Nice summation. I almost solely raced on Zwift and just got more and more fed up with the state of it.
iV is better with built in performance verification. Match made pens is better. I too really don’t mind racing bots as they all have their own phenotypes, W’ and CP curve. I often see the question on the iV discord “how do I know who is a bot?” (asked the same myself when I joined) the answer is if they are indistinguishable from humans they why does matter?
You can turn turn up anytime of day for a race and get a full pen of similar ability.
I quit Zwift not more than 7 months ago. Btw, i been an software engineer full time since 1996. I know alot about the industry. I leave it right there.
I’d been on Zwift for 7 plus years, and to be fair spent a lot more time on it over the last few years, so was most probably getting good value from my subscription compared to others. I am only in cat B so generally had big fields, but felt the racing was getting stale.
Having tried out Indievelo for a few weeks now, I can’t believe that racing bots is actually more enjoyable (maybe the novelty will wear off) there does seem to be more variety in the racing with far more breakaway attempts, and some super strong sprinters if the field finishes together. And so many types of race, I’m enjoying riding in the velodrome. I can’t quite work out how the pens work, as I have been in all pens between 1 and 4 and can’t say I’ve noticed a huge difference in the overall ability.
What I have missed is the interaction, the world of Indievelo is very quiet compared to Watopia and the other worlds of Zwift.
Yep they just gave bandits rides to the leads and sweeps with 150 members leaving 1500 BanditZ with 2 rides so I quit and closed BanditZ down it’s not what you’ve done it’s who you know won’t build another group after building it for four years watch your back if any tronathon express or as known on Zwift phoenix rising are here
I think your account should have renewed without charge if you already had a free under-16 account, but you’ll need to contact support to get it fixed. They’re not creating new free under-16 accounts now but they said existing ones will be renewed.
I just checked the account of my 10 yr old son. It’s still there, perhaps it was a mistake that yours been cancelled. Would write to Zwift support, perhaps they can help you. Cheers Rob
I myself am completely put off with Zwift after waiting for years for it to produce a better racing experience. I’ve been a Zwift subscriber since 2016 but no longer since Zwift has not proven the ability to produce anything more than gimmicky tour rides or reusing the same roads with different turns claiming them to be “new routes”.
I was truly hoping that Zwift would produce a better racing experience but have come to the conclusion as probably many others that it will never happen.
I don’t really know James but have seen enough of his postings in several other forums besides this one to believe that his interest is in a better racing experience from whoever can provide it, sadly though it probably won’t be Zwift.
Wind your neck in and don’t go around throwing out unfounded accusations.
I’ve been on Zwift since beta and after 9 years I’m entitled to say what I like about how they dropped the ball and pissed me off.
There a lot of disgruntled users on here and providing information on alternatives is not a crime or morally corrupt!
Accusing me of taking money is offensive. The only financial transaction I have with iV is paying to use it which is optional. I do so as I choose to support a platform that listens to its users.
Sounds weird but maybe I would like to see it.
I like racing Zwift when there is a good group.
I don’t think pack dynamics will ever be realistic. The pack almost always gets you in the end. I had one career victory against the pack and it was one great moment indeed.
My experience is only positive but I don’t get what you want to be different.
I’m not here to defend Zwift, but I just wanted to say it’s a great boost when I need it.
Pack dynamics won’t be realistic because realistic would make breakaways impossible in Zwift. People would be able to roll easily in groups like we do in real life. Also IRL things like bike handling come into play, so a light rider could do a downhill breakaway by descending technique.
So hence these fiddling and hacks and autobraking or sticky draft to try and fudge things.
I got an idea… Adjust the sticky draft on rider weights. Heavier riders get more sticky draft which might help slow the packs down a bit more.
Nothing drastic, but enough that standing on the pedals and punching 450-500w won’t just launch them through the pack. And if they ease off a little bit they can be shuffled back.
Since everyone is pushing unpalatable options, I may as well do so.
Yeah, also IV has done quite a few things right that are common frustrations with Zwift (everything from game engine stuff to racing categories), and Zwift could do a lot worse than follow their example…
Different starting point. If Zwift started developing Zwift 2.0 now, they’d build it differently and with all the knowledge they’d gained in 10 years. In fact, folk on this forum have suggested they do exactly this.
When you are little you can do as you want as you don’t have that many users, but with Zwift everyone wants their particular thing and there are so many users.
Racers want their pace dynamics and shout loudly about it, some people want lighter riders slowed down, propose a hilly route then 50% or more get upset because it has hills.
The more users the harder it is to please everyone. For a long time I think they only had desktop versions of their app too, that makes it simpler at the start.
