This is a How-to-Guide explaining the KickR Bike Button Mapping feature unique to the virtual cycling platform indieVelo.
According to Beta-tester Jon Wakefield, indieVelo is currently the platform utilizing the Kickr Bike buttons in the most advanced way.
One of indieVelo’s standout features is its exclusive capability to enable users to utilize the brake levers, with their avatars responding in real-time within the game. This unique functionality is yet another user-experience enhancement that truly sets indieVelo apart.
Following user requests and feedback, indieVelo’s developer, Dr. George Gilbert, has recently introduced some additional controls, explicitly utilizing the Kickr Bike buttons.
Also worth noting is that from the original user request, this was mapped and implemented into the game within one week! Amazing!
The Current KickR Bike Button Mapping Scheme on indieVelo
LF: Tactical positioning: move left / At a junction: turn left
RF: Tactical positioning: move right / At a junction: turn right
LB: Brake: This will “feather” the brakes
RB: Brake: This is ‘full’ braking—it functions like the (S)top keyboard shortcut
RP: Rotate camera view—cycles through all of the camera views
RM: U-turn (when held down in free ride)* / Glance back for 3 secs (when in events)
*Note: The “RM” U-turn functionality needs refinement because a bug prevents it from working correctly.
LTB/LTF appear to be tied to the gradient/lock mode, and there is no current way to override that to assign custom functions to these buttons. We will update update you when we can.
Special thanks to Beta-testers Jamie Bishop for proposing the feature idea and Jon Wakefield for sharing. 👍
Check out the complete library of indieVelo—How-to-Guides here!
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.
Thanks for the article on this Chris. I hope it helps others enjoy the functionality of the Kickr Bike while using indieVelo.
Finally, I have to give a special mention to Jamie Bishop who originally suggested some of the latest button mapping, and also was very involved in the ongoing testing while this was implemented. Cheers Jamie 👍🏼
Thank you Jamie and Jon for this valuable contribution to the indieVelo community!
I have to say as an original Zwift Beta user and being on the platform for 9+ years with very little community requests ever being implemented, having now joined IndieVelo and getting my club and kit in game with an hour and then 2 game suggestions implemented within week it truly is amazing. Keep up the good work iV!
Thank you for your valuable impact, Jamie!