Clearly, I’d already examined the photos. But that’s certainly not the same thing as evaluating the issue from the perspective of my own equipment on a ride. I suspect this bug (feature? anomaly?) explains why the group Alpe ascents are being popularized and leading to all kinds of essentially fraudulent (sub-60 minute) climbs by 75 year old grandmothers and persons with heart rates in the double-digits. Issues of this nature distort the metrics and enjoyment of the platform for everybody, even if they weren’t the victim/beneficiary of this glitch. I’ve got an idea I’m going to test. I’m going to arrange for a no-show meet-up with me as the only rider, but turning rubber-banding on. I do these all the time, but never bother with the keep-together toggle, for obvious reasons. I’ll see if the metrics are equally twisted.
The term “small” as relating to this glitch in “small groups” is quite vague. Is it only happening with two-person groups? Is 80 persons a “small” group? Well, of course, in comparison to a Tour of Watopia ride, perhaps! It’s also clear that the duration of the ride matters. Some get slow. Some fast. Some both.
Given the fact that all these rides are Virtual by their very nature, and the metrics are ALL calculated, AND that Zwift’s priority is clearly to foster the social aspects of the platform, then it seems logical that the fix would involve the following:
- Visually display the group as being together both on-screen and on ZCA, allowing group riders and workout participants to “feel” as if they’re in a bunch, chatting away;
- Display on the Heads-Up-Display (HUD) and post-ride metrics the correct data;
Zwift obviously calculates for every data-point the rider’s speed based on data received from the rider’s set-up, combined with rider position and other game “physics”. The only aspect of the metrics that would not be reflective of “reality” then, would be the drafting effect. Perhaps, then, E category workouts done in groups should be evaluated and reported as if the riders were on a standard Time-Trial bike, with game physics restricted.
I certainly would join in more group workouts if these metrics were not so mal-adjusted.