Meetups are a handy tool if you’re looking to ride with a specific group of friends, and the new “Keep everyone together” option has made them even better.
But there’s one Meetups feature which Zwifters are still looking for: the ability to do a group workout. That is, to set up a Meetup with whoever you’d like, where each person is doing the same structured workout and you all stick together for the duration.
Ideally, this would work like the official group workout events happening all the time and available via the Zwift Events calendar. Except this is an event you plan, with just the people you want to invite and the workout you want the group to complete.
You may think this isn’t possible on Zwift–but it actually is.
Here’s a simple Meetup hack that lets you organize a group workout on Zwift today.
It Starts Like Any Other Meetup
First, create your Meetup. They’re very easy to plan via the Companion App. If you’ve never done it, here’s a simple guide.
Just a few important notes as you organize your Meetup:
- Do it for a set duration, not distance. This ensures your Meetup won’t end before the workout does. We recommend setting it for 5-10 minutes longer than the workout length, so you can hang out in your Meetup for a bit once the workout is over.
- Be sure to select “Keep Everyone Together” under “Customize Your Meetup”, otherwise riders with different FTPs will become separated as they’ll be holding different wattages even if they’re doing the same workout.
- It’s a good idea to put instructions for finding the workout in the “Message Your Group” field, so everyone knows what the workout is called and where to find it. You can also message the group while everyone is waiting for the Meetup to begin.
One Step Magic
Once your friends have joined the Meetup and you’re sitting together waiting for it to begin, it’s time for the magic to happen. Are you ready?
Click Menu>Workouts or hit “E” on your keyboard. This will open the workout picker window:
Choose the correct workout, click “Workout”, and you’re ready to go!
You’ll now see the workout plan on the left:
The workout will begin once the Meetup begins. Each rider can control their workout independently, adjusting FTP bias or skipping sections if they choose. With the “Keep Everyone Together” option you will all stay together regardless of wattage variances between riders.
In some ways this is a better experience than official group workouts, because the group moves faster in a Meetup (a more realistic speed, instead of the very slow group workout speeds).
When the workout ends, each rider will get the typical workout summary screen pop up. If the Meetup is still going, you will remain in the Meetup even though the workout is finished.
Notes
The biggest challenge here is getting each rider to select the correct workout. But the cool thing is, if the rider picks the wrong workout, or even neglects to pick a workout, they will still ride with you! Your Meetup can have one rider doing workout A, another free riding, and another doing workout B. And everyone can stick together.
Have You Tried It?
Tried this hack? Share your experience below! Got questions? Share those too, and we’ll try to answer them.
Great tip, I’ve started doing weekly meetups and have been wanting to do workout mode instead. Will definitely try this.
hola , como lo hicieste , lo intento pero los demas no les sale el entrenamiento
Jesus, based on the comment, each person has to select the workout, so they can see it and follow it. (Cada persona tiene que seleccionar el Workout, no solamente el organizador)
also remember to be on the meetup first, many a times I selected the workout before being in the meetup, and would not work
@HPLCycling has a regular Sunday morning meetup. Several meet up participants do a workout, while others just free ride. It’s a great way to ride together with your crew while sticking to your training plan.
thanks it was just that I was looking for
I thought experience while in workouts was determined by the time spent in the different blocks and not by distance. Have I understood it wrong? Or how is this better xp than the official group workouts?
“In some ways this is a better experience than official group workouts, because the group moves faster in a Meetup (a more realistic speed, instead of the very slow group workout speeds).”
Hi Seb,
Lost in translation, I think. When I say it’s a better “experience” I’m not talking about XP. I’m talking about our actual experience!
XP goes up with the watts you deliver… not the time you spend or the distance. for example, it you go done after a long climb, without pedalling, you will have 0 xp gain during the descent!!!!! hope that was clear
Ohh too focused on getting to lvl 50, Haha!
I even thought about it halfway through my comment. Thanks for the clarification! 🙂
Just tried it with a couple of mates. It worked quite well! Really enjoyed it! Thanks for pointing this out Eric.
