Zwift Ride review: Is the smart bike an indoor training powerhouse?

Due to changes in my schedule, I don’t have as much time to leave the house to workout.

Looking to take action, I got my hands on the revolutionary indoor cycling trainer Zwift to see if I could get my fitness output back on track.

Save 10% off Zwift Ride with code TSZWIFT10

Hailing from California, Zwift is a multiplayer online cycling platform that allows users to train in a virtual world.

Each user’s real-time effort and output are transmitted to the game, offering an immersive and challenging home workout experience.

Testing the brand’s Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE, I hopped aboard this all-in-one home cycling set-up to see if it could live up to the hype.

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How I tested Zwift

I got my hands on one of its most popular products: the Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE.

I spent a month using the all-in-one trainer and platform to test the set-up, ease of use, quality of the product and platform, and effectiveness as a workout.

Each week I completed a minimum of three Zwift rides with varying lengths and difficulties.

I then gave Zwift a possible rating out of five to determine the value for money of this premium fitness product.

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Zwift quick summary

Save 10% off Zwift Ride with code TSZWIFT10

Pros:

• Incredible workout
• Downright addictive
• Challenging for ALL levels
• Easy set-up
• Great community

Cons:

Rating: 5/5

After a month of using my Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE, I became downright addicted to what this platform and product had to offer.

Each Zwift workout gave me a real challenge, and I really felt as if I’d accomplished something by the end of each one.

The Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE were extremely easy to assemble, and I could tell no cost had been spared when it came to the build quality.

It did take me a few rides to fully understand Zwift’s gearing system, but I can likely attribute that to my misunderstanding of some of the information I had read online beforehand.

With that said, it could be a steep learning curve for beginners when joining Zwift, but luckily, the brand has a lot of helpful guides and an extensive community on websites such as Reddit to help.

There is no shortage of workouts, routes and group rides to explore on Zwift and it has hundreds of options available for all riders from beginner to pro.

So would I use Zwift again? Undoubtedly yes.

As someone who has struggled with home workouts in the past, Zwift has revolutionised how I look at home fitness now and I truly can’t get enough of this product.

Zwift full review

Save 10% off Zwift Ride with code TSZWIFT10

As someone who’s always found it difficult to workout at home, I was hoping Zwift could change my mind.

With no time to stew over my decision, my Zwift Ride, Wahoo Kickr and accessories arrived promptly two days later (a total of five big boxes.)

I won’t lie; the set-up was quite intimidating at first, but after just a few minutes I sped through it.

Each part component of my new Zwift Ride looked and felt premium, and once assembled, it fit right in with the look of my home.

Utilising the built-in, all-in-one key, I was able to completely set up my Zwift and Kickr in around half an hour, and after a few tweaks to the seat height and handlebars, I was ready for my first ride.

Sadly, the ride itself was a confusing and jumbled mess of a performance.

I had read online somewhere beforehand that Zwift would automatically change gears for me.

But I didn’t realise this only applied to the “workout mode.”

I’m not sure if it’s more embarrassing or more impressive that I managed to tackle a 30-minute slog in eighth gear alone, but I was somewhat discouraged.

Seeking assistance, I begrudgingly approached Zwift’s community of riders on Reddit for advice, and I was quickly taught the error of my ways.

Armed with the knowledge that gear changes do indeed exist, I jumped back into Watopia (Zwift’s first virtual world) the following day.

After a couple of rides, I got the hang of the in-game gear shifting, and for the first time, I felt like I had truly got to grips with the platform.

Save 10% off Zwift Ride with code TSZWIFT10

Along with being in a virtual world, I was also in a world of pain.

Make no mistake about it – Zwifting is tough, but I mean that in every positive sense of the word.

With no coasting, traffic stops or junctions, you continually pedal throughout each ride, meaning even the shortest Zwift jaunt felt like a killer workout.

I found it far more difficult than any outdoor cycling I have done but equally more rewarding.

With speed determined by pure wattage, I became obsessed with beating my average output, so I continually pushed the pace.

Not only that, but other riders’ avatars are visible on Zwift, which led to me constantly forging imaginary rivalries and having fictitious races each time my feet hit the pedals.

For someone often so unmotivated by home workouts, I have to admit I was really getting into it.

Save 10% off Zwift Ride with code TSZWIFT10

Routes, workouts and training plans are plentiful in Zwift, meaning you can continue to challenge yourself no matter your level.

There are even 24/7 group rides available led by AI pacers.

These group rides are available at different intensity levels, but even the easiest can feel like quite a challenge when you’re a novice rider.

I found I got the most enjoyment out of Zwift when I looked to complete each of the routes in ascending order.

If I were to highlight one issue with Zwift, it would likely be the learning curve to understand the platform.

Sure, there are introductory rides you can take to become more familiar, but besides the obvious ‘this is part of the HUD is here,’ I didn’t find them too helpful.

Zwift does have some handy videos online to explain things, but I would have preferred to learn on the platform.

But besides that, I really can’t fault Zwift in the slightest.

Whether you’re a cyclist, looking to lose weight, or simply into your fitness, this product and platform really has it all.

Zwift review: my verdict

After spending a month with my Zwift Ride and the Zwift platform, I wholeheartedly recommend this product.

As someone who’s struggled with home workouts previously and has not cycled in any capacity for several years, I was very impressed by how quickly I got up and running on Zwift.

With many routes, workouts, group rides and more, Zwift offers a unique and personalised way of reaching their fitness goals.

Moreover, Zwift was very simple to set up and it’s easily adjustable for multiple users in one household.

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Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE specs

• Rider fit range: 152-198cm
• Rider max weight: 120KG (18.8 stone, 264lbs)
• Product dimensions: 136 cm L x 58 cm W
• Product weight: 35.4 kg
• Handlebar width: 34cm

How much is Zwift?

There are two Zwift subscription choices to choose from, the first option is to pay monthly.

Costing £17.99 per month, this is the brand’s most flexible option and even comes with a 14-day free trial for new subscribers.

The other option is Zwift’s annual membership, priced at £179.99, this yearly payment saves you two months’ worth of membership fees when compared to the monthly cost.

The annual membership also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscribers.

Can I connect Zwift to Strava?

Yes, you can connect Zwift to Strava to track your rides on the app too.

This is very simple to do and will only take a few minutes of your time.

• Head to the Zwift website
• Click “Account”
• Select “Connections” from the right-hand side
• Click connect to Strava
• Follow the prompts in the pop-up window
• Done!

Do I have to use a Zwift bike with the Zwift platform?

No, you don’t have to own a Zwift Ride to be able to use the Zwift platform, but you will need a bike and a compatible trainer.

To use the Zwift platform, you will need all of the following items:

• A bike
• An indoor trainer that holds your bike in place
• A device to run Zwift, such as a phone, tablet, laptop, or Apple TV
• A stable internet connection
• A paid Zwift account

You can get other items to enhance your experience such as heart rate monitors and power meters, but these are not necessary.

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