Zwift Ride issue on Kickr V6

It couldn’t hurt. :smile:

Are you doing structured workouts in ERG mode on Zwift? After you do the auto-spindown calibration, it may be worthwhile to do an FTP test in Zwift. Since last December, we rolled out a new FTP test in the Watopia expansion called The Grade. If you ride the Elevation Evaluation route and maintain a full effort until you reach the top - it will tell you if your FTP has increased.

What are you using to measure your power outdoors? Is it a crank or pedal based power meter reading to a GPS head unit, and if so, which make / model?

There will always be a discrepancy comparing to power read at the pedals vs at the rear axle. This is due to power losses in the chain - typically up to ~5% loss. That said - if your pedal power meter says 230w, a 5% loss means ~218 watts indoors, and that doesn’t seem enough to account for your discrepancy.

There are other places where inaccuracies are introduced.

  1. If they’re pedal-based power meters, you should also verify that you’re compensating for the crank length on your bike. Power meters transmit a torque value that’s read by the head unit / pedal manufacturer’s mobile app. The head unit / mobile app should have a way to input your crankarm length, which then does the conversion to power. Please check the manufacturer sites for both your pedals and your head unit.

  2. While you’re looking at the pedal manufacturer’s site - please read their installation instructions carefully. Not to pick on Garmin, but their early generation Vector-series pedals were very sensitive to how tight the pedal axles were installed into the cranks, and specified a torque that you needed a 15 mm crow’s foot socket installed on your torque wrench to measure with precision.

Other brands of pedal-based power meter may also have specific installation instructions. Crank-based power meters should be factory-adjusted for the crank arm length, but worth verifying with the manufacturer.