Every cyclist knows the Velominati—keepers of the sacred outdoor road cycling commandments. But once you clip in on a smart trainer and enter the pixelated world of Watopia, those rules start to fall apart. Sock height still matters, sure, but what about your fan placement? Your avatar name? Your squirrel?
Enter Zwift Racing Etiquette: the ultimate guide to proper behavior in the virtual peloton. These rules are designed for Zwift racers who want to ride hard, race fair, and keep the vibe fun—even when chasing a breakaway at 180 bpm in a garage that smells faintly of chain lube and long lost ambition.
The Golden Principle of Zwift racing etiquette is simple: Be a Good Sport. Zwift racing is highly competitive, but it’s also a shared experience. Whether you’re chasing a podium or just trying not to get dropped, the goal is to race with integrity, respect your fellow riders, and contribute to the community. That means no sandbagging, no tantrums, and no ghosting. It means giving Ride-Ons, pulling your weight in a break, and finishing even when it hurts.
If everyone follows this one principle, the rules almost take care of themselves.
The Rules
Rule #1: Keep it fun.
Zwift is serious business—until you remember you’re sweating in your attic pretending to climb a volcano. Lighten up.
Rule #2: Wear a jersey.
Indoor riding gets hot. We get it. But Zwift is not OnlyFans. So wear a shirt when filming your ride. Your YouTube viewers will thank you.
Rule #3: Ditch the “pain cave.”
The term is cringey and overused. Whatever you call it, it should feel like a place where legends are made. Hang some Tour swag to make it feel legit.
Rule #4: Don’t forget the essentials.
You can have the perfect warm-up, the perfect playlist, and the perfect race plan—but if you forget your towel, bottle, or to switch on your fan, you’re toast. Prep your setup like it’s a space launch: checklist, power, hydration, airflow. Forget one, and you’ll be sweating into regret.
Rule #5: The fan cools you. The software cools your mic.
Strategic airflow is non-negotiable. But if your teammates can’t hear your tactical brilliance over the roar of your industrial-grade fan, it’s time to let noise suppression do its job. Balance is everything.
Rule #6: Charge your devices.
Nothing says “pro” like a mid-race voice dropout because your AirPods died during your attack. Keep your gear juiced. Better yet, plug it in.
Rule #7: Calibrate your trainer.
Your trainer isn’t magic. It needs calibration. Regularly. If your watts are suspiciously heroic, it’s either your legs or your laziness. Don’t let it be the latter. Calibrate, verify, and race clean.
Rule #8: Drop watts, not connections.
Your setup should be race-ready. That means no Bluetooth dropouts, no sensor drama, no “why did my avatar stop?” moments. Keep interference low, test with Zwiftalizer, and choose your connection method wisely. Companion App bridge can help, but it’s not for everyone. If your signal’s sketchy, your race is too.
Rule #9: Identify yourself.
If your name is “Mr. Fast” and your avatar is a Bugatti, we assume you’re compensating for something. Just be you.
Rule #10: State your true height.
Yes, shaving centimeters makes you faster in Zwift. But unless you’ve actually shrunk, set your real height. Cheating the system is easy—earning respect isn’t.
Rule #11: Weigh-in with integrity.
Morning weigh-ins (sans gear) are fine. Don’t film it—you’re naked, remember. Enter your weight with one decimal and update it every couple of weeks. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about showing you care enough to keep it fair.
Rule #12: Your age doesn’t earn you watts.
Zwift doesn’t care how old you are—and neither should your race name. If you’re 70 and dropping 20-year-olds, that’s genuinely impressive. But don’t fish for compliments by adding your age to your username. Performance speaks louder than birthdays.
Rule #13: Only state your FTP when asked.
Power is silent. Ego is loud. Be the former. Dropping your FTP into casual chat is like flexing your salary at a dinner party—no one asked, and now it’s awkward.
Rule #14: Sock height is sacred.
There is a correct sock height. You don’t know what it is, but you’ll know when someone gets it wrong.
Rule #15: Respect the Tron.
If someone’s riding the Tron bike, they’ve earned it. Don’t ask how. Just admire the glow and get in their draft.
Rule #16: Respect the burrito.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not sexy. It’s not even edible. But the burrito power-up cancels your draft and scrambles your chasers. Laugh at it, and you’ll get dropped. Use it right, and you’ll ride off into the distance before the opponents even know you’re attacking.
