It’s a big weekend on Zwift, with multiple big events to participate in, starting Friday. That’s right: this weekend begins early!
Biehler SYN Stage Race
Biehler produce cycling apparel and have been doing so for 15 years, growing into a global brand that uses the most advanced, functional, and eco-friendly fabrics. And they have their very own cycling club, Syndicate Cycling Club (SYN). The fundamental objective of the Biehler Syndicate Cycling Club is to “connect people with the same strong passion for cycling” so that “together we can face the problems that exist in our world, cultivating a better, more conscious and sustainable way of living.”
To celebrate this, they are hosting a 3-stage event on Zwift, with different disciplines to suit each type of rider. With such positive values, this is an event I am keen to be involved in.
It’s also worth noting that if you complete any stage you will unlock the Biehler SYN kit – exclusive only to this event.
Stage 1 – December 3
World: Makuri Islands
Route:Flatland Loop
Lap Distance: 8.1 mi // 13 km (1 lap)
Elevation: 325 ft // 99 m
Times: 01:00 CET / 04:00 CET / 07:00 CET / 10:00 CET / 13:00 CET / 16:00 CET / 18:00 CET / 19:00 CET / 20:00 CET / 22:00 CET
Stage 2 – December 4
World: Watopia
Route: Hilly Loop
Lap Distance: 5.7 mi // 9.1 km (3 laps)
Elevation: 328 ft // 100 m
Times: 01:00 CET / 04:00 CET / 07:00 CET / 10:00 CET / 13:00 CET / 16:00 CET / 18:00 CET / 19:00 CET / 20:00 CET / 22:00 CET
Stage 3 – December 5
World: London
Route: Classique
Lap Distance: 3.4 mi // 5.4 km (5 laps)
Elevation: 62 ft // 19 m
Times: 01:00 CET / 04:00 CET / 07:00 CET / 10:00 CET / 13:00 CET / 16:00 CET / 18:00 CET / 19:00 CET / 20:00 CET / 22:00 CET
Garmin have teamed up with Zwift and from 3rd December are hosting a “choose your own adventure experience.” Garmin will be highlighting unusual routes a few times each day.
Short routes will take place every two hours whilst long routes will kick off every six.
Last hosted in September, Phil Gaimon’s cookie-themed charity ride (Phil’s Fondo) is back on Zwift, because on 4th December is National Cookie Day in the USA!
It’s one lap of Greater London 8 and one category, so ride at your own pace. Complete the event and unlock a unique cookie-themed jersey. And as it says in the description “please consider a donation to Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry!
If you haven’t explored Zwift’s new expansion, Neokyo, then where have you been?
Zwift have launched a series where we can all team up and ride some of the new routes together, collecting route badges. Stage 2 begins Friday and runs through the weekend.
The View From the Back: the New ZRacing Chase Race
When I received the e-mail from WTRL about Zwift’s new ZRacing Chase Races I was intrigued, so I went about learning how it all worked.
To race, I had to log into my WTRL account and sign up via WTRL’s website. I was automatically assigned a starting pen – being an A+ rider, I was assigned to pen E, the Elite category. (The first time in my life I have ever been classed as “Elite” so I was immediately liking this event!)
To participate in the ZRacing Chase Races, you need to have a ZwiftPower account attached to your Zwift account. This is because you are assigned a category based on your previous race results. WTRL explains it like this: “your historical race results are analyzed and then used to automatically place you in the appropriate group of racers most similar to you in performance, to ensure you’re racing in a fair and fun event. Racers do not get to choose their category.”
Having signed up, I headed to the start of the race.
The View from the Back
When I entered the pen, I was assigned a pink jersey, and I was in the starting pen surrounded by people in different jerseys. It was clear that these were the different categories of riders, the colours of the jerseys based on the normal classification such as red for A, yellow for D.
(Charlie Issendorf, Zwift’s race director, told us today that the special category-based jerseys will be rolled out for the December 15th races and used each week moving forward.)
Anyway, all groups were in the same pen but they left at different times, with E going last, with a 10-minute disadvantage to make up on the D cat riders.
