I gotta say its so inspiring seeing someone starting from a similar fitness level as me (although you overtook me already by far ;D) but i find this so much more relateable than the people pushing 300+ watts. Keep it going, enjoy watching a lot!
I just finished Alpe du Zwift today for the first time! It took me 1:48:00 exactly. I honestly got a lot of inspiration from your challenges and probably wouldn't have believed I could do it or even attempted it if it wasn't for you and a few others I've seen on youtube who are at a similar weight to me (no insult implied here, it's just that climbing is hard for us bigger guys). I was really feeling cooked around turn 11 but kind of got a second wind. Taking in some carbs before and during the ride is key!
I just rode it today! It was a group ride and I was extremely shocked than I could keep up with the peloton all the way to the top! My fifth week of cycling and things going the right direction 💪
Well done! my first (and so far only) AdZ came in at 2:00:02, I'd really manged my pace well and kept religiously to 190-200w until i came off the final hairpin with an eta around 2:01 - i absolutely broke myself on that last push and just didn't quite make it under 2. I'll get it this winter though!
Hey Benji, congrats on your first AdZ climb ! Did my first Alpe yesterday and like you I wanted to climb it in 1 go without stopping and I managed ! Drank almost 2.5L of water and climbed in 104mn45s at an average 169w :) Was an experience close to yours, cheers on making it happen ! On our way to sub 100 :)
Congrats, Benji ! Love your enthousiasm about those achievements and the way you look thrilled about the goals you're setting. Wish you the best for 2024 and remember, every cardio/endurance sport is a stool standing on a tripod : fun/wellness, progressivity and regularity/discipline. Fun/wellness gets you back on the saddle, progressivity protects from injuries and overtraining, reguarity/discipline gets you results
My first experience with this was de real Alpe d'Huez, this year in june. Like you working for months to get there, at the start of the mountain to overcome it. Took my 1.5 hour then. Now in autumn I am rocking the Alpe on Zwift. Got it on 74 minutes on my first go, and 72 minutes after that. I just enjoy Alpe. The numbering of the hairpins really is a motivation. Keep up the work.
Great job! Alternating between a slower cadence and a faster cadence (and standing vs sitting) to shift the load focus between aerobic and strength is definitely helpful. You're going to crush that time goal for AdZ in 2024.
Massive well done. I tend to do 10-20 or so pedal strokes out the saddle after each corner on the Alpe. Helps stretch out a bit and breaks the monotony.
Well done on completing AdZ Benji. Everything your doing takes a lot of mental strength. Telling yourself to keep going can be hard when stopping is so easy. Remember, the only person that is going to make you do it is yourself.
Congratulations for your achievement. One step at the time , you’ll do it under an hour . Just keep going. At 62 the first time it felt out of reach but with consistency and training I did it in 56 minutes . Setting goals will motivate you not only in the cycling area but also in the nutrition aspect which is a very important part of the sport.
Well done Benji! I first started watching your PCM videos, Eolo was probably the first, but your transition to what you’re doing now has been great to watch. I do miss the PCM stuff but totally understand why you stopped producing it but this content is equally, or if not even better, to watch and see your progression.
There is a banded Zwift group ride which does ADZ every Sunday at 2:15 GMT, 9:15 EST hosted by the Banditz club. It’s a very supportive group, if you can maintain 1w/kg and keep pedaling you will make it with the group.
As a 63kg rider, your challenges are incomparable to mine, but I genuinely love following your progress and seeing your effort. Cycling is for everyone and it’s totally inspiring to watch bigger riders take on hills! Well done, Benji! Looking forward to more gains in 2024. 💪🏻
Fantastic video, and a great accomplishment! 2+ hours on the trainer is always tough, physically and mentally. You've done so much to sell Zwift, they should create a Lanterne Rouge jersey for the game. Ventop in 2024! It's close to 150% of the time of L'Alpe, so once you get your 1:40 on L'Alpe, Ventop would be around 2:30.
Thanks for your vids, Benji! Watching them i remember myself about a year ago: i did AdZ in 117 mins. Now, 1 year later i did it in 73 mins. I didnt do any special training this year, was just riding 4-6 hours a week, and got this far. You have to aim higher! 72 mins in a year, go for it!
Fantastic effort Benji. I rode it for the first time today, riding the full Tour of Fire and Ice. It took me just under 2h40m, with the Alpe itself taking 1h51m. I was one from bottom on the leaderboard but couldn’t be happier, it was just about finishing and enjoying the ride. I weigh 66kg but have very little power due to endless health problems so to get to the top and earn the badge for the AdZ was fantastic.
