That was my first thought when a fellow Zwifter commented on my recent race, Somehow you always get your w/kg down. It doesnt appear that people are abiding by the categories. But many people (including myself) prefer categorized races because we want to have a chance to actually battle it out for a win. What is that!?! The 33-pound Hub is 14 pounds lighter than the 47-pound Wahoo Kickr, even though the two trainers are almost exactly the same size. But theres one problem: this puts you into the B category, and you dont want to race the Bs. The Tour de Zwift events this year were much moreRead more , Wait. Login Required The Zwift Engineering team is focused on improving security for ZwiftPower users. I think a once-weekly weigh-in is acceptable. As some others already mentioned, the bodyweight tends to oscillate over the week and even the day. I think it would be best if there was a separate cat system for flat routes (based on watts) and for hilly routes (based on w/kg), My understanding is that Zwift still applies real world physics to this situation, and maybe the article doesnt allude to it, in that on the flat Zwift wont use w/kg to drive speed but your pure watts. Or theyll ignore leaders instructions and ride off the front of a group (flyers). This is why for a while I was ranked as a C even though my w/kg was higher than 3.2 since my watts werent over 200. A strict w/kg classification isnt perfect. If there are problems, Zwift already has a reporting function and everything is recorded police that properly andRead more . As Zwift racer James Eastwood so aptly put it, The community dont want to see peoples weight they want fair racing.. Dont worry about your weight fluctuating through the week and remember you gain 0.5kg by drinking a half-litre bidon and lose it again through sweat (and by going to the toilet). Or theyll ride races 1-2 categories below their actual W/kg so they can still win and feel like that theyre legends. If its not done during a competitive Zwift event, I dont see it as a problem. I use Zwift to get in shape and prepare for outside riding. Same reason there are categories and age group races outdoors! In a race not in Zwift it is very easy for people to recongize who I am. Cheapest Zwift setup: Everything to help you onto Zwift for the first time Thanks! We are both lighter riders and find the w/kg categorisation system frustrating (unfair even) but its what we have at the moment I think most people feel like they have a right to be competitive but this simply is not the case and ifRead more . Even at my age I still plan to compete in MTB races when the world gets back to racing. Skinny guys get DQd if they match heavies on the flat for power so they can NEVER win, even in the mountains. So I dont expect to be as competitive vs. a pure cyclist. If you've already created an accountcheck out the s. Category systems are complex beasts, of course, I agree, people can have fun with weight doping and such aslong they dont enter competitive races. Zwift Insider makes a small commission on purchases made from these links, so please shop through them to support our efforts. Most of my ZwiftRead more . IfRead more . ThatRead more . I have to say I weigh myself most mornings in the buff (just my glasses on so I can see the numbers)! If I were to drop say a kg obviously the watts required would not change to keep at the speed of the group andRead more , Youll go faster at a lighter weight on the flats. (Its not the only part, of course! Races can use different schemes to categorise riders, but most of them use this scheme: You can, of course, progress through the ranks as you race. In the future, well continue to bring potential product ideas and changes to members of the Zwift Racing Community, with the hope that youll embrace this as a collaborative effort to help shape the experience. Example: have you ever purposely avoided weighing yourself (especially you who have a Withings scale that automatically updates your Zwift weight) because you know youve put on a few pounds over the weekend? Ive been on a mission to get back to my racing weight in 2020. But It doesnt mean that that person is going to be the person riding the bike on the trainer during the race does it. I was going flat out the whole race, and by no means cruising along watching my watts. You weigh 80kg and have an FTP of 248 watts, which works out to 3.1 w/kg. Ugh! Joining ZwiftPower isn't the most straightforward series of steps, but we've broken it down so you can get started as soon as possible. You have lowered your weight and skewed your power graph so it is inaccurate. If you are on the lighter side, try picking some climbing races. As we said in the first post, Assuming race organizers can access the data via ZwiftPower, and the site includes simple tools for spotting potential weight or height dopers (perhaps flagging those who made dramatic changes recently), then hiding weight and height data from the public should work swimmingly.. Best turbo trainers: Smart trainers to improve your indoor cycling experience As well as original reporting, news and feature writing, and production work, Daniel also runs The Leadout newsletter and oversees How to Watch guides throughout the season. You only change it in Zwift and it should get picked up with regular backend processing periodically (maybe overnight). How To Change FTP On Zwift - The Cycling Point Taking weight out of the equation you could just make everyones avatar moving forward by holding down the up arrow on their keyboard. Hi Using HRM is difficult as well as you max HRM changes with age mine is 159 flat out but I am over 60. The