Full Throttle from the Start
The race was hosted on the Magnificent 8 course, and from the start it was magnificently tough. The Elite had a small team of 15 riders and from the outset, it was full throttle and felt like a larger version of a team time trial. The pace was so rapid that within the first 13 minutes, we had clocked up 10km.
As we approached the first real test, the KOM, I was expecting the group to work together and crest the climb as a blob. But instead I found myself slipping out of the pack and pushing 500 watts to sprint back into the group on the descent.
This is where I realised that this wasn’t just a race to beat the other categories, but a race just to stay with your own “team” riders (and I use that phrase loosely as I couldn’t see much teamwork, more a “survival of the fittest” approach.)
A Glitch In the Matrix
Within 19 minutes we were on Fuego Flats, 15km completed with 14km remaining. This was lightning fast. However, this is where I noticed I had an issue! My avatar was pushing a constant 309 watts. Zwift had glitched and my power had become fixed. This was a problem, of course, because my avatar was now holding a constant power regardless of my actual effort level. I had no other option but to get off the bike and re-pair the trainer. This obviously resulted in me dropping from the group.
I was alone but could see other category riders ahead of me, so I went into time trial mode and started trying to catch the next rider on the road.
Multiple Races In One
This was refreshingly fun and it basically felt like there were two parts to my race, the first being the battle to stay with the group and now this solo time trial as I attempted to finish the event in as high a place as possible.
Cycling solo, I had time to think. I had the realisation that this event actually was three races in one:
Firstly, there was the race to stay with your own group
Secondly, there was the race to beat the different categories
Thirdly, there was the race to win the event and finish first overall
The Finish
I watched as the Elite group really battled it for the win with numbers red as people unleashed their final sprints.
I obviously finished last in my category, but came 70th overall (see race results on ZwiftPower). Moreover, it was entertaining, and something different. It is an event I will try again.
This certainly makes my highlight list because it was well organised and different, with the gaps between groups probably set about right because the Elite riders managed to catch the front group with a few kilometres left. Furthermore, there are several of these events scheduled each Wednesday, so certainly a time slot to suit all.
What About You?
Did you race in this week’s kickoff ZRacing Chase Races? How did it go? Comment below…
In this episode, Kristin Armstrong is taken behind the scenes of development on the new Liv Langma bike.
Liv’s Sophia Shih and Jen Audia join Kristin to discuss the marketing and engineering process behind Liv’s latest bike, providing insight into a part of the bike creation process that often gets overlooked.
About the Podcast
The Zwift PowerUp Cycling Podcast features training tips from host Matt Rowe (Rowe & King), with regular co-hosts Greg Henderson, Rahsaan Bahati, Dani Rowe, and Kristin Armstrong.
I was late to the Zwift party, only joining in 2020. But as they say, “better late than never!”
That’s right… whilst my Zwift friends were enjoying group social rides in Watopia, I was toiling away on a dumb trainer, thrashing myself to the Chris Carmichael Training DVDs. The voices of the coaches became all too familiar, and I hung on their every instruction. This included the encouragement to “drink” because as the coach explained, “any slight dehydration can lead to as much as a 10% drop in performance.” After many years of hearing this, I have become conditioned to ensuring I remain hydrated when training.
The Carmichael DVDs were and are excellent, and I certainly worked hard and sweated much. But then I discovered Zwift. On Zwift, I sweated more. Remaining hydrated was more important than ever, especially when I discovered racing on Zwift!
If you have ever raced on Zwift, you know even in short events it is essential to remain hydrated because amongst other things, proper hydration allows us to regulate our temperature. If you get too hot you can’t maintain the effort and therefore the pace.
Most of the time I just use water for hydration. However, there are instances when I am undertaking longer events where I need that extra little something with my water. That’s when I use Energy Drink mixes supplied by GU.
It’s important to note that I am merely explaining the product that I use. Furthermore, when using such a product, read the details on the packet to ensure that you don’t have any allergies to what’s inside. And while this may be considered “overkill”, if you are considering using such a product, I would always advise speaking with a suitably qualified and experienced person, such as a relevant Health Care Professional, like your Doctor, especially if you have any concerns. Furthermore, I would always try only a small sample to ensure that you have no adverse effects.
