The latest indieVelo update V0.2.13 released September 4, 2023, adds customizable "Neutral Zones" allowing the creation of Keirin-type track events and fixed-paced starts.
Variety is the key to keeping training interesting. On the indieVelo Founders Club forums, we often discuss making online cycling more engaging and brainstorm ideas for new formats and things to try.
Two recent recurring themes have been to replicate more traditional track cycling events – such as the Keirin – using the indieVelo Forest Velodrome and wondering what races would be like if they didn’t have the fast starts we usually see.
After more thought, we could create both types of races by having a configurable Neutral Zone in events. In terms of structure, both a long road race and track Keirin are remarkably similar events – stay behind a pacer for a set distance, then race to the finish. It’s just that they are over (very) different distances and speeds.
This week’s release (see below for full details) gives you the control to create your custom event and include, if you want, a pacer to set a configurable variable speed off the start.
By changing the distances and speeds, you now have the flexibility to create a wide variety of events, from fast sprints to gentle rolling starts – precisely what you want, exactly when you want.
There are also a whole host of other additions and enhancements, from a very literal Flamme Rouge, which is now automatically placed at the 1km to go point of events, updates to workouts, and a couple of new monthly challenges for September, together with various bug-fixes and performance improvements throughout.
Check out the in-game event roster for details on these and the many other events to ride.
Video courtesy of Beta tester Damon Bates and ZMS. Keep an eye out for more great Chasing the Yellow events featuring the “Neutralized Start” functionality!
If all has gone well, you shouldn’t have to do anything to get the new version, as indieVelo will self-update the next time you start it up. If you find any problems, however, instructions on how to manually update are on the website: https://wiki.indievelo.com/docs/updates
Please note that, depending on when you installed indieVelo, you may see a warning message recommending that you update the installer/launcher to the latest version. If you see this, download it again from https://indievelo.com/downloads, and the update will automatically apply. The entire process typically takes a minute or two, often much less.
The full patch notes are below!
Also Read Em’s Thoughts here: Breaking the Mold: indieVelo is Empowering Women in Cycling Esports Racing
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Thank you all again for your encouragement and support – you are amazing.”
indieVelo founder Dr. George Gilbert
Patch Notes – V0.2.12 – Key changes from last version:
- Added ability to have a fully configurable Neutral Zone in custom events.
- Added ability to run Keirin races, and added one to the default event roster.
- Added Flamme Rouge marker at 1km to go in events.
- Added new Critical Power Test workout.
- Added new challenge events for September.
- Added team results to ride summary menu in team events.
- Added custom event organiser name to event descriptions.
- Added logging of controller types being used.
- Improved bot AI when deciding to attack or defend.
- Improved event entrants list to auto-scroll to show your expected finish position.
- Improved readability of in-event results list.
- Improved calculation of FTP when doing a ramp-test workout.
- Improved timing sequence when auditing BLE capabilities.
- Improved performance of BLE pairing on Mac.
- Improved performance of FIT file uploads to Strava / TrainingPeaks etc.
- Improved performance of client-server messaging.
- Improved performance of API queries.
- Improved diagnostics throughout.
- Improved documentation.
- Improved log spam when new teams are added.
- Fixed bug with route map when creating custom events with invalid data.
- Fixed bug with systems with no mouse and/or no keyboard.
- Fixed bug with CSV export of group rides.
- Fixed bug with the order events with same start time are displayed.
- Fixed bug with number of event entrants not displaying when in DS mode.
- Fixed bug with rider search menus if you type very quickly.
- Fixed bug with rider overhead labels when first joining world.
- Fixed bug with some Unicode font glyphs.
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.