key phrase is assuming both riding at the same W/kg, so for the same watts, if I claim to be 10kgs lighter than I really am my W/kg will increase considerably. In spectacular and shocking fashion. if youre on zwift and intentionally cheating to get whichever fake virtual badge or win whichever fake virtual place in a race, then youre real-life literal loser. Zwift now allows for hiding Zwift automatically connects If you don't own power meter pedals, Zwift's non-contract pricing for a Zwift cycling membership is $15 . This community-driven site is maintained by Eric Schlange and a team of Zwift enthusiasts. Can someone answer why we need the different categories? I have no idea. As soon as I start pedaling Im pretty much into threshold (around 170bpm). Frustrating to someone who tries so hard to compete in my weight class to get beat by cheaters. Exactly, although As arent that regulated, unless you hit the premier class, which is a very small section of A riders. I averaged between 300 and 310 watts for all segments and my heart sat pretty consistently between 140 and 144.Read more , saying x number of watts per kg at xxx hr is flawed anyways max and resting hr can vary alot. also interesting about this equation are the: wattage data points and the zwift computations of W/Kg. As a Triathlete, I have a different perspective when racing and riding on Zwift because the vast majority of Zwifters (according to Zwift and Strava) are only cycling; whereas Im also training by Running and Swimming. There is enough variation in power profile to make it interesting without weight, what makes racing fun is trying to create tactics that favour yourRead more , Interesting & well reasoned article which answers a lot of things which were puzzling me. This isnt IRL racing it is e-racing. IRead more , Aaron, do you know what is the wattage requirement for Cat A? Not too many people actually want to see other peoples height or weight except to be able to verify race results are reasonable. I once made myself much heavier so I could compete against my 11-year-old son in a head to head Zwift climbing race. But it highlights a bigger problem, and that is the fundamental flaw of using watts per kilo for race categorization. Zwift excessively rewards the athlete for being light and small. 11 things you only know if you race on Zwift | Cycling Weekly Im older heavier and relativily fit. Zwift is great just to ride around and it has lots of good training sessions which you can do. And one cheater leads to another and its an arms race of gaming the game. Their hr should also correspond, which they often dont. I agree Paul great idea. Everyone else in the race is riding flat out (your own HR was 174bpm) but these guys are just cruising along watching their watts and are then able toRead more , Not sure its that simple I am a heavy category C racer, and (funnily enough) finished 5th in both my recent Crit City races with average HR of 153 and 150. (Same effect in a sprint, just harder to isolate). Im curious to see this summer if I can do the numbers outdoors as I push out on Zwift but I cant even think of a road to use for 30 mins without stop signs, pot holes, lots of traffic, etc. Honest mistake on my part and one I wont make again, so fair enough to be filtered outRead more , Related (and apologies if the answer is obvious but Ive only done one Zwift race), really what is the point of the categories? Knowing when to go hard and having the fitness to do so are also vital skills.). In fact, the only riders at or below my w/kg were minutes off the back. They are not, and never were, skill classes of any kind (ie. indispensabile essere sinceri nel dichiarare il proprio peso , per se stessi e per il rispetto degli altri . Yes, there are plenty of variabies, but power is power. (and dont do organized rides for fairness) so I dont have resistance changes and sometimes zwift reports extraordinary power readings for a ride. There are two ways to do this. The categorization system is, like you say, fundamentally flawed. So I just bumped myself up to the B group and went faster overall simply because there were faster people to draft off of. I recently won a C race, but it didnt feel like winning as I knew there were 2 categories faster. As such, we have agreed to pause this change while we develop tools that deliver greater transparency to Zwift racing while promoting wellness. why because of weight, not power. LOL. Future state can add a nominal cost to said license to support clean racing via Zwift tech updates. If they keep riders from competing in categories below their ranking, it will reduce the number of sandbaggers and cruisers. See how you can support Zwift Insider! What anyone wants in any game or competition is to feel its fair, and as they look to make changes going forward, I hope people at Zwift always keep asking themselves this question: How can Zwifters see these races are fair?. We can name and shame these few. nothing less. Well, its adding weight to gain an advantage. Find some hilly races As a result your suggestion of the watts vs w/kg different systems is already baked into the game physics in a way. If its a big hill, well then w/kg has us equalised. On a tablet or smartphone, you can download the. I dont mind the low HRs but the low power and high w/kg really irk me! Hes not looking for a trophy every race. Generally weigh myself once a month. Well Eric, my weight is plummeting, and Ill probably be taking a break from Zwift over the summer, so Im sure the upgrade is coming very soon!!! I did on one and second on the other. I am a long time racer in NorCal and cheating is cheating. You