Please note, this is not a paid advert. I have been using these products for the last 7 years! Since my recovery from cancer, GU is my go-to choice after sampling an extensive range of similar products.
About GU
The origins of GU date back to 1993, when Dr. Bill Vaughan created the first GU Energy Gel to solve the challenge faced by his daughter, an ultra-marathon racer. She needed an easily-digestible and compact form of energy and at the time, there wasn’t anything suitable on the market. This led Dr. Vaughan to create an alternative food that contained only the critical carbohydrates for energy and essential amino acids for muscles support. This new gooey, easily-absorbed food mixture was aptly named GU Energy Gel. And so GU was born.
GU Energy Labs is based in Berkeley, California. They are considered the first major maker of energy gels and are now run by Bill’s son, Brian Vaughan. GU is sold worldwide, so check out the link to your geographical location which can be found here. US customers can buy directly from their website (guenergy.com), likewise UK-based customers can purchase directly from guenergy.co.uk.
Following their success with energy gels, GU expanded to offer a range of different products including three different types of Energy Gels (GU Original Energy Gel, GU Liquid Energy Gel, and ROCTANE Energy Gel) plus GU Energy CHEWS, GU Energy Stroopwafel, and GU Drinks in the form of powder mixes.
Energy Drinks
GU offers 4 different types of Energy Drinks:
GU Hydration Drink Tabs
GU Energy Drink Mix
GU Roctane Energy Drink Mix
GU Roctane Protein Recovery Drink Mix
Each drink offers something slightly different.
GU Hydration Drink Tabs – These small tablets are designed to be put in your bidon. They provide a boost to your water by supplementing it with electrolytes. Each drink tab contains just 10 calories, in addition to 320 milligrams of sodium and 55 milligrams of potassium. The tablet is designed to help maintain fluid balance and delay fatigue by replacing electrolytes depleted during exercise. I always pop one into my bidon if I am doing a long ride.
GU Energy Drink Mix – This has a mixture of electrolytes and carbohydrates which are rapidly absorbed. According to GU “this 70-calorie serving of GU Hydration Drink Mix contains carbohydrates (maltodextrin and fructose) that use non-competing pathways to help maximize carbohydrate absorption and utilization while diminishing stomach distress.”
The point about minimizing stomach distress is what attracted me to the products in the first place, and personally speaking, the results are positive.
GU Roctane Energy Drink Mix – This is their most recent addition and has been created for high-intensity and demanding activity which GU states gives you a “Solid Performance without the Solids.” I’m not convinced with the marketing line, but it’s true nonetheless.
You can mix the powder in your bidon for what GU describes as an “all in one source of energy and hydration.” It is designed to help you avoid getting to the state where you suffer sudden fatigue or loss of energy, referred to as “hitting the wall” or “bonking.”
GU Roctane contains more electrolytes and carbohydrates than the alternative GU Hydration Drink Mix, with one serving containing 250 calories of both complex and simple carbohydrates. The scientific details about what is contained within the powder, taken from GU’s website, are as follows:
Carbohydrates (maltodextrin and fructose) that use non-competing pathways which can help maximize absorption, increase carbohydrate utilization, and diminish stomach distress, so you get energy that kicks in quickly and stays with you
Sodium, the primary electrolyte lost in sweat that aids in hydration by maintaining fluid balance
Branched-chain amino acids (L-Leucine, L-Valine, and L-Isoleucine) which may reduce mental fatigue and decrease muscle damage while jump-starting recovery
Taurine
Beta-alanine
Additionally, with the exception of the Grape flavour, the Energy mix contains caffeine, which is designed to help you stay alert and focussed, which can be difficult at the end of an intense session or race where the key moves can be missed and races lost.
There are various different flavours to try: Tropical Fruit, Summit Tea, Lemon Berry, and Grape.
This is the product that I use and have had in my bidon during the intense Zwift Academy training events and my favourite flavour is Tropical Fruit. Each flavour varies so best to try a few sample packs before deciding on what is your go-to mix.
GU Roctane Protein Recovery Drink Mix – After an intense session, you may want to consider a recovery drink. This is something that I am learning about lately due to the intensity of my structured Zwift training, where I need help getting ready for the next session, which is usually the next day!
