Indoor cycling software specialist Zwift has had a tumultuous relationship with hardware over the past couple of years, but its latest product is a clever idea that could disrupt the industry and create an entirely new product category.
Called the Zwift Ride, it simply takes an existing smart trainer — namely the Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One — and provides the other part of the equation: the bike. Everything from the handlebars and frame, through the seatpost and saddle, to the cranks and drivetrain, is provided, taking the intelligence offered in the best smart trainers and turning them into a smart home exercise bike.
Like any smart bike, it saves you from having to use your external bike on your trainer, in turn keeping your carpets clean, extending the life of your bike’s components and reducing set-up time between setting up. driven and rotating the first pedal.
All touchpoints are also widely adjustable, via an integrated ‘Zwift Key’, which mounts magnetically to the underside of the top tube. The frame can be adjusted to fit riders between 5ft and 6ft 6in tall, meaning it’s suitable for the whole family.
The alloy frame features a single central leg at the front, positioned as are the forks and front wheel, to hold the bike up. This is a fairly traditional bike design, with the shape of the head tube and adjustable height and reach handlebars. The handlebars are pre-equipped with shift/brake levers that mimic Zwift Play controls, allowing the user to shift gears silently and instantly, and control their Zwift app directly from the handlebars.
The included phone/snack tray sits on top of the reach-adjustable handlebar clamp section, while an optional tablet mount can be purchased for front mounting (Image credit: Zwift)
A rubber-covered smartphone tray sits atop the steering wheel, and an additional tablet holder can be purchased to mount up front.
Going to the back of the bike, past the two included bottle cages, to the height adjustable seat post. The included saddle sits on traditional 6mm round rails, so it can easily be swapped out for your preferred option.
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The steering system is a single-speed affair, benefiting from the Zwift Cog gear. The chain is tied around a clamping device to help simplify installation. The frame fits the included Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One trainer using a traditional 142 x 12mm axle (included).
The Zwift frame resembles a typical bicycle design, but the front wheel is replaced by a single-legged post (Image credit: Zwift)
Software meets hardware
In March 2022, Zwift teased a smart bike design, but amid an industry-wide downturn and financial struggles, it quickly scrapped the idea in May of the same year. Months later, it launched a smart trainer, the Zwift Hub Classic, which led to a nearly 12-month lawsuit with Wahoo over patent infringement.
Towards the end of this, Zwift also launched the Zwift Hub One, which included the same smart trainer but with a wheel with a universal compatible speed and cassette that replaces the cassette.
After Zwift and Wahoo agreed to settle their differences, they entered a new realm of hyper-collaboration that saw the Zwift Hub Classic eventually replaced by the already existing Wahoo Kickr Core, while the Zwift Hub One became the Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One .
Today’s launch is another collaboration between the duo. Zwift provides the frame and front controls similar to Zwift Play, while the Wahoo Kickr Core powers the smart trainer.
Zwift says that later this summer, the Zwift Ride will be available as a standalone frame that users can pair with the smart trainer they already own. However, non-Wahoo users will have to opt out of the virtual shift feature (unless other brands release a firmware update to make it work). Pricing for this has yet to be determined.
At the moment, you can only buy it together with the Kickr Core device, priced at $1,299.99 / €1,299.99 / £1,199.99 / AU$2,299.95. The additional tablet holder is priced at US$49.99 / €49.99 / £39.99.
