This is why we’re friends. Ride on, Lama!

I like to do a lot of climbing and wish Zwift would introduce XPs for ascent, not just distance, to encourage us climbers.

Amazes me how when someone just posts a helpful little video like this, that is no way controversial or has any fuel for negativity, manages to somehow attract people with something negative to say. I'm enjoying reading most the comments that are grateful for the tips or have some nice suggestions to leverage some extra XP points, but of course you come across the usual people that just have to their negative little digs - the irony being some of the comments are about how Zwifters interested in XP points and levels are wasting their time, yet the time spent watching a video you have no interest in and then going to the effort of actually typing up a comment with your negative thoughts on the matter is somehow time better spent 🤷‍♂ Anyway - thanks Shane. I'll be implementing these tips over xmas to try and level up to 26 where I can get a couple of new frames I want. All part of the fun.

That worked well :) I split the 70 mins into 7x 10 minute interval blocks, and it gave me 119xp per block (not on fast track). Got the wheels at the top and spun big XP for 250xp, also picked up a 10xp on the way back down. Totalled 2473 xp.

Awesome video Shane! I commented over a year ago on one of your videos about using the prize wheel at the top of the climb as a way to level up faster than some of the more popularly discussed methods. Back then I thought the big bonus odds were increased by having an unused power-up when you passed through the summit arch. Your idea to switch to a workout to get XP by time on the climb instead of distance is pure gold!

10:26, I was a little caught off guard to see my name pop up giving you a Ride On!

Nice one! Big motivation to do more climbing for sure!

Excellent and informative as always 👌🏾

So much easier watching someone else climb the Alpe du Zwift, than dragging my fat butt up that mountain.

Good timing for me as been on zwift about 1.5 months so starting to dig in more to the details.

Great information GP, Thanks. Currently slogging my way through the 40's. Will definitely use this option. On a similar note. I think Zwift have missed an opportunity here to keep the long time Zwifters happy. Why not just add a multiplier x2, x5, x10 to routes. This could be as simple as showing the multiplier on the users achievement screen, or for those who like to show there wears perhaps a multiple stamp on the jersey pocket for the user when riding the route in game (ridden the route 7 times, then x7 on the rear pocket). From a game perspective perhaps match XP points to multiplier. eg: x7 + 1.7 XP points per km. The guys and girls at Zwift could create an infinite chase by letting users multiply their routes on an individual and set base, be that full set (PRL full..... eeeek) or by world, Watopia, Richmond, France, etc. Pinball machines were around when I was growing up and part of the draw to the game was levelling up, getting points faster or chasing a prize in the game that required a level of skill not ordinarily seen. Whilst there are some Zwift achievement badges based on this, speed, power, thumbs up for those who **chase** these it's easily obtained by level 30's. One other thought that comes to mind. Some video games have easter eggs. There are enough roads on Zwift to create a one off easter egg route. The user would not know where the route starts or finishes, thus for those who wish to search for the route it increases usage of a specific world or roads not popular. If the route is ridden within a specific set period of time say a month. Then the user collects that unique badge. Obviously with the internet word will get around, hence the short period of time to search and collect. Zwift can then recreate a new easter egg at a future date increasing the gamification and enjoyment for habitual users.

Wow ! Thank you for working that out for us. You might want to try 'String Theory' next - should be a 'walk in the park' after this. 🙂

I clicked on the video, and. found out your method is . . . exactly what I've already been doing with the exception being that I'm not doing it in workout mode. I'm somewhere between 100 and 200 ascents of the Alpe at the point because I use it as an interval training game, picking either odds, evens, or every third segment and trying to pace them above threshold for a segment PR. I also do Fire and Ice (slightly less efficient) because I like the 20 something minutes of lead-in before the climb to get my music choice and fan angle dialed in.

Additional benefit of this method: double drops as well

Great, thanks for sharing.

I’ve been doing the 90 minute riders choice workout which lets you pedal at whatever power you want. You will always get the star even if you stop peddling to take a break for a minute.

You should descend ADZ on a TT bike. You get those 10/20xp power ups. Times three for the descent this is an extra 30/60 xp. Do a few ascents/descents and this soon adds up.

I used to do something similar when trying to get the Tron bike, as I wanted to still get good XP whilst climbing. I did 61 second under and overs (sometimes 60seconds would get 1 XP less than 61 seconds) to minimise risk of losing a star and XP. It was a LOT of stars/blocks so I used to edit the workout xml in a text editor so it would only take a couple of minutes to make. I'd mostly use it for recovery rides though, slow up hill but same XP as if I was smashing hard intervals.

There is also a 60 minute riders choice work out and I suppose you could create your own at whatever length of time you want.