Great job man, not giving up is the most crucial thing doing this the first time. My first time was much slower, no I'm closer to the 1 14 minute mark, which is good for somebody that weights almost 100KG. Keep it going, I'll be back doing the alp after I recover from an injury for overtraining after a surgery, maybe do a social ride, so we can climb the alp as a group?. Great job again man
I like using Alpe du Zwift club as a “fun threshold test”. 😅 My goal was to finish it initially then sub 1 hour and now I’m aiming for sub 50 minutes. I use the bot paced rides time to time to pace my way up. It’s much more “fun” and engaging than the 20min FTP test and probably a better indication of your overall fitness. Great pacing exercise too as I have gassed out half way too many times. I try to really control my power output until the Dutch corner (7) then go harder till turn 3 then go harder again. Great going Benji! Keep it up mate. I really enjoy watching your progress. 👍😊
F*#king right bro!!! I been waiting for this video to land and man it was awesome. I was cheering for ya the whole time, seeing you stand for the first time (didn't know it was your first on a climb) was awesome to see man. I spend a fair bit of time standing on and off up that mountain. Hell of an effort man and awesome to see, maybe one of these days we will meet in the zwift world.
Congratulations Benji! This is my next goal! Been monitoring your improvements for the year. It is through tremendous tenacity that you have been succeeding. I’m just starting on Zwift, having moved from RGT, and feel your pain, since I’m 90 kg, and 66 years. Great progress!
Great work! I ended up on the alpe during a zone 2 erg ride, didn't make it too far... lol It wasn't the circuit I had selected, but that's where zwift sent me. It was fun to get a sense of what it might me like. I'm a long way off from actually trying it.
This feels like a monster of a climb! Well done Benji! I hope you feel really proud of what you're achieving. I'm seeing your videos and I am noticing you getting slimmer every video! That is sure to help! I'm using your videos a lot as motivation to keep my weight in check and get back on the saddle. I'm currently on Rouvy but seriously interested in Zwift once again just to see if I can race you! I'm also a bigger guy and really struggle up any hill.
Nice work! Love seeing things that help the mental challenges. You should check out negative splits! I love them for this reason. Phil Gaimon says split any climb into thirds: 1. Easy 2. Steady 3. Go hard at the end. It gives so much confidence half way through the climb when you feel like you’ve been holding back or if you’re having a bad day you can always just sustain that first power you thought was easy. Really enjoy your videos!
Well done! Just did the Alpe du Zwift myself this morning. Oh, man. My cardio was up to a higher pace, but my legs were really starting to get rubbery by about the 1h15m . I did it in a race with a robo pacer, which beat me to the top by about 3 minutes. Placed 8th out of 22 class D entrants. My previous biggest climbs were multiple attacks on the Epic KOM, sometimes including the tower climb at the top (that's a freaking leg breaker). 1:44:47, i think that includes the lead in.
Great stuff Benji. Climbing out of the saddle is not for everyone, But I am short 57kg and 57years old and I climb the Alpe de Zwift Standing the whole way, best for me is 41min and interesting I couldn't manage 200w seated but can do 277 standing all the way. Funny how we are all built different and one size does not fit all. Awesome effort Bro!!
Absolutely fantastic effort! Love seeing your progression through all of these videos, amazing improvement from your first ever climb. You should feel proud.
Kudos! You looked a lot smoother when out of the saddle too. It's good to vary your position in order to give different muscles a rest from time to time. The Zwift Hub Virtual gears help a little bit too on the Alpe with so many to choose from and quick changes. Next go for the masochist badge (25 ascents iirc) and hope to win the Lightweight wheels from the spinner at the top instead of the more usual gloves.
Great effort Benji, those big climbs are definitely as much of q mental challenge as they are a physical challenge. I've not been back on Alpe de Zwift since having to climb off a few kms from the end of the previous Zwift Gran Fondo series at the start of this year. Maybe it would be a good goal to go back and ride it again before the years out, maybe just not at the end of a 90km route this time 😂
fantastic effort brotha keep at it you'll only get better and better i used to hate climbing now i love it my first ride up alpe de zwift was well over 1.5 hrs and now i can do it in 51 mins i'll be attempting a sub 50 minute climb soon
Well done Benji, stumbled across your videos a few weeks ago and just wanted to say it's been a real joy watching your progress and seeing your hard work pay off. Looking forward to your adventures next year. Well done again, great stuff.
Fantastic effort Benj! You conquered AdZ! It's been fun watching your progress. I'll be here to see what's next. All love!
