Zwift Ride: a gamechanger that’s for everyone, all the time

Zwift Ride: a gamechanger that’s for everyone, all the time

There's never been a better illustration of less being more – we take a look at how the innovative Zwift Ride smart frame reduces both the cost and complexity of getting set up on Zwift

Photos: Zwift Words: Simon Smythe

Promotional feature in association with Zwift

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works,” said Steve Jobs. The Zwift Ride Smart Frame, launched in June 2024 just in time for the online training platform’s 10th anniversary, is already a design classic with its clean lines and simplicity of form. And, like Apple products, it’s simple in form but sophisticated in function. 

Zwift ad

For its first 10 years, Zwift was a third-party training app that, despite revolutionising indoor training, still required users to navigate their own hardware setups. But in June 2024 Zwift solved that by launching the Zwift Ride, a radical new take on the smart bike specifically aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of Zwifting. The brand’s co-founder and CEO, Eric Min, said: “Zwift Ride brings all of the advantages of a smart bike at an incredibly affordable price. It’s clean, it’s quiet, incredibly simple to set up and adjust, and can be shared with any member of the household. Importantly when I look at my Zwift Ride, it looks like it belongs in my home.” Announcing it on his own Instagram account, Min said: “Zwift Ride is for everyone all the time.”

Simple setup

What is Zwift Ride and why had nobody thought of it before? To quote Jobs again: “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” Zwift Ride is a frame designed solely for Zwift that is easily connected with a smart trainer such as the Wahoo Kickr Core. Just as a track bike is designed for the velodrome without brakes or gears, Zwift Ride is designed to plug directly into Watopia. It doesn’t need wheels since your avatar rolls on virtual ones; it doesn’t need derailleurs since it shifts with Zwift’s own gears and it doesn’t need brakes because slowing down isn’t in the Zwift game. Its job is to allow its rider to power a smart trainer as efficiently as possible, with everything else taken care of by the software. It’s highly specific but beautifully simple.

A Zwift Ride being adjusted for reach

For its initial assembly, Zwift Ride requires a single frame key for all bolts. This is stored in the top tube so that it can be easily accessed to adjust the fit for multiple riders in the household. Saddle height, bar height and reach are all adjusted via three clearly identifiable points on the frame for anyone between 5ft (152cm) to 6ft 6in (198cm).

Zwift Ride handlebar with Zwift Play controller

Integrated handlebars with dual control pads allow Zwifters to deploy PowerUps, send RideOns and operate menus all without pausing the ride, while gear shifting from the levers can be configured to mirror a Shimano or SRAM road setup – or sequential.

The other half of the setup is of course the smart trainer, and Zwift Smart Frame is compatible with any Zwift Ready smart trainer – there’s a list on Zwift’s website which is growing longer with more options as more brands come on board – or is available bundled with the Wahoo Kickr Core.


Rouleur readers get 10% off Zwift Ride or KICKR CORE trainers using code ROULEURZ10.

Get your new Zwift setup now and get fitter and faster.

*See terms and conditions at bottom of page for details

All the gears

In a nutshell, what makes a trainer Zwift Ready is its compatibility with the Zwift Cog, a single-sprocket replacement for a full cassette that ships with Zwift Ride. The Zwift Cog is designed to work with Zwift’s virtual shifting and is designed to simplify indoor bike setups. There’s no noisy chain shifting between sprockets, meaning early-morning or late-evening Zwifting is possible without waking up the family or annoying the neighbours.

Zwift Ride rear with Zwift Cog and Wahoo trainer

Additionally, you’ll see your current gear in the HUD (heads up display) in game. And one more benefit of virtual shifting? You can change gear while you’re stationary, so you’ll never be in the wrong gear at the foot of a steep climb. Like the flagship road groupsets from Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo, Zwift has 24 gears, allowing you to find your perfect cadence on all virtual terrains.