make a good pointthere isnt a published race ruleset that clearly states that riders are 1) required to use accurate weight and 2) enter the correct race category. Read on for our guide on how the app works, how to get set up, and how to analyse your racing. I was told that was possible but I couldnt see how. I rode outside last night, and Im sure I will again soon. Im using a quarq crank power meter on my rock and roll while I save up for direct drive. Just from riding regularly I went from 166 FTP to 187 in 800 miles over a 2 1/2 months. Tour de Zwift events were races? however 2 riders at the same w/kg, heavier riders have the advantage on flats & descents: https://zwiftinsider.com/wkg-tests/. (a is tough and im struggling at max h/r for most of the race).Ive gone from 87kgs to 80 kgs in this time and feel fitter than ever. I agree with what you say Eric but the weight doping does negatively impact the casual rider if they are following other riders in a casual/social ride. Do you believe weight doping (reverse or otherwise) is a big problem in Zwift racing, and if so, what can be done about it? Certainly it impacts the accuracy of race performance and results. As others have said, your higher weight helps on flat courses. Either these racers need to calibrate the trainer or they are sandbagging big time. Whilst this might be the case, as Eric implies in flat races light weight riders have to work harder to stay in touch with the heavier riders in the bunch. yes, but you are missing my point. I have been cycling since I was a kid and now close to 50. On Zwift I look suspicous. Ive connected my garmin scale with this app https://smartscalesync.com/?utm_source=tr However, insecure Freds jumpingRead more , I am new to Zwift, but I do wonder how it is youll see a bunch of people finish at the front of a D race at 4-5 W/kg. High intensity: 30/30 and 40/20sec Rnnestad intervals like 3x (10x40/20sec). I would say 1kg or more is more normal. As far as my weight goes the only thing I care about is being as accurate as I can to get accurate results. When you're in the game, click "Menu". Seeing someone race cat A/B on Zwift and then be at the back of the age group pack in a local tri/ bike race canRead more , I understand what you are saying, but the average racer who can legitimately churn out x watts/ kilo for minutes on end will be doing more with that than just being a zwift warrior (if they are getting onto the road to really ride and not just commute), and, traffic lights or not, their real-world rides will at least give resemblance to their zwift output, even if only for certain segments at a time. I wouldnt personally do it since it throws off training metrics and just isnt true. Among the communicated changes were plans to hide the visibility of height and weight from ZwiftPower in an effort to encourage individual health and wellness. Check out this FAQ for some of our frequently asked questions: Q:&. I mean youve both got a point. The key phrase there is have the same W/kg its very easy to boost your W/kg simply tell Zwift you are lighter than you really are. But maybe Im just thinking like a lady its hard for me to imagine a lady voluntarily gaining weight, even virtual weight. Incrasing virtual weight would probaly downgrade me to B again. Why try to force IRL parameters that can not be enforced. I currently weigh 59kgs but my BMI is 25 which technically overweight. How many cyclists do you see in real life who are 65kgs, but they are ten a penny on Zwift. It points to the need for a results-based categorization system, which I discussed a month ago in the final post of my race category series. Not everyone has the same HRmax. However, I definitely recommend entering some races. He had fun laughing at fat dad, but I pipped him at the line! . It's harder than real racing. Theres a bit of a fuss on the ZP forums at the moment about this form of sandbagging where people deliberately ride within the w/kg limits but are riding well below their potential ability. Why can we just all race together and the fastest person wins? Keep answering that question and youll keep most people on side. Think of ZwiftPower, then, as something similar to Strava, only entirely Zwift-focused, and free! Bikecalculator suggests not Go to http://bikecalculator.com/ enter an 85kg rider, riding on the drops for 16.2kms (ie an ITT) leaving all else unchanged. Im sure it happens, but I would guess its pretty rare certainly less of a problem than normal weight doping. Privacy Policy, How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More). This site contains affiliate links to Amazon, Wahoo, and other brands. How do you actually update your weight on ZP?? Yes us heavier riders have the downhill advantage definitely. Hitting G on your keyboard will do it, or swipe up on iPhone or iPad, etc then tap the graph button. The algorithms very much help heavier riders in descents, which gets forgotten when all we discuss is climbing. More of an issue than thisRead more . I know a woman who is 5 feet tall and almost 200lb. Yes, we need to be categorized by our race ranking, not power. Privacy Policy, How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More). plain and simple. Its funny, I was talking to one of my work colleagues who also Zwifts about AdZ and how because Im heavier (125kg / 276lbs) I would never be a sub 60m AdZ rider (I reckon Im looking at sub 2 hours, if lucky), Ive never once considered weight doping, sure I know I could but why would I? (ignoring that it evens out and you have the advantage on the hills but lets ignore that because its all about you and you should always