At the top of the mountain, put in a massive sprint over the line to increase the chance of getting the wheels

I always continue right to the jungle arch. It’s almost all downhill and you get another 2k plus 10 at the arch.

Being able to sell bought, unused items in the garage would also be a great way to gain back points or add some additional XP

At level 43 after being on Zwift since 2015, I need to make use of this. Or just ride more... 🤣

Not sure if the 100KPH badge adds XP, but if you switch to the time trial bike before the descent you can hit 100KPH by revving it up at the top.

Now the Climb Portal has changed probably the most efficient way of mining XP. I think it is a good video to test every climb or a part of it and do a lot of reps.

If you make those intervals 61 seconds it’ll rack up faster. Just adding 1 second to each interval gives you one extra xp. And lots of stars and xp if you make each interval separate and not part of a repeating loop like you did.

Shane, can you try changing your units to get more xp. I think I’ve seen that if I go from miles to kilometers I get the xp for the mile even though I got xp just a little bit ago for the km. ie 1km 1mi(1.6km) 2km 3km 2 mi(3.2km) etc. that should end up getting almost double xp right. A lot of manual effort though.

Hi @gplama, I've heard a lot of conflicting numbers over the years on how much XP per minute an interval block yields, so I ran my own experiment to try and debunk all the conflicting info for myself and thought you might find the results interesting. I built nine different workouts using the smallest interval block possible (4 sets) that were comprised of the following durations: 0:58 x4, 0:59 x4, 1:00 x4, 1:00/1:01 alternating x2, 1:01 x4, 1:52 x4, 1:56 x4, 1:58x4, and 1:59 x4. I had heard somewhere that 1:52 blocks yield the same as 2:00 so I thought I’d try that out along with other durations close to it. I rode all nine workouts at the same power (170w) in ERG mode. The winner turned out to be 1:59 blocks where I earned 94 XP over the course of four 1:59 sets at 476 seconds total, which comes out to 11.97 XP per minute. The next two closest interval blocks earning 11.95 XP per minute each were 1:58 and 0:59. The lowest was 1:00 sets at 11.75 XP per minute, so we’re talking very marginal differences here, but gains are gains! It sounds like the most XP you can possibly earn per minute using zone blocks is around 10.8, so interval blocks definitely seem to be the way to go. If all of this isn't nerdy enough for you, let me know and I'll share my full spreadsheet with you!

I have always wondered, how many kms per level? This kind of answered this. Cheers 🎉

Yeah I always try to finish my workout before that km xp comes up 😂

Thanks, great tip which worked for me. Just one query - I put 10secs in between each interval in the interval block but Zwift still only showed 1 star for the whole workout and didn’t give me any XP after each interval. Did I do something wrong?

I wish they'd add more levels for runners. Not fussed about level kit but it would be nice to see your level increasing. I guess the half hour it would take to add the extra levels is too much hassle

You need to play with the length of the intervals a bit as in some cases you can earn one XP by making a workout block slightly longer. According to Zwiftinsider it's 1 XP every 5.55 seconds for zone blocks. So for zone blocks the most efficient way to earn XP are 111 seconds blocks as you lose no XP (with 60 seconds you lose about 0.8 XP every block) and if you fail one star you don't lose much. BUT there is a caveat. I run Zwift on a 2019 iPad (or sometimes an older MacBook Pro) and with that Zwift's internal timinings are a bit off and after a while the running stopwatch in the top right corner is lacking behind a few seconds. One hour workouts never lasts an hour (according to the stopwatch) on my hardware. It doesn't seem to affect you as your 70 minutes workout ended exactly at 1:18:40 and you started at 0:0:8:40. Every so often I don't get the full 20 XP (only 19 XP) for a 111 seconds block. Second in line is a 50 seconds block (0.009 XP lost) but with that I also sometimes don't earn the 9 XP (only 8 XP) it should give me. I think it has to do when Zwift can't put out the frames fast enough you lose fractions of a second and thus makes the block virtually a bit shorter. Only with 28 seconds blocks (or 139 seconds) I could get a constant output of XP on my hardware (this would be 6th place in the "losing the least XP on a zone block" ranking; 0.045 XP lost every block). Would love to see your findings on interval blocks and playing with the length of these in seconds.

So I did that this AM. 12662-10817=1845XP for 1.5h of moving time, or 1230xp/hour. I got the helmet, not the wheel. I climbed at c.210W, and didn't pedal on the way down (hence moving time). Activity was

I don't usually do workouts natively in zwift (I use Xert app with the trainer control using that and ride in zwift) but I did a workout natively in zwift and noticed the fast track didn't work in workout mode.

