We’re introducing Phase 2 of FutureWorks Steering on paved roads with the August 2020 game release. On-road steering brings new pack dynamics that more closely resemble IRL riding.
What does steering do in game?
With steering enabled, your avatar will no longer ‘ride through’ other avatars on the road. Like riding outdoors, FutureWorks Steering lets you decide if you want to sit on a rider’s wheel or maneuver around them to pass!
A few tips:
- Work on taking corners as quickly as possible. Remember you can’t ride through other riders - go into the corner well-positioned, then steer for the shortest line through the curve.
- Try holding the wheel of another rider, using their draft to your advantage. As the rider weaves through road traffic, you’ll need to do the same to stay in their draft! Mind your power output - put out just the watts necessary to hold their wheel, without wasting any energy.
What do I need to get started with steering?
You’ll need hardware that broadcasts steering inputs via Bluetooth. The Elite Sterzo Smart steering plate is the first to market, which you can buy from the Zwift shop.
Make sure you place your Elite Sterzo Smart Plate with the smaller end facing forward, as shown in the photo below You should be able to freely move your handlebars back and forth without the steering plate shifting.
Zwift communicates with the Elite Sterzo Smart via Bluetooth LE only at this time. The Sterzo Smart’s ANT+ signal is not supported at this time.
If you’re using a PC without built-in Bluetooth support, you can use the Companion app to pair the Elite Sterzo Smart and other Bluetooth devices.
How do I turn steering on and off?
To turn steering on, make sure the Elite Sterzo Smart is ‘awake’ by moving your front wheel back and forth, then click the new “Accessories” widget on the pairing screen. To turn off steering, visit the pairing screen and unpair your steering device. Steering will automatically turn off after a period of inactivity from your steering device, and auto-steer mode will take over. Auto-steer is the default Zwift mode we’re all familiar with, where the game steers your avatar, and you pass through other riders.
I have a Smart Bike, why doesn’t that work for steering?
Many smart bikes include steering buttons. Steering is not currently compatible with Smart BIkes but we are planning to support these at a later date. We will keep you updated as more hardware integration is added.
Is this steering linked to the off-road steering update released in 2019?
The steering available through pairing with the Elite Sterzo Smart is designed for on-road cycling and has not been tested for the off-road routes. The MTB steering will still need ZC paired and mounted to your handlebars to detect the steering motion. Using ZC you can ride Repack Ridge, the small stretch of singletrack that gave birth to steering on Zwift. We can continue to test, innovate and hope to offer more updates to steering in the future.
You can read more about FutureWorks projects on the Zwift blog.