Drafting on Zwift: is it easier to draft behind a larger rider?

[@exerscreen2525]

Well, there goes my one theoretically redeeming quality.

[@MemeLord-fx5pd]

Insane. Would not have thought that

[@titaniumben9923]

Glad to see my work has been peer reviewed 😊

[@jasonhurst2491]

Curious though that the Sauce draft meter was showing a fairly high degree of variability (high 70-s to high 80's) behind the the larger version of rider 1, but fairly steady low 90's behind the smaller version. Suggests there is a difference, but not in the direction I would have assumed. Consistent though with your watt wasting video that I watched immediately before this one. Significant window in which nothing happens in the draft zone. But still...... the numbers on the draft meter???

[@SteakandChains]

That’s awesome!

[@ben1619]

So the height of the rider does impact their personal resistance from drag but not other riders? Cant help but wonder how the powerups works with that. Thanks for the research!

[@ZwiftInsider]

Yes, height affects you, but not the people who draft off of you. Height impacts your CdA calculation. Aero boost reduces your CdA. By a percentage, or by a set amount? I have no idea!

[@ZwiftInsider]

Winning comment!

[@jasonhurst2491]

Yeah, that's nuts, but after nearly 9 years on Zwift and a great deal of experience on other platforms, I have no expectation that Zwift ride physics mimic reality. Other platforms have done a much better job. It's a shame that Zwift failed to capitalise on such an obvious and useful tactical aspect of the game, even if they don't care about reality. While the outcome seems obvious it would be interesting, even if for its own sake, to hold the lead rider's power steady as you adjust their dimensions and see how much additional power the 2nd rider has to push to stay on the wheel.