with your doctor and decided it’s the right option for you, then you’re ready to get started. Compression therapy is a relatively easy way to recover, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and let your recovery system do the work. 

Choose a Pneumatic Compression System 

This is the device that will be responsible for all of the work, so choose wisely. While these are a pricey investment upfront, they’re well worth it. The second your blood flow regulates and you reap the benefits, you’ll be happy with your purchase! 

Here’s what you should look for in a recovery system:

• Correct sizing: make sure the system you choose comes in sizes that will fit you properly. There’s no one size fits all here. Proper width is extremely important in order to achieve the proper compression. There has to be enough space for the air pockets in the garment to fully inflate, enabling full compression. 
• Adjustable  settings: the device should have multiple settings, so you can adjust accordingly. You have to be able to adjust the pressure according to the day, your activity, and which muscles are needing attention.  

Why the Speed Hound Pro Performance Recovery System is a Great Option

Not all compression therapy devices are created equal, which is exactly why we considered each and every element listed above when coming up with the design for our Pro Performance Recovery System. 

We consulted with experts, asked the pros, and considered what you, our everyday athlete, wants and needs from a recovery system. Then we came up with a design that’s inspired by the best compression systems on the market, only better. We weren’t going to settle for a product that did the job, we wanted our recovery system to stand out in the crowd, rise above the trends, and just be all around better. We did our research, and created a highly adjustable, quality system that functions with complexity and accuracy, with a simple, easy to use interface. The system itself should be the only thing doing all the thinking. You already put in enough work, your job from here should be to sit back and recover. 

So let’s cut to the chase. We know our recovery system is a fantastic option for anyone interested in a faster road to recovery, from a health perspective as well as an improved athletic performance perspective. 

But how do you know it’s worth it for you? Don’t worry, we made a list of all the reasons:

• The boots for our recovery system are offered in multiple sizes- two different lengths and three different widths . Tall, short, wide, or thin, one of these is the best fit for you. Not only are we available to chat and help you navigate your way to a proper fit, we’ll also be happy to exchange your boots for another size, if you find they don’t fit just right. 
• Our recovery system has settings that allow you to customize your compression. We feel that it’s important for you to be able to adjust the settings according to your goals for each session, from various speeds to even targeting certain areas of the lower body. The settings can be adjusted for warm-up or recovery, and it’s 100% dependent on what your body is telling you. 
• Quality material… check. When we created our system, we considered the fact that not everyone has time to isolate in a room while they recover… i.e. accidents happen. Which is exactly why we used lightweight materials that are super easy to clean, but also materials that are in it for the long haul. 
• The Pro Performance Recovery System is FDA approved, after rigorous testing for safety, efficacy, and quality. We approached this testing from every angle to ensure we’re putting out a product that we use ourselves, and we’re proud to share with others. 
• We actually care about your recovery, and want to see you love our system. We’re a small company that’s built around people like you. We’re here to help ensure that your hard earned money is well spent, and that you’re satisfied with your purchase. So sure that we’ve slapped a 45 day return policy on this system, without adding a beefy restocking fee that other companies charge. 
• Each of our recovery systems comes with a 2 year, IRONCLAD protection policy. See? We really do want this to work for you! 

Final Thoughts

So now you have a pretty good idea of what exactly dynamic compression is, and whether or not it’s right for you (hint, hint, it is). If you’re ready to order, you can check out our Pro Performance Recovery System right here.

If you have additional questions, or you’re still on the fence about committing to a compression system, we’re here to chat. We’re just a few clicks or a phone call away, ready to share all we know with you!

If you are currently riding with RGT or Zwift, recovery in between workouts is crucial. We highly recommend the Speed Hound Pro Performance Recovery System, check it out here: https://thespeedhound.com/products/speed-hound-properformance-recovery-system?variant=9445574737972.

Wahoo has just announced that they have acquired RGT, making the competition between RGT and Zwift even higher.