GG Benji !
I gotta say its so inspiring seeing someone starting from a similar fitness level as me (although you overtook me already by far ;D) but i find this so much more relateable than the people pushing 300+ watts. Keep it going, enjoy watching a lot!
I just finished Alpe du Zwift today for the first time! It took me 1:48:00 exactly. I honestly got a lot of inspiration from your challenges and probably wouldn't have believed I could do it or even attempted it if it wasn't for you and a few others I've seen on youtube who are at a similar weight to me (no insult implied here, it's just that climbing is hard for us bigger guys). I was really feeling cooked around turn 11 but kind of got a second wind. Taking in some carbs before and during the ride is key!
Congratulations, stay the course.
Nice Going... Ven Top awaits you!
Standing feel massively helpful when climbing, i often count down to when i´ll allow myself to get out the saddle.
Yes! On the Alpe, I stand and pedal at least through all the turns and more. But through each corner for sure. Cheers all, and great effort Benji.
I'll have to try that next time
Goal smashed! Move that goal post and SMASH IT AGAIN!
Big effort! congrat my friend!
Great effort. We can all relate to our first Alpe.
I just rode it today! It was a group ride and I was extremely shocked than I could keep up with the peloton all the way to the top! My fifth week of cycling and things going the right direction 💪
Benji you cleaned the ADZ. Congratulations with a stellar effort. I certainly feel your pain.
Go Benji! Discipline is the key you smashed it
So many laugh out loud moments. Lovely Benji, well done.
Well done! my first (and so far only) AdZ came in at 2:00:02, I'd really manged my pace well and kept religiously to 190-200w until i came off the final hairpin with an eta around 2:01 - i absolutely broke myself on that last push and just didn't quite make it under 2. I'll get it this winter though!
Hey Benji, congrats on your first AdZ climb ! Did my first Alpe yesterday and like you I wanted to climb it in 1 go without stopping and I managed ! Drank almost 2.5L of water and climbed in 104mn45s at an average 169w :)
Was an experience close to yours, cheers on making it happen ! On our way to sub 100 :)
Your cat 😺 was the key of your success 🥰 yessss
Congrats, Benji ! Love your enthousiasm about those achievements and the way you look thrilled about the goals you're setting. Wish you the best for 2024 and remember, every cardio/endurance sport is a stool standing on a tripod : fun/wellness, progressivity and regularity/discipline. Fun/wellness gets you back on the saddle, progressivity protects from injuries and overtraining, reguarity/discipline gets you results
My first experience with this was de real Alpe d'Huez, this year in june. Like you working for months to get there, at the start of the mountain to overcome it.
Took my 1.5 hour then.
Now in autumn I am rocking the Alpe on Zwift. Got it on 74 minutes on my first go, and 72 minutes after that.
I just enjoy Alpe. The numbering of the hairpins really is a motivation.
Keep up the work.
Great job! Alternating between a slower cadence and a faster cadence (and standing vs sitting) to shift the load focus between aerobic and strength is definitely helpful. You're going to crush that time goal for AdZ in 2024.
I am so proud of you! Your channel is so inspiring. Keep up the good work! Nothing is impossible
Have not been up Alp du Zwift in a while. It's brutal congrats.
Benji, Benji, Benji, wat doe je nu 🤯
Chapeau!!!
well done Benji. keep working, the benefits will compound in no time!
Massive well done. I tend to do 10-20 or so pedal strokes out the saddle after each corner on the Alpe. Helps stretch out a bit and breaks the monotony.
So proud of you! Keep it going!
Super gedaan Benji!, mooi om dit allemaal te volgen
This is a goal of mine. Great to see u conquering this!
Good job! Enjoying your channel!
Awesome achievement, now you're ready for the Festive 500, let's go! 👍 🤙 👍
Good work benji and well done on not putting a foot down but pushing through
Well done on completing AdZ Benji. Everything your doing takes a lot of mental strength. Telling yourself to keep going can be hard when stopping is so easy. Remember, the only person that is going to make you do it is yourself.
Congratulations for your achievement. One step at the time , you’ll do it under an hour . Just keep going. At 62 the first time it felt out of reach but with consistency and training I did it in 56 minutes . Setting goals will motivate you not only in the cycling area but also in the nutrition aspect which is a very important part of the sport.
Benji, amazing job. Thanks for sharing your achievements with us.
Got that enric mas nasal strip going LETSGOOO
Congrats benji! Great performance! Thank you for a wonderful journey in 2023 and looking forward to your goals in 2024! Dikke proficiat!