Rule #17: Sprint into descents.
The gravity may be virtual, but the glory is real. Always start a downhill with a watt bomb—you’ll carry extra speed and drop your rivals. And yes, in the virtual world, the supertuck is still a thing. Use it wisely. Abuse it, and you’ll be dropped like a bad Wi-Fi connection.
Rule #18: No distractions.
Zwift is not background noise. If you’re watching Netflix during a race, you’re not really here. Save the binge-watching for rest days. When it’s go-time, be present. Your watts deserve your full attention.
Rule #19: Know your racing category.
If ZRS, CE, and vELO just look like alphabet soup to you, you’re not ready to race. These acronyms determine who you race and how fair it all feels. So learn the system, check your numbers, and race where you belong. Confusion is forgivable. Ignorance is not.
Rule #20: E-racing has a capital Z.
Other platforms are just pixel cosplay.
Rule #21: Don’t compare Zwift to IRL.
Zwift isn’t outdoor riding—and that’s the point. There’s no wind, no potholes, and no chance of getting dropped because you missed a turn while reaching for a gel. It’s a different sport. Zwift has volcanoes, power-ups, and glowing bikes. Embrace the weird. Respect the platform.
Rule #22: Non-Zwifters won’t get it.
Your sub-6 hour vCinglés du Ven-Top means nothing to non-Zwifters. They won’t care about your zMAP boost or your Epic KOM reverse PR. Save it for fellow Zwifters.
Rule #23: Keep the bike clean and lubricated.
Just because no one sees your bike doesn’t mean it should look like a biology experiment. Clean your drivetrain, no sweat puddles, and bin those wrappers.
Rule #24: Wear the team kit.
Wear your club jersey (virtually) and display your team name. Otherwise, no one knows if you’re a rival or just vibing.
Rule #25: Take your turn.
In a breakaway or chase group, do your share. It doesn’t have to be heroic, but it has to be something. Riders who merely freeload are to be dropped at the earliest opportunity.
Rule #26: Always race to your max.
Race like your Twitch stream actually has viewers. If you’re looking for a training ride, do a workout instead. See also Rule #28.
Rule #27: Empty your weebles.
Intervals.icu shows how deep you went above FTP. If your w’balance didn’t reach zero, you just didn’t go hard enough. See Rule #27.
Rule #28: No sandbagging.
Don’t limit your power to stay in a lower category. Big fish belong in big ponds. Race like it’s the Tour de France and let the pens sort themselves out.
Rule #29: No tanking.
Purposely racing poorly to lower your ZRS or vELO rating is just sad. Wear your category with pride.
Rule #30: Finish the race.
Got dropped and don’t want your poor result to show on ZwiftPower? Tough luck. Take your defeat on the chin and complete the full distance.
Rule #31: Sauce is allowed (mostly).
Sauce 4 Zwift is fine—if the HUD is on. If the organiser switches it off for a data-free experience, don’t bypass it. That’s just shady.
Rule #32: Keep the chat clean.
“Have fun!” is great. “How long is this race?”—not so much. Race chat isn’t your personal FAQ or therapy session. Don’t complain about the course or ask what’s for dinner, and save the sarcastic coaching for Discord. Say thanks, be nice, and if you’ve got nothing helpful to say—pedal harder.
Rule #33: No public shaming.
Suspicious power, weight, or height? Don’t call it out in chat. Send a private message to the organiser. Keep the vibe positive.
Rule #34: Big watts? Dual record.
If you can do more than 5 w/kg for 5 minutes, invest in some power pedals. They’re not that expensive anymore, and they prove your numbers are legit.
Rule #35: Ride-Ons galore.
That rider who clawed their way back after getting dropped? Ride-On. The one who led the chase to reel in a breakaway? Ride-On. The teammate who gave up their sprint to lead you out? Definitely Ride-On. We’re all suffering in our own way—sometimes, a well-timed Ride-On makes it bearable. Use them generously, but meaningfully.
Rule #36: No moaning about steering.
Yes, Zwift Play isn’t sold everywhere. But if you want it, find a forwarding address. Complaining won’t make your avatar steer better.
Rule #37: Do not ghost the race.
If you signed up, show up. Be the wheel someone else needs.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of the list? Got rules to add or changes to recommend? Share below…
wpDiscuz