At a Glance

RGT and Zwift are the two largest indoor cycling platforms out there. While RGT focuses a lot on realism as well as socialism, the main difference between RGT and Zwift is how big Zwift’s platform is compared to RGT. RGT and Zwift are both incredible choices; for those who don’t mind being alone on the road sometimes, I would go with RGT, but for those who like always having a group near them and having riders to chat with, Zwift is definitely a better option for you. RGT is definitely growing - there are events almost every hour now and it is slowly catching up to Zwift in terms of size. Some of Zwift’s key features/aspects are the incredibly designed worlds, e-racing, and gamification (XP, challenges, in game currency). Some of RGT’s key features are the realism/physics, ability to create public events, price, and Magic Roads. One reason why a lot of riders have switched from Zwift to RGT is because the physics that RGT has is much more realistic than Zwift. Here is a table comparing some indoor training platforms.

Event Organizing

One of the things that these platforms are both targeting is their social aspects. Zwift offers group rides throughout the day that community organizers arrange. Zwift also has a meetup feature where you can invite up to 100 riders to join your “group ride.” The meetup feature is not great, but it gets the job done. RGT, however, has a much more powerful feature for premium users. Premium users have the ability to create group rides/races whenever they want. There is also an option to have your event automatically published to the official RGT events calendar if you get over 20 riders signed up. This is an extremely powerful feature to the event organizers out there. Zwift is rolling out the clubs feature in the coming months that should be very similar to the RGT feature, but without the capability to add to the public calendar. For now, RGT remains the best for event creation, and is an extremely powerful and useful tool.

Getting Started

Getting started with Zwift is very easy - you just create an account, complete the payment process, and then you are ready to ride. However, lots of Zwift users complain that it is a very complicated process, and the UI is very confusing. I would argue that RGT is just as confusing, maybe even more. The big benefit for those on a budget is that RGT offers a free version, and it does not ask for your credit card. RGT pricing is $9.99 with a 14 day free trial for new users. Zwift pricing is $14.99 with a 7 day free trial.

Training

Neither of these indoor cycling platforms have very good workout selection and training plans. For plans and workouts that guarantee results, I would recommend checking out Wahoo SYSTM or Trainerroad. In terms of the number of workouts that the platforms offer, I think Zwift definitely has more workouts. In terms of workout quality, RGT is a lot more specific on the purpose of doing the workout and how it helps you improve.

Courses/Routes

Zwift by far has much better designed courses and a lot more selection and variety. RGT offers quite a few routes, but since there are fewer riders on RGT, the roads are pretty empty. The detail that RGT has in their courses is not a lot, while in Zwift there are fun easter eggs hidden throughout the routes, such as the changing weather and moving creatures. One place where RGT really wins over a lot of riders is the ability to upload your own routes to RGT. RGT features the magic road feature that allows riders to upload route files and ride on those routes. So you can bring your favorite route outdoors, indoors. This feature is only available for premium users (paying users). The feature can also be used when creating events, so you can have your ride/race on these custom routes.

Customization

In terms of data customization, RGT allows you to turn some things on and off, so you can toggle the chat, rider list, elevation map, and a few others on/off. However, in Zwift you only have the option to turn the HUD on or off. More on the Zwift HUD can be found in this article here. Neither apps have great customization in terms of data, but no apps out there do. In terms of rider customization (changing kits, glasses, wheels, and other things like that), Zwift definitely wins on that. Zwift offers hundreds of frames and wheels that you can purchase with their in-game currency. RGT offers a few frames, helmets, and glasses. They do have a wide variety of kits to choose from. RGT does not make riders earn the equipment, you can use all of the equipment upon sign up, which can either be a pro or con depending on your point of view.

Ride Feel

Zwift has been working on their pack dynamics/draft for awhile now. RGT from the start has definitely had better physics/pack dynamics. RGT addresses many issues that Zwift users complain about, like cornering, braking, and their overall draft. This is one thing that drives many racers on Zwift to switch to RGT.

Summary

While it may seem like these training platforms are very different, it really comes down to realism or gamification. RGT’s user base may seem smaller, but they are definitely growing and you can see nearly 1000 riders in some RGT events now!

