When a rider can change categories by modifying their virtual body weight, thats an issue. Can someone answer why we need the different categories? Ride On. How do you actually update your weight on ZP?? 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 hammering the point and finding ways that Zwift can improve controls. Simply put, the system cannot measure weight it can only measure power, so for racing, peoples weight should be disregarded by that I mean, just as everyone in a zwift academy race has the same bike, they should be given the same weight , then it is a race based on FTP banded categories with point based promotion. But for most riders watts per kilo rules the day, determining which category you race in Zwift. I put my real weight 95% of the time. I may try and snag a couple of cat C golds before taking the break, but definitely wont be reverse weight doping to do so the upgrade to B will be a bigger prize than any gold medal. 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. Leave the setting unchanged and climbs often feel challenging. 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. Why not ride to your strengths? SoggyAlbatross2. But I will, and Ill get hammered and hopefully improve. In some cases this even happens unfairly. Other than that, I rarely look at weight unless some results are very weird. ZwiftPower Height & Weight Changes Postponed | Zwift Insider Im surprised that (off wheel) smart trainers dont have the ability to weigh the rider when they get on the bike. Doing this will bring up a box at the bottom of the browser showing a web address something similar to: https://s3-fit-prd-uswest2-zwift.s3.amazonaws.com/prod/000000/a2e1b7f8-27610843. 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. Daniel Ostanek is production editor at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired as staff writer. Keep writing this sort of thing. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. I take issue with the weight doping is okay in none competitive events because of strava. Riders weight will rise and fall but under normal circumstances within a range. i was just having a similar discussion with my old lady about watts and weights, etc. You do you. 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 COVID-19 lockdown period, now in its third month around the world, has seen an unprecedented boom in virtual cycling. Are you efficient, or just heavy? This community-driven site is maintained by Eric Schlange and a team of Zwift enthusiasts. His favourite races are Strade Bianche and the Volta a Portugal, and he rides a Colnago C40. Someone with my FTP should be CAT B, regardless of weight. Zwift: your complete guide: Everything you need to know - BikeRadar It all has to do with the way Zwift's racing categories work. We are taking an iterative approach to the ongoing upgrades to the back end of the site. For example the threshold for cat B is FTP over 200 watts and over 3.2 w/kg. Im glad our collective voice was heard on this one, 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.. I currently use the Garmin Smart Scale so I may invest in the Withings scale. While the benefits of being light fully kick in while climbing a mountain (as it is easier for smaller guys to achieve certain w/kg), the benefits of being a tall and strong guy dont fully apply in the flats. On the flats and descents she crushes her w/kg field. Plus imagine how bigRead more . Contribute a post, shop through us, make a donation, advertise on this site. I dont think any of my shorter (under 5ft10) running or cycling friends weights more than that. Bump your Zwift weight up to 84kg and even with your new and improved 260-watt FTP youre only at 3.1 w/kg! ZwiftPower - Login If it is.. someone must be able to point me to the rule where it says that it is forbidden..? At all. . however 2 riders at the same w/kg, heavier riders have the advantage on flats & descents: https://zwiftinsider.com/wkg-tests/. Hopefully when it comes time to hide height and weight from public view on ZwiftPower, Zwift will have some really useful tools in place which help race organizers do their jobs more quickly and effectively, while promoting wellness in the racing community. I was wondering is it possible to get the graph at the bottom of the screen that shows youre power and other stuff on a normal ride and not doing a FTP test or workout. . On Zwift Power categories have both a wattage requirement and a w/kg requirement. Read on for our guide on how the app works, how to get set up, and how to analyse your racing. I have just accepted that at my height I will always be heavier than the average cyclist. I have been cycling since I was a kid and now close to 50. However, I definitely recommend entering some races. You could attend races where all categories go together (same start, all riders visible) for a while if you find that to be more fun Also a really frustrating thing is why doesnt Zwift autoRead more , is he riding in the right category? (and dont do organized rides for fairness) so I dont