Qatar’s cyclists meet online

For many people cycling is a social activity and, while Covid-19restrictions have halted riding together, Qatar’s cycling groups haveturned to virtual solutions.

Triclub Doha, as one example, has successfully replaced its regularSaturday morning group ride with Zwift’s online equivalent – meet-ups. Club members ride together in the virtual worlds of Zwiftfor up to 2 hours and use Zwift’s companion app to chat, motivate andbreak the monotony of sweating alone. Most importantly, the socialaspects of cycling are restored and possibly even enhanced: former clubmates, now living in Belgium and the UK, joined a recent meet-up and,with Zwift’s messaging supplemented with video and audio from the Zoom video conferencing app, this virtual form of the group ride actually added something that wouldn’t have been possible outside.

Another aspect of the virtual meet-up which beats real life is thatthe group of avatars can (optionally) be held together by the software.The strongest riders can ride with the weakest but still ride as hard asthey like. The weakest can ride with the strongest without riskingbeing dropped or running out of energy. Nobody is saying that virtualmeet-ups are better but, in these times of restricted movement and limited social contact, they are certainly a good alternative.

If you want to experience a meet-up with your group of friends orclub. Install the Zwift app or software and download the Zwift companionapp to your mobile device. The video guide below will show you how toget started. Alternatively, Zwift users can experience a meet-uporganised by Qatar  Cycling and Triathlon Federation at 7pm on Wednesday 15th April. Details can be found on our events page.  Details of the Zwift Qatar/Triclub Doha virtual Saturday endurance rides are publicised to members and on the Zwift Qatar Facebook group. Rides will continue weekly throughout Covid-19 restrictions.

For an explanation of how to set up your own meetup, see this video.