podium in every race in your life, because mommy told you that you were special and big mean Zwift is making you work so hard on the flats). Manually change your weight in Zwift by adding 10 pounds. if someone is entering a fake weight on their Zwift profile, the only person they're cheating is themselves, cos they're going to get destroyed out on the roads where it really matters. But for most riders watts per kilo rules the day, determining which category you race in Zwift. This community-driven site is maintained by Eric Schlange and a team of Zwift enthusiasts. Your voice is important to us. Withings scale that automatically updates your Zwift weight, a month ago in the final post of my race category series, https://smartscalesync.com/?utm_source=tr, https://zwiftpower.com/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=5528, https://zwiftinsider.com/how-does-zwift-calculate-my-speed/, Zwift x UCI To Host Cycling Events for the Olympic Esports Series 2023, Race London ZRacing March Series Details, Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of March 4-5. Context, Tim, context! How does it work? The winners are almost always people with recorded weights sub 70kgs, more typically 65kgs, even 59! If you need to cheat to get the results you want then why even bother. It's also possible to filter results and data by categories, such as different age or power ranges. If thats the norm, then I really dont see theRead more . was the lowest of top 15 riders. Just short of my 68th birthday I still dont see any point in cheating. If people want to cheat, they will and can do so in any uncontrolled situation. I never reverse weight doped. We are taking an iterative approach to the ongoing upgrades to the back end of the site. I would suggest a free (for now) virtual race license that would outline racer behavior with consequences. If it is.. someone must be able to point me to the rule where it says that it is forbidden..? But youre not affecting anyone elses experience. This covers name changes as well as weight/height changes during an event. otherwise no way in hell hes beating you. Connecting to ZwiftPower Before you can start using ZwiftPower, you'll need to create an account. people need to stop taking Zwift racing so seriously. ZwiftPower - Login At least I can be best in one thing on zwiftpower. It impacts the Group Rides and as you said the performance statistics individually. Last week we announced Zwifts plans to remove rider height and weight from ZwiftPower, among other changes (read the full post here). Heres how it works. Sandbagging is pointless if winning means youre going to move up (unless you want to take 3 months off after your win. I got my 100kph badge on the Bologna course. We remain committed to protecting the health and well being of the broader Zwift Community, and we look forward to enacting additional measures in the future. I have climbed well and I have suffered on climbs but also sprinted well. Hahahahaha. As Ive posted elsewhere, I like having weight available at my fingertips so I can use it to plan the TTT rotation (I like going heavy/light/heavy/light to avoid the big guys pulling away on flats/descents or the little guys pulling away on climbs, plus one category of rider tends to get exhausted on any given route if I plan my pull times incorrectly, so its nice not having 2 people in a row suddenly need to skip a pull). Currently trying to convince a friend who is new to Zwift not to reverse weight dope. I think that point based system is an improvement, but it doesnt address the weight issue. Yet the lesson is clear if you want to win, even on flat courses, have or claim a very low weight. But youre training and racing and getting stronger, and eventually your FTP improves to 260 watts, which is 3.25 w/kg. I think he is referring to the 2021 Haute Route GC (or lack thereof), Sorry, thats right, it was the Haute Route 2021 events. But Its hard to confirm whether or not its transmitting the weight to Zwift. Once you have a number for your FTP in watts, divide it by your weight in kilograms. While most Zwifters seemed to understand and even appreciate the intent behind the change, there was concern that removing this information would result in increased height/weight doping. the lighter rider has to ride much harder to stay in the groups with a few big guys cruising along. ZwiftPower - Login Please update your Zwift ID on the connection page to complete registration. I use my average weight but I feel; guilty because my weight tends to fluctuate by 0.5K or more during the week depending on how much I eat during the day really interested to learn that there is a scale that auto updates Zwift. Im not heavy (68kg), have a typical climber/TT phenotype (no short sprint but good FTP). I have a Withings scale and in the Zwift Settings, it shows up as connected. below this level you just have to take people's word for it. As a low to mid-cat rider, ImRead more . As a lighter racer 136lbs it pisses me off to see cheating. I take issue with the weight doping is okay in none competitive events because of strava. