sdmc530

Let me just start by saying I don't care about how fast or whatever I do on Zwift, I ride to ride and get better than I was before. I just don't care about beating anyone else. I have never "cheated" before either. When I completed this little stunt I put my actual numbers back they way I actually am. I just wanted to play with this and see.

So I was reading some stuff on Zwift and how "everyone" is cheating on there. I thought I would see how much cheating by putting in a lower weight would make a difference. So I thought I would "cheat" today and try it. So I dropped 150lbs off my actual weight. Then I rode the Jungle Circuit. Normally the 4.8ish mile circuit takes me about 22-24 minutes at my normal ACTUAL weight of 275.

So for the fun of it I put my weight at 125 just to see how much difference would make. Boy it makes a HUGE difference. I was able to get the same circuit completed in 12:17. 10 minutes off the normal pace. I did go all out at the lower weight so it was a really high output effort but still WOW what a huge difference it made. I was a bit shocked actually. At the time I did it I was the quickest person on the circuit and I got the special jersey and little symbol next to my name on the riders on the right. It was insane. I have to admit it did make me smile to see this but still, I did cheat so it was a very hollow victory. You can see the pic of me in the jersey and the symbol next to my name. Usually I wear the grey 100KM jersey. I like that one, pretty proud to have that one.

What did I learn, well its easy to cheat on here and be a much faster virtual cyclist. Too easy. I put my stats back and will keep on keeping on my normal work outs and EARN everything the proper way.

Silvercivic27

I guess the other takehome message here is how much easier it is to ride a bike when you weigh less, so New Years resolutions...here we go again!

pesty

I've been contemplating dropping my weight by 50lbs or so on Zwift because for some reason my power meter always seems to feel 50-70w lower when I put my bike on the rollers than when I'm out on the road.

DrIsotope

Next time you want to try out the free "advantages," set your height to 5 feet to go along with the 125lb weight-- you'll be even faster. I was too lazy to ever change mine, but I reckon lots of people do to get to the unlocks faster. I see way too many people on there averaging 23-24mph for every, single, ride.

Beachgrad05

I’m going to be try the bambino fondo to get the Dolomites kit. My current fitness and hip replacement recovery mean hills are really tough. I’m thinking of lowering my weight some and ease up trainer difficulty to get thru the 3 Sisters ride which is 2K feet in 30 miles. I earned my level 10 and all rewards so far on my own at my actual weight. Does changing weight make Hills easier in any way or just affect game speed of rider?

DrIsotope

Lower weight makes everything faster, climbing especially. Moreso in the Zwiftiverse.

PdalPowr

The Gods of bicycling see and know all.
They have decided on your punishment.
To avoid having saddle sores for the rest of your life
send all your assets to me and I will speak on your behalf.

sdmc530

Oh so much faster. On 3% grades i was doing 13-14 mph, no way in heck with a 30mph tailwind can i ever do that. I actually passed people climbing that too was a first.


Funny i have hade it right with the Zwift gods and placed my numbers back. But if i never get a big bonus again I know why

ericy

I saw a video where some skinny Asian guy was doing the Epic KOM climb. Climbing faster than I ever climb, only putting out around 120W, and his heart rate stayed in the 120s. Made it all seem like an effortless Sunday ride in the park.

If you want to have some more fun, get up to the top of some really steep long hill, and then change your weight the other way. Add 100 lbs or more to your real weight, and then blast down the hill, and see what the difference is. I haven't tried this myself, but I have played with the basic aerodynamic equations and on the surface adding weight like this would increase your descent speeds considerably.

PaddleFoot

Hello,

No such thing as cheating oneself in Zwift; it is more like 'kidding oneself'.

Those sub 5% hills I ignored when riding at 50% gradient become much more realistic feeling (in the legs) at 85%. I can feel uphill grades before they even start reading at 1% grade. A slider setting of 100% can start acting unnaturally, so 85% seems to be the sweet spot for my KickR. I have to shift every gear and because of the smart trainer resistance, shifts must be done using good technique at just the right time. I know not everyone uses the same hardware, though.

I don't want to fudge my weight as I am proud of what I lost. I have my steel frame bike and I stick with my Zipp 202's. I wish there was another variable to prevent the over-speed conditions you see in Zwift so much. Fantasy speeds mean fantasy miles. A simple slider to control a headwind or air density would do the trick. I note that speed matches my ELEMNT until about 12 mph, then Zwift rises exponentially.

Anyways, I do love riding in Zwift and I tend to gab about it too much.

I would really enjoy being able to ride along with anyone here. I am very good at holding a w/kg average as I spend a great deal of time around 1.0 down, 1.5-8 level, 2.2-5 uphill, but I do other things too. Please send a PM for Zwift contact info. I've always been impressed by Clyde's and Athena's on bikes and I wish you all best of luck in enjoying your rides.

Never stop pedaling...

IBOHUNT

Yep. A sub-hour 40K hurts... in the real world.

Want to do some heavy hill repeats? Go to your local tire store and ask them to fill two water bottles up with the old lead weights or go buy a #10 bag of steel shot and fill the water bottles.

sdmc530

this seems like a really terrible idea

Beachgrad05

I put my weight back up to normal. I didn't get to ride the event on Sunday morning thanks to our internet provider having an outage in our area.


I upped it to closer to my weight yesterday just to see how things would behave. I left the trainer difficulty at the lower setting as climbing still hurts. I put weight back to normal after this morning's ride. I prefer to not "cheat" myself. I may only adjust it to ride with a group where the w/kg is still an issue so I can ride with group.

trailmonkey72

keyboard-doping!!

sdmc530

what a world we live in!

jsigone

strava it or it doesn't count