Have since done 2 ADZ climbs in workout mode. 2nd effort was a PB 🎉 - however still no wheels and that’s 5 times up now 😂 But I did leverage enough XP to get to 26 and get my new Canyon Frame. Wondering if setting up a 5min workout that ends just before each KM would get you the 5x12 XP for workout and then the 20XP for the KM = 80XP per KM - just have to start the Workout at the start of each KM 🤔

I’m enjoying this method. I currently have my intervals set at 28 seconds 139 seconds Repeated twice. =66xp With a 30 second rest block between. =5xp A total of 71xp every 6:04. Does anyone have a better ratio? What interval timings are better?

If you have badges to get that always wins right?

Any chance of a an update video using the new (lvl60-100) accelerator? I tried this yesterday and I don't think the XP is doubled like it was in the lvl50-60 days.

So would picking a regular Zwift workout with intervalls/time that allows me to get to the top still Pay 12xp/min? Scheduled to ride up Alp de Zwift, but I have become something of a "big Chungus", so I was planning on selecting a workout to help with motivation and break the monotony.

Some really good ideas in the video and in the comments. I think I might know what I'm doing this weekend 😂

I have a question. I noticed that when I looked at the routes that I have done already, the XP have been crossed out?? I do some routes on repeat, do I still get XP for doing the km??

Let's rush from 50 to 60 then wait 4 years for 70 to be released

The easiest 1000XP hour that doesnt rely on events or workouts is 1) Set world to be Scotland (Of course use a TT bike) 2) Select Crit City (3.3km) 3) At 38 kph or roughly 200w, you do 11 laps, with two bonus segment gates (1 sprint, 1 KOM) you get - 760XP for the riding, 230XP for the gates = 980XP So thence go a touch quicker (39kph) and you get exactly 1000XP repeatably.

What is How do you get the roulette style s[ining bonus at the top of the Alps? I'm unclear on that.

Got the 1000xp wheel bonus last night

Does this not work anymore since the big change and going to 100 levels? I grabbed a TT bike and rode around o the volcano circuit but did not get any extra points.

Hey Shane, did you also know that if you ride on for 1 minute after going under a banner you can u-turn and go under the banner again and collect again. Making it 2 minutes between banners and not 3 average on Dolphin course. Easy to on Tempus as it’s flat where banner is. 👍🏼

Shane what are your thoughts on the current issues when people are hitting level 60. Apparently people aren't getting back all that XP they had banked over the years waiting for more levels. Some people are even reporting no longer receiving XP at all. I could be wrong but I remember when it went from 25 - 50, once we hit 50 we got back all the XP they had taken. Almost doesn't seem worth it now to rush to 60 if when you get there nothing will happen.

I used to make a workout that would take around 900 metres (depends on terrain and effort), then I'd get the XP bonus for each kilometre as well. I did that because I think you don't accrue kilometre XP when you are getting workout XP, but I'm not sure.

So with that tactic Shane, how many kilometres would you need to cycle to get to level 60? Just as a comparison to the 37k you mentioned at the start for doing it as standard? Cheers.

If I come out of the Everest challenge to look at/try another challenge will I have to start the Everest challenge from the beginning? Thanks

Does the workout have to be finished before riding under the alp du Zwift finish line to still activate the wheel to get the points?

TT bike for the down hill would have got you some addition XP.

I tried this and kept tracked the wheel-Spin-Bonus amount (250 XP vs 1000) over the last 18 ascents. 48% were 1,000 and the other 52% were 250 XP. Average therefore is 600 XP per wheel spin

Shane I spoke to you on Zwift the other day! was this what you were "secretly" testing? hehe

What happens to your points of you drop membership for a summer? Do you rejoin as a beginner? There is no yearly membership offered and I don't plan to ride enough during the warm six months to maintain a monthly subscription.

Dear Mr Llama sir. Could you not do a work out on the way down too; but in the name of recovery put the intervals at something really low like 50 watts?

Robbed on XP by Zwift AGAIN ;) Level 57 (.4) Should be at 60 already but missed the first week or 2 of the new L60 update. Would have been nice to know this a couple of weeks ago! Torn whether to try this or just plod along to 60. Also, Shane what was the little update yesterday??? GV 1.32.1 (106405)?

If you happen to befriend someone at the top and then ride with them you can get 240XP on a free descent prior to starting your workout.

Oh it's so easy! Wait...it's the "road to sky" route. I think who manages to do this definitely deservs the gained XP.

Im new to Zwift. I have 500k drops. Which bike should i get? Tarmac SL7 is 674K

This seems like a lot. I only recently learned another app slows your speed on hills for non interactive smart trainers so trying to remember all this is next to impossible. I can't remember what I ate yesterday.