Absolutlely smashed it Benji!! Brilliant effort mate.. I remember being elated when I accomplised AdZ!! An amazing feeling.. mega well done pal!
I was just about to comment on one of your previous vids that I look forward to seeing you climb the Alpe, and then this pops up! :D
Pain face, watering the floor instead of your mouth and epic music.... well done.
Hell yea benji. You paced yourself just about perfectly I’d say. I 100 percent did not do this the first time I went up
Good effort, big man. It never gets easier, just faster
Congratulations Benji! Need to get you over to Ireland for a cycle sometime 🎉
New Ability Unlocked: Out of the saddle 😉
Well done Benji! I first started watching your PCM videos, Eolo was probably the first, but your transition to what you’re doing now has been great to watch. I do miss the PCM stuff but totally understand why you stopped producing it but this content is equally, or if not even better, to watch and see your progression.
keep at it.
Great work Benji!!! Great to see the progression
Congratulations Benji. It is fun to watch you on your journey. Great job way to stick with it.
There is a banded Zwift group ride which does ADZ every Sunday at 2:15 GMT, 9:15 EST hosted by the Banditz club. It’s a very supportive group, if you can maintain 1w/kg and keep pedaling you will make it with the group.
As a 63kg rider, your challenges are incomparable to mine, but I genuinely love following your progress and seeing your effort. Cycling is for everyone and it’s totally inspiring to watch bigger riders take on hills! Well done, Benji! Looking forward to more gains in 2024. 💪🏻
Amazing, very well done!! Congratulations!!!
amazing job Benji! keep up the hard work
Fantastic video, and a great accomplishment! 2+ hours on the trainer is always tough, physically and mentally. You've done so much to sell Zwift, they should create a Lanterne Rouge jersey for the game.
Ventop in 2024! It's close to 150% of the time of L'Alpe, so once you get your 1:40 on L'Alpe, Ventop would be around 2:30.
Good job ! Recently bought a trainer, inspiring to see your videos, keep going !
Thanks for your vids, Benji! Watching them i remember myself about a year ago: i did AdZ in 117 mins. Now, 1 year later i did it in 73 mins. I didnt do any special training this year, was just riding 4-6 hours a week, and got this far.
You have to aim higher! 72 mins in a year, go for it!
Fantastic effort Benji. I rode it for the first time today, riding the full Tour of Fire and Ice. It took me just under 2h40m, with the Alpe itself taking 1h51m. I was one from bottom on the leaderboard but couldn’t be happier, it was just about finishing and enjoying the ride. I weigh 66kg but have very little power due to endless health problems so to get to the top and earn the badge for the AdZ was fantastic.
Great job man, not giving up is the most crucial thing doing this the first time. My first time was much slower, no I'm closer to the 1 14 minute mark, which is good for somebody that weights almost 100KG. Keep it going, I'll be back doing the alp after I recover from an injury for overtraining after a surgery, maybe do a social ride, so we can climb the alp as a group?. Great job again man
I like using Alpe du Zwift club as a “fun threshold test”. 😅
My goal was to finish it initially then sub 1 hour and now I’m aiming for sub 50 minutes. I use the bot paced rides time to time to pace my way up.
It’s much more “fun” and engaging than the 20min FTP test and probably a better indication of your overall fitness. Great pacing exercise too as I have gassed out half way too many times. I try to really control my power output until the Dutch corner (7) then go harder till turn 3 then go harder again.
Great going Benji! Keep it up mate. I really enjoy watching your progress. 👍😊
F*#king right bro!!! I been waiting for this video to land and man it was awesome. I was cheering for ya the whole time, seeing you stand for the first time (didn't know it was your first on a climb) was awesome to see man. I spend a fair bit of time standing on and off up that mountain. Hell of an effort man and awesome to see, maybe one of these days we will meet in the zwift world.
Bravo chap
Massive effort Benji! Well done 👍
Awesome riding Benji- keep pushing
Fantastic effort Benji the effort you put in these videos is insane! Good job dude you will become a beast in the cycling world!
Congratulations Benji! This is my next goal! Been monitoring your improvements for the year. It is through tremendous tenacity that you have been succeeding. I’m just starting on Zwift, having moved from RGT, and feel your pain, since I’m 90 kg, and 66 years. Great progress!
Love to see the journey you're on mate! Keep up the great work :D
Thanks, bro! 😍
Nice effort mate. A real grind that one. Pacing is the key.
