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    Getting Started

    Welcome to Watopia – Let’s Be Nice

    Shawn McAfee
    By Shawn McAfee
    March 17, 2020
    24

    Over the past few weeks, the world has gone crazy. What started in China spread to Italy, Spain, Iran and now the rest of the world. With COVID-19 bringing massive lockdowns to cities, states and entire countries there is no better place to ride a bike than the world of Zwift.

    With many newly-arriving Zwifters worldwide there are a few tips that I think all of us experienced Zwifters need to follow. Let’s cut these newbies a little slack and lend a teaching hand as these new riders find out how many meters the Tron bike actually requires, how to see the real race results on Zwift Power, and most importantly how to connect with the Zwift community more intimately. Whether that’s through group rides, races or just a social club environment, let’s make these folks feel welcome.

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      Shawn McAfee
      Shawn McAfee
      Shawn loves bikes. A lot. Mostly he's a diehard mountain bike enthusiast and more recently has developed a sincere Zwift addiction. He loves this stuff, and he loves talking about this stuff. Most of all he loves being able to tell the story about his bike races and adventures.

      24 COMMENTS

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      Linda Messinger
      Super Member
      Linda Messinger(@lmessinger)
      2 years ago

      Shawn, you are absolutely right. On the message boards and in chat when people ask about why they are stuck with a mountain bike or why there’s a setting for trainer difficulty, or why some people have little screens in front of their bikes, the sarcasm is hurtful. We were all new on Zwift once. We all had our first ride on Zwift at some point. We all had these questions at some point. There’s enough crap going on in the world. It will not hurt to extend a little kindness, or even a lot.

      32
      Reply
      Jerome
      Jerome
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Linda Messinger

      Conversely if Zwift had a satisfactory tutorial all these common questions would be mass addressed in game, rather than people needing to seek advice individually online.

      9
      Reply
      Linda Messinger
      Super Member
      Linda Messinger(@lmessinger)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Jerome

      Jerome, there are a slew of tutorials on YouTube by Shane Miller and Eric has covered a lot of things here that can be searched for. But people would rather ask than go through the trouble of searching or watching because it’s easier. It’s just human nature. I’m the type that would rather search than ask but most people are not like that. The best thing to do is if a question annoys anyone, for them just not to answer it and let somebody else who has more patience answer it. It actually takes less effort anyway.

      10
      Reply
      Andrew Dyson
      Trusted Member
      Andrew Dyson(@apdyson)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Linda Messinger

      I think what Jerome is saying though is that people shouldn’t have to come here or YouTube to learn basic functionality on Zwift. When I first started a few months ago I had no idea what was going on, what the various icons meant or little things like the screens etc that you mentioned were, let alone more detailed things like how drafting works, how different frames, wheels and terrain effect your riding etc. I only discovered this site a couple of months ago (and ZwiftPower a little after) and I must say it’s been a revelation in the things… Read more »

      7
      Reply
      Darin Boyd
      Darin Boyd
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Linda Messinger

      nobody reads tutorials or even basic instructions, and honestly if I am ever a bit sarcastically short with people on Zwift it’s because they ask questions that make it clear they didn’t even try…

      2
      Reply
      Darin Boyd
      Darin Boyd
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Linda Messinger

      Those of us that take the time to read tutorials, don’t tend to ask stupid questions… (of course the inverse is just as true..)

      0
      Reply
      Bill
      Bill
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Jerome

      Although it hasn’t been updated in awhile the unofficial Zwift ‘user manual’ by titaniumgeek was invaluable for me starting on Zwift. It still has a lot of good info for any Zwift nOOb (we were all there once getting our first 1km and saying what is that +20XP on the screen for?)

      0
      Reply
      Russell
      Russell
      2 years ago

      I typically travel for work but like everyone else has been on lockdown so I find myself with a lot of free time right now. I’ve been on Zwift since the beginning, but don’t get to do a lot of the big events because they don’t fit my schedule. The Tour of Watopia could not have come at a better time for me and I love seeing the huge groups out there on each ride. I feel like the community has been great given the situation and I get fired up every day to ride a stage.

      8
      Reply
      MarkE
      MarkE
      2 years ago

      Finding out there was another 40k meters after the Everest challenge was a demoralizing kick in the gut. At least I only have about another 6k to go and I plan to do a third of that on the mountain bike to finish the cape challenge.