Whether you’re traveling for a big race or just excited to explore some new terrain, bringing your bike is a must. Unfortunately, air travel is a little more (fine, a lot more) complicated than strapping your bike into the rack on your car just before you hit the road. Bringing your bike on an airplane requires much more planning on the logistics front, as well as the financial front. 

Do all airlines allow bikes? How much will this adventure cost? How do I keep my bike safe on the airplane? These are all some basic considerations to keep in mind when you’re planning your trip. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other things to know… before you go. 

But there’s good news ahead! Through our own experience and research, we’ve compiled a complete guide of how to take your bike on an airplane. Up next, we’ll share all the details, so you can avoid any surprises along the way while successfully getting your bike from point A to point B. 

Which Airlines are Bike Friendly?

First and foremost, what airlines even allow bikes? While many airlines claim bikes fly free, or that they’re a “bike friendly airline,” there’s often some hidden messages to decode. 

For example, there are airlines that say you can check your bike as long as it fits within their size restrictions, but unless your bike is child-sized, or you’re fine taking it completely apart to get it to fit into a suitcase, then checking your bike isn’t an option. 

Instead of doing a deep dive into each airline to: 

1. Determine whether or not bike travel is even an option, 
2. Figure out how you’re going to get your bike on the plane, and,
3. Plan for how much this is going to set you back…

… we’ve put in the legwork to make a list for you. And, what you need to know with bike travel in each airline. 

Southwest

Southwest is a solid option for air travel with your bike, simply for the fact that they make it easy. Southwest will allow you to bring your bag, as long as it’s packed in a hard sided case. However, the bike bag is in place of one of your two luggage items. So you’ll have to pay for any additional checked bags. And, if you’re using a soft-sided case, you’re accepting Southwest’s limited release terms. 

American Airlines

As long as your bike doesn’t weigh more than 50 lbs, it’s treated like a checked bag. And, even better, there are no extra fees. You’re simply paying the traditional baggage fees, which is just $30-$40. 

Delta 

Once upon a time, Delta charged upwards of $150 for cyclists to bring their bikes on their aircrafts. Thankfully, Delta recently revamped their bike policies, so air travel is much easier. Similar to AA’s bike policies, Delta charges a $30-$40 fee for bikes, as long as they’re packed in a hard-sided case. 

For bikes in soft-sided cases, a limited release form is assessed, so they’re not responsible for any damages. 

United 

If your bike is packed properly and fits the standard weight limit (50 lbs. or less), it’s considered just regular baggage. You’ll still have to pay $25-$35 for the checked bag fee, but that’s not too bad. However, if your bike goes over the weight limit, or it’s bigger than 62 linear inches, you’ll be charged a pretty hefty oversized baggage fee. If it’s overweight, then you can expect to pay $100, but if it’s oversized, you’ll have to shell out $200! Insert scared face emoji here. 

Other Considerations

These are our top three choices for bike-friendly airlines. Each of these airlines is easy to access, as they fly into most airports. These three airlines also make it easy to bring your bike, as long as you follow the rules. 

In addition to the airline specific regulations listed above, these are a few other things to keep in mind that apply to all three airlines:

• Bikes weighing over the specific weight limits will be charged a fee for overweight baggage.
• All bike carrying bags must still fit within the specified range of length and width restrictions. Be sure to measure before you bring your bike to make sure it fits. 
• Read the fine print. As of now, the above information is accurate, but airlines are notorious for sneaking additional fees into airfare, so it’s always wise to double check.
• Each airline has a specific way to pack your bike, but all require pedals to be removed. Some require handlebars facing a certain way, while others just ask that they’re taken off. Check the specific airline you’re flying to make sure you’re following their rules. 

For a quick overview of what you can expect when traveling with your bike on each of these airlines, check out this table: 

The bottom line here is that no matter what airline you’re flying, you’re at their mercy to safely get your bike to your destination. And let’s be honest, what’s more disappointing than booking a trip to explore Moab, or finally realizing your dream of competing in the Malibu Triathlon… only to have your bike get left behind? So once you land on an airline choice, pay close attention to their details. 

