Cyclists are a data-hungry bunch, and with Zwift we have more numbers in front of us than ever before! But some Zwifters want more metrics than the in-game display shows. Numbers like:
- Average power
- TSS
- Calories burned
- etc…
And while we can hit “G” to get a power and heartrate graph while we ride, what if we could access additional useful graphs or maps? Perhaps:
- Power curve
- A map showing the route ridden
- HR distribution
- etc…
Here’s how to access these numbers and graphs mid-ride.
More Details
The Fake Exit hack works just how it says: you pretend to end your ride, without actually ending it. To do this, just click Menu>End Ride while riding. This brings up your ride summary screen which shows some handy metrics in addition to an animated map of your ride and a list of Zwifters who interacted with you.
Click “Timeline” or “Critical Power” at the top to access additional charts and show your TSS.
Read to get back to your ride? If you have a keyboard, hit your Esc key, then the “Back” button. All other devices will need to hit the “OK” button, then tap the Back arrow, then hit the Back button.
Here is a complete list of metrics and charts available via the Fake Exit hack:
- Average wattage
- TSS
- Pizza slice count
- Calories burned
- Ride On count
- List of riders who gave you a ride on (with quick link to follow that rider)
- List of riders who rode with you (with quick link to follow that rider)
- Power distribution graph
- Heart rate distribution graph
- Critical Power Curve
Here are the screens you can access with a fake exit:
Using Your Bike Computer
It may seem odd to use your bike computer while Zwifting, but many riders use their Garmin, Elemnt, etc to track metrics like average power, normalized power, calories, etc.
Quality bike computers allow you to modify your displays to almost an infinite degree, giving you access to the specific data views you find most useful. If you’re wanting to easily see specific numbers Zwift doesn’t provide, this may be an even better approach than the Fake Exit hack.
What About You?
Do you find yourself wanting more data while Zwifting? What solutions have you used to access to the numbers you seek? Share below!
Tbere is a Connect IQ data field I used to use to gauge my FTP during a ride/race without performing a formal or informal test. I am waiting for a compatibility update for my F6X, but used to use it on my F5X+ and F3HR.
https://apps.garmin.com/en-IE/apps/a947db9d-abb6-4aea-818a-ee57fc369dbb
Pretty sure this app already works on F5X+. I think I have it on mine, should check the app store
Wouldn’t really call it a “hack” per se. But am glad that they allow you to go back into the ride afterwards (just wish you could end a ride, without exiting out of Zwift)
I usually pull this up at the end of an event to grab a screenshot, before continuing on with my cool down.
I also use my Garmin to record as it’s paired to my power meter (to be consistent with when I ride that bike outside). Zwift records off of the trainer, because before I found that the ERG wasn’t as good if I paired my power meter, which is why I stick to using the trainer.
Amen to being able to exit and save a ride without quitting the game. Such basic functionality that Zwift just seems to ignore in favour of introducing more “Bell’s & whistles”
It’s a very tame hack. But a hack is basically when you circumvent a designed system’s intentions, to make it do something different. Which is exactly what we’re doing here.
This isn’t really a hack, as you have to interrupt a ride to do all this. It would have been so much better if things like the power curve and FTP estimate had been easily accessible while riding.
If you could do it without interrupting, then it would just be another tool to help the sandbaggers keep an eye on their average power during a race
This is why I like using my Garmin as well, so that I can see my averages
This is a hack? I’ve been doing it for ages
I use my garmin to record separately for my training status, since for some reason Zwift doesn’t count for this.
Something Zwift could add so easy to the in game display. People have been asking for it for years. The data is all there. Just give us the ability to add more information to the in game display. I’m not going to do the Fake Exit hack and disrupt my ride. That’s just clunky.
i do this now and then anyway. didnt regard it as a hack, but its useful for people to know you dont have to go all the way and exit
I have heard a new (first hearded it in 2017) interface is coming hopefully this would address it #Zwooooooon
How do you get the menu button to appear while pedaling? Mine only appears when I come to a complete stop and my avatar puts their foot on the ground.
click the mouse somewhere on screen (might even just be moving the mouse, i’m not too sure)
Does Fake Exit allow rider to disappear from screen during a race? During recent event a rider dropped behind, disappeared & reappeared each time some distance ahead eventually winning the race although nowhere to be seen crossing finish line. 😎
No. That sounds more like an internet connection issue on the breakaway rider’s end.
I think Zwift is selling itself a bit short on the data side of things both in terms of in ride, in app tools, and what can be downloaded. Potentially a big opportunity here for them as there are plenty of data hungry cyclists !
I use my Garmin edge while on Zwift. Not interested in pizza slices so no need for Zexit or wil fake exit be Fexit?
I would like to see average speed listed while riding. We already have current speed, but why not include average speed also?
We have current watts. Why not show average watts (and average w/kg) also?
I use my Garmin to display HR Zone. I like to monitor W/KG and HR Zone together. It would nice to have average W/KG which neither Zwift nor Garmin provide.
This is a helpful tip, thank you! Most importantly, I often wonder where I am or how far I have to go on a route. This will help. On the other hand, I’m reluctant to use it much, I’d hate to click the wrong thing and exit a nearly completed ride by accident. +1 for an in-ride route progress method
I was scared to try this the other day. I use Apple TV and was doing Dust in the Wind and wanted to check my number of Ride Ons mid ride. I paused and hit Menu but was afraid to hit end ride for fear I would lose my place and not get route badge.
I would like to have more data and a configurable display like in Garmin with avg watt, avg W/kg, tss, etc.
Then you should check Sauce for Zwift.
There you have plenty on options to display data that Zwift won’t show while riding.
Any idea how to get the TSS number after you finish and exit a ride? I often forget to check
I get it by automatically uploading all my rides to a free TrainingPeaks account. TSS displayed there.
Awesome, thanks Eric