have resistance changes and sometimes zwift reports extraordinary power readings for a ride. A strict w/kg classification isnt perfect. Best Zwift setups: Indoor cycling setups to give you the competitive edge. If someone dopes so they do 4w/kg then they should be racing with other people who do 4w/kg. Their hr should also correspond, which they often dont. Updating Your Public Profile - Zwift Todd_S (Todd S) March 12, 2015, 3:09am #4 I'm new to the app. points based), riders can win by any margin any number of times and remain in their category so long as they do not exceed category limits. The categories currently used in most Zwift events are based on your FTP watts per kilo- that is, your FTP in watts, divided by your weight in kilograms. I agree with your idea. Monthly weigh ins arent perfect but they are better than no weigh ins. 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. Thanks It does the job as described. With Zwift control is difficult (in getting Zwifters to enter their accurate) wait. Once you have a number for your FTP in watts, divide it by your weight in kilograms. Ive seen many A Riders with 300 FTP on Zwift who I beat by a HUGE MARGIN at triathlon events, including the cycling portion. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. If there are problems, Zwift already has a reporting function and everything is recorded police that properly andRead more . Zwift is full of cheaters and thats not going to change now. And atRead more . Im about to end up in the same situation (last races at 3.99, 3.98 and 3.99 W/kg) and Im not really worried about being promoted to A. 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. Hes asking for a fair race. I think a once-weekly weigh-in is acceptable. 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. How do you change rider weight? - Zwift Forums As long as the button to enter a lower cat is active, riders will Press It. That gives me more hope for the future of the platform than any announcement from Zwift ever could. 240W 50kg riders (4.8W/kg) beat 380W 95kg riders in B category Tempus Fugit time trials. Gain a few (virtual) pounds. I do ZHR Masters on a Tuesday night. On Zwift I look suspicous. 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. Zwift posted a follow-up message on the forum, 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. It's a real community hub. If other people want to obsess about my weight thats up to them but I wont. The issues with e-racing remain the same, and largely ignored for years now. I use Zwift to get in shape and prepare for outside riding. Im glad you wrote about this. For me its the most fun to see the progress I make on strava, new PR on climbs or on flats (hanging in on the back of a group) If I would lie about my weight I throw off my goals to Improve atleast make them near impossible for the coming time in the End I dont see the funRead more , I reversed dopped by mistake when I first started Zwift putting my height as my weight and weight as my height. Privacy Policy, How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More). As a relatively light 69kg rider, I often feel at a disadvantage in the flatter races, of which there are many more than hilly ones. Noob question though, whats the etiquette around weighing with kit on or off. Ive connected my garmin scale with this app https://smartscalesync.com/?utm_source=tr Email zwiftpower@zwift.com if you want to reset everything. As others have said, your higher weight helps on flat courses. IRead more , Aaron, do you know what is the wattage requirement for Cat A? Why can we just all race together and the fastest person wins? As a lighter racer 136lbs it pisses me off to see cheating. As some others already mentioned, the bodyweight tends to oscillate over the week and even the day. Now head back to ZwiftPower, click 'Connect' at the top of the page, then enter your Zwift ID in the box when prompted. Do you believe weight doping (reverse or otherwise) is a big problem in Zwift racing, and if so, what can be done about it? (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 think Im just heavier than my competition. It just makes a mockery of the whole system. 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!!! Congratulations John on your retirement and Zwift is a great retirement present. 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. Okay, I now see in ZP where it has my minimum racer category (B) in my profile based on my last race, so I can choose B or A going forward. 