How to Pack Your Bike for Air Travel

Your ultimate end game here is to get your bike to your final destination, all in one piece. Well, not all in one piece per se, since you’ll be breaking it down into a few pieces before you go. But you get the drift here. You don’t want to leave too much up to the airline, and if you’ve ever seen luggage being tossed into the cargo hold, then you know exactly why it’s important to pack your bag carefully. 

Choose Your Bag

While it would be really nice to just roll your bike right down the jet ramp and onto the airplane, clearly that’s just not the case. What you need is a storage bag that protects your bike while en route to your destination. And, a bag that’s already anticipated any potential disasters and prevents them before they even happen. 

Here are a few things to consider in choosing the best bag for travel with your bike:

• How easy is it to navigate a busy airport with your bag in tow?
• Does the bag meet guidelines for the airlines you use frequently, or plan to use frequently?
• Is there a separate compartment for the bike chain, to prevent a potentially messy situation when you unpack your bike?
• What kind of bike can you fit in the bike travel bag?
• How sturdy is the material used to make the bag? Again… careful isn’t the main priority for baggage handlers when they’re responsible for getting thousands of pounds of luggage on the plane within a short amount of time. 
• Is the bag easy to store when it’s not in use?

Our FREEDOM Bike Travel Bag considers all of the above, and more. Here are a few key features that make this bike travel bag one to the top choices, and best options for your travels:

• When your bike is securely packed in this bag, the dimensions read 53" x 31" x 15,” so it fits right in with most airline restrictions. 
• The FREEDOM bag is fabricated with incredibly durable ripstop nylon. And, there’s a zipper closure to keep everything safely tucked away inside the bag during travel.
• This bag is made for mountain bikes and triathlon bikes. 
• Everything has a home in this case. There are compartments galore! When you pack your bike, you’ll know exactly where you put everything, making unpacking and assembling a much easier task. 

Prep Your Bike

Again, it’s really important that you pay attention to the specs required for the airline your traveling. But, for each of the airlines we’ve mentioned here, you’ll at least need to follow these steps:

• Remove the handlebars, wheels, saddle and pedals.
• Let just a little bit of air out of the tires. There’s a significant change in pressure with air travel, so this is a necessary precaution to help avoid tire damage. 
• Carefully wrap parts with bubble wrap. Use tape to secure the ends.
• Label each piece. You’ll know what they are, but this will just help streamline your assembly process later.
• Make sure to keep all necessary tools and screws/bolts with your bike when you’re breaking it down. 

Pack It Up

If you’re using our FREEDOM bag, this part is easy peasy! Just put each of the parts in it’s designated home. Include tools and screws/bolts. Again, keeping the chain separate is essential, so you don’t unpack your bike to find everything covered in grease. Yuck!

Label the Bag

Make sure you have an identification tag that’s easily visible on your bike bag. While we all like to think it’s impossible to lose a piece of luggage like a bike, this is one of those better to be safe than sorry situations. 

Also, many bags, like our FREEDOM bag, make it known that there’s a bike inside. Other bags do not, so it’s important to label the outside of the bag, to make it easier on those that check the bags, and load them onto the aircraft. 

Tips and Tricks for Air Travel with Your Bike

We’ve done this song and dance a time or two, and learned lots of things along the way. So, instead of learning from your own mistakes, we’ll do you a favor and share all the mistakes we’ve made, so you don’t have to learn the hard way! 