My pleasure! Glad it worked for ya.
How did you manage? Doesn’t work for me
Does it also work when you subscribed to a training plan (build me up, f.ex.) ?
Yeah, should work fine, since you just click and choose a workout anyway.
Does it work for custom workouts? I’m guessing no, because other people can’t see or select a custom workout that I’ve made in Zwift. Just checking, though, in case you’ve tried this.
It works, but everyone would have to have that custom workout on their system in order to select it. https://zwiftinsider.com/load-custom-workouts/
Do all participants in the group need to select Workout on the system or just the invitee users?
All participants have to select the workout themselves.
We like to have one person riding the workout on
a flat course and all others riding free ride. That way it requires some effort to stay together. Doesn’t work well for short or very high watt intervals, but for anything 1min or longer is pretty good.
Eric, can Duration be used to run laps of a shorter course? I’ve been running bi-weekly meetups and I’m stuck with picking from only a couple of courses that will allow us to ride for about 1:30… such as Out and Back Again. Could you pick a short loop and set the Meetup for Duration? If so, that opens all kinds of doors!
Sure, why not? That would definitely be the way to do it… pick something like Volcano Circuit CCW, then set the duration to 90 minutes.
Thanks Eric, this is PERFECT!!! Works so well, finally an option to really do a private group workout.
—Tiffany’s husband, Don (she’s more famous than I am in zwiftland, but I got her started!)
Rock on, Don! And say hello to Tiffany from us!
Larson!
Awesome! Did a meetup with my buddy, he was using Trainer Road and I was doing a Zwift workout and we rode together the whole way via a meetup exactly as you described it. Thank you.
If my friend can’t start until half hour after me, does he still have ability to select a workout? Perhaps the same one? Or does the workout have to be selected by everyone prior to the meetup commencing?
You can select a workout whenever you want during the ride, it’s just that you won’t be doing the same intervals as the other guy, if you start at different times.
More importantly: meetups don’t currently allow for late joins. So your friend can’t join the Meetup after it begins.
so, here is what happened to me. I created a meet up and sent invite to my friends. Meetup was at 8pm, I logged in to zwift, on the main menu top right, I saw the count down so I thought it will automatically start and put me into the world. but it did not, then I saw my friend and clicked on ride with then it I was able to ride but this was not the meetup I choose. So do I have to choose a workout, then go into watopia etc and wait for the counter to finish?
Yes, you have to be in the actual game (not just the join screen) to get a prompt to join the event.
Confusing, I know. Lots of folks have made that mistake. Works the same way for all events.
Eric – is there a procedure for AppleTV to use this hack? With no keyboard I joined a meetup but wasn’t given an option for the workout picker.
Click Menu>Workouts from within the Meetup.
my “menu” option is greyed out.. I can’t select it? Am I doing something wrong?
That’s what I see too. There doesn’t seem to be a way to use this trick with Apple TV
The menu button is disabled in Apple TV
I have bee wondering this too – Apple TV seems to be an issue. Wish there was a way to do this with the Companion App.
does this work with Events, e.g. upcoming Fondo? the specific example is wanting to do the Fondo but using one of the 10-12 ftp builder workouts.
No, you can’t do a workout at the same time as you’re doing an event like a fondo. The only way to do a structured workout during an event is if you do an official group workout event.
I’ve kinda sorta done a workout during a fondo by using my Garmin to indicate the intervals. I can’t use erg mode, because the Garmin isn’t controlling the trainer, but, it does give me some visual indication. Very like a workout outdoors.
Me and my friend are doin the same plan but we is not in sync so we’re not on the same workout. Can we still do a meetup and do the workout we’re on even if it’s two different workouts. For example i’m on Ham Sandwich and my friend at what goes up goes down, can we do it in a meetup?
Sure, you can do two different workouts. It may be weird, as your friend might be going hard at a time when you’re going easy… so your speeds will be somehow averaged together. But it can be done, sure.
