EVENTS

Welcome to our friendly, longer, festive group ride – Ho! Ho! Ho! Hammer Time!.

These rides are aimed at racking up some quality KMs over an extended friendly ride, curing all festive hangovers and helping shed any extra pounds you may have gained (note: one or more of these may not actually happen).

This is a GROUP RIDE, not a race. We aim to 1) ride bikes together, 2) support each other and 3) have fun. It's also is not a "no drop ride".

Total duration will be between 1hr 30mins and 3hrs approx (depending on route). But no obligation to complete the full distance, you’re welcome to join for as long as you have available and we’re very, very happy to have you along.



PACE

This ride is a medium paced group ride and we expect the ride leader to average around 2.4 to 2.7 w/kg. This is AVERAGE pace for the whole ride and at times, especially on sprints and climbs, the ride leader will often significantly exceed average pace.

• FLAT SECTIONS – Approx 2.4 to 2.6 w/kg. We ride the flat as a tight group.

• CLIMBS/HILL - 2.7+ w/kg. Things get stretched on the climb, that's fine, we're totally chilled with that, we REGROUP AFTER (see below).



REGROUPING

We regroup so the faster riders, who want to push hard on the climbs, wait for leader and slower riders. Leader will pace climbs as an average advertised climbing pace (ie 2.7w/kg).

Try to keep up with or in front of the leader on the climb. The leader will roll through the regroup points rather than stop.

We regroup after main descents, so for example on Watopia Pretzel:

• First trip up mountain – regroup after descent at Marina, just after the Sea Planes.

• Second trip up the mountain – regroup after descent at the Jarvis Tree.

To regroup either come to a complete stop or if you’re in a cold garage/shed and need to keep warm, gently roll on at below 1.0 w/kg until the main group catches up.



BEING DROPPED

Nobody likes being dropped, we’ve all been there (some of us many, many times both in game and IRL). We understand the frustration. Bear in mind this is not a ”no drop ride”.

The draft effect means if you’re fall off the back of the main group you need to pace well over group pace to bridge the gap and catch. As a guide 3.5 or 4.0w/kg is needed to chase down a group at 2.7w/kg.



Sweepers are not in operation and if you find yourself further back:

A) Shortly after the start - Consider exiting the event and re-joining as a late joiner (late join is available for the first 30 minutes). Zwift's late join feature SHOULD teleport you into the main pack when you re-join.

B) After a signal drop out - Send a message to the group we may be able to arrange for some of the stronger riders to drop back and help. Just as long as you’re not on a TT bike (they don’t draft) or over a minute back.

Otherwise check the mini-map for riders around you, form a grouppetto with them, support each other (#DoubleDraft is on), chat, give "Ride Ons!", make Zwift buddies.



TOP TIPS

- Stay close to the ride leader (or in front on climbs), don’t let a gap form and the elastic snap! This is especially important on descents as the leader will normally roll through the regroup point at the bottom.

- Stay away from the Fence - it’s evil.

- Visit the ZZRC facebook page.

- Most important of all: HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE RIDE.