Because of the coronavirus pandemic keeping us in our homes for much of the past two years, you probably learned about Zwift (if you hadn’t already known about it). The online gaming platform dedicated to indoor cycling was already huge, but it nearly doubled in size over the course of 2020, according to The OC Register.
Plus, it’s just fun. Think: Mario Kart on bikes, but with more sweat and fewer talking creatures.
For $14.99 a month, Zwifters gain entry to a virtual cycling world with numerous courses, group rides, and even races, which can make (sometimes monotonous) indoor riding way more fun and interactive.
And this isn’t the domain of hardcore gamers who happen to ride bikes: Cyclists of all kinds can be found pedaling around, including pro cyclist Geraint Thomas and former NBA star Reggie Miller (and even hopeful pros enrolled in Zwift Academy).
To help you get started with your Zwift setup, here’s everything you need to know, from the gear you need, to tips for using the app, to how to virtually ride well with others.
Get the Gear
The gear you need for a Zwift setup is similar to what you’d use in a standard indoor cycling setup, but with a bit more hi-tech hardware.
Start with the basics, recommends Hunter Allen, the CEO of Peaks Coaching Group, who uses the platform both for himself and as a way to deliver workouts to his athletes. “You need a fan, a towel, some music, a water bottle, and something to blow your nose with. Then ideally, you have some kind of power meter or smart trainer that measures power. That’s really critical,” he says.
Indeed, a smart trainer is the only way to replicate that true ‘road feel’ experience indoors, where resistance is adjusted automatically based on a virtual course’s elevation changes (you can train for hills indoors!). But Zwift also seamlessly interfaces with most standard power meters and can even calculate estimated power output via data from speed and cadence sensors.
Whichever data delivery method you choose, you’ll need to connect to this virtual world via Bluetooth or ANT+ on a device with a processor, from Mac and personal computers, to iOS devices and Android devices, and now, on Apple TV. Download the Zwift App to your device, and you’re off and riding. Zwift also has a companion app for smartphones that acts as a separate display for workouts, a Bluetooth connection bridge, and an event interface. All this may sound complicated, but the Zwift website is full of easy-to-follow information that’s backed up by a solid tech support team.
These Four Trainers Are Currently Available—But Hurry!
Feedback Sports Feedback Sports Omnium Over-Drive
ELITE ELITE Suito Interactive Trainer
Tacx Tacx Neo 2T Smart
If you have the luxury of setting up an indoor training space that can stay in place full-time (say, in a garage or basement), dial it in to make your indoor sessions more enjoyable. Set your trainer on a sweat-catching mat with your display in view; position a fan in front to stay cool, and have your essentials (water, headphones, towel) within reach.
When it comes to the display, the bigger the screen, the more immersive the experience will be. Of course, a good graphics card will help, too—this is gaming after all.
Find Your Zones
Allen is a big proponent of using Zwift to determine your functional threshold power (FTP), a metric of fitness. To do so, you’ll need a power meter or a trainer that can estimate power.
FTP tests are used to identify the likely max power you can reasonably hold for an hour-long time trial, usually calculated while you put out your highest sustainable power for 20 minutes.
After doing an FTP test—available through Zwift’s online menu of workouts—you can use your result to set up training zones that allow you to work toward specific cycling goals, such as riding faster, further, or both. With Zwift, if you want to increase your power in certain conditions, you can choose to ride hillier courses, longer distances, etc.
Choose Your Route
Once your Zwift setup is dialed, it’s time to choose a course and get pedaling.
There are several worlds you can ride in. Some examples include Watopia, also known as Zwift Island; a true-to-life route around London and some of the surrounding countryside; an online version of the 2015 World Championships course in Richmond, Virginia; Innsbruck, Austria, a world built around the 2018 UCI World Championship cycling course; and New York City, which is modeled on the roads of Central Park as they will be in 100 years along with miles of skyway, flying cars, and futuristic buildings. These worlds are constantly being expanded by the Zwift team.
“They’re all unique in terms of course demands,” says Allen. “And that’s part of the appeal. You’re not doing the same loop over and over.”
For example, Watopia has one main climb, a few rollers, some downhills, and plenty of flats. There are various choices along the way: Turn one direction to practice climbing, head the other direction for more flats. This diversity means you have plenty of opportunities to personalize your route and training, making it longer or harder in certain ways.
The 14.9-km (9.2-mile) London loop has 722 feet of climbing per lap, while the Richmond circuit is mostly flat, save for a pair of precipitous cobblestone climbs that require arduous out-of-the-saddle efforts (which can be great if you’re interval training).
Other added features include avatar customization so your Zwift avatar can look just like you, with options for skin color, hair color, facial hair, and even preferred sock length. The game also has a mini map feature that allows you to track your place in any Zwift environment as you ride, as well as proximity to sprints, KOMs, and other climbs or descents. And you can sign up for Zwift flexible training plans, which can be tailored to your goals and available training time. This allows you to progress logically, as you need to put in the work to unlock later workouts.
Also to note, if you’re a multi-sport athlete, there’s also Zwift Run, which allows users to take their treadmill experience shoulder-to-shoulder with cyclists on the roads of Zwift. Users need access to a smart, Bluetooth-enabled treadmill or a ZwiftPod (or similar footpod) to connect into the game.
Ride Well With Others
Perhaps best of all, Zwifting means you never have to ride inside alone. Right now, interacting with other riders means riding alongside their avatars, and tapping out a quick message on your smartphone screen or laptop keyboard. Increasingly, though, popular apps like Discord are now allowing riders to talk to each other in real time. “Eventually everyone will have a microphone,” predicts Nathan Guerra, a Wisconsin-based pro mountain biker and frequent Zwifter.
And just as with outdoor group riding, Zwifting is governed by group riding etiquette. The most basic edict is simply, don’t be a jerk.
If a group ride has a predetermined pace (typically indicated by a watts-per-kilogram number), don’t jump in and start smashing heads. Most group rides will have a leader, indicated by a beacon over their head. Follow this person’s lead and you’ll fit right in.
Jump Into Races
The same group ride ethos applies to the myriad Zwift races available to users. Just like in the real world, nobody likes the Cat 1 rider who sandbags the Cat 3 race.
“That just ruins the race for everyone,” says Guerra. “If you know your FTP or at least an estimation, you’ll know what races make sense for you.” (For a list of upcoming Zwift races, check out the third-party website zwiftpower.com.)
Guerra also discourages outright cheating where, for instance, you lie about your weight in order to increase your watts per kilogram. Go above 5 w/kg and you’ll get flagged by ZADA (short for Zwift Anti-Doping Agency) and need to provide specific “in real life” ride data to get Zwift-approved. And no, this is not a joke. ZADA is a real thing managed by volunteers from the Zwift racing community.
Fortunately, the vast majority of Zwifters log on simply to have fun and exercise. And the more you ride, the more chances you have to meet new people and unlock equipment and jersey upgrades to keep your indoor training engaging and fun.