My sister and I have followed all the steps but it doesn’t keep us together, I ride away from her and out of screen from her. I send the meetup with duration and keep it together mode. We both join the meetup when it’s time and then select the workout while we’re waiting in the meetup for it to start. I wish the the clock would start for the first interval of the workout when the meetup timer starts but it does not. We have just both agreed to start pedaling when the count down ends and the meetup starts.… Read more »
yet another question – will this work with a Ramp test ? assuming we all set the jnitial ftp at 100w as advised in the manual for the test?
Seems like it would, but I’ve never tried it!
Hm I on appletv, my wife next 2me on laptop, she a freeride in the meetup, and I did a workout on appletv in the meet. But erg mode was not working on appletv. Only when laptopsession stopped erg on appletv worked in the meet.
Trying this for the first time in 10 minutes. My workout is part of a programme so my buddy will select one of similar duration and ride along.
Is there a way to create a group workout for a workout plan? For example three buddies training for a race and all want to do the grevelgrinder plan together.
Sure, you should be able to follow the instructions above, but just pick the workout from the training plan when it comes time to pick the workout.
What if you want to do a meet up and do a course say twice. Like if I wanted to do Tick Tock 2 or 3 times instead of once, is there a way to tell it how many times you want to go around before it ends the meet up? We’re still new at this, two of us did a meet up last weekend, after the first time around meet up was over and we were free riding.
Thanks in advance for insight on this.
Joe
There’s no way currently to do a meetup for X laps of a particular route, @guest_35433. But what you CAN do is just do a time-based meetup, and try to estimate what it’ll take to do multiple laps. Or just make the meetup REALLY LONG so you can do as many laps as you’d like before logging off!
Thanks for the advice I appreciate it and really like the insider.
If you create a meet up to do a certain course, not a workout, does it keep everyone together with the rubber banding?
Thanks,
Joe
It’ll keep everyone together only if you choose the “Keep everyone together” option when creating the meetup.
First try on doing a workout together, we all three started doing the synchronized training that we agreed to choose when we were waiting for the countdown. It started ok and it was all right until the first crossing where we stopped being together. The group activity continued till the end of the programmed time, with everyone doing the same workout, but following different courses. Why it happened? Did it happen because a specific route was chosen?
No idea why that happened!
Only possibility I could think of is one of you might have accidentally tapped or clicked the rerouting button on the app (i.e. turn right or turn left or straight ahead or U-turn) when prompted as you’re approaching the junction. Happened to me before. How? My sweat dripped on my phone screen and made me do a U-turn while sprinting. #facepalm
Tried this today and it is cool. What I noticed though is the the Companion App does not show the Workout and therefore no option to skip, change from Erg to Incline etc. This means that I have to now move my computer next to my bike. But then I can’t connect to the TV. So, Does this work with the Companion App?
Fantastic!
Thanks for this tip, it was the feature I always wanted!
Hi,
I try this evening a bike meetup with my friends but only me have the custom workout on the screen.I do like above but it doesn’t work.
5min before the meetup we were together, I clic on workout then ‘custom workouts’ to find the one I have created, then clic on training but when it starts, only me see the workout.
Can you help me please ?
I find the answer in other comments. Thanks
Can you do a group FTP test?
Sure, it’s a workout like anything else. Group suffering!
Hey Eric, is it possible for the group to choose a custom workout that the ride leader designs for the meetup? Will the custom workout remain private for only those in the meetup.
Sure, but the leader would have to share that custom workout file with the participants – which doesn’t work if they’re on AppleTV. See https://zwiftinsider.com/load-custom-workouts/ for instructions.
If you use training peaks, the workout of the day can be selected and all can do the same or varied workouts but stay together. Thank you for sharing this!
Is there a workaround on the group workouts within a meetup when using a device other than a computer, ie:Apple TV or tablet?
On an iPad tap the screen, click Menu, and then on the right side of the screen there is a workout button.