GU offers this recovery drink because “your body needs an easily digestible and portable way to replenish key nutrients. ROCTANE Protein Recovery Drink Mix delivers 20g of high-quality whey protein to initiate muscle tissue repair and rebuilding.” I’d better place my order!
Summing Up
Hydration is vital whilst Zwifting and undertaking any sport. It doesn’t matter if it’s a race, training, or simply a gentle ride, hydration is key. There are many different sports nutritional/supplementary drinks on the market and I have given you an insight into the product I use.
If you are interested in using sports nutritional/supplementary drinks, I strongly recommend reading the packaging, doing your research, and even speaking with suitable experienced and qualified people, such as a Doctor or your Coach. To use GU’s marketing phrase “GU for it!” (I seriously think they need to think of some better catchphrases!)
For those who are based in the UK and Ireland, I have managed to secure a discount code of 30% for anyone who fancies trying GU. The code is Perkins30 and works only on the following site guenergy.co.uk
WTRL has just announced a new series of races which begins today. Dubbed “ZRacing Chase Races“, this series is sure to be popular thanks to its format and innovative autocat feature. Let’s dig into the details!
Intro to Chase Races: A Fun Format sans Sandbaggers
Chase races (also known as handicap, pursuit, or cat and mouse races) have been held on Zwift for years. In this sort of race, category groups are released with time gaps between each group, with the slowest groups going first.
The goal of the race organizer is to space the categories so each group has to push hard to catch the groups ahead. Ideally, those groups come together near the end of the race for an all-out battle to the line!
Handicapped races are a fun alternative to the standard scratch race format because they offer a unique mix of teamwork and personal strategy while letting racers of all categories compete fairly against each other. Everyone has a chance to win.
But chase racing on Zwift has always had an Achilles’ heel: sandbaggers can ruin everything.
Chase races are amazing when organizers set proper time gaps, and groups ride within their prescribed abilities. But just one sandbagger going hard on the front of a group can push that bunch’s speed artificially high, causing them to catch slower groups more quickly and not get caught by groups chasing from behind.
Autocat to the Rescue
WTRL’s ZRacing Chase Race series aims to remove the “sandbagger flaw” by using their proven “autocat” system to properly categorize racers.
Whereas Zwift’s event signup system lets anyone sign up for any race category, WTRL’s autocat system calculates your proper category based on your race history, and only lets you join the correct category. Easy.
The ZRacing Chase Race series is an ongoing weekly event held each Wednesday at multiple times. WTRL tells me that event times may change based on participation numbers as the series develops.
Fresh Kits
Created for this series, riders in each category will be wearing matching kits starting December 15. This lets you know who’s on your “team” and who isn’t!
Note: the “E” category is for “Elite”. It is the highest (strongest) category.
Powerups
Three powerups will be given out during the races: aero, feather, and van.
Zwift’s Pace Partners are probably the most popular feature added to the game in the past couple of years. And today, Pace Partners began riding new tarmac for the first time in a long time… because they’ve been rolled out to the Makuri Islands!
Currently, the same four pace partners are being used in Makuri Islands as we’ve seen in Watopia. The route’s they’re riding are all in the Yumezi portion of the map:
Joining a Pace Partner is easy! Remember, Pace Partners are only available in the Watopia and Makuri Islands worlds at this time.
Just select one of those worlds from the tabs at the top of the homescreen, then click the Pace Partners box at the top of the rider list. This will bring up a window where you can select a Pace Partner to join.
Questions or Comments?
If you have feedback for Zwift on this feature, please post it on the official Zwift forum thread. You’re also free to comment below!
Zwifters created a lot of Strava segments fin Zwift’s first 5 years. Some were logical and accurate, but most were not. Titles sometimes made sense but often confused things further. Keeping track of them all became very intens (sic).
We created numerous Strava segments (all listed below) and labeled them Zwift Insider verified since we took pains to verify the start and end points of these segments to ensure accuracy.
Then in February 2021 Strava shook things up by making all Zwift segments as private, except for Zwift Insider’s! They also removed “Zwift Insider verified” from most of the segment names.