      6
      Reply
      Gerrie Delport
      Gerrie Delport(@gerriedelport)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  MarkE

      40k meters left to what?

      0
      Reply
      MarkE
      MarkE
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Gerrie Delport

      The tron bike. It’s 50k total meters.

      0
      Reply
      Joel
      Joel
      2 years ago
      Reply to  MarkE

      Look on the bright side, you did get an awesome climbing 🚴 bicycle 🚴 on your way to Tron! Good luck and happy climbing! Highly recommend Alpe du Zwift climbs…as they give you Prizes! Collect them all…and if you don’t get something new, you get 250 XP towards your next level.

      0
      Reply
      MarkE
      MarkE
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Joel

      If I get another glove…. LOL, the Alpe has been a big part of getting there. Doing the Alpe on the mountain bike is terrible though. Someday I’m sure I’ll get the wheels!

      3
      Reply
      EndUser
      EndUser
      2 years ago
      Reply to  MarkE

      I got the wheels on my 15th run … Keep trying you’ll get it .. I also got all the kit but love hitting it as it’s extra 1000 do less it was dropped down

      1
      Reply
      MarkE
      MarkE
      2 years ago
      Reply to  EndUser

      I got them yesterday on the mountain bike!

      0
      Reply
      James Langford
      Active Member
      James Langford(@jamesdlangford)
      2 years ago

      Be kind outside and in the worlds of Zwift. Pass out the Ride Ons generously, it boosts the recipients drop rate briefly. And encourages the recipient. Ride on everyone!

      8
      Reply
      Brandon Johnson
      Super Member
      Brandon Johnson(@brandon_j_585)
      2 years ago

      As someone who is new relatively new to Zwift (a little over a month now), I have been very impressed by how friendly and kind the community is. I must say that Zwift Insider has been an invaluable resource from tips and tricks to race strategy. I’d also recommend the Zwiftcast and the Zwift Power Up podcasts. Ride On!

      8
      Reply
      MICHELLE
      MICHELLE
      2 years ago

      I’m a Zwift newbie but my husband is a long time Zwifter, he kindly offered to cycle a ride with me and while doing so suggested I usea feather to get up the hills…I replied on zwift connect that I didn’t have a feather but a bridge. Well he was rather confused as to what I was talking about so dismounted his bike in the garage wandered into the house to see and explain then managed to go back on his bike and was still enough ahead of me on the ride that he had to wait while I caught… Read more »

      2
      Reply
      Alex
      Alex(@atfuller)
      2 years ago

      If you’re going to be a jerk, ride the New York map. 😉

      8
      Reply
      Debbie Davies
      Debbie Davies
      2 years ago

      I am a very new rider on Zwift having bought my turbo trainer 3 weeks ago . I am constantly on You Tube and Zwifts Q&A page to try and understand some of it . I did my first Swarm ride last week , I thought I had got it sorted but no , I realised I hadnt a clue how to chat to the other ladies so I pedalled ‘mute ‘ and read all the others imput . I’m an outside rider , usually swapping between mountain bikes and road and this sort of riding has been a revelation… Read more »

      0
      Reply
      Kim S
      Kim S
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Debbie Davies

      A number of rides use an app called Discord that makes it possible to actually talk with other riders in real time. It’s a free download and will work with pretty much any headset you currently use for your phone. Highly recommended…

      0
      Reply
      Umsiukas
      Umsiukas
      2 years ago

      Hi everyone
      Zwift newbies
      We have all been newbies
      And we are all still learning
      Let’s help each other
      Welcome to zwift newbies
      I’m answer any questions from new riders and happy to give anyone a wheel even you Shawn
      Ride strong, ride hard, ride on
      And enjoy your ride

      2
      Reply
      Sean Amann
      Sean Amann
      2 years ago

      As of noon eastern time on Saturday March 21, there are19,517 Zwifters. Wow. Yes, be kind. Give ride on’s. I hit that circle constantly when riding and enjoy making it rain. I check in on the Companion app and hit the ride on icon all day so those I follow hopefully get a bit of motivation. I started Zwift in October last year with very little knowledge on how it all worked. I’m far from an expert and lean on this site and many others to learn and even remember what I’ve forgotten. Glad I got on this platform and… Read more »

      0
      Reply
      Bruce Huckstepp
      Bruce Huckstepp
      1 year ago

      I hear the Omnium Overdrive trainer can be used on zwift with a speed sensor ? How can this be ?

      0
      Reply
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