The Nervous Newbies Tale by Matthew Khan-Dyer

My First Team Time Trial: The Nervous Newbie’s Tale

Okay, so here’s the thing — when I first thought about doing a team time trial (TTT) on Zwift, my brain was screaming:“No way! I’m overweight! Not fit enough! What if I get dropped halfway?”

Yep, that was me, full of doubts and second guesses. But I’d been eyeing TTTs for over a year, watching other Zwifters rave about how much fun they were, how great the team vibes felt, and how rewarding it was to smash a course together.

But fun? Riding flat-out for 30 to 60 minutes? Sounds brutal, right? Yet, that curiosity wouldn’t go away.

How It All Started

I’d been riding with this awesome group called ZZRC — friendly folks who made group rides enjoyable. Then one day, I saw a post from Andi (one of the wise old timers in the group) sharing a video of a TTT. A perfect line of riders, zipping along in sync. It looked… well, super cool.

And I thought: “Maybe, just maybe, I can do that.”

Spoiler alert: I did!

The Nerves Hit Hard

The course was the infamous Knickerbocker in New York. If you know it, you know — tough hills and rollers everywhere. The perfect first challenge for me.

Cue panic:“Don’t get dropped! Don’t get dropped!”

But Then… Help Arrived

Just when I was about to chicken out, Kevin Sass reached out with advice. Then came Tobi (yes, with an “i” — and yes, that’s a thing), and suddenly I had three people helping me prep.

They were so welcoming and reassuring. Honestly, that support made all the difference.

Meet Team Phoenix

Thanks to some behind-the-scenes matchmaking on Discord, I ended up on Team Phoenix — which sounds pretty epic, right?

I got a list of teammates, my position in the line (#8), how long I’d pull, and my target power. I even changed my Zwift name to 8Matt Phoenix and wore special socks so I’d stand out.

Getting Ready to Race

I swapped my trusty Zwift bike for a speedy time trial machine, threw on some aerodynamic wheels, and even changed my helmet — not that it helped, but it felt faster.

Race day? Nervous, but also pumped.

And We’re Off!

10, 9, 8... Spin up!7, 6, 5... Final words from Captain Tobi…4, 3, 2, 1… GO!

Into the virtual New York streets we flew, heart pounding, adrenaline surging. My heart rate hit 170 bpm. Calm down, Matt! I told myself.

Soon, we were cruising in perfect formation — a beautiful, flowing line.

The Ride

I loved not getting dropped and even found myself moving up the line as others peeled off. When I took the lead, I focused on keeping the power steady, feeling the fiery Phoenix following closely behind.

Before I knew it, my turn was over, and I dropped back again.

Captain Tobi’s voice came through: “Great job, Matt!”And honestly? I felt pretty proud.

The Big Climb

Then came the climb — the tower 5 million meters high (okay, maybe not literally 5 million meters high). I’m a heavy rider, but I wasn’t letting my team down. I hammered it, heart rate climbing to 184 bpm. I felt alive.

Keeping It Together

Sure, the formation broke a few times on the rollers, but no one ever criticized — just cheers and encouragement. We regrouped and pushed on.

Crossing the Finish Line

When we crossed the line, I gave it my all in the sprint — but my legs were shot. Lactic acid had taken over.

One thing’s for sure: I left everything on the course.

The Aftermath

Virtual high fives and back slaps all around. It felt amazing to be part of a team.

And then… the endorphins kicked in. Wow. I was buzzing so much I didn’t want to sleep. I couldn’t wait for the next TTT.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about trying a team time trial, just do it! It’s a fantastic experience, with a super supportive community and a vibe that’ll keep you coming back.

Thanks, ZZRC, for putting me in a team that truly rides like musketeers — all for one, and one for all.