MyWhoosh to start random drug tests

I do sometimes wonder if we (the Human species) really have our priorities in order... 

Bit late for April Fools isn't it?! 

It does say they paid out $5m last year in prize money, so it makes a bit of sense to ensure that's not going to cheats really. I'm sure there are plenty of races you can compete in that don't have prize money and won't be in the pool of events they're choosing to test from.

As always seeing the headline the initial thought is "What a load of ****" but unfortunately e-sports is a big moneymaker and therefore people will be out to game the system!

It does say they paid out $5m last year in prize money, so it makes a bit of sense to ensure that's not going to cheats really. I'm sure there are plenty of races you can compete in that don't have prize money and won't be in the pool of events they're choosing to test from.

But are people cheating with drugs? or are they just cheating with the settings on their trainer or by mis-reporting their weight? (like half the users probably are)  

I'm going to say something controversial here; It's not a real sport, it's just pretend cycling indoors, which is fine, you still need to be a big strong lad/lass to do well at it, but lets not kid ourselves, it is missing some of the key elements of actually riding a bicycle and the prestige and value associated should be 'proportionate' (IMO of course). If people are hitting the Nandrolone to win at simulated bicycle riding in their shed then something serious is wrong and an intervention is in order I think. 

I suspect this is really more PR than an actual Anti-doping measure though, by implementing the sort of piss-tests real bicycle racing has, it adds the veneer of it being a real sport... but it's still not. Offer prizes galore, it's still just stationary bike pedalling, just a way to make training for the real thing a bit more engaging. 

While there could be some drugs cheating, ordinarily in Zwift (so no money prizes) I'm far more concerned about...

False claims of low height (little people go far faster for their power in Zwift)

False claims of weight to be in a desired pen near the pointy end

Sudden changes in weight (someone I recognised by name has done sudden jumps of approx 75-60-40Kg in last few months and not one race admin has DQed them)

Racers using power meters like the 4iiii for their power readings and changes the power balance so little effort by their left leg gets boosted

etc.

It seems more logical when you actually read the article.

It's aiming to test 10% of the top 700.  Not your average STW'er in a Cat.D knocking 5kg off their weight.  And they already have ways to catch out most mechanical doping, the people involved will already have had to do all the power / weight verification steps. 

I'm going to say something controversial here; It's not a real sport, it's just pretend cycling indoors, which is fine, you still need to be a big strong lad/lass to do well at it, but lets not kid ourselves, it is missing some of the key elements of actually riding a bicycle and the prestige and value associated should be 'proportionate' (IMO of course). If people are hitting the Nandrolone to win at simulated bicycle riding in their shed then something serious is wrong and an intervention is in order I think. 

I suspect this is really more PR than an actual Anti-doping measure though, by implementing the sort of piss-tests real bicycle racing has, it adds the veneer of it being a real sport... but it's still not. Offer prizes galore, it's still just stationary bike pedalling, just a way to make training for the real thing a bit more engaging. 

Plenty of other sports have an 'indoor' variation where some physical ability is assessed in a more controlled environment.  It's a silly line to draw just for cycling.

Power Lifting is just Weight Lifting for people with no skills.

Weight Lifting is just Strongman for .......

Erg racing is just rowing for .....

Climbing walls are just mountaineering for ......

Track running is just marathon racing for .......

Javelin is just hunting for .......

Swimming is just Sailing for .......... (this one may unintentionally be true)

I do sometimes wonder if we (the Human species) really have our priorities in order... 

Oh I think that boat sailed a long time ago.

Does this mean chaotic people who can't plan ahead will be waiting longer for their deliveries of vape products, cheap alcohol and fags? Or am I confusing the real world with people pretending to ride bicycles in their front room?

I'm far more concerned about...

Really? Are you really concerned about that list?

Really? Are youreallyconcerned about that list?

It's like the argument about trans people in (amateur) sport.  Does it really matter if you want to identify as 10kg lighter and race in a different division? You're still racing against people with the same in-game W/kg, even if the W is from an erroring power meter and the Kg is a made up number.  They still have to generally do better than their average to win.

It matters to an extent in a top tier, but for everyone else it's just a passtime.

Plenty of other sports have an 'indoor' variation where some physical ability is assessed in a more controlled environment.  It's a silly line to draw just for cycling.

Power Lifting is just Weight Lifting for people with no skills.

Weight Lifting is just Strongman for .......

Erg racing is just rowing for .....

Climbing walls are just mountaineering for ......

Track running is just marathon racing for .......

Javelin is just hunting for .......

Swimming is just Sailing for .......... (this one may unintentionally be true)

If you like, I did Caveat my statement with an "IMO" and To be clear I've dabbled with Zwift, it was fun enough, I acknowledge genuine fitness is still required to perform at pretend cycling, I had a go in a couple of "races" and was suitably stomped by various strangers from all over the world.

Thing is, I never viewed it as anything more than a computer game with a different type of controller. I think that's the better comparison not indoor Vs outdoor sports, more like Real Sports Vs Computer Games/Simulation. 

Ultimately I got rid of Zwift because an (increasing) Sub for a fancier version of Wii sports just seemed a bit off (again IMO, YMMV).

I can still drive my Trainer with my Garmin which I guess is the Gameboy version (if I'm stretching the point 😉) and who doesn't love a bit of Tetris occasionally? 

The point is recognising when something is a real and tangible activity and when it's a bit of pretend for funsies. 

I think everyone realises that indoor cycling isn't the same as outdoor cycling- nobody is claiming they're the same.

As someone has already said, there's significant prize money to be won so they don't want cheats winning it and of course they have also addressed weight-doping and so forth, how stupid do you think they are. 

I think indoor rowing is pretty huge and also subject to drug tests etc. 

If you're questioning the sanity of taking drugs to compete in amateur events then fair enough, I'm sure we all agree. But you can apply the same argument to literally any amateur sporting event of any type anywhere (including your local outdoor sportive which won't even have any prize money). 

how stupid do you think they are. 

Now there’s a question. 
They’re spunking (investors?) money on prize purses for pretend bike racing and then paying people to pop round and collect participants wee… Obviously I think they’re absolute geniuses.