I am so glad I am not into racing in a game. I just bimble along doing my own thing and keeping fit.
Those cheating are only cheating themselves. I don’t lose sleep over it or need anti acid… 
Whether it’s a normal ride or a race, it doesn’t matter.
I coach some juniors and I’ll tell you, they take it very hard when they work their butts off on Zwift only to see that someone else gets better times/speeds. They don’t care about whether the person is weight doping, etc. They see another kid putting out 400 watts. I can explain to them that there is no way that this is possible and that they should continue to focus on their own efforts, but they’re still kids and they still process this in their own ways.
Second, I hear the argument that Zwift Power disqualifies people if they’re over their target power for the race or if they’re obviously weight doping. Here’s the issue - they elevate the actual race DURING the race by putting out stupid numbers. Sure, if they go off the front on their own and no one goes with them, that’s fine, but when you’re fighting to stay at the front of your group and then gas yourself because you’re holding 5.5 w/kg for the first 8 minutes of the race, it sucks. And you can’t say “well, just let them go.” Sure, if everyone else does too, but they won’t. So then you’re straddling a fine line of getting DQ’ed yourself for holding too much power to stay with the cheat or getting dropped from the lead pack on principle.
It’s a computer game. Sorry, I just can’t get worked up by this stuff.
I enjoy it for what it is, a good SIMULATOR but not the real world. If people want to race and have it count then get out on a real bike. Zwift is just a training tool to me.
But you get worked up enough by others who do care to come to a post and tell them how you don’t get worked up about it.
I’m happy that you don’t. I and others do. What’s your point?
That I think you are taking a computer game way too seriously… 
It’s a game to you Steve. You are obviously a recreational rider so your mind is just in a different place. Competitive people try to win (and hopefully do it fairly). I love the hunt and the pain and I do want to win.
Are you American by chance?
And…discussion over. Thanks, Steve, for bringing some good ol’ fashioned nationalism and xenophobia to the party.
Huh?
BTW I am so American. Great grandmother was 100% Navajo on dad’s side and the rest landed in 1624 on mom’s side. Horrible folk all of us.
Wow, nationalism and Xenophobia all from asking your nationality. That’s some chip on your shoulder you are carrying.
I was merely going to point out that the British are way more laid back and reserved than our more emotional American cousins.
But hey feel free to insult me.
Though it would have been easier to make that statement without asking him a question. As an Australian, American citizen, I have way more pom comments than septic tank comments.
You could have focused on yourself and said “as a pom you are way more laid back, and less competitive than say - the Americans.”
There you go, fixed it for you.
This thread is going down the drain just like the old Fliers thread did and ended up getting deleted by Zwift moderators.
Just report the people you suspect of being a flier/cheater and move on, stressing over what someone else is doing is pointless and wasted energy.
Total Noob here; (I hope to setup today and do my FTP test)
As a very competitive person that is a non-racer I hope this can be a great/fun training tool. I’m sure I can beat you in Tennis, racquetball, risk, monopoly, etc. You’re probably better than me on the bike.
When I ride on the road(outside) I try to pass everyone and not be passed by anyone. This is not possible but it causes me to ride harder when I ride by myself. With this attitude, the cheaters (intentional or not) will only help me ride harder.
For me personally it doesn’t really matter if 10% or 99% of the riders in Zwift are better than me right now. It only matters if this tool is helping “Me” get faster/stronger.
Ride ON!
The issue Jeffrey as you qualify for certain levels and you are at 15MPH and you are passed at 45MPH there is no way to even compete. They fly by you at a ridiculous speed. Good, fair competition is fun and helps us all get better. During winter months ZWIFT is a great way to offset the shorter days. But…
EXAMPLE: IF you were say playing a virtual game of tennis (special racket, VR helmet, etc.) and the person(or people) you were playing against had a 300MPH “cheater serve” how would that help you? You would never even get to return a serve and it would be a total loss of your time and expense.
marshall,
Please show some proof of the supposed people passing you going 45mph while you are doing 15mph. If you do make sure you blackout the names. I have not seen this type of stuff happen on Zwift in a long time. There was a time when people would be holding 2000 watts zipping around the island, those days are long gone now. The algorithm has eliminated a lot of the unrealistic wattage outputs and the flagging on the ZML has also helped out. Yes, some suspect wattage’s will slip through, but for the most part it’s fairly level playing field.
The Zwift algorithm works pretty well and it’s getting improvements all the time. Every day I see people having the orange exclamation point next to their name for a setup that is not done properly. I have also flagged people and noticed the GM take action. If the algorithm is not picking up someone you suspect of having an inaccurate setup, then just report them using the ZML. Also, if you have screenshots/video of a cheater you can submit a ticket making them aware of the issue.
How do you know people are not legitimately putting out the watts that you deem to be cheaters? How do you suggest Zwift police the cheaters more then they already are?
You are stressing too much about stuff you cannot control. How can Zwift catch/stop all the cheaters when it is impossible to do it in real life.
I see this thread getting nuked just like the other threads of this type.
I can’t speak for Marshall, but I read that as a hyperbole to make a point.
Nonetheless, I do find this to be funny that these “doping” threads all go the same way.
-
Someone complains about dopers
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Someone else comes on to say “chill, it’s just a game”
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Another person comes on to say “I don’t even care”
Here’s my point -
I don’t like the dopers and they frustrate the sh*t out of me. If it’s just a game to you, good. But I have to say - chill, it’s just the internet and you can’t change my mind from behind your almighty keyboard.
To the people that say “I don’t even care,” I say, you care enough to login and waste the keystrokes to tell us you don’t care.
If it doesn’t matter to you, good. Go on your merry way. Why waste your breath or keystrokes trying to convince people that your zen-like approach to cycle training is inherently better than theirs?
Here’s another way of putting it - your opinion isn’t the only one that matters and if someone else has a different one, it’s not your job to try and “correct it.” Don’t like the opinion, move on.
Zwift Dopers suck.
Thanks Tacoma Cyclist. That is my point.
Paul, I have done VO2 max tests, raced at a 1/2 level and still ride with friends who are world and national record holders. I do know what is possible. I was sent here by ZWIFT but will definitely avoid this Freddie Fest tar pit going forward.
we all learn Marshall. This thread, or something like it has been going on for years. It used to be far worse. I went from a lemond trainer which was fantastic, and never able to keep up due to a handicap they put on it, to a wahoo kickr direct drive. You can never stop the cheating. I still look at guys coming past me at 6wpk, and see that they weigh next to nothing. But they go out of sight pretty quick and I move on. Fortunately they can’t win the races, and a canny rider can see they’re on zpower and just let them go. Or not.
Good luck with your riding. Its a lot of fun.
marshall,
I also know what is possible, as does the Zwift algorithm.
A VO2 max test just test how good you are at taking a VO2 max test, not sure how that is relevant in this thread about you suspecting people of cheating/being a doper.
Looks like you are doing mostly rides done within the Zwift Workout module, why are you getting worked up over someone doing a free ride/group ride or race?
Instead of complaining about the suspected cheaters, give suggestions on how to better police them. If Zwift sent you here then maybe that is why they did and not to vent about people you suspect of cheating.
Let’s come up with ideas on how to make the Zwift platform better and more level for everyone using it.
Not sure if you were trying to insult Zwift user, Zwift or what with that last statement.