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. w/kg is partially based on real world physics. Zwift essentially encourages people to be less than truthful about their weight. My FTP/kg is 3.88, which I now know would make me a B racer (3.2-3.9). If you're on Zwift and planning to get racing, then signing up to the third-party app ZwiftPower (opens in new tab) is an essential step. In fact, the only riders at or below my w/kg were minutes off the back. Hi, very impressive w/kg at 65. The Ultimate Undetectable Weight Cheat on Zwift : r/Zwift - reddit That was my first thought when a fellow Zwifter commented on my recent race, Somehow you always get your w/kg down. This is pretty timely for me as my FTP is 283 and my weight is currently 71.2kg. thanks for the help with the graphs. (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). But Its hard to confirm whether or not its transmitting the weight to Zwift. Incrasing virtual weight would probaly downgrade me to B again. stop worrying about whatRead more . Heres an idea: Take weigh out of the equation. But then you could have someone in the same age group who maxes out at 170. Im new to Zwift and its racing and what I like notice is how well I do compared to theRead more , This is not just about cheating. Thats why there are no top 40 Cat C riders in 70-75Kg range. There was a problem. What do you include in your Zwift weight? : r/Zwift - reddit below this level you just have to take people's word for it. Lucky forRead more . All the emphasis on physical metrics makes sense for putting together how speed is calculated but not how one can race. it's a good training tool. Zwift excessively rewards the athlete for being light and small. Many riders is talking about cheating, when someone enters a lower category but it's not, in my opinion. IRL if your weight is 85kg, itll take you longer to climb the Ventoux than if your weight is 65. Mate youre a legend. The only place where being heavy helps is on the decent, which are almost all short (except Ventoux and Alpe de Zwift), and as a heavy guy (85kgs) I need to recover on the decent. Id never do this as my Zwift Power is an accurate log of weight and power but it does make me wonder how much easier itd be to be bigger. Tempo Workouts Can Have a Place on Your Training PlanHere's How to , Myself being a lighter rider who fluctuates some 2kg during a week I tend to always use my upper weight giving me a lower Wkg. If you are on the lighter side, try picking some climbing races. Not sure why its hard for you to believe that there are a lot of riders under 70kgs. If you set your weight high enough that you fail to do well you will drop in the categories. The other race, events, and activities are needed to display that data. Or theyll ignore leaders instructions and ride off the front of a group (flyers). It's a bit more complicated than most website sign-ups, but now you'll be all ready to get started. Whats the cheaters solution? Im the opposite. Theyre only cheating themselves and it all comes out in the wash eventually. 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." Im sure it happens, but I would guess its pretty rare certainly less of a problem than normal weight doping. This calculates that this heavy rider would take 23:14 to do the distance a justRead more , Everyone has a sweet spot for weight. Its more fun and engaging that way, for me at least. So am I a super-drafter, the king of indoor efficiency? either a) ur starting ur sprint way too late or b) ur leading him out. 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? Kudos to Zwift for listening to their customers and admitting they made a mistake. The categorization system is, like you say, fundamentally flawed. Do some races have split out start times so you are only racing with those of similar ability? We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. 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. Garmin Forerunner 265/265S In-Depth Review: AMOLED in Two Sizes! Generally weigh myself once a month. I think he is referring to the 2021 Haute Route GC (or lack thereof), Sorry, thats right, it was the Haute Route 2021 events. Threshold HR is around 151 bpm. And this is why reverse weight doping is a thing. Chip on the shoulder there or what? IRL I am 85kgs and cant pretend to be 65kgs. Even at my age I still plan to compete in MTB races when the world gets back to racing. IfRead more . That's it! 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. My power to weight ratio would be the same, but Id get the benefits you get from being a heavier rider. Ive lost 2.2kg over a 6 hour ride due to carb loading before, and burning that and hence losing a lot of water weight during the ride. I love reading it. also interesting about this equation are the: wattage data points and the zwift computations of W/Kg. It does not stop cheating at all. I have heard women admit on social rides that their zwift weight is their goal weightRead more . The winners are almost always people with recorded weights sub 70kgs, more typically 65kgs, even 59! I just got upgraded to CAT A according to zwiftpower. And one cheater leads to another and its an arms race of gaming the game. How many cyclists do you see in real life who are 65kgs, but they are ten a penny on Zwift. Actually no, sorry, I was wrong. Well, its adding weight to gain an advantage. I agree WTRL ZRL races dont feel like they have cheaters. Why try to force IRL parameters that can not be enforced. Additionally, well be moving forward on hiding height and weight from Zwift Companion and Web.