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Real Virtual Cycling

BOTS… GET REAL

A big part of the RGT community use the platform to simply ride. They do not race nor do they enrol in structured workouts. They freely explore and enjoy the RGT experience in a way that works for them.

To make this type of riding more immersive and engaging, the RGT team have implemented a new type of bot – Real Bots.

Real Bots are a selection of RGT bots that vary their behaviour based on Real-World cycling scenarios.

Users will be able to find and ride with Real Bots on Real Roads and in specific Group Rides. When you are creating your own event will be able to add Real Bots on the event creation page.

Please note – The old bots have not retired. They have changed jobs in the peloton to Pacing Bots. Users can still find them on Real Roads and add them to their own events.

About Real Bots

Real Bots have different behaviours on Just Rides and Group Rides than in Races. In Group Rides they will have a tendency to ride with a smoother, less aggressive style and in races they will go harder and sprint more.

All Real Bots (RB) have an FTP and a power curve that varies according to bot class (the style of rider they have been programmed to imitate). RB have stamina points that will burn, conserve or regenerate depending on the level of their effort.

Just as we would encounter in real life, some bots will have a propensity to follow wheels more than others. There are limits in place to tell bots how hard they can go to follow a specific wheel.

Real Bot Classes

  • All-rounder – Good at all styles of riding (think Tour GC contenders)

  • Time Trialist – Purely focused on maintaining long high even outputs

  • Climber – Only rides for big climbs

  • Puncheur – Best suited to rolling short sharp hills

  • Sprinter – Focused on flat courses and all-out speed at the end

Bots Behaviour

Depending on various triggers, bots will change their power output (they will sprint, do a tempo pace or even slow down to recover).

FAQ

What are Real Bots?

Real Bots are automated riders that mimic human behavior. The way they interact with the world around them is based on real-world cycling scenarios. Each bot may have a different riding style to another.

How can I recognize the Real Bots on the road?

Real Bots will have Real Bot as their team name and Pacing Bots will have Pacing Bots as their team name. At the same time, all Real Bots wear a black helmets and all Pacing Bots wear a red helmet.

When do I want to use Real Bots?

When you want to have a more engaging ride and ride at a less constant pace. They will make the experience of riding with bots more realistic, giving you the opportunity to ride and interact with them.

Can I select a specific class of bots to add?

On Real Roads, Real Bots have been added according to the specifics of the road and their riding style. In your own events, at the moment bots will be added randomly. We will be adding more functionalities soon

Where can I find the Real Bots?

You will find them on all Real Roads and on specific events.

What happens to the existing bots?

Existing bots will become Pacing Bots and they will continue to exist alongside the new bots. The way they work will not change.

How will I add Real Bots to my events?

On the website, in the Create Event menu, you’ll get a chance to add them with a quick-select menu or with a more detailed custom menu.

How many Real Bots can I add to an event?

The current limit is 99 as for the Pacing Bots. Depending on how narrow the selection criteria is, we will add as many Real Bots as it is possible. If they are insufficient, we will continue to add Pacing Bots to reach your desired number of bots.

How are the classes different?

Different classes are good at different things. Without being too obvious, Sprinters are good at short, powerful sprints, Climbers are good are tackling longer mountain passes.

What do the different bots levels mean?

When adding Real Bots you can select from three predefined levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Expert. Bots Levels are predefined ranges of difficulty based on similar user weight and a range of W/kg:

  • Beginner is 1 to 2.2 w/kg

  • Intermediate is 2.2 to 3.2 w/kg

  • Expert is 3.2 to 4 w/kg

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