For many people, this time of year is defined by holidays, family, and cold weather that makes the prospect of cycling outside anything from an impossibility to simply not much fun.
Thankfully, humankind invented video games for these moments. And for those who like the idea of escaping to a tropical island, Zwift just released a new expansion to scratch that itch.
The popular indoor-cycling-meets-video-games company dropped new levels this month on the existing Makuri Islands. With Urukazi, “The Islands of Giants,” riders can explore 40 miles of road, from cityscapes to the country and coast.
Urukazi (woo-roo-kah-zi) is the combination of two Okinawan words. “Uru” means “shore,” and “kazi” means “breeze.” The expansion’s new levels aim for “the serene, untouched character” of the Southern Japanese archipelago, the company said in a news release.
Cyclists can enter Urukazi directly through a paddock or head south from Yumezi or Neokyo. From slot canyons and waterfalls to gravel roads along the water’s edge, Zwift users will see “lush flora and fauna” as they rack up miles through the islands’ varied landscapes.
If you’re looking for exercise and an escape from the real world, load up Zwift’s new expansion and start pedaling.
