Cascade Zwifters: Alpe Wednesdays

Do you Zwift and are you looking for a (virtual) training effort with some of your IRL (in real life) Cascade (and other new, from around the world) friends?  If so welcome to Alpe Wednesdays!

This weekly Alpe de Zwift climb is a roughly 2 hour training effort alternating between banded (the game keeps everyone together as long as your pedaling, regardless of power output) and unbanded (everyone climbs at their own pace) in-game mechanics.  The route is topographically IDENTICAL to the Alpe d'Huez climb on the Tour de France.  This training ride is what you make of it - come climb at your own pace or enjoy the game keeping everyone together as a pack.  Some love the challenge of completion, others climb for a period of time, seeing if they can get higher and higher up the mountain with each effort.  Regardless of your preference, the descent is breathtaking!

Banded weeks are:  May 6 & 20, June 3 & 17, etc)

Unbanded weeks are: May 13 & 27, June 10 & 24, etc)

This ride is attended by many Cascade Ride Leaders and other supportive, encouraging regulars and is a lot of fun despite its apparent level of challenge.  You'll be riding with your local friends as well as folks from across the globe.  Our goal is to help you build strength and confidence to face real world and other virtual climbs.  After all, climbing is exactly the same as riding flat roads - a constant supply of sustainable watts.   

IMPORTANT NOTE - This ride is a Zwift MEETUP and in order to receive the in-game invite, you need to find and follow the Ride Leader "Steve Ciccarelli (Cascade)" on the Zwift Companion app. Reply to Steve's weekly posting on the Facebook "Seattle Zwifters" group to request your invite.  Without an invite, there is no way to join this meetup!  Meetup starts at 5:15 PM sharply - Zwift does not allow late starts to Meetups.

Our route consists of a roughly 8 mile lead-in from Watopia's volcano to the base of the Alpe.  We ride this together, so please respect the ride leader's pace and instructions if unbanded. Sprinkle "Ride Ons" far and wide to encourage and delight your fellow riders! Join in on the conversation (on-screen text)!  Stronger riders should also consider partially descending (you'll be off the meetup once you complete the climb and the victory lap up top) and then U-turning to help others complete their ascent.  We are in this to get as many people to the top of the mountain as possible each week!

Zwift Equipment:
You don't need a helmet, a buddy flap, or tools to repair a flat. However, you will want to be sure you select your best combination of climbing frame and wheels.  And don't forget - there are those Lightweight wheels which just might be awarded to you by the prize wheel upon completion!

Zwift Weather:
Watopia's frequent rain and thunderstorms will not cancel this group ride.  We always ride!