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    Getting Started

    How to Stand Up in Zwift

    Eric Schlange
    By Eric Schlange
    August 2, 2021
    4

    What determines if your Zwift avatar gets out of the saddle or stays seated?

    Your avatar will stand when:

    • You are putting out more than double your FTP watts
    • If you’re on an incline over 3% with a cadence below 70, but over 30
    • Sprinting out of the saddle: double your FTP watts
    • Climbing out of the saddle: below 70RPM on inclines over 3%

    Thanks to updates rolled out in late 2019, everyone else sees your avatar come out of the saddle at the same time you do.

    Default Behavior

    If you have no cadence meter paired, Zwift will automatically stand you out of the saddle on any climbs over 3%.

    Does It Slow You Down?

    Any cyclist worth their chamois knows that standing upright with your hands on the hoods outdoors is a less aerodynamic position than remaining seated. Do you get more virtual air resistance when your avatar stands on Zwift?

    We tested it, and can report that your in-game aerodynamics do not change when your avatar sits or stands.

    The Tron Bike Exception

    There is one exception to the 3%/70RPM rule, and that is the Tron bike. Zwift’s animators did not include an out of the saddle climbing posture for this frame, so you will never see a Tron rider standing up on climbs (or sitting up in the draft, for that matter). There is a sprinting posture, however.

    Changelog

    • Aug 4, 2020: discovered that if your cadence is 30 or below, your avatar sits down. Added this.
    • Dec 31, 2019: Zwift changed the standing threshold back to 70RPM, and made it so everyone else sees your avatar stand on climbs at the same time you do.
    • Dec 10, 2019: Zwift changed the sprinting threshold from a flat 460 watts to 2x your FTP, and made it so everyone else sees your avatar sprint at the same time you do.
    • October 2019: Zwift released an update which changed the standing cadence threshold from 70 to 80.

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      Eric Schlange
      Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
      Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

      4 COMMENTS

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      grant.b.smith
      grant.b.smith(@grant-b-smith)
      10 months ago

      I like to spam F2 when my avatar is standing. That way he has to sit in order to wave 👋

      2
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      10 months ago
      Reply to  grant.b.smith

      LOL. Never thought of doing that, but it sounds like fun.

      0
      Reply
      Joe Thorley
      Joe Thorley
      10 months ago

      I’m curious whether your avatar’s wind resistance increases when out of the saddle?

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      10 months ago
      Reply to  Joe Thorley

      It does not. We tested it! Just added a note above…

      1
      Reply
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