Here are just a few things that will make your life a little easier when traveling with your bike, from packing to unpacking, and everything in between:

• Before you remove the seat, use a piece of tape to mark the height. 
• Remember how they remind you a million times that objects may shift during flight? Take that to heart while packing your bike, and leave as little room for movement as humanly possible. The less wiggle and jiggle inside the bag, the better.
• Keep the tools with the bike, just safely wrapped. Do not, again, do not, put the tools in your carry-on bag. They’ll get taken away at security. Just don’t do it.
• Measure and weigh several times just to make sure your bike really fits the airlines restrictions, no questions asked. 
• Even though your bag might have wheels, there are going to be some points along your journey that you have to hoist your bag into place. Be mindful while packing, so you don’t make your bag too heavy.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! The ins and outs of air travel with a bike. Not just any bike, your bike. So therefore, it’s important that you get it to your final destination without issue. Luckily, if you follow our guide above, that shouldn’t be a problem. 

If you’re planning an upcoming trip and hoping to take your bike on the airplane with you, then a bike bag is a must. Consider our FREEDOM bag to keep your bike safe and secure during travel. Safe travels!

In our pain cave, in addition to the trainers and treadmill, we also have a Concept 2 rower. Although Zwift has not really implemented rowing on the platform(and they don’t plan to anytime soon), you may have heard that you can row on Zwift with a Concept 2 rowing machine. I have done it a few times myself just to see what it is like, and it works pretty well, the only issue is when your activity uploads to Strava it will upload as a ride not row, and if you switch it to a row, the pace will be messed up. A work-around to this is later on in the article. Here is a step by step article on how you can row on Zwift.

Download Painsled/RowedBiker

To row on Zwift you will need one of the two apps, Rowedbiker(Link to google play version: Google play version) or Painsled(link to google play version: Google play version), both work pretty well but I prefer to use Rowedbiker. You can also find both of the apps in the Apple app store.

Connect Rower

Once you have the app downloaded and open, hit the menu button on your Concept 2 rower (Note: This is only compatible with the PM3 head unit or newer). Once you are in the main menu, hit connect. The screen will then say whether it is already paired to a device, if it is and it’s not the one you want to use, then hit disconnect, and then reconnect.

Connect Zwift

Once you have the Concept 2 rower paired with the app, you should be able to pair your rower/device to Zwift. You will need one device running Rowedbiker/Painsled, and one running Zwift. You can also use this as an Ant+ Heart Rate Monitor(HRM) bridge. It is a painful process to bridge the HRM, but if you really need to use a Heart Rate Monitor, then this is a way to do it. You can pair a HRM to the Concept 2, pair it to the RowedBiker app, and then it will pair to Zwift as the name of the device you are using, along with the model number(ex; iPad 7th Gen 128428). A more in depth article on bridging Ant+ and bluetooth can be found on this article: How To Bridge Ant+ and Bluetooth Zwift.

Row!

It would be great to see rowing on Zwift eventually but I think we will have to wait a bit longer to see this implemented. Thanks for reading and I hope you found this article helpful!

Speed Hound ProPerformance Recovery System

The Speed Hound recovery system is the best way to recover between workouts and races. We are currently having our Black Friday Cyber Monday deal, you can purchase the system at this link: Speed Hound ProPerformance Recovery System. Don’t miss out on the lowest price of the year on the Speed Hound recovery system!

Strava Subscription

Most cyclists know about Strava. If it isn’t on strava, it didn’t happen. Strava is a training tool to help you analyze your post ride data, speed, cadence, power, elevation, and more. Strava is also a social media platform for athletes(Triathletes, cyclists, runners, swimmers, and more). One very popular feature that Strava has is segments. Riders can create segments where you can compete to have the KOM of the segment. You can use strava to track your rides, runs, walks, and more. Strava subscription sign up. Strava also offers a free version that does not have all of the fancy data, but works for most athletes.

Helmet

Helmets are an essential part of cycling, and can also look pretty cool. Some of the highest end helmets can sense if you crash, and can send notifications to family members. One helmet that is well rated is the Lazer Blade helmet with MIPS. The helmet is currently on sale at Competitive cyclist.