I tried this twice Last Friday I slected a workout and my meet up buddies followed my lead but… they couldnt see the workout so I had to chat them through it. We had fun but not what we hoped for. Yesterday with a workout selection from Zwift. Me and my buddy both choose the same workout but that was after the ride had already started we then created it again and failed again. So tomorrow try again and I think you really think I as raceleader have to select the workout before the meetup ride starts and instruct everybody… Read more »
Quick question what if the meetup time is set to 1 hr but the workout time is 1.30 hr. Will the workout stop right after the meeting end?
I actually don’t know! My guess is the workout will keep going like normal. But test it and report back!
Any update on this question?
Great solution to make a meeting training. I have a problem however. The others people don’t see the training on their screen. They have to load it but how?
Thanks.
This works great. The only niggle is that I don’t get the workout screen on the Zwift companion that helps me toggle ERG mode on and off or skip a step easily while riding.
Anyway to get this to happen.
I get the standard dashboard on the companion and the workout mode on the main screen on the left.
Tried and Loved it..so did my members in meetup!! Was waiting for this!! NICE
Thanks Eric
Can a rider use a TT bike in a Meetup doing a Group Workout? Does the TT frame cause any issues like it would in a normal group ride where there is no draft?
I love meetups with me team mates, I do my own workouts but in meetup mode I cannot adjust the slope on my trainer as the workout does not come on in the companion app, can I adjust the slope any other way?
Thanks for sharing this information! I’ve tried this twice, and in both instances, the workout information disappeared once the meet-up officially started. My friends and I were still fenced in and able to ride together, but the workout information disappeared. I was the leader, so I kept riding but I was frustrated as I wasn’t able to do the intervals. Any reason why this might be happening?
Make sure you have selected the “JOIN MEETUP” button THEN select the “Workout” option you want to do whilst you are sitting on the side of the road in the staging area. All participants have to do this before the scheduled Meetup time officially starts… If you select the “Workout” option BEFORE joining the Meetup it won’t work.
this is a fantastic tip! has revolutionazed my meetups, thanks Eric!
I learned about this tip today while one guy in our group ride was doing his workout instead of suffering up Leith Hill like the rest of us. What a great Zwift hack! Can’t wait to use it during more group rides in the future.
Does someone know if it’s possible to join a meetup while a workout is already started?
This has been very helpful, got 2 questions, 1) I get my workouts from trainingpeaks, what do I need to do so the friends in my meetup follow the same workout, we don’t use the stay together option as we like the competition sauce.
2) I dont see my running workouts coming from training peaks poping up in Zwitf (not talking about meetups, individual workouts), any idea why? Thank you.
Great hack Eric! I do have to say I’ve had mixed success though.. the behavior for how I get into the Group Ride seems to change every time and depending on what device I join. First time I opened a ride and I got the prompt in the middle of the screen at the bottom. Another time, I got a prompt to the left to join a meet up… several times I was not joined, didn’t get the option and had to unselect and select the “upcoming event” in the top right hand corner? Any one have this kind of… Read more »
Tried this tonight. Had stay together selected meetup. Everyone picked correct workout while waiting for meetup to start, I noticed my kickr was in erg mode and wouldn’t let me pedal during warmup period, once meetup started we all started pedaling but didn’t go anywhere. Not sure why. I’m wondering if maybe we should wait until meetup starts then all Select workout and then start pedaling together.
what are your thoughts ?
thanks
ryan
Due to the Coronavirus quarantine, as the gyms and spin bike courses are closed, many coaches are discovering the opportunities to perform group rides with workouts, via Zwift meetup. It is a potential market for new Zwift users who were gym customers. It would be interesting to associate a soundtrack to a custom workout, to be superimposed, as sound intensity, or completely replace the background sound of Zwift. I think it is a significant possibility of expanding the platform, even for a less cycling but more fitness use. Thank you for passing this tip to the design team
Hi Eric, great tip for group workout. Just checking if there is a way of doing this in ios or Android yet?
Far as I know it’s doable in iOS and Android. Just click to Menu>Workouts after joining the Meetup.
Hi Eric! I have often combined Meetups in this way with a workout. Great! The only drawback is that the workout and its parts don’t show up in the Companion dashboard. Or do you have a solution?