Zwift Ride In-Depth Review: The Future of Smart Bikes?

Is the Zwift Ride the future of the indoor smart bike? And if so, is it good for consumers? I dive into everything you need to know about the Zwift Ride, after a bunch of usage.

After years of rumors, pivots, and do-overs, Zwift has finally announced their much-discussed indoor bike. At least, depending on how precisely you define an indoor bike. But no matter which definition you use, this is going to significantly shape the direction of the indoor cycling industry, just as Zwift did when they launched the Zwift Hub nearly two years ago.

The new Zwift Ride combines a new Zwift indoor “frame" with the Wahoo KICKR CORE + Zwift COG trainer, to make a one-stop shop option for getting on Zwift. Within the Zwift Ride product, you can literally see years of Zwift history and direction changes unfolding like layers of rock. It’s actually kinda fascinating.

But more fascinating than the history lesson though, which I’ll save for another day, is riding the thing. And I’ve been doing so for more than a month now, putting it though its paces to see how it handles across a wide variety of riding. Not just me, but my wife as well - helping to validate whether or not Zwift’s one-size-fits-all design can properly accommodate both a tall rider (me), and a vertically challenged rider (her).

#ZwiftRide #Zwift

[Nomgoose]

What makes this so compelling is that it taps into the market of folks who already have a trainer but are getting tired taking the bike on and off it. Having a dedicated frame that can just live on the trainer is really attractive for me because of that, and all my friends with trainers also think this is a brilliant idea. We'll pay for the frame as soon as it launches, no doubt.

[jameseastwood]

It's decent looking. Being tied to Zwift is a problem. They should open up the play connection, they'd sell more ultimately. No crank arm length adjustment is a show stopper immediately for me.

[GMoneyLove]

Adding to other comments, mine would be: no Gates Carbon belt? Then you'd have super durable, no maintenance, and quieter set up. All things you want in an indoor trainer.

[BobbysBikes]

Contrary to some others here, I do think I’ll pick this up when the standalone bike releases. 170mm cranks is tough, but I’ve ridden them for years. I have the zwift cog on my trainer and love it. I only use erg mode with TR, but have a steel bike for my indoor set up. So much flex in the frame when sprinting I feel like I’ll break it lol. My partner wants to get into cycling so it’ll be nice to quickly adjust measurements without the commitment of a new bike.

[jobicek]

Another weakness is that it doesn't support the Climb. They should have made the front stub removable so that a fork could be swapped in.

[scottgreen]

Love the concept of not using my carbon frame on the trainer, BUT don't like being locked in to the 170mm cranks. And it would be nice if they included a TT handlebar set up as well. I know one can go aftermarket but one that works with the original box of stuff would be great.

[daveelliott]

I tested this today at the cycle show. I'm sold. I'm 6ft 5 and normally ride 175 cranks. The 170 cranks felt fine and overall it was solid just like my old school wattbike Pro.

[tomconway]

This thing is like....80% of the way there. It's nice that it is almost fully adjustable so you can share it with other people and/or use it to experiment with bike fit tweaks. It needs adjustable crank length, adjustable handlebar width, and the ability to take derailleurs. I'm assuming you could bolt on your own DI2 or AXS shifters to the handlebars if you really wanted to. Then it would be pretty much perfect.

[kestralrider]

Great deal for year round zwifters. I agree the crank length is a miss, 170 happens to be my favorite but I'd expect it to be adjustable given how easy that is to implement.

[invisiblescout]

Need the ability to control trainer resistance directly with the controles, without an intermediary app. Also would be nice to be able to use a belt drive system, just for maximum lazy. Non adjustable cranks are also dissapointing. Hopefully some of this is resolved with over time with optional add-ons.

[kristofferp]

I've been considering purchasing in-door cardio equipment for past few months because I want to prioritise getting healther, I do lots of Strength weightlifting, but my cardio is just terrible catching my self out of breath walking up some stairs.. This came at a perfect timing with decent price range. And now after 3 weeks of thoughs I just placed my order on this new Zwift ride. I can't wait to get started as a noobie cyclist and getting demolished in the races 😆

Solid review - Liked and Subscribed!
Thanks a lot!

[ConstantRider]

Great Video. As always. I'd opt for Plan B.
Cheap frame off VeloBuild, Di2 Groupset maybe 105. Handlebars of my choice and bang it on my current trainer. Viola! I can use it on Zwift, IndieVelo or MyWhoosh. I think I can do that for cheaper than $2200 AUD.

[rednal]

Good idea but I see quite some flaws or missed opportunities: no climb function (could have been completelly built in), no mentions of Kickr v4/v5 support (where's our virtual shifting btw?!), locked out of other virtual cycling apps, no Zwift subscription included (while 1y is if you just buy that exact same trainer), no charging port for smartphones, no tablet holder included but some ridiculously old pedals are, no charger included, loose bottle holders (I think), ... Maybe they'll go with a more premium "Ride Pro" or something, to include Climb? Or if it catches on, on a "Ride v2"...

[GerardCantor]

I have an old bike frame that’s hooked up to a Wahoo Kickr which works well enough. That said, I have something designed to ride outside, being used as an indoor trainer which has limitations like it being adjusted to only my geometry which you’d think this Zwift bike would be the solution to this issue but there’s one glaring omission that will keep me from buying it: lack of movement. Any training ride over one hour on an indoor set up gets a bit painful since the bike doesn’t move around so the only upgrade I’d make is an dedicated indoor bike with a very smart movement mechanism in different planes so my sit bones don’t go numb. Until then, my trustee old frame is good enough.

[MrMartin]

One reason I would consider this is for me and my wife not having to swap the bike on the Tacx Neo trainer we use. I was expecting gym-style adjustments with knobs and levers so it is very easy to adjust the frame dimensions for each ride. Having to use a tool with what I guess are normal Allen screws that can wear, does not sound great. How easy is it to alternate between two rider setups ?

[ianmackerness]

I have gone the other way, replaced my Wattbike with Wahoo Kickr rollr, as I much prefer doing the hard work on my racing bike with the same power meter, I was finding the Wattbike was reading 10 watts above the Favero Assioma pedals (both were within there tolerance levels therefore both accurate, Wattbike at the higher end of its tolerance and the Favero at the lower end), this was interfering with my Garmin ftp levels and all the metrics that go with Garmin, it is just easier to move away from the Wattbike and similar bikes to the wahoo kickr rollr in which I can use multiple bikes on, use the same power meter. I have to say the gaming side has not really worked for me, prefer to ride outside when I can and specific high intensity workouts inside on a trainer, these are short sharp sessions. It will also free up space in the garage as my racing bike can sit on the kickr rollr when not in use.
This works for me, I appreciate it would not work for everyone.

[craigschray]

I love it. My indoor trainer bike is attached to a Wahoo kicker and the bike is a bit large for me. So this fall, I'm going to be upgrading to a dedicated trainer.

[Beakerandgreg]

I've had mine for over a week now. I love it. Been on Zwift since 2016 with many different trainers. Beats my old Stages SB20 hands down for ease of use and consistency. This and an Apple TV makes it easy to Zwift.

[peterford]

Great idea in principle for multiple bike households. A few limitations but not a bad effort for starters.

[fritzmckellar]

Attractive and flexible setup which is good.

Lack of crank arm length and no climb mode for the fork seems like a miss... not sure how long those handlebar buttons will work...