HOW TO ride with a Pace Partner in Zwift

🟣 Riding with a Pace Partner in the Zwift online indoor cycling app is easy, and I'll teach you the basics through a "follow-along" tutorial! In this video you'll learn how to select the right pace partner for your riding style and abilities, how riding with the robo-pacer works once you're loaded into the Zwift world, tips and tricks to staying with the Pace Partner, and the three ways to end your ride with the Pace Partner.
🔵 If there are ANY parts of this tutorial that don't make sense, please let me know in the comments section and I will answer you as quickly as possible!
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🎬Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:10 - Finding the correct Pace Partner for you
1:19 - Starting with the Pace Partner
3:29 - Falling too far behind the group
5:30 - Rejoining the Pace Parter
7:37 - Ending your ride with the Pace Partner
#cycling #zwift #indoorcycling #bike #cyclingworkout #biking #bikeriding #cycle #stationarybike

[@BreakawayB]

💙 Subscribe for daily cycling content! KZbin.com/@BreakawayB?sub_confirmation=1

[@Oggymandias]

I am new to Zwift and I really like the pace partners for recovery rides. I tend to go too fast when going alone so "having" to stick to the partner really helps.

[@BreakawayB]

First of all: your username is amazing.😂 Secondly: Yes, it’s really helpful for pacing your rides, especially if you’re trying to keep it tame.

[@jonmacdiarmid3671]

Thx I can now find a pace partner for my Zone 2's.

[@BreakawayB]

You’re welcome, Jon! Pace Partners are great for Z2 rides.

[@theronware]

The dreaded blue pillar of doom!

[@BreakawayB]

Theron, you KNOW about it😂

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Pace partners great to get those points and level up. Got to level 50 pretty much a big majority from pace partner rides. The cumulative aero effect is huge over time.

[@BreakawayB]

So true! You can really fly on Pace Partner rides, especially if you join one that’s riding at your Zone 2 pace.

[@davestewartDWCC]

Great informative video, but sure there's something wrong ng with your HRM..Your H/R was going down as you upped the watts lol

[@BreakawayB]

It’s extremely likely HR monitor was reading incorrectly, that's much lower than my usual BPM at that wattage. I was using my watch, and it was probably too loose on my wrist.

[@yijuntey]

thanks for this video! im new to zwift and just discovered ur channel. liked and subbed! keep it up man

[@BreakawayB]

Yi Jun Tey, thanks so much. 🤝Hopefully you find the videos helpful, and my personal goal is to constantly make the content more enjoyable to watch.

[@joegoodwill5313]

Excellent video. Thanks. Subscribed immediately 😊

[@BreakawayB]

Thanks so much, Joe!

[@emilyfrancisco5703]

Great video 👍

[@BreakawayB]

Thank you very much!

[@spingirl4855]

This was great info for us newbies

[@BreakawayB]

Thanks so much, Spingirl! I’ve never been much of a KZbinr and it doesn’t come naturally for me, so it boosts my confidence knowing that these how-to videos are helping people.

[@ebola1974]

Nice easy tutorial for a Zwifter robopacer beginner

[@BreakawayB]

Glad you think so, thanks for watching!

[@dewidavies7995]

25miles in 1h 01min 35sec. 👌 👏 972ft.😊well done 👏. 😊

[@BreakawayB]

These robots will really suck you along! 💨

[@GSmith215]

Great video

[@BreakawayB]

Thank you very much!

[@dewidavies7995]

Thanks 😊

[@BreakawayB]

You’re welcome 🙂

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

One thing to note is you still get the shadow rider when you are doing a sprint or riding up a KQOM. Really not necessary as the goal is to ride with the robopacer.

[@BreakawayB]

Thanks for the update.

[@jthomas4859]

Teleporting! Recently, there's a new Teleport button on the bottom menu bar. Click it, and choose one of the pace partner w/kg groups from the list. I warm up with a really easy paced group, then teleport to a more difficult pace. Or even jump to a too-fast-for-me group and see how long I can hang on. All these segments are recorded as one ride, nice! Or, Got dropped accidentally? teleport back into the group.

[@BreakawayB]

Great info, @jthomas! At the time of this recording, teleporting hadn’t been introduced yet. But it’s here now, and it’s great.

[@Yojimbonh]

A couple of things... I don't think w/kg is a very useful measure, and I find converting to watts is better for deciding what group to go with. I think all pace partners now weigh 75 kg, so the conversion is easy. Miguel is 135 w, Maria is 165 w and Coco is 195 w. Also, Zwift has now implemented a teleport function that I don't think existed when you made this video. With this feature, you can easily jump from one pace partner group to another without leaving the ride, and if you get dropped you can just teleport back to the same group. Because there's no way I could do 400 watts to catch up...

