Hardware Enforcement

Racing
21

Pretty much any power pedal can do that plus a certain other well used app has that feature.

22

4iiii is Number one for that @Chris_D9 @Gordon_Rhino-Racing

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Hey All,

Thank you for your feedback. I apologize that this was not shared across all platforms and I have shared that internally to make sure we are coordinating these messages going forward.

I am also sharing the original message that was posted:

Hey folks,

I’ve got some news regarding changes we’re going to be making to Zwift Owned racing events.

For some time, we’ve seen a number of comments expressing frustration about other riders using zPower, largely during races. For those unfamiliar with zPower, it’s a means for those without a smart trainer or power meter to use Zwift. For those using zPower, their power output is estimated and is therefore not as accurate as using a smart trainer or power meter. In racing, this can cause the event to become unfairly stretched – especially in the higher categories and results in a poor racing experience for those taking part.

In the earlier days of Zwift, when smart trainers were less common, zPower was an important tool to allow people to use the platform. Today however, Smart Trainers are more readily available and affordable and are now used by the vast majority of riders on Zwift.

As such, starting on June 3rd, we will be preventing riders from using zPower in Zwift-organised races. Instead, all Zwift owned races will fall under the ‘Hardware Requirement’ categorisation, meaning riders will need to have a Power Meter, Smart Trainer or Smart Bike. We feel that this will be a positive step to improving fairness in racing events.

This includes:

** Monthly ZRacing*
** Zwift Hill Climb Racing Club*
** Zwift TT Racing Club*
** Zwift Crit Racing Club*
** Zwift Epic Races*
** Zwift Women’s Racing Series*

For those of you who race using zPower, there will still be events that you can take part in (although if you have the means to do so, I would strongly encourage an upgrade as it will improve your overall experience on Zwift!). We will be adding a filter to the event search that will enable you to see any events that do not have any form of Hardware Enforcement in the future, thus allowing you to see what races, as a zPower user, you can take part in.

Happy racing!

We are currently working on updating our support articles to reflect this change and hope to have those updates done within the next week.

Ride on.

11 Likes
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Thank you @manda_F

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Love it, thank you so much: I have been waiting for many years!

Now, Strava needs to do the same for segments and e-segments… Strava is such a garbage collector that it became useless to me…

1 Like
26

Next on the low hanging fruit for fairer racing…

Standardised frame and wheel performance for those in a specific race/TT pen.

Either by neutralised performance as per “The Big Wheel” events, or forced frame/wheel combos per pen (could be better equipment in stronger pens).

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The race organizer can currently request standardized equipment for their events, though I think that might just be limited to the frame. Not many do. As a race organizer I prefer to let people enjoy the process of picking their equipment, and the performance differences of the best choices available even at fairly low levels in the game are not very big. By the time a rider is at level 10 they already have some reasonable choices that won’t be a severe penalty in most events, and as they move up even a modest amount the differences get smaller and smaller.

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Yes no disc wheels in road race haha

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I’d 100% support no disc wheels in road races if there were other options that made standard frames as fast as the Tron. Take away discs and the Tron is by far the best bike on anything except a big climb. We should be striving for more variety, not less.

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I imagine that will be Formula Tron then.

31

Zwift should have created a new category for Zpower in races and allowed people with Zpower to race in the new category.

This would not affect people with power meters.

Note: People with power meters can cheat the system; I will not list how, but they still can cheat the system.

If people truly want fairness in Zwift races, then the following must happen:

  1. Drug testing - not going to happen
  2. Record the person’s height with a photo - not going to happen
  3. Record the person’s weight while wearing bike clothes and shoes if they were about to race with a photo - not going to happen
  4. Have two power meters - not going to happen
  5. Have a heart rate monitor connected

It would be good if they could allow clubs to have a requirement for the running events to have a power meter, so they can have different categories:

  • One for those who need to have a power meter (only Stryd foot pod)
  • Other categories where you do not need a power meter
    Another thing, the events should be able to set different start times for different categories.

I’m in Melbourne and have gone to many places to get a power meter, but none of the shops wanted to help me.

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Many have it already (Powermeter + Tacx Neo for example). Double recording is not a rocket science.

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I always use a HR monitor any time I’m riding Zwift. I like to keep a track on that.

I don’t have a second power meter (as in pedals) as I don’t like virtual races, but could get pedals. Wouldn’t really do me any benefit except to catch if the kickr bike is getting inaccurate.

My road bikes have power meters but I don’t use them on the trainer (I have a NEO 2T as a spare).

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  1. Have two power meters - not going to happen
  2. Have a heart rate monitor connected

I have a stages duo side powermeter and a Kickr V5

35

For anyone who can afford a power meter, the simplest option is power meter pedals which can be ordered online if not available locally, and easily installed at home. The Favero Assioma Uno single-sided system is probably the least expensive option. Looks like it’s available for AU$640 currently. Price is similar to a Wahoo Kickr Snap in Australia, though the pedals would be useful for riding outdoors if you do that sort of thing. Either one would address the barrier to entering some races.

36

Let’s not make perfect the enemy of good

I just bought a Magene PES 505 power meter for my (outside) road bike. https://youtu.be/62ucR_s_HQs?si=O7d3LoiJUNYkp3_e

37

Easy solution, old Bikebug:

https://www.bikebug.com/groupsets-components/power-meters/power-meters---pedals/

Rocky Fortuna doesn’t run it any more but still they have a decent range of power meter pedals.

These look quite useful for anyone with Shimano pedals (like me):

1 Like
38

Whether or not a race organizer requires dual recording, most interested races should do so anyway, or at least dual monitoring.
I have a very consistent wheel on trainer and I calibrate every ride.
Until I paired it up with my power pedals, I didn’t realize it was under reporting by 20-25 watts.
By adjusting the roller tension, I could change my calibration factor and I discovered the desired factor that gave me near perfect agreement.

  1. I don’t know if this calibration factor is accurate for all room temps.

  2. I was mad that the manufacturer didn’t state the desired factor (perhaps it varies).

  3. You just don’t unless you dual monitor.
    A lot of folks have power trainers, started training with power indoors and have adopted power outdoors too.
    The ability to dual record is probably more common than you implied.

With all this power recording going on, people need to remember to train to their heart rate zones, HRM required.

39

Any update on the support article changes, and where to find them? I’ve heard conflicting details about whether spin bikes are banned in races. Bowflex C6 for example. Doesn’t affect me directly but a few team mates have asked about it.