Respect! I just started and thought about doing this, but am only a level 9 right now. This video is a warning not to give it a go yet
It’s a real brute. I’m homing in onto the 1 hour; but hell it’s tough. Congrats
So good man! Great job. I need that kind of determination to get the Mega Pretzel done.
Great job!
Great work Benji. Excellent music choice on this video too.
Great work! I ended up on the alpe during a zone 2 erg ride, didn't make it too far... lol It wasn't the circuit I had selected, but that's where zwift sent me. It was fun to get a sense of what it might me like. I'm a long way off from actually trying it.
This feels like a monster of a climb! Well done Benji! I hope you feel really proud of what you're achieving. I'm seeing your videos and I am noticing you getting slimmer every video! That is sure to help! I'm using your videos a lot as motivation to keep my weight in check and get back on the saddle.
I'm currently on Rouvy but seriously interested in Zwift once again just to see if I can race you! I'm also a bigger guy and really struggle up any hill.
Chapeau Benji. We have similar level of ability. Seeing your progression over time and now effort on AdZ is inspiring,
Nice work! Love seeing things that help the mental challenges. You should check out negative splits! I love them for this reason. Phil Gaimon says split any climb into thirds: 1. Easy 2. Steady 3. Go hard at the end. It gives so much confidence half way through the climb when you feel like you’ve been holding back or if you’re having a bad day you can always just sustain that first power you thought was easy.
Really enjoy your videos!
Well done! Just did the Alpe du Zwift myself this morning. Oh, man. My cardio was up to a higher pace, but my legs were really starting to get rubbery by about the 1h15m . I did it in a race with a robo pacer, which beat me to the top by about 3 minutes. Placed 8th out of 22 class D entrants. My previous biggest climbs were multiple attacks on the Epic KOM, sometimes including the tower climb at the top (that's a freaking leg breaker). 1:44:47, i think that includes the lead in.
Well done! Great how far you pushed yourself! 💪💪
I cycled up AdZ for the first time recently too but haven’t done a proper effort on it yet 😊
Great stuff Benji. Climbing out of the saddle is not for everyone, But I am short 57kg and 57years old and I climb the Alpe de Zwift Standing the whole way, best for me is 41min and interesting I couldn't manage 200w seated but can do 277 standing all the way.
Funny how we are all built different and one size does not fit all. Awesome effort Bro!!
Great video once again, mad respect for documenting your pain and suffering for us to watch. Love following your progress, keep it up!
Outstanding!
Let's go Benji!
I’m not going to lie Benji but if you do a year of solid training you can definitely be under the 1:30 hours mark. Love what your doing keep it up 🫶💪
Absolutely fantastic effort! Love seeing your progression through all of these videos, amazing improvement from your first ever climb. You should feel proud.
Congrats Benji, way to crush your goal! Enjoy!🎉
Well done! Great acivement! 🎉
Congrats! Well done
Way to go! I told you that out of the saddle is key to climbing. Hell of an accomplishment 👏
Huge congrats Benji! Amazing effort and I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress next year. Also recently got into zwifting because of you!
Beautiful.
Great job Benji!
Atta boy!!! Keep up the good work! Hope to see you in Cat B soon! 👀
Kudos! You looked a lot smoother when out of the saddle too. It's good to vary your position in order to give different muscles a rest from time to time. The Zwift Hub Virtual gears help a little bit too on the Alpe with so many to choose from and quick changes. Next go for the masochist badge (25 ascents iirc) and hope to win the Lightweight wheels from the spinner at the top instead of the more usual gloves.
Great effort Benji, those big climbs are definitely as much of q mental challenge as they are a physical challenge. I've not been back on Alpe de Zwift since having to climb off a few kms from the end of the previous Zwift Gran Fondo series at the start of this year. Maybe it would be a good goal to go back and ride it again before the years out, maybe just not at the end of a 90km route this time 😂
Well done - keep going!
fantastic effort brotha keep at it you'll only get better and better i used to hate climbing now i love it my first ride up alpe de zwift was well over 1.5 hrs and now i can do it in 51 mins i'll be attempting a sub 50 minute climb soon
Congrats mate!
Great effort, and good luck for your 2024 ambitions!!
Well done Benji, stumbled across your videos a few weeks ago and just wanted to say it's been a real joy watching your progress and seeing your hard work pay off. Looking forward to your adventures next year. Well done again, great stuff.
Amazing effort!!! Congrats !!
nice work!!!!
Well done Benjamin its a climb I’ve done a few times and each time is amazing really great to see you do it too keep up the good work.
Dancing on the pedals!!!