[@BreakawayB]

⚖️Sure, for you it may be easier to find your pacer based purely upon watts, especially if you’re choosing a flatter route! 🆕And you’re correct, when I made this video the teleport feature hadn’t existed!

[@mathewrose2951]

If there are two pace partners fairly close to one another (like one at 2.7 and one at 2.9), I'll pick the one that's on the route I like best if it's for a recovery/Zone 2 ride.

[@BreakawayB]

Great idea, Matthew. It’s totally worth it to be riding a route that you enjoy, especially when you’re doing long Z2 endurance rides.

[@dannyhaya]

Try to set Zwift to metric, 1 mile (1609.344 meter) = 30XP, while 1 kilometer (1000.000 meter) = 20 XP, so you win about 6,8 % XP for the same distance!

[@BreakawayB]

Thanks Danny! Good advice for anybody trying to level up quicker; Personally, I mind how quickly I gain XP, and I speak in imperial, so that’s what I enjoy seeing in the screen. But, you’re right that you will increase XP quicker if you’re set to metric, so this is a great tip for people trying to advance a bit quicker.

[@chrishill1774]

Good video mate. I have a watt bike and I'm new to zwift, I've only been doing the programmes. Do I have to use erg mode on the pace maker ride? The programmes I have it off and the bike adjusts for me. Thanks

[@BreakawayB]

Just to clarify, erg mode is when the bike automatically adjusts to power for you. And “Nope,” you do not need erg mode to be enabled to do a Pace Partner ride!

[@jasons.5411]

I think it is time for a way to record better audio, but besides that this video is very informative.

[@BreakawayB]

Yes, I agree. I need to find a better way to record dialogue, that’ll be one of my next purchases.

[@notrob4376]

How do you warm of for a pacer ride? The LOE begins within 10 seconds so it's not clear to me how to warm up.

[@BreakawayB]

Thanks for the question, Rob…or “Not Rob.”😂 You have two choices and the first is much easier than the second: 1️⃣ Warm-up in a free ride or with a pre-made warm-up workout, then exit to the main Zwift screen and join the Pace Partner. This will save as two separate rides. 2️⃣ Select the same route as the Pace Partner and do your warm-up along that route. You can then soft-pedal until your desired Pace Partner catches up to you along that route, and then just match their pace as they go by and you’ll be pulled into the group! This is much more difficult, because you could be soft-pedaling for a while, but it is one method that you could use if you REALLY want it to save as one ride.

[@SuperOrcy]

being a heavier rider (96kg atm) I have a lot of trouble picking pace partners on watts/kg. its too easy to blast away on the flats, then I get caught up on the climbs, the blast away again on the descents. apart from the extra drops for being in the group, it seems easier for me to just to my pace rides by myself.

[@BreakawayB]

Good to know, SuperOrcy! As a smaller rider, myself, this isn’t something I had thought about. Thank you for watching, and for the constructive criticism.🤝

[@dannyhaya]

All pacepartners are 1,75 meter and weighing 75 kg.

[@higgi13425]

It's easier if you are closer to 75 kg. But it can be done with practice - you do have to be more vigilant about where the RoboPacer is, and adjust accordingly.

[@BreakawayB]

Absolutely, Peter. Playing to your strengths and weaknesses is key. Slow on the climbs? - Start the climbs ahead of the Robo-pacer!

[@richardchristy5408]

I have the exact opposite problem because I’m light weight. I gain on the climbs and slow on the decent. I’m also working at a higher w/kg typically than the robopacer. E.g. for a 1.7w/kg pacer I’m usually at 1.9w/kg to keep pace

[@sethrossinow156]

I dont understand the multiplier? Could you elaborate on this . Thanks

[@BreakawayB]

Yes sir: •Drops are Zwift’s in-game currency, and can be spent in the garage on frames and wheels. •Drops accumulate during every ride you do, and you can see the count in blue within the top-center box (just below the Elapsed Time). •When riding with a pace partner, the speed at which you accumulate drops is multiplied. When watching my video, check out the blue bar that’s filling up inside the top-center info box. Each time this bar fills up (by remaining near the pace partner), your multiplier increases. The multiplier is to the right of the bar, and notes how much quicker you are accumulating drops than you would be if you weren’t riding with the Pace Partner.

[@geeteem]

Thanks, how come II do not see Pace partner in my Zwift home? I am new and I have not get my FTP yet.

[@BreakawayB]

Scroll down on the main screen, I believe they changed the name to “RoboPacers,” but somebody please correct me if I’m wrong.

[@kevinlacerte1504]

People keep talking about the benefits of getting drops. All I want is to personnalize my avatar like I really want. Any chance I can do that with drops? Or can I just get new gear by getting higher level? Thanks in advance!

[@BreakawayB]

You can’t personalize your avatar with Drops, only from leveling up. I hope that helps!

[@BiscuitHeadOfficial]

How many bikes do you have

[@BreakawayB]

Not enough, my friend…not enough.

