Hey All,
My son is 7 and is just getting started on Zwift. He’s interested in riding with people instead of having everyone zoom by him. Are there any specific rides that are more geared for very slow people/kids?
Cam
Does he even get zoomed by when he is in the “D” class of the Zwift races? I believe that is the 1.0-1.9wkg category.
I did a “D” race for training (just rode it steady-state at just below the max W/kg for D). I looked at the end and the guy who won it did 3.8W/kg…the self classification is a joke.
Zwift has always had an issue accommodating less fit athletes. Personally, I’d like to see them have races where your “wattage” in the race is based on what percent of your FTP you are peddling at (so a person with a 100W FTP pushing 75W and one with a 400W FTP pushing 300W would go the same speed). This way everyone could race together, and slower athletes wouldn’t get spit out the back on basically every ride/race.
I did a “D” race for training (just rode it steady-state at just below the max W/kg for D). I looked at the end and the guy who won it did 3.8W/kg…the self classification is a joke.
Zwift has always had an issue accommodating less fit athletes. Personally, I’d like to see them have races where your “wattage” in the race is based on what percent of your FTP you are peddling at (so a person with a 100W FTP pushing 75W and one with a 400W FTP pushing 300W would go the same speed). This way everyone could race together, and slower athletes wouldn’t get spit out the back on basically every ride/race.
Zwift Racing is a joke, too many variables. Each manufacture calculates power different, riders cheat on their weight and heights, different Internet speeds. If you have controlled conditions such as racing in the same building with the same trainer then it would be legit but Zwift racing is no more than just a hard workout with flawed results.
You could always have someone create a meetup and he could ride with them. Or, he could join someone else’s meetup where the “fence” feature is enabled. Everyone stays together if you are pedaling, no matter what w/kg you are doing. Group workouts have the same feature.
Races are tricky because even the “D” pace races start quite fast. Group rides and group workouts are much more chill.
Hey All,
My son is 7 and is just getting started on Zwift. He’s interested in riding with people instead of having everyone zoom by him. Are there any specific rides that are more geared for very slow people/kids?
Cam
That’s easy - you ride with him so it’s more fun!
I’ve heard about the fence feature…that sounds awesome. I’ll find some rides that have this.
And i’d love to ride with him but i only have one trainer. 
I’ve heard about the fence feature…that sounds awesome. I’ll find some rides that have this.
And i’d love to ride with him but i only have one trainer.
Just get a dumb trainer off Craigslist, FB Classifieds, etc. I got a cheap Elite Quibo for $50 and just use the power curve estimation feature to Zwift so I could see if I liked it/was going to use it. At some point I’ll get a smart trainer…
…Zwift Racing is a joke, too many variables. Each manufacture calculates power different, riders cheat on their weight and heights, different Internet speeds. If you have controlled conditions such as racing in the same building with the same trainer then it would be legit but Zwift racing is no more than just a hard workout with flawed results.
I think you’re taking it too seriously!
Take it for what it is and Zwift racing is good fun, and makes training a lot more entertaining and motivating. If someone whats to cheat that’s their problem. I’m racing whoever’s around me. It doesn’t really matter how we’d compare out on the road in real life, if their trainer or power meter is inaccurate or they’ve cheated it doesn’t actually matter very much so long as it’s consistent throughout the session. If they’re cheating, they’re really just fooling themselves, it hardly matters to anyone else. Pros cheating for a career and reputation is pretty reprehensible, but I can see why they do it. Cheating on Zwift is far more pathetic. Except for the very small number of events with actual prizes and recognition, there’s no explanation for this behaviour except self deception and a pathetic need to pretend, to yourself, that you can do something you can’t. No-one else cares. I simply don’t understand. I wouldn’t dream of cheating, it would screw up my metrics!
Check out Team Type 1. They have many group rides and races, but more importantly, they do have a jr/youth group that is doing group rides and such. And there is no need to actually be Type 1 to join and participate. My riding buddy is Type 1 diabetic and got me into riding with the group. Great people and strong cyclists.
Based on your previous thread, your 7-year-old is using a speed sensor on a smaller wheel on a kids’ sized bike to get Z power. You could incorrectly (but intentionally) enter his wheel size as 700c in Zwift. That should “beef up” is wattage, which will speed him up.
Now, before anyone flames me for advocating cheating on Zwift…we’re talking about a 7-year-old, who just wants to hang with the lowest level riders in order to have a good experience. Whatever you can do to keep him off the Xbox and make Zwift fun for him is ok in my book.
I was thinking the same thing, just cheat a little
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Do you have any pics of your setup for your son by chance? I’m going through the same thing w/ my son right now as well. I didn’t know there was a kids account, so that’s a bonus. I’m going to have to custom make an extender to bring the resistance up to the wheel. I have had him ride the bike by affixing it to the wheel by unscrewing the nuts all the way out. It mounts… not as securely as my bike, but it does mount. Curious what your experience has been so far.
this article may help on getting a non traditional set up into zwift
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/12/fisher-price-think-learn-smart-trainer-review.html
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I run a few events for kids that he might be interested in. You can sign up for and find information about here: https://pursuitcyclingforkids.com/zwift-events/, I also know of a team for kids that he may be interested in joining. Zwift has events for kids but adults usually join too, I would look into https://www.teamclscc.co.uk/events/, they run a weekly ride for Kids, https://www.sascycleclub.com/kids-ride, SAS also runs a few, and Bikely Youth Team has a weekly event: https://pursuitcyclingforkids.com/2021/08/03/all-about-bikely-youth-team/.
Oliver Chi | https://pursuitcyclingforkids.com/ | https://www.strava.com/athletes/38196895