First ride on the new Zwift Ride: indoor cycling reimagined

Zwift is launching an indoor bike—or smart trainer—that makes accessing and getting started with the app easier than ever. We’ve already had a chance to try out this extremely competitively priced device, which is designed for the whole family.

By Guillaume Judas (with CP) – Photos: ©zwift Zwift unveils the Zwift Ride, a complete indoor bike that’s always ready to let you fully enjoy the Zwift experience—whether for fun, gaming, or serious training. The Zwift Ride comprises a dedicated frame with a clean, minimalist design that blends seamlessly into the interior of a house or apartment and can be easily used by multiple family members, paired with a Wahoo Kickr Core indoor trainer. The complete system is priced at €1,299.99. “Our mission is to make Zwift more accessible by reducing the cost and complexity of setting up the equipment,” explains Eric Min, CEO and co-founder of Zwift. Zwift Ride offers all the benefits of a smart bike at an incredibly affordable price. It’s clean, quiet, incredibly simple to set up and adjust, and can be shared with anyone in the household. What’s important is that when I look at my Zwift Ride, it feels like it belongs in my home. I’ve been riding mine for several months now, and I can’t wait to share the experience with other Zwifters!"

A Simplified Solution

To make riding Zwift easier than ever, the brand has designed an adjustable system with a unique tool for setting up and adjusting the Zwift Ride: the Zwift Key, which attaches to the frame via a magnetic system. This key lets you quickly dial in saddle height, as well as handlebar height and reach, in just a few seconds. It comes with a size guide for cyclists ranging from 152 to 198 cm, featuring lettered markings for beginners and a conversion chart for multiple users. This way, both parents and the family’s teenager can take turns using the Zwift Ride for an indoor cycling session.

The Zwift Ride frame sits on a Wahoo Kickr Core indoor trainer fitted with the Zwift Cog virtual gear-shifting system. The chain is waxed and has been tested over 25,000 km without needing replacement. This setup prevents oil splatter, a definite advantage for keeping the bike indoors in a house or apartment. Note that the chain can be replaced without special tools and will be available soon on the Zwift website.

Another advantage of the Zwift Ride: the integrated handlebar with dual Zwift Play control pads allows for full control of Zwift right from the handlebars—navigating menus, sending Ride Ons, or deploying PowerUps with the simple press of a button… It also lets you brake or change direction in the game. The system also supports Zwift’s virtual gear shifts, now with the option to choose between Shimano, SRAM, or sequential shifting patterns.

Practical Solutions

The Zwift Ride is also designed to keep all essential items within easy reach. The unit is equipped with two bottle cages mounted on the frame. These bottle cages are designed for indoor cycling and are easy to access thanks to their cage-less design. A front mount lets you stash snacks, a towel and/or your phone, and its rubber coating is non-slip and removable for easy cleaning.

A tablet mount is available as an option. Priced at €49.99, it attaches to the front of the bike’s tray and securely holds the tablet in place with a quick-release strap.

The complete Zwift Ride weighs 35.4 kg, with the frame alone weighing 17 kg. The bike is delivered in two separate boxes, and assembly takes about 30 minutes without any special tools.

Our First Test of the Zwift Ride I was able to quickly test the Zwift Ride on two different routes within the app. First, on a circuit featuring power-ups to collect by zigzagging along the road. This player mode isn’t something I usually do, but it lets you appreciate how easy the Zwift Play controls are to use and allows you to train while having fun. Here I focused more on the ergonomics of the control levers and the riding position the device allows. Next, I took on a more traditional circuit, riding among other users for a free-form workout. Unsurprisingly, I found the same feel here as with the Wahoo Kick Core indoor trainer: quiet, stable, with virtual gear shifts and fairly realistic inertia during successive climbs and descents. The Zwift Ride stays stable when you’re out of the saddle during intense efforts, though there is a slight amount of lateral play in the frame when pedalling hard. This, too, feels quite realistic and prevents you from feeling too locked into the saddle. The shifters let you change gears, and you can configure them any way you like, much like the Di2 system. While the braking mode isn’t particularly useful during free training, the ability to change lanes is a welcome feature when riding in a peloton. This allows you to cut corners or find a sheltered position.

I was able to find my riding position on the bike fairly easily, with a saddle height and handlebar height that match my position on my road bike. However, there’s no choice when it comes to the cranks. Here, it’s 170 mm for everyone, regardless of the user’s height. Of course, you can mount any pedals on the Zwift Ride, even though it comes with flat pedals for greater accessibility.

Ultimately, aside from the crank length—which might cause some positioning issues—the Zwift Ride works just as well as any bike on a home trainer. It provides a similar riding experience and lets you train seriously or have fun while improving your fitness. It offers several advantages that may appeal to multiple family members:

It requires very few adjustments, and those that are needed are very easy to make
It’s neat and blends easily into the decor of a house or apartment
It makes it easy to train without having to deal with overly complicated setups
It offers a riding experience comparable to any setup consisting of a home trainer and a bike

Finally, the Zwift Ride is sold as a complete package for €1,299.99. It’s nothing short of a revolution in the world of connected indoor cycling. => All our Test Articles