TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM

I started off using the Wattbike hub, and after doing a few random climbs and training programs I found it didn’t quite grab me. I found it dull and I wasn’t inspired to ride. I joined ART and explained my situation but was worried that I wouldn’t be anywhere near good enough to ride with a ‘racing’ team. I was offered support and advice in what was still a very small team of members. As time went on I steadily improved from a low C cat into a low B cat but due to my enthusiasm I was invited to help out with some admin duties.

Took receipt of my Atom in Nov18 to improve my fitness.

For several months I enjoyed training sessions on Sufferfest before swapping over to Zwift. In April 2020 I joined the Atom Racing Team and took part in my first TFC Mad Monday race.

Coming 19^th out of 80+ C Category racers gave me the boost I needed and from that moment I was hooked and became a regular racer in that series and the WTRL TTT’s.

The improvements in fitness, endurance, category upgrades, FTP increases all come as just part of the fun of racing with ART, and I am so glad I found this group.

Atom Racing are going places (even if its only in the Virtual World) and I firmly believe we are going to be one of the best and most recognised race teams out there on Zwift…..come and join us and help make ART a success story.

I started racing with ART in about July last year (2020). Admin very kindly let me join whilst I was waiting for my Atom to arrive. Previously I used attend spin classes at my local gym, and would go out cycling in the summer, or on holidays to France. I guess I was a moderate exerciser, a part time cyclist, and I’ve always enjoyed exercise. I really love is the racing, especially riding and racing as part of the ART team. I did my first Team Time Trial in August last year and rode with the men  (there wasn’t an ART women’s team at that point). The teams can be mixed and so that wasn’t a problem, but once more ladies joined up we started building up our ladies teams and we have some awesome lady riders of all levels, all ages and it’s a supportive, encouraging and good fun.

When I started using Zwift I didn’t intend to engage or interact with anyone. I did some workouts and read stuff on Zwiftinsider, a lot of stuff! In May 2020 I took part in a group ride for Zwift Tour for All and really enjoyed riding with other people. By June I had moved up to Cat C with good results but I started to feel that it might be nice to share this success with like minded racers in a team and so I took the plunge and joined ART.

Since joining I have moved up to CAT B and my FTP has increased from 143 to 217. The ladies membership continues to grow into an amazing supportive community where we can share knowledge, ask questions, talk about how we juggle our lives and our time on the Wattbike and of course take part in races together. 

I bought an Atom in 2018 after a few years with a dumb trainer.  I loved the idea of a smart trainer and when first launched the Atom’s stylish looks made it a no-brainer purchase.  I can say hand on heart it is one of the best, most used, purchases of my life.   I enjoyed nearly 2 years of training on Zwift and Sufferfest but never competitively. The support from those that have raced before is great, the experience of racing as a team is satisfying and the post-race endorphins that surge through your body are truly addictive!  Since then I have raced weekly and moved from Mid Cat C to Mid Cat B.  My job as an IT consultant makes me a bit of a data freak so when the call came to help organise an internal competition for the Zwift Racing League, I stuck my hand up.