A Christmas Present from my Wife by Pabbo Connolly

# My Journey into Zwifting and Joining ZZRC

It all started with a Christmas present from my wonderful wife—a Zwift hub, complete with a one-year membership for 2023. At first, I hopped on the bike and took a few rides with the robots. While those were okay, they weren’t quite what I was after. I found myself feeling a bit bored, just pedalling away without much interaction or excitement.

One day, while perusing the events page, I stumbled upon a club called ZZRC. What caught my eye was their diverse range of rides scheduled multiple times a day, every day! Intrigued, I decided to join the evening sub 2 rides. From the very first ride, I could tell this was going to be a different experience. The atmosphere was fantastic, filled with laughter and camaraderie, led by a great team of sweeps and ride buddies.

The ride was organized brilliantly, with sweeps guided by the red beacon ready to assist anyone who fell behind. They made sure to bring riders back up to the yellow group leader by gradually increasing the pace. Not to mention, the Ride Buddies were a game changer for me. Anytime I felt I needed a bit more support, they were there to drop back and ride alongside me, keeping me company until I crossed the finish line. As a newcomer to Zwifting, I leaned heavily on these Buddies until I got the hang of things.

As the months rolled by, I felt more comfortable and began to think about contributing back to this incredible community. An opportunity arose to join the Buddies, and I jumped at the chance. My training began, and while I was new to this role, the experienced Buddies showered me with advice and encouragement, helping me get up to speed.

Now, after about a year and a half of buddying, I can genuinely say I love being part of the ZZRC team. There’s something incredibly rewarding about helping someone who needs a little extra support to finish the route. On days when my help isn't needed, I enjoy staying close to the yellow beacon and the main blob, soaking in the banter and good vibes.

If you’re toying with the idea of joining a fantastic club like ZZRC and perhaps training to be a Buddy or a Sweep, I wholeheartedly encourage you to go for it! Whether you're a beginner or just looking for a fun way to elevate your Zwifting experience, it’s worth it. If I can become a Buddy, so can you! Just message Andi or fill out the form on the ZZRC website and dive into the fun!

Happy Zwifting!