Great Group Rides: EVO CC Altibajos Ride

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 thousands 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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“Altibajos” is Spanish for “ups and downs,” and that’s what you’ll get on this moderate-to-fast-paced ride! The Evolution Cycling Club Altibajos Group Ride includes over/under sessions and a race to the top of a climb.

The ride description says it’s “aimed at Category B riders who can ‘rest at 3-3.5w/kg’, but it may vary based upon course and leader. High social interaction is a feature of EVO rides so bring your best banter.”

Quick Details

• Schedule: every Tuesday at 18:00 GMT
• Length: one lap of the chosen route. Usually around 40 kilometers, sometimes slightly more or less.
• Pace: 3-4 w/kg average
• Route: one of the event-only KOM afterparty courses, like those ending on the Volcano KOM, Leith Hill, Keith Hill, Libby Hill, and Box Hill

Ride Feel

This one really rolls along! The EVO CC Altibajos Group Ride is aimed at riders in the B category, with an average pace between 3-4 w/kg. After a group warmup, they start a session of over/unders. For some riders, the “overs” will be in zone 3 (tempo) and the “unders” will be in zone 2 (endurance). Others might be riding just over and under their threshold.

The group rides until they reach the KOM (King of the Mountain) climb for that week, and then they let loose in a race to the top! Everyone can set their own pace, competing against themselves or each other. Results are taken at the KOM banner.

“We have a fun ethic on this ride but we also all work hard,” says Russ Cripps, one of EVO’s team leaders. “Regulars make newcomers feel very welcome and the banter is high and inclusive. It gives riders a chance to do a workout in a group but also test themselves with a race at the end for their competitive spirit.”

Altibajos typically sees between 100 and 180 Zwifters, with an average of 130 to 140 riders. There are no sweepers due to the pace. But the group will slow and help people if they call for it, as long as they know those riders haven’t decided to leave the group.

Ride Leaders

Leaders for the Evolution Cycling Club Altibajos Group Ride include:

• Claire Joyce – age 47, lives in the UK, Zwifting since 2015
• Neil McCulloch – age 50, lives in the UK, Zwifting since 2019

How It All Began

The Altibajos ride was started by Claire and Neil in May 2020. Russ gives the full story:

“On many of our EVO rides we often stay on for an ‘after party’ for some fun and banter. The idea of the ride was then born on one of these After Party rides. We wanted to host a ride that can be fun and have a ‘party’ at the end, giving riders the choice of either staying together (as a group) or going full gas at the end up the climb in a mini race. This ride was developed with the core values of having fun and testing your legs.”

Learn More about EVO

For more information on EVO, the Altibajos ride, or the club’s other events, check out the Evolution Cycling Club Facebook group.