As the weather turns colder, daylight fades earlier, and frost starts to appear on morning rides, Iโve found myself actually looking forward to indoor training this year โ something I couldnโt have imagined saying a few seasons ago. For the past few winters, riding indoors felt like a necessary evil: long, steady base miles on the trainer, chasing consistency more than excitement. But this season, Iโm approaching things differently.
Rather than viewing indoor riding as something to endure, Iโm treating it as a season in itself โ one focused on Zwift racing, building short-term power, and keeping my competitive instincts alive through the colder months. Itโs part training, part community, and part game โ and Iโm genuinely excited for it.
Pairing Zwift Racing with Xertโs Adaptive Tools
Zwift races are beautifully chaotic โ you never quite know what youโre in for beyond the initial surge out of the pens. Some are all-out from the gun, while others settle into longer threshold bouts or repeated sprint efforts. That unpredictability is part of what makes them fun โ and effective.
To make sure Iโm still hitting my broader training goals, Iโll be using Xertโs Adaptive Training Advisor and the Magic Buckets feature throughout the winter. Iโll specifically be using Xert to help focus on a Pursuiter athlete type, which emphasises 3 minute power.
After syncing my races from Zwift, I can instantly see which energy systems Iโve stressed (Low, High, or Peak) and where I might still have gaps to fill.ย Typically, Zwift races hit my Low and Peak buckets pretty easily but often leave my High bucket underfilled. When that happens, Iโll tack on an easy spin afterward to complete my endurance strain. Other times, Iโll add a few short intervals post-race โ not because I want to, but because Xert shows me itโs what my fitness needs to improve. Itโs a small tweak, but it ensures every session has purpose. Iโm not just chasing leaderboard spots โ Iโm racing with intent.
Learning from the Zwift Racing League
Starting back in September, I dipped my toes into the Zwift Racing League (ZRL), and it was eye-opening. In a few of those early races, I tried to make late-race breakaways, burning matches early by not staying with the peloton out of the gate, chasing too hard, and ultimately getting caught before the line.
When I reviewed my data in Xert, those efforts told a clear story. My difficulty score was high, but I hadnโt quite reached a Breakthrough. In other words, I wasnโt limited by fitnessโฆ I was limited by belief. Iโd started to doubt myself and backed off just before that decisive moment when I mightโve held the effort.
Image 1: Xertโs MPA analysis from my ZRL Week 4 race. The magenta line shows my Maximal Power Available (MPA), while the multi-coloured trace below shows my actual power output. The grey hatched line represents difficulty. Near the one-hour mark, I launched a hard effort about three minutes from the finish โ but it wasnโt enough to hold off the pack. Learning to push through those moments when difficulty is high is something Iโm aiming to improve this winter.
That realization reframed my mindset: I need to trust myself more when the race gets hard. If Iโm deep in the red trying to make a move, the rest of the group is suffering just as much. Sometimes, the difference between being caught and staying away isnโt power โ itโs confidence.
Heading into ZRL Round Two in November, Iโll be carrying those lessons forward. Iโll still take my chances, because part of the fun of Zwift racing is testing yourself, but now with a better understanding of when and how to use my energy. Thatโs where real-time feedback from Xert becomes invaluable. Seeing how close I am to my limits, and how my strain has accumulated so far during a race, helps me pace smarter and push through when it counts most.
A Smarter Way to Train Through Winter
Iโve come to think of Zwift and Xert as complementary tools. Zwift provides the environment โ the motivation, adrenaline, and competition โ while Xert provides the context โ the insight into what that effort actually did for my fitness, and the guidance on what to target next.
Together, they have turned my winter training from something reactive into something adaptive. Iโm not just logging miles or just racing for the sake of racing; Iโll be continuously adjusting, making sure the load across my different energy systems stays balanced and productive.
I will aim to keep things simple this winter with a typical weekly rhythm that looks something like this:
- One Zwift race per week, treated as a quality intensity session, followed by topping up my Magic Buckets if needed.
- A couple of endurance-focused rides, especially on days when Xert classifies me as Tired (yellow star).
- One longer endurance ride, to maintain my total training volume as well as keep things social.
The Power of Teamwork
One of the unexpected, yet best parts of Zwift racing for me so far has been discovering how social it can be. Joining a team has transformed my winter training from a solo effort into a shared experience. The Zwift Racing League especially brings that out โ my teammates from North & South America lining up together, chatting on Discord, and pushing each other through every surge and sprint.
As I learned earlier this year during my return to riding after fatherhood, being part of a team adds motivation and accountability that I simply didnโt get alone. You show up because others are counting on you, and you dig deeper when you hear their encouragement mid-race. The tactics โ deciding who to chase, who to lead out, or when to save energy โ also make every race more engaging and purposeful.
Most of all, the camaraderie among my teammates has been genuine. My teammates are supportive, positive, and quick to celebrate both strong rides and learning moments. In a wintery season when cycling can feel solitary, these connections have already made training more enjoyable โ and remind me why I love riding in the first place.
Takeaway
This winter, my goal isnโt to dominate virtual podiums โ itโs to build a stronger, smarter foundation for next season. By blending Zwiftโs dynamic racing with Xertโs adaptive feedback, I can stay motivated, balance my training strain, and continue learning about my strengths and weaknesses each week.
Stay safe, ride fast, and Iโll see you next time!
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