The name in the your profile is used as part of the ride validation process: it is checked against the name stored in your run file. If it does not match, then your ride will fail our automatic validation process.

It is important therefore that the name you put here matches exactly what is in your profile in the Tacx software (both green and blue if you use both). Extra spaces or punctuation in one name and not the other will cause your rides to fail auto-validation.

However, please note the following.

• You must use your full name in both your website profile and in the Tacx software where possible.
• If your name is too long for the Tacx software, you can shorten it. For example if your name was Jonathan Giannakopoulos you should shorten it to J Giannokopoulos.
• If you have a name which contains any accented characters, e.g. 'ö', please use the non-accented version ('o' in this case).
• Your name must be unique to the site - if it is already in use, please add a number to the end. For example, if the name 'John Smith' was already on the site, you could use 'John Smith 2'.
• Did we mention that the names must be the same in the profile and the Tacx software?

Your user name is seen only by you, so you do not have to use your name. You can use a nickname, or anything else you like. Of course you can still use your name if you want to.

Yes.

Yes.

The only restriction is that they must be at least 6 characters long.

If you cannot login after payment please contact support.

There are three different types of account/membership: NetAthlon, Junior and Full.

NetAthlon and Junior accounts are free, but full membership requires a small annual fee.

Only paid for accounts (i.e. Full Membership) expire after 12 months.

Thirty days before an account expires, a reminder message, along with a link to the renewal page, will appear on the left hand side of each page on the site, underneath the login name.

Renewal can take place at any time once this message has appeared and accounts will operate normally during this reminder period.

When an account expires, the only accessible page will be the renewal page. Trying to load any other page whilst logged in will redirect to the renewal page.

Just follow the link to the renewal page, click the PayPal button and follow the usual payment procedure. Your account will be renewed automatically once confirmation has been received from PayPal.

If you renew before your account expires, your membership year will run from the expiry date.

If you renew after your account expires, your membership year will run from the date of renewal.

Example 1: a full member's account expires on 11 November and they renew on 1 November. Their renewal date will be 11 November the following year.

Example 2: a full member's account expires on 21 January, but they don't renew until 28 January. Their renewal date will be 28 January the following year.

A green circle next to a ride indicates that it has passed validation.

A red circle next to a ride indicates that it has failed validation.

If you leave the mouse pointer over them, a tooltip will pop up and remind you what they mean.

A red flag next to a ride means it has a time penalty.

If you leave your mouse pointer over the flag, a tooltip will pop up and tell you the value of the penalty. The time shown on the results page includes any penalties.

Some of the column titles have been shortened to just the units of the data in that column.

If you leave your mouse pointer over the column titles you will often get a tooltip giving a fuller title for the column.

Once you have logged into the site, select 'Event Sign Up' from the menu on the left. You will be asked which event you want to sign up for, which trainer you use and your weight.

Your weight must include 8kg for the bike.

The weight you enter here must match that in the Tacx software for Tacx events (Fortius, iMagic and Real Life Video), or your rides will fail automatic validation.

Yes. Please add 8kg to your weight for the bike.

Yes. But remember it is up to you to ride with the right profile for the right event - the weight in your run file will be checked when you upload a ride.

No. Once you have registered and submitted a ride, you must race at that weight for the duration of the event.

If you mistakenly register with the wrong weight, you can contact support and ask to have it changed.

No. Once you have registered and submitted a ride, you must race with that trainer for the duration of the event.

If you mistakenly register with the wrong trainer, you can contact support and ask to have it changed.

Go to the results page of an event and click on the download file icon . Save the file somewhere, e.g. the Desktop.

Start Analyser. Go to the File menu and choose Import. Select the location of your file in the right hand pane of the dialog that pops up. You can then select the file(s) you want to import from the list on the left, and press Save to import them.

If you cannot see your files in the list, it may be because you haven't got the appropriate file type ticked at the top of the screen.

Using Analyser is the recommended method of importing rides into the Tacx software.

Yes. You can download any ride from the event in which you are competing from its results page. You can then import it into the software you are riding with. (For Tacx software use the Analyser program.)

If you are competing using the Fortius (blue) software you must make the calibration for your trainer 0.0 - this is the default setting and allows riders to compete at the same level. Do not calibrate your trainer, go to the setting in the Fortius software and select calibration. If the setting is anything but 0.0 you need to click on the reset button and it should then show 0.0. Once done you do not need to alter this setting it will remain at 0.0 unless you change it, so that you only need to check this once.

1. Read the rules.
2. Download the course for the event. (This is on the event details page.)
3. Import the course into your software. (For Tacx software use the Analyser.)
4. Download any riders you want to race against and import them.
5. For Fortius software check your calibration is set to zero.
6. Check your web profile name matches your riding profile name exactly.
7. Check the weight you entered when you registered for the event is the same as your riding profile weight.
8. Read the rules again.
9. Check that the trainer is receiving your heart rate signal.
10. Make sure the steering is turned off in the software.
11. Check that you have the right profile selected - it is devastating to do a long hard ride with the wrong profile and be unable to upload the file.
12. Race!

