Great Group Rides: Velocity Dig The Bike Fantastic

About The “Great Group Rides” Series

Zwift has always been about connecting cyclists from around the world, and since early beta days volunteers from the Zwift community have helped make that vision a reality by leading group rides on the platform.

Nowadays, the calendar contains hundreds of weekly events, but we still rely on community leaders to organize and lead most of the social rides.

One way to show our admiration for these tireless leaders is to highlight the great work they’re doing, week in and week out. And that’s what the Great Group Rides series is all about! Each post focuses on a popular, long-running group ride led by community volunteers. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the stories and people behind the rides.

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Groove with Team Velocity on their Monday Zwift group ride, “Dig the Bike Fantastic.”

“This is a positive and welcoming group,” says ride leader Dawn Bardon. “I know my day is always a little brighter at the end of the ride.”

Quick Details

• Schedule: Mondays at 12:30 pm UTC/8:30 am EDT/5:30 am PDT
• Length: 60 minutes
• Pace: Average of 2.2-2.3 w/kg
• Routes: A variety of routes, avoiding too many hills

Ride Feel

“Everyone comes to this ride with different goals,” Dawn says. “We have some very strong riders in the group, so they see this as a recovery ride. Others are working on building strength and endurance. This is a challenging ride for them, and they work hard to hang on. Then there is everyone in the middle of those two groups.”

The goal is to have a fairly steady pace with an average of 2.2-2.3 watts per kilogram, but this can fluctuate in the hills. Riders should be prepared to put in slightly more effort on any hills and back off on descents. There shouldn’t be many hills on this ride, though.

Dig the Bike Fantastic – a play on “Dig the Life Fantastic” from the movie The Fantastic Mr. Fox – usually brings in 100-200 people or more. There are no official sweepers, but volunteers often offer to help people who fall off the back of the group.

“There is a great group dynamic and several regulars who help with everything from keeping the conversation going to chastising flyers, welcoming new folks, and answering Zwift related questions,” Dawn says. “I am sincerely thankful for this core group who make my work so much easier and enhance the experience for everyone.”

If there’s a sprint segment on the route, go for it! The leader won’t participate, holding the pace steady for people who don’t want to sprint. But you’re welcome to take on a personal challenge for your best time. Just remember to rejoin the group when you’re done.

How It All Began

Dawn started the Velocity Dig the Bike Fantastic ride in May 2019. She recalls:

“The original thought was to add an option over the summer season for the Northern Hemisphere. I enjoyed it so much, I kept it going after a big move from North Carolina to Utah in late 2019. Velocity has led multiple group rides over the years, including Vibe Tribe and Rise with Vixen. We are hoping to get more rides back on the Zwift calendar soon.”

Ride Leaders

The primary ride leader is Dawn Bardon, 51, a long-time road cyclist with several years of ride leader experience in real life. She’s been on Zwift for more than 2 years. Dawn describes herself as a “serious cold weather wimp, so after moving to Utah, the Zwift life has taken a larger role in colder months. I also dabble in mountain biking and enjoy distance running, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, and snowshoeing. My Strava feed isn’t epic but is it eclectic.”

Jennifer Krueger, 45, is the backup ride leader for Velocity Dig the Bike Fantastic. She has been on Zwift since late 2015. Jennifer says she is “a Cat 3 road racer and I have been cycling pretty regularly for about 10 years. Zwift was such a game-changer when I had a small child and New England winters to contend with.” This past winter, Jennifer was one of the ride leaders for the longer-format, workout-based “Vibe Tribe.”

Learn More

For more information about Velocity, visit the team’s Facebook page or Instagram @velocityvixenfox. The team is co-ed and very active in Zwift racing events.