Long-term, it would make more sense for Zwift to handle Strava segments internally. We’ll see how that shakes out, but until then, here’s a complete list of Zwift virtual cycling Strava segments we’ve created.
Note: rebel routes are not available on Zwift’s routes menu. They require some manual navigation, but the payoff is a fun exploration ride where you’ll cover a route few Zwifters have ridden before! (Plus, your Strava ranking will be in the tens or hundreds instead of the thousands.) They also have their own Veloviewer Route Hunter leaderboard.
Strava now requires segments to be over a certain length, and thus will not let us create the Innsbruck sprint segments because it says they’re too short. Help us out by chiming in here if you want to see Strava fix this!
Strava now requires segments to be over a certain length, and thus will not let us create the NYC sprint segments because it says they’re too short. Help us out by chiming in here if you want to see Strava fix this!
Strava now requires segments to be over a certain length, and thus will not let us create the a forward sprint segment because they say it’s too short. Help us out by chiming in here if you want to see Strava fix this!
2/21/2024: added a pile of recently-added routes: Castle Crit, Big Flat 8, Spiral Into the Volcano, Jurassic Coast, Zwift Games 2024 Epic, Loop de Loop, and Mountain Mash
1/31/2022: added the three 2022 Fondo routes, Twilight Harbor, Castle to Castle, and a route for Royal Pump Room 8 that catches event traffic.
12/26/2021: updated Legends and Lava segment to start further down the road, so it encompasses events and free rides. (When Zwift made this a free-rideable route, they placed the spawn point too far down the road from the start pens, which meant the old segment didn’t always match people’s activities.)
11/30/2021: added segments for the 9 new Neokyo routes, as well as any new KOM and sprint segments that were long enough to meet Strava’s 300m length requirement.
7/14/2021: updated Flatland Loop segment to use corrected version (with Castle Sprint) and added Flatland Loop Reverse segment.
6/10/2021: re-created a bunch of the bonus Epic KOM segments and WBR Climbing Series because the elevation data in Strava got all funky when the segments were created at high wattages. Cruising at 300W works well, though… albeit a bit slowly…
5/20/2021: added all the Makuri Islands routes, plus the KOM segments and a few “other” segments from the Yumezi launch
7/3/2020: added initial route and KOM/Sprint segments for the new France and Paris maps. Some sprint segments are too short for Strava’s taste, but we listed those anyway just so you know we tried!
7/3/19: moved Watopia’s Waistband from Rebel Routes list to in-game routes list.
6/4/19: added Surrey Hills – Start Pen to Fox KOM (Zwift Insider verified) because the actual route used when events are on the “Surrey Hills” route doesn’t match what the animated map shows on the route picker. This segment DOES match it, beginning at the exit of the start pens and ending at the top of Fox Hill.
11/2/18: created new segments for Mighty Metropolitan and Park Perimeter “Pens to Banner” segments in hopes that only rides starting from the NYC pens will pick up these segment, with subsequent laps picking up the banner to banner segments. Created a banner to banner segment for the new Watopia Figure 8 Reverse route as well.
10/24/18: added the 11 ride/run routes from the new NYC couse, as well as the KOMs.
Episode 26 is all about race tactics. We channel our collective experience in 1000+ races to talk regular race and ZRL points race tactics. Along the way we cover power-ups and ways to deal with Z-power… and the very first power-up we talk about is the power of positivity.
Yes, after taking some feedback to heart, we try to channel our inner Ted Lasso. And just like Ted Lasso we learn about relegation in the Premier League and what that means for the upcoming season.
About the Podcast
Nowhere Fast is a part of the Wide Angle Podium network and focuses on virtual bike racing. It includes Zwift commentary, interviews, and coverage of real races on fake bikes. Get it on Apple Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify, or anywhere else fine podcasts are shared.
This week’s Top 5 Zwift Videos have a lot of racing, including a hilly handicap race and two analysis videos. Then, if you’re looking to make your “pain cave” a little more comfortable, one Zwifter will let you know what NOT to do. Finally, learn the benefits of using Zwift on a treadmill compared to watching TV.
Ultimate Zwift Comfort! Don’t Do These 6 Common Things!
