I’ve been in a few groups rides lately, and on more than half of them the messages during the ride were just the ride leader admonishing everyone to group up. Sometimes just the way the ride leader treats the group causes folks to … go right through the fence.
I propose that a new fence type, the “Recycle” fence, be implemented where if one hits the fence ahead of the ride leader, one finds themselves transported immediately a fence-distance TO THE BACK of the ride leader. They could ride through the group, hit the fence, and pop to the back of the line again. And again. Everyone could be happy. The ride leader will have people remaining between the “back fence” distance and the front fence. Riders who want to ride fast can do so. People could ride as fast as they’d like, but remain with the group.
Just kick the non-compliant riders. Far easier and more appropriate than encouraging fast riders to continuously interrupt and influence a group ride. Flyers have no place in group rides.
The idea is nice but would have bad reprocutions with gps plots and timings etc. also I highly doubt zwift could pull it off. alternatively just have zero draft effect infront of the ride leader. no one will be able to ride away solo from the blob and the ride leader could happily tap out the advertised w/kg without constanly having to modulate, also have this functionallity with existing power up so with abit of luck they cobble it togeather.
My proposal would be to optionally treat fence violators with the anti-sandbagger code already implemented (give riders a power penalty). Then that D ride becomes C-level for them. Then B. Then A… Easy-peasy.
I was on a ride today and had this exact thought. I’ve been on loads of group rides, and one thing I cannot understand is why so many riders feel the need to hit the front and try to pull away from the main pack. They get asked time and time again to slow it down, then the fence comes on, then they get kicked. What’s more, their actions cause the main group to fragment, and weaker riders get dropped, making it difficult for the sweeps.
If fence jumpers get pushed to the back, they get to stay in the ride and they can also act as sweeps each time. Everyone’s happy.
Unless the fence jumpers don’t like the pace and decide they want to leave the ride by riding off the front. A lot of rides are unknown entities as to what to expect, and advertise up to a .5w/kg spread, and that’s typically based on the unknown weight/height characteristics of the leader who’s running the event. Somewhat of an imperfect science.
You can still do that, and hit Leave Event before the timer expires. The thing this feature request would solve for is people who don’t understand how the fence works and go charging off.
The event you mentioned is going to be one that doesn’t use a fence at all so there would be no concern about it. I don’t mind the fence myself since I’m usually sweeping and never see it, but I do quite a few rides that do not use it and simply advise wannabe-flyers to make a clean break from the group. That’s fine too.
That would work well, if they zoom ahead of the fence for too long, put them right off the back of group and they can ride back to the group again with their superior speed.
Strava won’t care, because it doesn’t care when people teleport from one group to another, or teleport from Tempus Fugit to their friends at the top of a mountain so they can get 12.5km fast and without pedaling.
I see Zwift rides on Strava that look like someone has scribbled over the map.
The other thing that would help the folks who find they are too slow for a ride and can’t get back to the group even with sweeping help is to let everyone teleport back to either of the beacon riders. That would really improve the community atmosphere and keep everyone in the event.
It would be equally easy for these people to do their own private event and ride away with a TT bike. I doubt they will do that.
