Indoor cycling software specialist Zwift has had a tumultuous relationship with hardware over the past two years, but its latest product is a clever idea that could disrupt the industry and create an entirely new product category.
Called Zwift Ride, it simply requires an existing smart trainer – namely the Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One – and provides the rest of the equation: the bike. Everything from the handlebars and frame to the seatpost and saddle to the cranks and drivetrain comes with the intelligence offered in the best smart trainers, turning it into a smart home exercise bike.
Like any smart bike, it eliminates the need to use your outdoor bike on the trainer, in return it keeps your carpets clean, extends the life of your bike’s components and reduces the time it takes to set up between deciding to ride and turning the first pedal.
All touchpoints are also widely adjustable with the integrated ‘Zwift Key’ which magnetically attaches to the underside of the top tube. The frame can be adjusted to fit riders between 5ft and 6ft 6in, meaning it’s suitable for the whole family.
The alloy frame has one central leg up front, positioned like your fork and front wheel to hold the bike up. From there, it’s a fairly traditional bike design with a head tube shape and height and reach adjustable handlebars. The handlebars are pre-equipped with shift/brake levers that mimic the Zwift Play controls, allowing the user to virtually shift gears silently and instantly and control the Zwift app directly from the handlebars.
An included phone/snack tray sits on top of the adjustable reach handlebar clamp, while an optional tablet mount can be purchased for forward mounting (Image credit: Zwift)
A rubberized smartphone compartment is located on the handlebars and an additional tablet holder can be purchased for front mounting.
Head to the back of the bike, past the two attached bottle cages, towards the height-adjustable seatpost. The included saddle sits on traditional round 6mm rails so they can easily be swapped out for your own preferred option.
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The drivetrain is single-speed and takes advantage of the Zwift Cog. The chain is wrapped around the tensioner to help simplify installation. The frame fits the included Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One using a traditional 142 x 12mm fixed axle (included).
The Zwift Frame resembles a typical bicycle design, but the front wheel is replaced by a single leg strut (Image credit: Zwift)
Software meets hardware
In March 2022, Zwift teased the design of a smart bike, but quickly scrapped the idea in May of that year amid an industry-wide downturn and financial difficulties. 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 consisted of the same smart trainer but with a universally compatible single-speed gear and housing to replace the cartridge.
Once Zwift and Wahoo agreed to settle their disputes, they entered a new realm of hyper-collaboration that saw the Zwift Hub Classic eventually replaced by the pre-existing Wahoo Kickr Core, while the Zwift Hub One became the Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One.
Today’s launch is another collaboration between the pair. Zwift provides the Zwift Play-like frame and front controls, while the Wahoo Kickr Core delivers a 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 forego the virtual shifting feature (unless other brands release a firmware update to make it work). The price for this is yet to be determined.
For now, you can only buy it in conjunction with the Kickr Core for $1,299.99 / €1,299.99 / £1,199.99 / $2,299.95. The additional tablet holder costs $49.99 / €49.99 / £39.99.