If you want to be comfortable riding Zwift, here’s what NOT to do. Helpful tips courtesy of Katie Kookaburra.
It’s handicap race time – Up Box Hill! | My Zwift journey from D to C
Handicap races on Zwift either start racers at different times or adjust their weights to bring their ability levels closer. Matt King (Target 2.5), who’s aiming to upgrade from the D category to C, tries a hilly one and talks about how motivating they can be.
My First Race of 2021 – Zwift Racing
It can be hard to jump back into Zwift racing after a long break. Mike Jencic enters his first race of the year and analyzes it afterward.
Uphill Efforts to the Arc de Triomphe // Analyzing the Climb // Zwift Racing // Category C
The gradual climb on the Champs-Elysees circuit in Paris doesn’t look like much, but it can hurt during a race! Caedmon Cycling analyzes his recent race on the route.
Episode 26: TV or Zwift
George Parker of Peregrune discusses the benefits of running on a treadmill while using Zwift, instead of watching TV or a movie as a distraction. Some of these apply to cycling, too.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
Share the link below and we may feature it in an upcoming post!
Zwift World Records – Proposed Rules for Public Comment
Zwift riders have been pushing the limits of human endurance since the platform launched in 2014. It’s time for a central repository of verified Zwift World Records, overseen by a trusted team and visible for all the world to see.
Below is our set of proposed Zwift World Record (ZWR) rules. We are posting it today in hopes that the Zwift community will share their feedback and help us finalize a fair and reasonable ruleset before we built out the ZWR system.
Zwift World Record Classifications
While we will initially begin with a small number of ZWR classifications, the hope is to expand to a much larger set quite quickly. This will include:
Separate classifications for men and women
Separate classifications for drafting and non-drafting
Various distance-based classifications ranging from 4km to 500km
Various elevation-based classifications ranging from 1000 to 8,848m (vEveresting)
Various time-based classifications ranging from 1 to 24 hours
Examples of ZWR Classifications:
Women’s Non-Drafting Hour Record: held by the woman who rides the furthest over an hour’s time in a non-drafting environment (solo ride or on a TT bike).
Men’s Drafting 100km Record: held by the man who covers 100km in the shortest time. Drafting is allowed, but of course not required.
Women’s Non-Drafting 5000m Climbing Record: held by the woman who climbs 5000 meters in the shortest time in a non-drafting environment (solo ride or on a TT bike).
Proposed ZWR Ruleset
1: Weight and Height Verification
You must record pre-ride weight and height verification videos, and supply their links with your ZWR submission.
Why? In-game speeds are greatly affected by the height and weight used in your rider profile. Verification videos ensure that your in-game height and weight are accurate, keeping the competition fair.
Detailed Instructions for Verification Videos
Weight Verification Video
Weight measurement must be conducted within twenty-four hours of the ZWR attempt.
Before starting the test:
Set up scales suitable for measuring body weight in the middle of a room on a hard, even surface, with nothing nearby to hold on to.
Find a heavy weight (approx 10kg) that you can comfortably carry.
Make sure you are wearing cycling shorts and a cycling jersey.
During the test:
Start recording a video on any device; for example, a cell phone.
Show your face on the video.
Show yourself performing a live internet search for the current time and date, and the results that it gives. Screenshots of mobile phone clocks or computer desktop clocks will not be accepted.
Show the scales.
Zero the scales.
Show the zero reading.
Place the heavy weight on the scales and show the reading.
Take the weight off and show the zero reading.
Stand on the scales yourself (without the weight) and show the reading.
Take yourself off and show the zero reading.
Stand on the scales with the weight and show the reading.
Take yourself off and show the zero reading.
Stop recording.
After the test:
Do not edit or trim the video. The entire non-stop recording is required.
Upload as an unlisted video to YouTube (only the Verification Team will see this URL).
Weight as shown in video must be entered and used in-game for the entirety of your effort.
Height Verification Video
The full protocol for a rider measuring their height is as follows:
Before starting the test:
Set up a standard tape measure against a solid, vertical surface such as a wall or door-frame.
During the test:
Start recording a video on any device; for example, a cell phone.
Show your face on the video.
Stand against the vertical surface.