Space saver

A Zwift Ride with a Wahoo Kickr Core trainer has a more compact footprint than a standard outdoor bike/trainer setup. Thanks to the extended fork and riser foot replacing the front wheel, it has a length of just 136cm and width of 58cm, meaning Zwift Ride will fit into the most diminutive training space. 

Zwift Ride front with a tablet and phone

Zwift Ride is packed full of carefully thought-out indoor training features, too. For example, even with a powerful fan you’ll sweat when you’re Zwifting, so there are two bottle cages fitted to the frame – except they’re not like outdoor bottle cages. Since there are no potholes in Watopia and therefore no danger of bottles bouncing out, they have easy-to-access drop-in, lift-out cageless design for fast drinking on the fly. There’s a tray at the front of the bike for food, towel, and phone – perfect for having the Zwift Companion app open and music to hand. The rubber cover is non-slip and can be removed for easy cleaning.

If you’re using a tablet for the Zwift display, a tablet holder integrates with the front of the tray and holds the device with a quick-release fastening strap.

Cost effective

Zwift Ride is not only the easiest way to get onto Zwift, but also the most cost effective. For the most straightforward setup, Zwift Ride is available to buy bundled with a Kickr Core smart trainer through Zwift’s website priced at £1,199/$1,299. There’s the option to buy the Zwift Ride frame only at £749.99/$799.99 (it ships with the Zwift Cog) and then choose your own smart trainer from the list of Zwift Ready models – and that’s priced at £749. 

In summary, although Zwift introduced new roads, new data displays, a new training camp with individualised assessment, updated and fairer racing categorisation and even some virtual nostalgia with the return of Jarvis Island, arguably it’s Zwift Ride that will make the biggest difference to the next decade of Zwifting.

For more information and to buy Zwift Ride, go to Zwift’s website.

*Offer terms and conditions:

  • Code – ROULEURZ10
  • Expires - 31/12/2024
  • For use on select trainers for sale on Zwift.com/shop:
    • Zwift Ride
    • Wahoo KICKR CORE
  • Other terms:
    • For use on select trainers for sale on Zwift.com/shop
    • One use per customer
    • While supplies last
    • Can not be combined with other offers
    • Offer void where prohibited
    • Can not be redeemed for cash
Photos: Zwift Words: Simon Smythe

READ MORE

No more ‘Mr January’ - Perfection from Plapp at the Giro d’Italia

No more ‘Mr January’ - Perfection from Plapp at the Giro d’Italia

The Australian rider’s win on stage eight of the Giro d’Italia is a breakthrough moment in his career which has been rife with setbacks

Read more
Giro d'Italia 2025 stage nine preview: The gravel awaits

Giro d'Italia 2025 stage nine preview: The gravel awaits

A Strade Bianche-style stage could be decisive for general classification contenders

Read more
Strade bianche pitfalls await: GC Teams brace for Giro’s gravel gauntlet

Strade bianche pitfalls await: GC Teams brace for Giro’s gravel gauntlet

Rouleur takes a look at how the overall contenders' teams shape up heading into stage nine on Sunday

Read more
Strength, faith and resilience: Egan Bernal is back at the Giro d’Italia

Strength, faith and resilience: Egan Bernal is back at the Giro d’Italia

The Colombian rider’s performance on the first summit finish has announced him as a serious general classification contender once more, three years on from the...

Read more
A tale of two tactics: The first summit finish of the Giro brings more questions than answers about pink jersey battle

A tale of two tactics: The first summit finish of the Giro brings more questions than answers about pink jersey battle

Red Bull pace all day only for Primož Roglič to be out of position and lose time to Juan Ayuso

Read more
Giro d'Italia 2025 stage eight preview: An up and down day in Le Marche

Giro d'Italia 2025 stage eight preview: An up and down day in Le Marche

A tricky Tirreno-Adriatico style stage offers an opportunity for a breakaway to take victory

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE