Gain a few (virtual) pounds. I just got upgraded to CAT A according to zwiftpower. ZwiftPower - Login Please update your Zwift ID on the connection page to complete registration. This clearly shows the power of the Zwift blob it impacts more than just drafting. As a low to mid-cat rider, ImRead more . 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. That's it! My IRL time and my Zwift time are almost the same. I argue that he is intentionally misrepresenting his weight so he can place higher in B instead of getting shelled in A (like I do). ), So what is reverse weight doping? Same reason there are categories and age group races outdoors! Sure, easy! I am in the 5 percentile of height and weight at 52 and 130lb with my lowest weight of 118 lbs in my racing career. Im in the same boat. also interesting about this equation are the: wattage data points and the zwift computations of W/Kg. As for the weight, I weight 190lbs, (86Ks) I put in 190lbs. IRead more , Aaron, do you know what is the wattage requirement for Cat A? I just we had a better system than category limits, racing license anybody? Too heavy watts are up but watts per kilo goes down. High intensity: 30/30 and 40/20sec Rnnestad intervals like 3x (10x40/20sec). 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. Problem solved! Some people are clearly living in a fantasy on zwift. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. The categories currently used in most Zwift events are based on your FTP watts per kilothat is, your FTP in watts, divided by your weight in kilograms. 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. Read on for our guide on how the app works, how to get set up, and how to analyse your racing. 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. As a 59/60kg rider who always seems to have a higher w/kg than the people I finish around, Ive been curious about adding 50% to both my weight and http://ftp. I once made myself much heavier so I could compete against my 11-year-old son in a head to head Zwift climbing race. Exactly. The winners are almost always people with recorded weights sub 70kgs, more typically 65kgs, even 59! Hahahahaha. Hi, very impressive w/kg at 65. It does not stop cheating at all. To move up to the next rank, ZwiftPower will take 95 per cent of your 20-minute average w/kg figure from your previous three races. Theres also fitnesssyncer.com that is free up to 4 sync services. 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.. If someone on zwift holds an avg power at a given heart rate, then goes out on the road and holds that same heart rate but cannot sustain even close to that power, I am sorry, but that isnt physiology; that is hardware. True, but not necessarily in the way you think. Now I know it is a thing. You do you. Its a huge problem. Hide the weight who cares let them upgrade all the way to As where you have strict reporting requirements. 2022 Race Like A Pro. Their hr should also correspond, which they often dont. Zwift Insider is independent of Zwift corporate (www.zwift.com), although Zwift does provide funding to help defray site costs. Or weight bonuses for completing events that last for a set amount of days or even hours. 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 :) 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. All this makes me laugh. In fact, if in a long ride your weight could change by more than 1kg over the course of that one ride!!! Currently trying to convince a friend who is new to Zwift not to reverse weight dope. It all has to do with the way Zwift's racing categories work. Why try to force IRL parameters that can not be enforced. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The best solution would be for Zwift to actively monitor all racing for people cheating. I am a long time racer in NorCal and cheating is cheating. Since strava is all that matters of course. So what! Whether w/kg is the appropriate way to categorise races is anotherRead more , As a 92kg rider, with a w/kg FTP of 289 (or 3.14 w/kg) I wholeheartedly agree. 0.5kg discrepancy either side is actually quite small. Keep writing this sort of thing. I guess I shouldnt be surprised. Take one of our four FTP tests to determine your FTP. I take issue with the weight doping is okay in none competitive events because of strava. That is pretty low compared to most people on zwiftpower. I have been cycling since I was a kid and now close to 50. Blaming Zwift for eating disorders is not sensible. Chip on the shoulder there or what? Hi Using HRM is difficult as well as you max HRM changes with age mine is 159 flat out but I am over 60. Level 50. Youll move a little slower with the added virtual weight, but youll be able to hang with the front of the Cs instead of getting shelled off the back of the Bs. We can name and shame these few. Mike, Great article as ever Eric. I am alleging that weight cheating is endemic in zwift, especially among those who care about winning. would that be cheating then ? Would achieve the same thing. I agree Paul great idea. I mean I never lied about my weight, I am a very light rider working and eating hard to get some extra pounds. We would like to thank the community for your passion and feedback. Skinny guys get DQd if they match heavies on the flat for power so they can NEVER win, even in the mountains. 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. Thank you for signing up to The Pick. Not sure why its hard for you to believe that there are a lot of riders under 70kgs. Lucky forRead more . Im using a quarq crank power meter on my rock and roll while I save up for direct drive. What you see a lot are riders who are (claiming) to be really light with decent but not exceptional watts. (Its not the only part, of course! Im the opposite. A strict w/kg classification isnt perfect. Privacy Policy, How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More). Thats hilarious. Otherwise I stand by my comment. Its ridiculous. USA Cycling has categories that are based on experience and performance. They do? Launch Zwift and go to the Menu. Maybe also add weight change limit 2kg per week? Well, imagine youre a strong C racer. On a tablet or smartphone, you can download the. either a) ur starting ur sprint way too late or b) ur leading him out. Certainly it impacts the accuracy of race performance and results. 1. Heres an idea: Take weigh out of the equation. Wow, cheating !! There is no cat C rider at 58kg who has a hope in hell of beating me in any race. Zwif: your ultimate guide For example the threshold for cat B is FTP over 200 watts and over 3.2 w/kg. Head to http://my.zwift.com/ and hover your mouse cursor over the 'Download' button under one of your activities. This afternoon, Zwift posted a follow-up message on the forum. (better than any bike upgrade i could afford) Yes its great to win,but as long as you improve yourself who cares what anyone else does.You will always get cheaters,dodgy equipment and so on so just enjoyRead more . Well, its adding weight to gain an advantage. Thats the reason why a results category would be more interesting like Erics suggested in his topic. But what exactly is ZwiftPower and how does it work? With racer categories? Noob question though, whats the etiquette around weighing with kit on or off. Check out this FAQ for some of our frequently asked questions: Q:&. 