Show yourself marking the tape measure (using a pencil or piece of tape) at the same height as the top of your head.
Show the marking to highlight your measured height.
Step back to show the entire tape in the picture.
Stop recording.
After the test:
Upload as an unlisted video to YouTube (only the Verification Team will see this URL).
This height must be entered and used in-game for the entirety of your effort.
Do not edit or trim the video. As shown in the example, the entire non-stop recording is required.
2: ZwiftPower Account
You must have an active ZwiftPower account in order to submit your ZWR attempt.
Why? Dual recording data is required for verification purposes, and that data will be stored in your ZwiftPower profile. Additionally, a link to your ZwiftPower profile will be included in your ZWR details, so other Zwifters can see your Zwift history.
3: Dual Recording Data on ZwiftPower
Your ZWR effort must be dual recorded, with that dual recording marked as public and available on your ZwiftPower.com profile. You must supply this activity’s link with your ZWR submission.
Why? No power meter is perfectly accurate, even when set up properly. It’s also possible that a power meter could be miscalibrated. Requiring two sources of power readings greatly reduces the chance that a rider could gain an unfair advantage by using a power source which is incorrectly reading too high.
IMPORTANT: Your primary power meter must be your smart trainer, with your secondary power meter (pedal, crank, spider, or wheel-based power meter) being used for verification purposes only.
Dual recordings must be trimmed and offset properly so the data line up and are easily compared by the Verification Team.
4: In-Game Video Including Rider Webcam
All ZWR submissions must include a video uploaded to YouTube showing your live webcam feed (you on the bike) overlayed on the live Zwift game screen for the duration of your record attempt.
Why? Showing your live camera feed for the duration of the effort ensures you are the person doing the ride. Additionally, a complete recording of the Zwift sessions lets the Verification Team make sure no hacks or bugs contributed unfairly to the record attempt.
Additionally, the video must show three additional elements in order fairness:
Show pairing screen: this lets the Verification Team see that you are using your smart trainer as your power source
Show profile screen: at the start of your ride (ideally before you start pedaling) open up your profile settings in game to show your height and weight, so the Verification Team can make sure your in-game values match your verification videos
Use metric units: your profile must be set to metric units, to ensure fairness and to keep units uniform across different ZWR attempts.
5: Public Activity on Zwift.com
Your activity must be public and saved to your Zwift.com profile. You will be required to supply this activity link with your ZWR submission.
Why? This provides an easy way for other Zwifters to see the detailed data of your ZWR attempt.
6: Route Choice
All ZWR attempts must be done on official in-game routes. No manual navigation.
Why? Because otherwise, everyone would start their hour record attempts from the summit of Ven-Top!
7: Official Measurements
The official time, distance, and elevation for your attempt will be taken from the in-game HUD at the top of your screen.
Why? Because one uniform single source of truth is required. Additionally, using in-game measurements means the Verification Team can check ZWR submissions against the In-Game Video Recording.
Using official in-game time, distance, and elevation means ZWR attempts can only be measured as precisely as the game’s display allows. That means no fractional seconds or meters of elevation, and distances will only be measured to the tenth of a kilometer.
Your ZWR attempt’s time or distance must be supplied on the ZWR submission form. The Verification Team will use the In-Game Video to verify these values.
8: Submitting Your ZWR Attempt Data
For inclusion in the ZWR list, details of your attempt must be submitted using the official form on ZwiftInsider (link coming soon).
This form will include the following required fields:
Name
Email address (for Verification Team only, will be kept private)
Weight Verification Video YouTube URL (for Verification Team only, will be kept private)
Height Verification Video YouTube URL (for Verification Team only, will be kept private)
Activity URL on Zwift.com
Dual Recording URL on ZwiftPower
In-Game Video YouTube URL
Additionally, the following optional fields will allow you to tell the story of your ZWR attempt. This content may be included in your ZWR listing and Zwift Insider articles about new Zwift World Records:
Images and photos from your effort
A written description of your effort
Link to your Strava profile
Suggestions or Comments?
We want this ruleset to strike a balance between ensuring efforts are legitimate without weighing down athletes with an impossibly difficult verification process. How did we do?