[@brandonaquino6344]

Wow! You're HR aerobic capacity is low at 400 watts

[@BreakawayB]

I was broadcasting HR from my watch during this, I think it was misreading because I promise I was above 105 BPM😆 I'm pretty certain my wristband was too loose, causing the incorrect reading.

[@brandonaquino6344]

Funny! When I ride with Coco, my HR is around 165bpm @ 2.5 w/kg. I need to get back in shape! :(

[@BreakawayB]

@@brandonaquino6344 She's pretty fast! I spent more time thinking about this: Since I was using my watch to broadcast the HR I bet the wristband was too loose and it wasn't broadcasting properly. Just a guess. But, I really appreciate you watching my tutorial and commenting, it's helping me build confidence as I start learning how to make KZbin videos!

[@DaHumpCycling]

I was thinking the same thing

[@jonhalda]

Yeah I was thinking that's insane +400w and not even over 110 hr lol

[@ario-5925]

500W on the pedals and 105BPM HR? huh?h?

[@BreakawayB]

Inaccurate HR data from my watch (I’ve since moved on to a HR Strap). I wish I could push 500w at 105bpm, lol.

[@ario-5925]

@@BreakawayB haha, solid effort dude

[@adamrobertson7215]

500 watts at 105bpm?

[@BreakawayB]

Thanks for watching, Adam. It’s extremely likely my HR monitor was reading incorrectly; that's much lower than my usual BPM at that wattage. I was using my watch (questionably accurate), and it was probably too loose on my wrist. All of the information regarding how to ride with Pace Partners is still true.

[@adamrobertson7215]

⁠@@BreakawayBno accusations, just curious! I’ve seen some pretty wild power numbers at very different heart rates on Strava, so I’m always looking at the numbers to learn for my own journey. Video was great, just used it to complete a ride. Just FYI, looks like this is called “24/7 Group Rides” in the menu now, I thought I was taking crazy pills when I couldn’t find it 😂

[@WarHammerWH]

@@BreakawayBI was thinking the same thing. But regardless of your HR monitor not working properly, pushing 500W is still impressive even more so considering you were talking like you were in zone 3…

[@jonhalda]

​@@WarHammerWHyh wish I could lol

[@JoshuaJayMyers]

holy crap dude I had no idea stuff like this even existed for cycling, that must be an amazing game changer for practice. I've learned a lot of stuff in such a short time bro, you've always been a wealth of knowledge 🚵‍♂🧠

[@BreakawayB]

🤣If video games didn’t make you sweaty enough already, I’VE GOT THE GAME FOR YOU!!

[@KuriReevel]

Who cears? Better make a video how to ride with a pace partner in Indievelo!

[@BreakawayB]

Harsh critic, lol. I’m just putting the information out there.

[@KuriReevel]

@@BreakawayB Simply trying to help with free pro-tip 😊 Zwift is "yesterday" in indoor cycling, Indievelo is the future.

[@schschsch2642]

Why is your avatar black?

[@BreakawayB]

The same reason my jersey is pink and my bike is blue: I enjoy seeing colorful diversity and it has no impact on performance.

[@TheVinokourov]

​@@BreakawayB that's very odd, in my opinion.

[@BreakawayB]

@@TheVinokourov please explain

[@pgoodman56]

Agreed. very odd. DEI Crusader@@TheVinokourov

[@sudo936]

holding 6w/k and talking casually with heart rate not going up? hmmm??

[@BreakawayB]

Sorry, I can’t explain the heart rate not going up; my guess is that my watch was too loose. I’ve got plenty of other Zwift videos showing my personal relationship between power and heart-heart, if you’re skeptical.

[@sudo936]

@@BreakawayB No worries, nice work, you are obvs strong!

[@jorgepereira5003]

I thought the same thing specially when it goes to 400 and even 500W almost at 5:35 while keep talking normally when in the FTP test video i just saw was grinding hard at 350W so yeah not sure if the watch also measure power or belt was too loose but this video itself has too much "weird" measurements in my opinion :)

[@BreakawayB]

@@sudo936 sorry for the late reply, but Thank You! I appreciate the compliment, and I hope you’re meeting your fitness goals, too!

[@BreakawayB]

@@jorgepereira5003, I’ve got a couple additional FTP test videos if you’re skeptical! I do appreciate you watching this video, and hope you’re having a great cycling season.

[@user-cj8tr5hy5d]

[@BreakawayB]

Thanks for the support!

[@Spotofgardening]

Ive never seen anyone so calm pushing 400watts, your heart rate is outragious 😅 really helpful thank you!

[@BreakawayB]

lol I feel like I’ve explained this five times already: I’m pretty sure my wrist-watch HRM wasn’t reading properly at that moment, because that is NOT my normal HR at 400w🤣