Drafting Observations using Play Controllers on Zwift

This is attached to a post about testing performance using Play on Zwift: zwiftinsider.c...

[@andrewnuse549]

Looking forward to this article Eric; I do hope you mention HOW much work is involved in steering and attempting to stay in the draft, specifically when you have steering and others do not. It seems some folks on the forum are experiencing auto-steering after not steering for half a minute or so; which is something I'm not experiencing. I find myself getting pushed out of the draft a significant amount more when I have steering enabled, and because of this, am constantly on the controls to try to hang onto groups making it a huge amount of effort mentally, on top of physically, versus Zwift's auto-steering, which has usually worked extremely well in all cases (as it should). The way I'm describing it is, Zwift steering can be fun, but not for extended periods; and when you're locked into it, it becomes extremely un-enjoyable. Zwift really needs a quick and easy way to "come off autopilot", but also go back on without interruptions (as in right now, only way to do it is to hit sensor select, come to a complete stop, and disconnect it). I think many people aren't completely aware of how steering works in Zwift, and don't realize it's a lane-changing system through and through, you're just changing how far left/right you are, on the road you're going. And when Zwift's auto-steering for everyone else has them moving all over the road automagically.... that means if you want to stay in the draft, you have to keep pushing those buttons every 2 seconds to be efficiently in said draft.... It's a lot of button clicks. and Zwift HQ has already stated steering is quantitatively slower in all but single / solo ride cases because of this. Only way I can see them making steering properly enjoyable is to not force us to be on the buttons every second of the ride. It is properly exhausting; and nothing like what you can compare to riding outdoors involving steering. As it stands, unless you're trying to set a PR up ADZ, steering is just simply not that fun....

[@tobiasbecker8632]

The draft boost seems to be absolute Watts. You can see it in your video (and it lines up with my experience) - If your bot receives 100+ Draft, you keep moving up and bumping the front bot. If you're on the side with 50-70 draft boost => You stay at a constant distance. Which is roughly the difference you set for the bots

[@bitminerbob6731]

Love that sauce drafting data. The braking could come in handy too for staying in that perfect draft, and not getting infront and losing the draft.

[@SethGroover]

Great stuff. I find my controllers needed to be mounted on my drops lower so I can get my whole hands on my hoods. So I use my pinky’s to steer and brake. It works even better actually, but the buttons are in an awkward spot now. I use my keyboard anyway.

[@scj350]

This is great stuff Eric- thanks for posting!👍

[@psymanj73]

The key with steering is that you can try to move yourself directly behind someone for longer. Without it, you are at the mercy of the Zwift code. Therefore, steering doesn’t just benefit for the shorter line but also the ability to save watts in direct draft.

[@ZwiftInsider]

Got a post coming out about this next week (tied to this video). While I agree with what you say, it's important to keep in mind that Zwift's auto-steering does a pretty good job of keeping you in the draft. Also, it's an added mental/physical load to steering into the ideal draft pocket, so steering is only an advantage here if you really pay attention and do it well!

[@zwifting]

Be interesting to see how this translates to how big of a gap grows between riders (maintaining those same watts) when totally out of the draft (0) slightly out of the draft (50) v’s fully in the draft (120ish) for say a minute. I played around with it tonight on a Pace Bot group ride and I was watching Sauce Draft as well. It was interesting alright - but I don’t have the setup to hold constant power for testing.

[@Steven_Snary-TBR]

Would be great to see you redo this video with PD4.1 with the more narrow and shorter draft implemented.

[@ZwiftInsider]

Perhaps, but with Zwift still tweaking the algorithm I don't want to put much time into testing it...

[@theanalogkid4171]

Great info! Thanks!

[@zwifting]

Noticing any disconnects with the ZPC’s connected? I had 2 tonight (One in Zwift TT & one with Pace Bot) & I never get disconnects. I’m on a Zwift dedicated PC set up with wired internet. Haven’t had disconnect in forever.

[@tomaszturkow2981]

Do you think that this controller will be obligatory in future zwift racing? What with riders who will not have it? Players with the controller will have the advantage over those who don't...

[@Bigjuergo]

zwift schould make controllers for timetrial hanle bars

[@WowRixter]

So if you don't have steering, I wonder how sensitive to position is a drafting

[@ZwiftInsider]

Same as what you see here.

[@WowRixter]

@@ZwiftInsider So in a group event or race my rider moves around behind the person I'm drafting, so I guess Zwift is automatically evening out the draft so its not as though I'm constantly dead-center behind the rider(?)

[@ZwiftInsider]

@@WowRixter I think all riders are constantly moving a bit, but if you maintain just the right power, you should be able to sit nearly perfectly centered right behind another rider.

[@WowRixter]

@@ZwiftInsider Cool thanks

[@Aiden.K]

Can we use the controller for ZRL races ?

[@ZwiftInsider]

No steering in ZRL, but you can use the controllers for things like powerups and Ride Ons…

[@Aiden.K]

@@ZwiftInsiderThanks!