Zwift’s January 21st update added steering for the Wahoo KICKR Bike, but Wattbike Atom riders were surprised to discover it also added a steering bug to their setups!
Wattbike’s Atom smartbike is being automatically paired in the pairing screen as usual – except steering is also being automatically paired up, just like what happens for Wahoo KICKR Bike users. Wattbike Atom users first thought this meant they had steering capabilities – but they were dismayed to get into the game and discover that clicking a steering button places them into a never-ending u-turn instead of steering them properly.
Here’s a Zwift forum topic on this subject >
Poking around various forums, it appears that:
- Wattbike has signed the steering exclusivity contract with Zwift which was also signed by Wahoo and Elite, so Atom steering is definitely in development and users will get steering capabilities soon
- Wattbike Atom testing code which should have only been active for Zwift’s internal QA team was pushed out in the public January 21 release
Fortunately, there’s a fairly simple fix – even though you’ll have to do it each time you ride, until Zwift releases a fix. The good folks at Wattbike reached out to me in hopes that I could help get the word out to any Wattbike riders on Zwift, explaining that they “are working with Zwift to get fixed as soon as possible.”
The Fix
How to disable the steering function on Wattbike+Zwift to preserve your riding experience:
- Launch Zwift
- On pair devices screen, pair your Wattbike Atom as usual but leave steering enabled
- Start ride session
- While within the ride, open the menu and hit “Pair” for the pairing screen (the “A” keyboard shortcut will also get you there)
- Deselect steering
- Exit the menu/return to the ride
- The bike and game will then function normally.
Here’s a video example from Wattbike user Darren Rhodes:
Hi E, bullet point 4 suggests just opening the pair screen… is this enough or does steering need to be deselected?
There is another associated problem/bug with the zwift “Wahoo steering/avatar numbers filter” software release effecting Wattbike Atom. The update causes your avatar to be invisible to all others in the event, or worst still all other riders invisible.
This has happened to me. Disabling steering landed me in the meet-up world but upside down in the sky multiple times, then after leaving steering mode on I landed in the meet-up (correct world and green name tab) at the start line but completely alone.
Hi. The writer below is correct. Having done what you suggest I rode for nearly an hour in a group ride on Wednesday evening and my wife riding alongside me realised she could see neither my avatar or my text messages. I’ve ridden again this morning and this afternoon leaving the steering paired and my avatar was visible again. Just don’t touch either of the top buttons until we get a fix.
Hi Eric, Unfortunately for many Wattbike users this fix means you are invisible to everyone
Eric, unfortunately this isnt any sort of solution given eh fact you cant then be seen in a race/event. Good to see the amended bullets, however very frustrating
What about Tacx? Are they going to bring in steering for the Neo Bike? Or is it just wahoo, elite, and wattbike?
The invisibility happens on kickr bike with apple tv aswell, so not just Wattbike. Both me and teammate has had it several times using different methods to unpair steering or leave it on…
Another Kickr Bike user with the same problem here… and I have talked to others with the same problem.
As a Kick Bike owner I’m of course curious: What is the exact problem you have encountered? You became invisible after unpairing steering, or you are invisible with steering paired? Does this only affect Apple TV or Windows 10 too?
another wattbike atom 2nd gen user here.
if you disable the steerer on the pairing screen you become invisable to other users and disapear from the riders list on the RHS. This happens in races and meet-ups. not sure about free riding. In a race you do still appear in the results.
if you leave the steerer enabled in the pairing screen everythings works fine.
Why you would want steering functionality from the hood top buttons, i’ll never know. waste of time.
Using a meme format.
Nobody:
Zwift: We added steering! (badly)