At a beginning when I start to Zwift XP:s seems to be important to get them much as possible because Zwift was new to me and want to get more new wheels and frames. But that was then, now today XP:s means nothing to me, I ride only because I wan't to stay fit. Now I have too many bikes and wheels in my garage which I probably never use. Good for them who are excited about XP:s if that keeps them coming back to Zwift, everything for everyone.

Does xp workout also work for runners?

Shane, please tell me how you get to earn 2 x Acceleration XP points?

can you game this even further and head back down the alpe for 500m and then turnaround and go back through the gate again?

You could have also created another workout for the descent. Another ~12 minutes at 12xp/min would have increased the result by 144xp. 😊

Wouldn't some challenges or events orgnised by Zwift be more beneficial (when available?)

I still think it's silly that they haven't made it so miles and kilometers earn equal XP per distance ridden. All Zwift has to do is make it so miles earn 32 XP per mile, and then people wouldn't have to use a unit of measurement for which they have no frame of reference.

Or you can ride Tempus fugit and go through the banner at the end of flat is fast 😅.

Levelling up quickly is excellent, but one cannot afford the unlocks if you don't earn a good amount of drops.

I wonder what I might be doing something wrong I have climbed Alpe du Zwift 9 times now and still haven’t won the wheels. Is there a trick to that?

Change immediatly to a TT bike and you will get every PU place a 10 extra XP in that pocket.

I thought you didn't get XP for freewheeling but I've just realised it's drops you don't get - not XP. Next video maximising drops? 😁😁

Why is your power bouncing around so much when you are in ERG mode?

So let me get this, I should pay for a subscription and can't have access to all the routes? And have to ride more to get some fantasy points to change how my bike looks? What is this? Slavery with extra steps?

Well, realistically you'll get wheels every 10 climbs (3 wheels until masochist for me), but still lot faster

What's the fast track??

I've never understood the point of the levels. Just to unlock socks or a jersey? You get better stuff just taking part in events. I love zwift & but couldn't care less what level I am (or what anyone else is for that matter) 🤷

I’m surprised you don’t already have the Masochist badge!

Blerg! I've done the Alp dozens of times. I've done it in under an hour. I've worn the KOM jersey briefly. I've won the helmet and gloves EVERYTIME. Hearing you've got it 3x in a row blows my mind. I've come the conclusion it's rigged so I will never get it. I don't even bother to look at it anymore. So annoying.

Just tried this but i screwed up my watt targets and didnt get my stars so all i got waa lousy fitness and minimal xp! Lesson, dont mess that part up.

Or you can do a lot of short workouts in order to take both the km bonus and the workout bonus. For example, an 80 second workout would give me 16xp (32xp on x2). The workout would finish before crossing each km line, so I would get 20xp (40xp on x2) for km bonus as well. Applying this to heartlandsg's method I get 82xp (164xp on x2) for a lap, thus 1640xp (3280xp on x2) for 20 laps. This is about as efficient as your method when you grab the 2000xp wheel🤣

Do the intervals have to be at 200w, or is it merely some percentage of your FTP?

200w @ what weight??? I've packed on the pounds... 😂

Is it my impression or you are not granted XP point anymore if you ride downhill without paddling?

There isn't a lot of point in speeding through the levelling process. None of the rewards are very good and this isn't a game you are going to put away after 6 months. This is likely an app you will use for years on end.

what is this "fast track" thing?? I dont get it tbh

...or you can just free ride, not stick to any route, and hit the "Not now" button when Zwift tells you your trial has expired 🙊.

Wow, big brain moments!!! @))

Well... Those XP aren't worth that amount of clicking and distraction from riding and having fun. Just my two cents...

I'm at level 60 now what ???

Maybe starting another workout at the top of the Alpe. It wouldn’t be a long one but maybe extra XP.

I think you get an extra XP if you add a second to your workout? marginal gains 😅

I must be using Zwift incorrectly. I use it to keep my fitness and not be bothered with garnering XP or drops. I've never spent any drops; just use the bike that came with it. I must admit, I did change my kit colors and avatar once I saw that ability so I can better pick myself out in a crowd. Guess if I was interested, would switch to km v. miles, but it's not important to me. However, if it keeps you motivated or gives you bragging rights, who am I to criticize?

?

Paging Cameron Jeffers

Shane - you may want to note you did this in Kilometers (metric) - not miles (Imperial) as doing so in miles will result in a lower total points....thus riding any ride in Km will increase your points faster than in miles :)

I dunno... "gamification" and "zwift"??? I don't see it. At least not by any game I have ever played. I WISH someone would come along and make a REAL game with my Kickr. OR, anyone know of a FREE software? I hate paying Zwift the monthly subscription just to have it load up my Kickr variously.