Zwift riders have been pushing the limits of human endurance since the platform launched in 2014. It’s time for a central repository of verified Zwift World Records, overseen by a trusted team and visible for all the world to see.
Below is our set of proposed Zwift World Record (ZWR) rules. We are posting it today in hopes that the Zwift community will share their feedback and help us finalize a fair and reasonable ruleset before we built out the ZWR system.
Zwift World Record Classifications
While we will initially begin with a small number of ZWR classifications, the hope is to expand to a much larger set quite quickly. This will include:
- Separate classifications for men and women
- Separate classifications for drafting and non-drafting
- Various distance-based classifications ranging from 4km to 500km
- Various elevation-based classifications ranging from 1000 to 8,848m (vEveresting)
- Various time-based classifications ranging from 1 to 24 hours
Examples of ZWR Classifications:
- Women’s Non-Drafting Hour Record: held by the woman who rides the furthest over an hour’s time in a non-drafting environment (solo ride or on a TT bike).
- Men’s Drafting 100km Record: held by the man who covers 100km in the shortest time. Drafting is allowed, but of course not required.
- Women’s Non-Drafting 5000m Climbing Record: held by the woman who climbs 5000 meters in the shortest time in a non-drafting environment (solo ride or on a TT bike).
Proposed ZWR Ruleset
1: Weight and Height Verification
You must record pre-ride weight and height verification videos, and supply their links with your ZWR submission.
Why? In-game speeds are greatly affected by the height and weight used in your rider profile. Verification videos ensure that your in-game height and weight are accurate, keeping the competition fair.
Weight Verification Video
Weight measurement must be conducted within twenty-four hours of the ZWR attempt.
Before starting the test:
- Set up scales suitable for measuring body weight in the middle of a room on a hard, even surface, with nothing nearby to hold on to.
- Find a heavy weight (approx 10kg) that you can comfortably carry.
- Make sure you are wearing cycling shorts and a cycling jersey.
During the test:
- Start recording a video on any device; for example, a cell phone.
- Show your face on the video.
- Show yourself performing a live internet search for the current time and date, and the results that it gives. Screenshots of mobile phone clocks or computer desktop clocks will not be accepted.
- Show the scales.
- Zero the scales.
- Show the zero reading.
- Place the heavy weight on the scales and show the reading.
- Take the weight off and show the zero reading.
- Stand on the scales yourself (without the weight) and show the reading.
- Take yourself off and show the zero reading.
- Stand on the scales with the weight and show the reading.
- Take yourself off and show the zero reading.
- Stop recording.
After the test:
- Do not edit or trim the video. The entire non-stop recording is required.
- Upload as an unlisted video to YouTube (only the Verification Team will see this URL).
- Weight as shown in video must be entered and used in-game for the entirety of your effort.
Height Verification Video
The full protocol for a rider measuring their height is as follows:
Before starting the test:
- Set up a standard tape measure against a solid, vertical surface such as a wall or door-frame.
During the test:
- Start recording a video on any device; for example, a cell phone.
- Show your face on the video.
- Stand against the vertical surface.
- Show yourself marking the tape measure (using a pencil or piece of tape) at the same height as the top of your head.
- Show the marking to highlight your measured height.
- Step back to show the entire tape in the picture.
- Stop recording.
After the test:
- Upload as an unlisted video to YouTube (only the Verification Team will see this URL).
- This height must be entered and used in-game for the entirety of your effort.
- Do not edit or trim the video. As shown in the example, the entire non-stop recording is required.
2: ZwiftPower Account
You must have an active ZwiftPower account in order to submit your ZWR attempt.
Why? Dual recording data is required for verification purposes, and that data will be stored in your ZwiftPower profile. Additionally, a link to your ZwiftPower profile will be included in your ZWR details, so other Zwifters can see your Zwift history.
3: Dual Recording Data on ZwiftPower
Your ZWR effort must be dual recorded, with that dual recording marked as public and available on your ZwiftPower.com profile. You must supply this activity’s link with your ZWR submission.
Why? No power meter is perfectly accurate, even when set up properly. It’s also possible that a power meter could be miscalibrated. Requiring two sources of power readings greatly reduces the chance that a rider could gain an unfair advantage by using a power source which is incorrectly reading too high.
IMPORTANT: Your primary power meter must be your smart trainer, with your secondary power meter (pedal, crank, spider, or wheel-based power meter) being used for verification purposes only.
Dual recordings must be trimmed and offset properly so the data line up and are easily compared by the Verification Team.
4: In-Game Video Including Rider Webcam
All ZWR submissions must include a video uploaded to YouTube showing your live webcam feed (you on the bike) overlayed on the live Zwift game screen for the duration of your record attempt.
Why? Showing your live camera feed for the duration of the effort ensures you are the person doing the ride. Additionally, a complete recording of the Zwift sessions lets the Verification Team make sure no hacks or bugs contributed unfairly to the record attempt.
Additionally, the video must show three additional elements in order fairness:
- Show pairing screen: this lets the Verification Team see that you are using your smart trainer as your power source
- Show profile screen: at the start of your ride (ideally before you start pedaling) open up your profile settings in game to show your height and weight, so the Verification Team can make sure your in-game values match your verification videos
- Use metric units: your profile must be set to metric units, to ensure fairness and to keep units uniform across different ZWR attempts.
5: Public Activity on Zwift.com
Your activity must be public and saved to your Zwift.com profile. You will be required to supply this activity link with your ZWR submission.
Why? This provides an easy way for other Zwifters to see the detailed data of your ZWR attempt.
6: Route Choice
All ZWR attempts must be done on official in-game routes. No manual navigation.
Why? Because otherwise, everyone would start their hour record attempts from the summit of Ven-Top!
7: Official Measurements
The official time, distance, and elevation for your attempt will be taken from the in-game HUD at the top of your screen.
Why? Because one uniform single source of truth is required. Additionally, using in-game measurements means the Verification Team can check ZWR submissions against the In-Game Video Recording.
Using official in-game time, distance, and elevation means ZWR attempts can only be measured as precisely as the game’s display allows. That means no fractional seconds or meters of elevation, and distances will only be measured to the tenth of a kilometer.
Your ZWR attempt’s time or distance must be supplied on the ZWR submission form. The Verification Team will use the In-Game Video to verify these values.
8: Submitting Your ZWR Attempt Data
For inclusion in the ZWR list, details of your attempt must be submitted using the official form on ZwiftInsider (link coming soon).
This form will include the following required fields:
- Name
- Email address (for Verification Team only, will be kept private)
- Gender
- Age
- Selected ZWR (Hour Record, Fastest 100km, Fastest 5000m Climb, etc)
- ZWR attempt’s time or distance
- Weight Verification Video YouTube URL (for Verification Team only, will be kept private)
- Height Verification Video YouTube URL (for Verification Team only, will be kept private)
- Activity URL on Zwift.com
- Dual Recording URL on ZwiftPower
- In-Game Video YouTube URL
Additionally, the following optional fields will allow you to tell the story of your ZWR attempt. This content may be included in your ZWR listing and Zwift Insider articles about new Zwift World Records:
- Images and photos from your effort
- A written description of your effort
- Link to your Strava profile
Suggestions or Comments?
We want this ruleset to strike a balance between ensuring efforts are legitimate without weighing down athletes with an impossibly difficult verification process. How did we do?
Share your comments and suggestions below!
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