When the temps in the DMV dropped below freezing, my outdoor rides hit pause. I didn’t fall off completely. I made one of the best winter moves I could’ve made. Aside from going to Florida for the holidays and bringing my bike, I got a Zwift Ride setup!
If you don’t know what that is, picture this: a futuristic steel-frame smart bike. It plugs you into a virtual cycling world. The hills feel real. Yes, it changes resistance automatically 😮💨. The motivation is surprisingly high. It looks slick, runs quiet, and it connects flawlessly to my iPad or TV via the Zwift app. I’ve even got it synced with my Wahoo heart rate monitor — buttery smooth. Check the full specs here
But here’s the kicker — I used my HSA account from work to get it. So it felt like I got the whole setup for free. Shoutout pre-tax perks.
Since joining the Zwift Facebook Group (yes, I’m in there), I’ve learned a ton. Like what an FTP actually is — and how to measure mine. It helped me fine-tune my setup too: made a few handlebar, pedal, and saddle tweaks that made a big difference. The whole thing’s so plug-and-play it’s wild.
Watopia — the virtual world — is honestly sick. It’s engaging, immersive, and weirdly addictive. The group rides? Super fun. The training programs? Legit. I’ve been hopping on 2x a week, 25–40 mins per session. Over the last three months, I’ve increased my FTP from 155 in early November to 184 as of this month. Gains, baby.
This smart bike didn’t just keep me fit through the winter — it low-key leveled me up. And the best part? I didn’t even have to freeze my face off to make it happen(or bank account).
New favorite training tool? Might be.
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