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. In fact, you can change a workout on Zwift about as fast as you can U-turn a bicycle on a real hill. Racers who get top 1,2,3 more than a few times get upgraded period. Then save your ride and log out. I have been frustrated with the GC results in the current Tour of Watopia series. Though our intent is to protect potentially vulnerable users by removing labels that can trigger unhealthy behaviours, we also hear the concerns of the racing community. Light guys have the advantage on the hills, in the sprints, and because they have a higher w/kg, the flats too even if my absolute watts are significantly higher. The race categories end up looking something like this (taken from the current Tour of Watopia race events): ZwiftPower, home of official race results for community races, adds some pure wattage breakpoints to the above list to help lightweight riders stay competitive. Whatever your answer, some people will never like it, but there has to be a clear, credible answer for the majority to support. As long as the button to enter a lower cat is active, riders will Press It. I tried racing a D race, and finished way off the front behind about 2/3 of riders after Id ridden at 2.9W/kg for the race. Not knowing what to pick and with minutes until the my first race, I selected the C group and was thus filtered out of the Zwift Power race results when I then posted a 4.00w/kg over the 28 minute race. Why you can trust Cyclingnews Case in point: in the A race I mentioned, only one rider was heavier than my 85kg dad bod. Why not only require weight and height for entry to A and B races? Look at ZP results. Im assuming you should weigh just before getting on the bike with all kit including shoes and not just before stepping into the post-ride shower (shorn of all kit and approx 1kg of sweat). It's a real community hub. The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! Theres also fitnesssyncer.com that is free up to 4 sync services. Last week I did the prl full and Uber pretzel and tried to get #1 by weight on those segments. Plus imagine how bigRead more . How I got faster in Triathlon | Medium If I lose 1 more pound Ill go to 4.0 and its a daunting thing to think of going to As when I am often cruddy in the Bs. That's pretty straightforward the usual email, username, password, terms and conditions so you won't have any trouble with this step. I hopeRead more . What I think your articles miss to point out, though, (Im sure you are well aware of the problem), like people have mentioned already, is exactly how many cheaters there are that manage to stay in lineRead more . Enforce race category entry and youll fix much of the problems with Zwift racing. A great challenge for those looking for those training gains. If you were to meet meRead more . Share your thoughts below, and you may also wish to share those thoughts on the actual forum post. Contribute a post, shop through us, make a donation, advertise on this site. I ride B category races & never podium but have been puzzled as I always seem to have a higher w/kg than most of the other riders in the race. Nice work! Congratulations John on your retirement and Zwift is a great retirement present. Bob, what on earth is that all about? Makes me happy to see that the community is able to speak with one voice if necessary. heavy riders have an advantage on flat courses.. https://zwiftinsider.com/wkg-tests/ plus 60-70kg is perferctly normal body weight for adult cyclists, nothing worth complaining about. Or are you looking for a participation trophy on every race as well? Now head back to ZwiftPower, click 'Connect' at the top of the page, then enter your Zwift ID in the box when prompted. Updating Your Public Profile Zwift takes your physical measurements into account for things like leaderboards, speed, and your avatar's physical appea. Included with this license agreement can be the approval to show height and weight. Perhaps if you post a W/kg in excess ofRead more , So thats why I could easily keep up with a 3-3.4wkg group yesterday whilst keeping my wattage at some 2.5-2.7just my 107kgs.the rest were probably featherweight category :) I still have no sprint kick so Im never winning anything anyway. In reality no under 12 is competing with a decent 2nd or 3rd cat (UK system) Ive ridden with enough talented youth riders that this is fact so letting young kids crush half decent amateurs on zwift would be unrealistic. https://zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=697996. How about simply showing a percentage variance. What if you are super committed and gain the weight in real life just so you can stay in the category , Excellent posts on perhaps the most serious non-hardware problem in Zwift right now. SoggyAlbatross2. The only way for complete cheat free racing is in the zwift Pro race which is all done in a single room with all riders together. I think theres another more interesting angle than just trying to stay down a category. The categories are power to weight divisions. Weight would be updated as normal throughout the month. Had assumed I just rode inefficiently. Would achieve the same thing. I lost some weight during these few months and gained on FTP Now facing going to C and not getting any good results within the category, Eric, thanks for bringing this to light. Id say physics does! We really like the sound of this: In the future, well continue to bring potential product ideas and changes to members of the Zwift Racing Community, with the hope that youll embrace this as a collaborative effort to help shape the experience. Keep it on. If Zwift can be seen to be doing that then very little need toRead more . Some weight dopers are obvious and blatant other times its much less egregious. 2 yr. ago. It is obviously a stupid thing ( weight doping) and why a rider would do this is beyond me but pride and quasi Strava bragging or Zwift Power bragging is a thing. This is done by separating riders based on their FTP (functional threshold power) a wattage test you can take part in on Zwift over a 20-minute, 45-minute or 1-hour period.
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