Re:Data stream hack gets UCI world championship qualifier ba...
by Nextgrid on Thursday December 08, 2022 @03:38PM
(#33913007)
Even if you make the bikes 100% secure, nothing prevents a dedicated cheater from strapping a good old electric motor to the bike and do the on-camera ride on a separate, dummy bike that's only there for show (and to provide a reference speed to the electric motor - which then increases it by 20%).
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Re:Data stream hack gets UCI world championship qualifier ba...
by nradov on Thursday December 08, 2022 @06:23PM
(#33915219)
That wouldn't work because Zwift championship races require a separate power meter on the bike in addition to the smart trainer. If you just strap an electric motor to a separate bike then the power meter numbers would be all wrong, especially if it supports ANT+ cycling dynamics. You would need a reciprocating machine that actually pushes the pedals, like what power meter manufacturers use to test their own products. So it could be done, but would be difficult and expensive.
In the end though it's impossible to be 100% certain that the data stream coming in to the server is an accurate representation of a real human effort. The whole thing is kind of silly.