Bike computer

Bike computers are very popular devices among cyclists. Some use it for navigation, some use it to track their rides, and some use it for training. Bike computers can cost around $50-600 depending on which one you get. Most bike computers can upload data to strava and other apps like training peaks. Some very popular bike computers are the Garmin Edge 130 plus(Lower end, but still have tons of features - $200), Garmin edge 530(Mid range - $300), Wahoo Elemnt Bolt(Mid range - $300), Garmin edge 830(High end with touchscreen - $400). Many riders want to know which is better, the Garmin edge 530, or the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. There is no clear answer, it all depends on what you want, features or simplicity/ease of use.

Tail Light

Bike lights are a must have for cyclists, the world is a dangerous place… Bike lights can be anywhere from $20-200. Higher end lights are often smart lights, some can sense when you are stopped based on your data from a bike computer, others can sense whether there are cars behind you, and can notify you via your bike computer or phone. One of the highest end bike lights is the Garmin Varia. The Garmin Varia can pair to your compatible bike computer, and will show a small road with the cars that are approaching. One light for riders who just want a light that will get the job done is the Cygolite Hypershot 250. This light is very bright and has great battery life. I highly recommend looking into this light.

Power Meter

Background info

Just a few days ago Zwift dropped their monthly update which contained the Neokyo expansion of Makuri Islands. Want to know whether your app is up to date? Be sure you have Zwift version 1.19 installed on your device. To read more about the update, head over to the forums thread: https://forums.zwift.com/t/game-update-november-18th-2021/561750. Zwift first released information about this new expansion in their roadmap for this season on Zwift. Zwift had also been releasing teasers for the weeks prior to launch. The Neokyo expansion is full of bright Neon roads and decorations throughout the new tarmac. The word Neokyo means “New capital city”. Riders also associate Neo with neon, which makes the name work perfectly with the neon city.

Routes

The update contains 8 new routes that are opened to the public, with one more route that is event-only for the time being. Zwift will continue to add new routes with the monthly game releases(usually around the 10th-20th of each month) similar to what they did with the Yumezi part of Makuri Islands. This vibrant neon city contains a few memorable items/places. The Neokyo expansion connects to Yumezi via a short tunnel on the far right side of Neokyo. This includes the Neo Arcade, Makuri Tower, Holo Avenue(a road filled with all sorts of decorations), and the Neon food trucks! If you are looking to ride all of the different roads in Neokyo, ride the Neokyo All-Nighter route. This route covers all four sprint segments and the KOM segment. This route also goes through all of the notable land marks listed above. There are a ton more hidden easter eggs throughout the new routes, leave a comment below with what you find!

For more details on each of the routes, head over to these links:

• Neokyo Crit Course
• Wandering Flats
• Temples and Towers
• Sprinter's Playground
• Sleepless City
• Rooftop Rendvezvous
• Neokyo All-Nighter
• Neon Flats
• Railways and Rooftops

Events/Badge Hunt Series

Zwift is currently allowing meetups on the new roads, along with club events, and a few event organizers are beginning to have the option. Zwift is also hosting their own Neokyo Badge Hunt series, in which you can unlock a Neokyo themed kit, helmet, and shoes. You can register for the series by signing up on the drop in screen(Shown in the image below), or by completing any of the stages. For a complete list of events in the Neokyo badge hunt series: https://www.zwift.com/events/series/neokyo-badge-hunting-series. For a list of upcoming events on Makuri Islands routes, head over to this link: https://zwifthacks.com/app/events/?key=619c57e847331.

So What’s next?

Zwift plans to continue expanding the Makuri Islands, eventually making it a hub world like Watopia. These expansions take time, especially because of all the little details that the game designers put into the roads. If you look at the map of the Makuri Islands carefully, you will see that there are numerous little offshoots, and construction blocking signs that you can see when riding through Yumezi. Riders have noticed that you can see Mt. Fuji in the distance, or what looks like Mt. Fuji. I assume that an expansion with a pretty big climb will be coming, but not for another 6 months or so. Meanwhile, Zwifters have lots to look forward to. The new homescreen UI should begin to roll out beginning mid-end December, and clubs is currently available upon request, with public release coming soon. Tour de Zwift will also be coming at its usual time, January.

Enjoy the new Neokyo routes!