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. 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. My power to weight ratio would be the same, but Id get the benefits you get from being a heavier rider. It will not eliminate this behavior but the races will be much more realistic and enjoyable. Yes us heavier riders have the downhill advantage definitely. I have wondered about this subject on a few occasions. Everyone races at the same weight/height. I think the Zwift algorithm is quite relevant because it implies a good workout in any race for any kind of rider (and thats what we are looking for). The algorithms very much help heavier riders in descents, which gets forgotten when all we discuss is climbing. Current category system simply allows very fast but heavy riders to race in categories lower than their actual abilities. It impacts the Group Rides and as you said the performance statistics individually. Id be super interested in the timing you set your weight. Mate youre a legend. 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. Fluctuations of a few percent would be tolerated and percent change would be displayed on ZP. I used to live next to the Alpe and later, next to the Ventoux. Zwift excessively rewards the athlete for being light and small. light guys categorically do NOT have an advantage on the flats vs heavier guys, assuming both riding at same w/kg, heavy guy WILL be going faster on Zwift. When I go outdoors I go on a trail bike and bring a backpack full of food and drink for a several hours ride. Nice work! I know Ive done it! Kudos to Zwift for listening to their customers and admitting they made a mistake. On one occasion I entered a flat race (Laguardia Loop) following my ZP category (class C), finished almost three minutes down (though since it was a small field I still got third place), and then was disqualified for averaging 3.6 w/kg and 206 watts. Weight would be updated as normal throughout the month. It's a bit more complicated than most website sign-ups, but now you'll be all ready to get started. however 2 riders at the same w/kg, heavier riders have the advantage on flats & descents: https://zwiftinsider.com/wkg-tests/. I would suggest a free (for now) virtual race license that would outline racer behavior with consequences. Context, Tim, context! (and dont do organized rides for fairness) so I dont have resistance changes and sometimes zwift reports extraordinary power readings for a ride. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. On Zwift I look suspicous. (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). One question I have struggled to answer though which maybe is not a consideration is that on the flat watts is what is required and I also have to push high wkg to stay with groups. 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. But then you could have someone in the same age group who maxes out at 170. It does the job as described. 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. I dont care anyway. Zwift should take accountability for what matters most to start with and thats the cheaters. Or are you looking for a participation trophy on every race as well? They CANNOT win. I was just naturally heavy and it put me at the top of the C class in w/kg. If it is.. someone must be able to point me to the rule where it says that it is forbidden..? seeing a riders weight in ZP and any changes made to the reported weight may help internet stalkers feel better about their poor race performance but it doesnt actually help identify cheats. 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. 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. We like this move from Zwift. . 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. SoggyAlbatross2. A recent Crit City A Race is a very good example of this: I finished in the front pack, sprinting it out for 9th place. MyRead more . So its not that easy for light people to hide in the pack and benefit from the draft in Zwift, which is half the reality (in many ways its easier IRL). And besides, my main goal on Zwift is to not get dropped in the hills during Team Cryo-Gens more hardcore Saturday rides! This isnt IRL racing it is e-racing. That gives me more hope for the future of the platform than any announcement from Zwift ever could. I agree WTRL ZRL races dont feel like they have cheaters. 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. Im not heavy (68kg), have a typical climber/TT phenotype (no short sprint but good FTP). The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! 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 . Sandbagging is pointless if winning means youre going to move up (unless you want to take 3 months off after your win. Do you believe weight doping (reverse or otherwise) is a big problem in Zwift racing, and if so, what can be done about it? 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. Unless a youth rider, height is generally going to remain the same. Terms of Use/DMCA Copyright Policy If I get down to 52 kilos I can climb well but my sprinting is terrible. Especially for the C and D groups but even for the Bs albeit to a lesser degree. Im quite heavy, at about 85kgs, but also 183cms tall (and 52 years old). 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 currently weigh 59kgs but my BMI is 25 which technically overweight. Why dont you start self-regulating then? 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. I know its just virtual but my godi hope they enjoy their lies. Category systems are complex beasts, of course, I agree, people can have fun with weight doping and such aslong they dont enter competitive races. Youd think theyd be the same but when Zwift and Strava dont even agree on stats for the same ride, Ill take any other comparisons with a big pinch of salt. Thanks Zwift should offer a Validated Racer package for a slight premium over normal membership. Whats the cheaters solution? Theyre only cheating themselves and it all comes out in the wash eventually. However, I definitely recommend entering some races. I don't think you can do it from the game itself. If other people want to obsess about my weight thats up to them but I wont. Taking weight out of the equation you could just make everyones avatar moving forward by holding down the up arrow on their keyboard. 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.. If someone on zwift holds an avg power at a given heart rate, then goes out on the road and holds that same heart rate but cannot sustain even close to that power, I am sorry, but that isnt physiology; that is hardware. This site contains affiliate links to Amazon, Wahoo, and other brands. How does being heavier help a cyclist? you may ask. ), You say at the end..you do you, it doesnt affect anyone. If so, that makes sense to me and I can absolutely see the point of that. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. As others have said, your higher weight helps on flat courses. Heres how it works. I dont think any of my shorter (under 5ft10) running or cycling friends weights more than that. Some Zwifters go so far as to social-stalk other riders, comparing their photos to their Zwift weight and calling them out for weight doping.