Zwift’s new Meetups feature is the best way to organize a small group ride with friends. But did you know there are actually two ways to create a Meetup? Here’s how to quickly create a Meetup with an individual.
Two Requirements
To create a Meetup you need two things: a follower to invite, and the Zwift Companion app (available on iOS and Android).
You can only invite followers to Meetups at this time since we are in version 1 of Meetups and ZwiftHQ is (rightfully) concerned about Meetup invite spam. This is one of several limitations you may want to be aware of when it comes to Meetups: see the “Important Details” section of our Meetups post for the full list.
Getting It Done: Step by Step
If I am one of your followers and you click to view my profile in Zwift Companion, you’ll see my bearded mug and a “Request Meetup” button. You may get to my profile because we’re both currently in-game and you see me nearby, or it could be neither of us is active right now. Either way, as long as I’m following you, you’ll see a “Request Meetup” button:
Click “Request Meetup” to be taken to the Meetup configuration screen where you set the time, course, and invite other followers if desired.
Click “Create Meetup” once you’re ready to go. If the Zwifter is currently in-game they will receive an immediate Meetup invitation, which they can turn down or accept.
If they are not currently in-game they will receive a notification via Zwift Companion on their mobile devices, assuming they have Meetup invite notifications enabled (which they are, by default). They will also see the invite on their main Companion screen:
If they accept the invite, they will be prompted to join the Meetup when they are in-game, just like any other event (around 4 minutes before the event starts.) They will also see the Meetup like a normal event on the Zwift startup screen.
And once the event begins you’ll both be off and running (or riding). That’s it!
What’s the best way to ride with a friend who’s at a different level of fitness?
Same as any other time you try to ride with someone who’s at a different level… you can change your weight, or just have one rider treat it as a recovery day while the other dies! 🙂
Hopefully soon Zwift will support workouts in Meetups. That would be ideal.
This is my question as well. I would love to meetup and do a workout, where we would ride together but based off of our own FTPs..
First day announced, I tried the Meetup with 2 other riders who follow me and I follow them. One rider caught the notification purely by accident because he happened to be using the companion app. The other rider knew nothing of the invitation. There is apparently no notification system outside of the companion app unless we missed something? Was hoping for an email notification so maybe something coming in a future update.
Rode with 2 friends yesterday. Very nice new feature. Only drawback was the volume of zwifters online. 7300 riders created an extreme draft. This made it difficult to stay together because you get sucked away by others. While waiting for my friends after breakups below 100 watts I still made 30+ km/h. Very very unrealistic and spoiling the fun
Agreed. Hopefully Zwift will roll out “culling” for Meetups very soon. It’s not a good experience on a crowded course.
Eric, u can also create a meetup directly in the meetup section of the app without starting from the profile of someone who is riding (i usally do it in this way)
What i haven’t tried yet is to edit the distance/duration parameter. So if i want that my meetup lasts 3 laps of vulcano flat (i.e.) how do i have to edit it?? Maybe i need to multiplay the default distance for 3
Correct. That is the “normal” way, but I wanted to make sure people knew they could do a quick “individual meetup” this way.
Yes, to do multiple laps you just multiply the distance…
Haven’t tried this yet, but great concept. I don’t suppose this can function in workout mode, similar to group workout?
Not yet, but I’m sure that functionality is coming!