The latest indieVelo update V0.2.25 released November 27, 2023, sets the standard with real-time performance verification flagging, Team Join, Trainer Compatibility Mode, 3 More Routes, and streamlined MacOS BLE Permissions.
Most weeks, indieVelo’s developer, Dr. George Gilbert, focuses on developing new technology in just one or two areas. For a change of pace however, this week’s release (see below for full details) aims to strengthen and consolidate the existing functions and features across the entire application, making indieVelo easier and friendlier for everyone.
Some key highlights include:
Team Join: You can now use the “Join” function (hotkey J) to immediately teleport across the world to join anyone from your current active team (as well as to your friends and all the pace bots as before).
Trainer Compatibility Mode: Allows you to now feel indieVelo’s advanced trainer control mechanisms (wind, corner braking, virtual gearing, etc) on every make and model of trainer, without any additional hardware, and even if they don’t fully support the ANT+ or BLE protocols.
Performance Verification: indieVelo’s live real-time performance verification checks are now significantly extended to allow the automatic removal of riders from races who choose to cheat, or otherwise provide unreliable or unrealistic data, in a much wider variety of ways.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for trainer control.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for power data anomalies.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for energy usage.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for excessive drop outs.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for network manipulation.
Events: With three new routes, improvements in automatic multiplayer matchmaking, and fixes for group workouts, group rides, and much more, the ability to create your own custom events exactly how you like them has never been more effortless.
MacOS BLE Permissions: The process for granting permission for indieVelo to use BLE on a Mac is now significantly simplified on most OS versions. Most people should now get a pop-up message asking you to grant permission rather than doing it manually (but the manual method still works if you don’t see this).
Note for Mac Bluetooth users: If you find that the Bluetooth icon on the pairing screen has turned red, please follow the instructions linked from https://wiki.indievelo.com/docs/apple-mac-ble-permissions/ to first completely remove, and then re-add, permission for indieVelo to use the Mac Bluetooth connection.
Do you want to steepen your indieVelo learning curve? Check out our How-to-Guides page for details!
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!
“In addition, there’s a vast array of minor tweaks and fixes across the board – everything from UI and documentation improvements to server infrastructure and performance. Any further suggestions you have on improving indieVelo are always warmly welcomed – thank you again for such awesome support.“
indieVelo founder Dr. George Gilbert
Patch Notes – V0.2.25 – Key changes from last version:
- Added ability to join teammates while riding.
- Added trainer Compatibility Mode.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for trainer control.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for power data anomalies.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for energy usage.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for excessive dropouts.
- Added real-time performance verification checks for network manipulation.
- Added three new routes (variations on Parry Vlo-Bae).
- Added lots more teams.
- Improved calculation of multiplayer matchmaking ratings.
- Improved ability to detect and correct riders with anomalous ratings.
- Improved event menu to include the length of any neutralized zone.
- Improved positioning of powermeter data in the in-world UI.
- Improved handling of custom events with non-standard elimination rules.
- Improved non-linearity of Virtual Gearing resistances.
- Improved online documentation of Virtual Gearing.
- Improved maximum field size in Velodrome to 100 riders.
- Improved Mac BLE permissions granting process.
- Improved Mac OS 12 (Monterey) BLE scanning performance.
- Improved client/server communication protocol.
- Improved real-time performance verification infrastructure.
- Improved server performance.
- Improved log spam.
- Fixed bug with rubberbanding on group workouts on long courses.
- Fixed bug with late join when the group is on the 2nd lap of a course.
- Fixed bug with nearest player list sometimes duplicating names.
- Fixed bug with nearest player list sometimes speed values stuck.
- Fixed bug with custom group workout event creation checks.
- Fixed bug with time gaps not appearing in results of some events.
- Fixed bug with selecting to view a rider as they’re logging off.
- Fixed bug with broadcast cameras when joining an event late.
- Fixed bug with maximum allowed duration of timed challenges.
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.
