Taking your training indoors used to mean trudging over to the turbo trainer, begrudgingly swinging a leg over the top tube and pedalling monotonously, while staring at your living room wall.
Thankfully, with the creation of Zwift, indoor cycling boredom is a thing of the past. So what is Zwift? It is a multiplayer online cycling training platform that immerses you in a virtual world, competing, interacting and training with other individuals.
From its release in late October 2015 to today the platform has attracted both amateur and professional athletes, with names such as Mark Cavendish and Jens Voigt holding Zwift memberships.
Zwift Workouts: The Courses
Keeping you engaged and motivated, Zwift have created several virtual worlds, Watopia, Richmond and London included. From mountain climbs to circuits and custom workout plans, there is a course to match every ability on Zwift.
Zwift Compatible Bikes & Trainers
Using Zwift couldn’t be easier. Simply connect your Zwift turbo trainer such as the ones from Wahoo and Garmin via ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart to your PC, phone or laptop. Opting for a smart turbo trainer means that you get modulated resistance, so when the virtual world gradient increases, the resistance on your trainer follows suit. Ensuring you get the most effective and realistic training effect, Zwift uses power readings, either from your power meter on your bike, one which is incorporated into your turbo trainer or predicts the power via ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart speed sensors on your bike.
Share Your Rides
Sharing your rides and showing your friends and family how your training is going is made possible through the Zwift mobile app. This app allows you to change direction and communicate with other riders via messaging. All Zwift rides are saved as .fit files, which can be uploaded on Strava, so you can pour over the stats post ride.
Direct Drive Turbo Trainers
Removing your rear wheel and attaching your bike to a direct drive turbo trainer is a simple process and eliminates any wear and tear associated with using a tyre on a turbo trainer. Smoother and quieter than wheel-on turbo trainers, going direct drive is ideal for those who do not want to spend time swapping between specific turbo trainer tyres and wheels.
Wheel-On Turbo Trainers
Attaching your bike to the turbo trainer by means of your rear wheel quick release or thru bolt axle, a wheel-on turbo trainer allows you to simply attach your existing bike without the need to remove your rear wheel. Keeping your tyres in pristine condition, many brands make turbo trainer specific tyres, which wear less that conventional tyres and are quieter against the trainer's roller.
