[Closed] How on earth do zwift races work?

Nah you did it right.

Just sometimes does this and it's frustrating

Zwift Power is not affiliated with Zwift, which is why you have to hack about to get it to sync up.

When you've signed up for a race, you start Zwifting before the start and a pop-up appears (or should) saying 'do you want to join your race now?' and if you click yes, it puts you on a turbo trainer at your start line, with a countdown. The popup comes 15 mins before the start and you can spend that long sitting on your turbo if you want.

How close to race start did you enter? I think if you join from companion app with less than 15 mins to race time then it won’t take you there automatically. That’s the only thing I’ve known cause me issues.

Zwift Power is not affiliated with Zwift, which is why you have to hack about to get it to sync up.

Other than being owned by zwift?

It is? Seriously?

Tried 2 races today. Neither took me to the start pen without having to quit and restart. Both times Zwift froze after 5k. Never happened before. Latest update is gash.

It is now yes

How on earth do zwift races work?

...3 2 1 0
Pedal like ****, try not to die.
Ride it as close to a TT with draft as you can. Try not to die.
Pedal like **** for the line.
Now it's OK to die.

I look what is on using zwift power but always join events actually in zwift

That's the only way to join. Joining via ZP just loads the zwift page.

OP you should get a join event button in the bottom left. Join with at least a minute to go then build up to pedaling like f##k at 5s.

Sounds like I did it correctly. It's just shit.

Zwift power is owned by zwift - you'd think theyd make it integrated.

I was thoroughly, profoundly and completely underwhelmed by the experience. Not the faff you are currently experiencing but the actual race element.

ZP is now owned by zwift, from a few months ago. It was community developed though and the developer is not involved anymore. Zwift seem to be struggling with the code base. Yes they need the features but whether they have to reimplement the whole thing to integrate better is the big question.

Signing up to Zwifpower is not mandatory for most races and if you're just starting is probably over complicating it
I find once in a blue moon it doesn't take me to the start as it should, if you notice there's less than 5 minutes to go and a pop up hasn't appeared on your screen promoting to join, just leave and rejoin on the companion app.

I was thoroughly, profoundly and completely underwhelmed by the experience. Not the faff you are currently experiencing but the actual race element.

It's nowhere near as much fun as real riding, insofar as it's not fun at all; but it's better than turbo training with nothing IMO. And it is pretty effective training.

…3 2 1 0
Pedal like *, try not to die.
Ride it as close to a TT with draft as you can. Try not to die.
Pedal like * for the line.
Now it’s OK to die.

Lol, so true!

Yes, you must start riding (well get on your bike in game, no need to move). You can only join an event from in the game, not from the start screen.

It doesn't matter which world you start in, it does indeed yank you to where you need to be BUT it's quicker and removes a risk of something going buggy if you choose to ride in the world the race will be in, because otherwise the new world has to load. This isn't always possible though if the race world isn't scheduled that day.

If the JOIN EVENT button doesn't appear within 15 mins of the start, you can prompt it to appear by canceling the entry and entering again. It sounds like this is what you needed to do. It happens often enough that I know this solution, but rarely enough that you were really unlucky to have it first time.

It was updated mid week which probably broke it. Thursday the Zwift.exe crashed for me mid ride (first time it’s ever done this) blaming a video card driver.

The video card driver has been the same for 3 years and worked without any issues. The graphics card (970 GTX) is of that age, so any newer drivers aren’t really made for it..

Thanks all - will try again!

I'm keen on trying some Zwift races this Winter- is there a particular event or race I should enter first?

I'm reasonably fit but a total novice on Zwift

What's your strength and weaknesses?

Oh man, not sure really. OK at climbing but probably less good at flat time trial style stuff?

Basically use https://www.zwiftpower.com/events.php

Find one with lots of riders, a distance that suits and give it a whirl.
You can even post on various threads and see if anyone else fancies it.

You doing Robbos Tue night series?

Ah nice one cheers, will check that out. I didn’t know if I had to do some sort of qualifying event first.

Yeah I could be persuaded about the Tuesday night thing I think! I’ll take a look.