When a majority of the northern hemisphere was riding outside instead of on Zwift.
There were requests for less uphill power increase and more downhill power decrease well before summer started and here we are with basically the same metrics as were introduced with PP dynamics last spring…
Not that there are 8 D bots, 4 C bots, 4 B bots, and 2 A bots, I would settle for one Coco PP that ran on Fuego Flats and/or Tick Tock with the pre-January of last year programming. Everyone else can keep the 17 other dynamic bots. That was a nice steady state experience. Something happened in late January/early February and CC inexplicably sped up and was never the same.
Actually yes put a 2.5, 2.9, 3.3 and 3.8 bot on Tempus Fugit all year round with steady state power and I think those will be popular.
Coco group today on Watopia when I joined had 16 people only… 16! Last week same time more than 150. As soon as the hilly routes come along, everyone vanishes - they switch over to the bot that rides the flattest route with closest power to what they are used to.
For dynamic pacing, maybe they could spice those up with sprinting too, because IRL group rides also have sprinting.
I think @James_Zwift tried to organize the weekly Pace Partner rota so that each one would be riding on both a flat route (e.g. in Watopia) and a Hilly Route (e.g. in Makuri).
So, if you only want to ride with Coco on a flattish route that option should be available most/all weeks.
Having several PP on Tempest has some good qualities but then we have the issue of the mess that occurs when two large groups overlap (possibly 3 or4).
You could make the other groups invisible but many people used to warm up with coco then jump in with the Brevit group as they came by.
I have not ridden with a PP much since the new changes.
I think most of the complaints seem to indicate that some people won’t be able to ride with the same bots in the same manner as before.
I do wish that if you jump in with a PP and ride with them for 30 sec, a pop up would ask if we want to join the group or at least follow the route.
Joined B grade bot just before the climb out of the desert. “Easy” 3.5-3.7 w/kg on the flats and had to go 4.5 w/kg to keep from keeping dropped on the climb. As soon as we hit the top of the rise, I dropped the bot as they backed off at the crest. Wtf is this?
Absolutely dreadful. It defends my previously stated position that this idea was implemented by someone that has never raced or trained with a coach and/or power meter. Total Jabroni style.
If they would have been introduced that way from the beginning then yes it would be weird. The OG pace partners were pretty good at being Z2 pacers.
Again, the question is why is it all or nothing for Zwift? We went from 4 relatively steady pace bots to 18 dynamic pace bots. Why can’t there be both so you can have your join any time group rides and others can have their join any time Z2 rides?
Only 4.5? When I’m with that group B grade is 6.0w/kg up the hill and 60km/h downhill.
Some B grade huh…
This already happens with no real problems. When Constance passes D Grade Maria group the only thing that happens is half of D grade suddenly has A grade fitness… hmm.
49kg and 250W FTP. I’m using Makuri PPs for the routes. Often D groups. I ride with the group for a while to warm up and when I go I usually take a few riders with me.
For some that is a good solution, I don’t mind riding hours in the blue in ERG mode but that can be done without Zwift.
For most people steady rides are boring and they need the company of other riders to keep them going.
Zwift “fixed” a problem with people riding off the front on climbs without taking into account those that are just hanging on or even falling off the group.
For me, I use the PP less than I used to as I simply cant find a PP that fits my need. There are to few PP at the B end of the scale and the dynamics are simply wrong for me due to the range of movement in power applied which is well beyond 10% for the end users.
Zwift seem to have done their usual thing, iterated once and then either moved on or dug their heels in that it must be great/perfect as they ‘improved’ it once…
That was a nice steady state experience. Something happened in late January/early February and CC inexplicably sped up and was never the same.
