Realism and lifelike game physics are essential to indieVelo, and the Braking, Cornering, Wind, and Weather features enhance the experience.
Braking and Cornering
In indieVelo cornering matters!
Here’s how it works: indieVelo is powered by a proprietary RPTR Engine ™—Ride, Pace, Train, Race. It’s like the game’s brain, and it’s all about real-world physics. It determines the fastest speed you can safely take through a corner without “skidding out,” based on how fast you’re going and how well your tires grip the road.
Riders might have different sweet spots for speed because of physical characteristics and their avatar’s tire grip and will take different paths around the corner.
Also Read: How-to-Guide-Rider Weight and Interpreting Effort
Hear the full conversation between Si Bradely, Chris Schwenker and Dr. George Gilbert during the Virtual Velo Podcast-Ep. 25: indieVelo Founder and Former Zwift Esports Chair Dr. George Gilbert
Now, if you enter the corner too hot, the Effort Indicator light on the back of your bike will turn red, and you will get slowed down. It’s the game’s way of saying, “Hey, take it easy!”
You can chill for a bit until you reach the sharpest part of the turn, and at the apex, you can power out of the curve and back up to speed.
But wait, there’s a twist! If you decide to ignore the red light and keep pedaling hard, the light will start blinking.
It means you’re getting a minor speed penalty. Two things will happen:
- You’ll swerve off the best line: Your avatar will take a longer route around the corner. The more careful and skilled cornering riders will pass you because they take a shorter path.
- Pedaling gets tougher: Your trainer’s resistance will increase, slowing you down. You’ll have to “jump” out of the corner and put the power down even harder once you’re out of the turn to catch up.
Mastering turns takes practice. The developers are still tweaking this feature to make it perfect. But when you finally nail a turn and smoothly glide past other riders, it feels awesome! So, keep practicing those turns, and happy indieVeloing! 🚴♂️
Braking and Cornering Tips & Tricks
Beta-tester Dean Harding says, “I use the mini-map to check for upcoming tight corners while racing if I’m unfamiliar with the route. Otherwise, I’ll use training rides to learn the most efficient line through specific corners.”
“There are two things I look for when approaching a corner to alert me to prepare for braking in a corner: Red speed indicators on the nearby riders list; and 2. Red brake lights on my bike and those around me,” explains Beta-tester Nicholai Nielsen.
Nicholai shares that to gain a second or two on the chasers, “I apply pressure midway through the arc of the corner to maximize my speed when exiting the curve.”
Thank you for the tips, Nicholai and Dean!
Wind and Weather
In indieVelo, wind matters!
The game brings the strategic aspects of the outdoors inside by adding real-life wind and weather elements! It enhances the virtual riding experience and includes an additional layer of race tactics you can’t overlook.
🌬️ Wind – A Game Changer! indieVelo’s deliberate focus on wind profoundly affects riding and race dynamics. It’s not just there for show; it changes how the races play out! Wind will be your friend or foe, depending on how you use it. Using positioning to your advantage can affect your strategy and make the races more thrilling.
🚴♂️ Feel the Wind on Your Trainer: What’s even more interesting is that you can feel the wind while you’re pedaling on your smart trainer. If you move to the front of the group and there’s a headwind, your trainer will make it harder for you to pedal, just like in real life!
🌊 Keep an Eye on the Wind: You can observe the wind speed and direction in the game. Just look at the upper right corner of your screen, where there’s a little map. In the minimap, you’ll see info about wind direction, velocity, and other helpful stuff like drafting and gradient.
The wind isn’t constant and will change speed or start gusting suddenly.
And here’s a tip: if you’re riding along the coast of The Island, watch out for crosswinds. It’s the perfect time for the powerhouse teams to drop the hammer. Seeing virtual echelons is cool, but don’t be caught off guard, or you’ll end up in the gutter.
In indieVelo, the wind is not just there in the background. It’s an essential element that makes racing unpredictable and exciting! 🚴♀️💨
You will encounter beautiful clear days that can get rainy and you might even have snow. The varied conditions don’t affect rolling resistance or tire grip yet, but never say never. Until then, enjoy the cool breeze from the climate-controlled comfort of your “Gain Cave.”
Also Read: How-to-Guide-NVIDIA Control Panel Settings
Check out indieVelo—How-to-Guides for more helpful tips and tricks!
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
Virtual ignorance.
Why do I want wind and turns to slow me down when I am going all out?
There are no stupid questions, Zee. How many km’s have you ridden on indieVelo?