The Tacx software offers you the option to cool down when a course is completed. Please do not use this option. If you do, your ride will fail automatic validation.

Save your ride, and start a new one to cool down.

If you do not have the DVD just ride it as a catalyst program.

You will need the PGMF file and a RLV video file and the CAF file.

The PGMF file is available on the event page, as is the RLV file. The CAF file will be available when the event starts.

You will also need a video file, you can rename one of the videos I would suggest the demo video you get with the Fortius software.

What do I do with the files?

Download the PGM file from the event page

Place this file into \Program Files\TacxFortius\catalyst\programs. you should see any other PGMF files you have in that folder.

The RLV file goes into \Program Files\TacxFortius\catalyst\video Just as it is. Again you should see other RLV files in there.

You can get the RLV file from the following link

The Video file can be any video file. The example below is for NL_Amstel-Gold05

Lets use the ES_MajorcaDemo that is found in \Program Files\TacxFortius\catalyst\video.

You then need to copy a demo RLV folder to desktop, Then rename it the same as the DVD which is NL_Amstel-Gold05 You then open this folder and rename the video the same.

Now cut/paste this folder into the Fortius video folder. The course should now appear in the RLV menu ,along with all the other routes The CAF file you download and use as any other run that you download for a pacer.

I normally import the file and use Analyser.

You must import the .caf file using analyser.

Lastly you must close/restart Fortius after doing all this as the ride won't show until you do.

I have done this and it all works.

Using the program on graph view only is the best option to ride this event if you do not have the DVD.

In fact I have purposely not installed the DVD so I could try it out and write down the steps I took to get it to work.

Log into the site, and select 'Upload Ride' from the menu. You will be asked for the run file if it is a Tacx event, or the .RAW and .NAP/.N2P files if it is a NetAthlon event. You can also enter a short comment about your ride (they don't have to be funny).

Your ride will then go through an automatic validation process.

For the blue Fortius (Tacx) software, VR run files are stored in C:\Program Files\TacxFortius\Imagic\data\route in which there is a sub-folder for each terrain (Olympus, Callisto etc.). RLV and Catalyst run files are located in C:\Program Files\TacxFortius\catalyst\runs.

For the green i-Magic (Tacx) software, VR runs are in C:\Program Files\Tacx\i-Magic\Runs and Catalyst runs are in C:\Program Files\Tacx\Catalyst\Runs.

NB: The above paths assume a standard installation of software to the C: drive; if you have installed the software to a different drive or path, the paths will be different.

You can export rides using the Tacx Analyser program: select the ride you want to export, and select File -> Export in the menus. Now choose the directory you want to export the run file to, and press Save.

For NetAthlon, please see the NetAthlon rules for details.

The automatic validation process performs a number of checks on uploaded files. This is to check that the right file has been uploaded, you have ridden with the right profile, ridden against the right course, but most importantly to ensure fair play.

When a ride fails automatic validation you are given the option of cancelling the upload or continuing and having the ride checked manually by a member of the VCF.

Be warned most rides that fail the auto validation will probably fail the manual check and may be excluded or given a penalty. If you have a ride in the table already consider whether you wish the new ride to be uploaded as it will be the one that counts. If it is excluded you will not then have a ride for that round, or if it is given a penalty it may end up slower than the ride that you have there already.

If you tick the 'Remember me' box when you login to the site, you shouldn't have to login the next time you visit.

For this to work you need to configure your browser to accept cookies from www.virtualcycling.org.

To do this in Internet Explorer, go to Tools -> Internet Options and click on the Privacy tab. Click on the Sites button, add www.virtualcyling.org into the Address box and click on Allow. (If the Sites button is disabled it probably means the settings slider is at Low and your browser is accepting all cookies anyway.)

In Firefox, go to Tools - > Options and click on Privacy. Make sure that the Accept cookies from sites option is ticked and the associated drop down list does not say keep until I close Firefox.

Yes. The site needs to use JavaScript in a number of areas, such as in the validation process, and on the results pages.

Please make sure it is turned on in your browser or you may experience problems, particularly in uploading rides to the site.

Internet Explorer:

1. Select Internet Options from the Tools menu.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. Click Custom Level in Security Level for this Zone.
4. Scroll down to Scripting, near the bottom of the list.
5. Under Active Scripting, choose Enable.
6. Click OK to leave Security Settings. Click OK to leave Internet Options.

Firefox:

1. Click on the Tools menu.
2. Select Options….
3. Click the Content tab with the Earth graphic.
4. Check Enable JavaScript.
5. Click OK.