Our latest episode focuses on “This Season on Zwift“, this week’s announcement from Zwift about what they have planned for the next few months. We’re joined by Ryan Condon, who offers his totally unprepared reactions to each TSOZ topic before we dive in for a deeper take:
Companion App Refresh, New Bikes, and (maybe) Purchaseable Paint Schemes
We also dive into a recent GCN video that revealed aggregated stats pulled from analyzing millions of power data points from Zwifters’ last 12 months of personal bests. Is the data even useful? What else could Zwift do with it? There are many possibilities in a world of big training data…
And that’s a wrap. Thanks for listening! Leave a review if the show is landing for you, and share us with your cycling friends. Word of mouth is how independent podcasts grow.
Listen On:
Meet the Team
Dave Towle: The voice of American cycling, having called some of the biggest races in the country for decades. Find him @davetowleannouncer.
Shane Miller (GPLama): Based in Australia, Shane is one of the most followed and trusted cycling tech reviewers in the world. Find him at @gplama.
Eric Schlange: Founder of Zwift Insider, the internet’s most comprehensive and reliable resource for Zwift routes, updates, and platform intelligence. Find him @zwiftinsider.
Share Your Thoughts!
This is just an early episode of what we hope is a long-running and useful community Zwift podcast. Share your thoughts below. We’re listening!
Ride of the Week Calendar: See Zwift’s Route and Climb of the Week Schedule
Zwift’s Route and Climb of the Week challenges are designed to get you riding routes you may not otherwise ride, in return for an XP or Drops bonus. Each week, a new route and climb are selected, with bonuses attached to each as detailed below.
Weekly challenges switch at 9am Pacific each Monday (noon Eastern, 4pm UTC).
Riding the featured route or climb in any fashion will earn you completion credit and the XP or Drops bonus. To easily access the ride of the week selections and see your progress, click the Ride of the Week challenge card on the homescreen:
Questions or Comments
Questions or comments about Route/Climb of the Week? Share below!
Zwift rolled out version 2 of their popular Zwift Ride smart frame today. This isn’t a radical redesign, but it’s a welcome one! This new iteration makes the Ride more accommodating for more riders, at the same impressive price.
Are you a Zwift Ride V1 owner wondering whether to update? Or perhaps you’re looking to upgrade your current indoor setup or buy your first indoor setup as we head into “Zwift season”? This post is for you! Read on to learn all about the new Zwift Ride.
Note: if you purchase the Ride bundle via the links above, Zwift Insider will be paid an affiliate commission by Zwift to help support this site. Thanks!
What’s New
Here’s how the new Zwift Ride differs from the original V1:
Bear Claw Cranks: Probably the most-requested upgrade on the Zwift Ride, these crank arms, offering 5 crank length options, have been available as a $99 upgrade option for over a year.
Expanded Fore-Aft Seat Adjustment: A redesigned seat post topper lets you place the saddle clamp in 4 different fore-aft positions for an additional 30mm of fore-aft adjustability.
Reduced Minimum Saddle Height: Minimum rider height is now 4’10” (146cm), which is 2″ (6 cm) shorter than the V1.
Reduced Minimum Bar Height: Your bars can drop almost 4 cm lower on the V1 than the V2.
Wider Bar Tops: Instead of the uniformly thick bars of the V1, the V2 sports bars with wider tops for more hand comfort.
Improved Controllers: Not announced by Zwift, but confirmed by Zwift, the controllers on the new Ride feature an additional internal seal to keep them safe from moisture/sweat.
I dig into most of these changes below, but first… here’s a fun off-the-cuff video from my living room starring Ryan Condon and me…
Unboxing/First Impressions Video
Adjustable Crank Length
At a time when many riders are experimenting with shorter crank lengths, the original Zwift Ride’s lack of adjustability was a common source of complaint. (Not only did the V1 offer only a 170 mm option, but the cranks are non-standard, so you couldn’t swap in aftermarket cranks.) Zwift began selling a $99 bear claw crank upgrade in April 2025, but Zwifters consistently asked for these cranks to be included with a Zwift Ride purchase.
The bear claw cranks on the V2 are the same add-on cranks Zwift has been selling for the V1, with 5 options:
160 mm
165 mm
170 mm
172.5 mm
175 mm
New Fore-Aft Adjustable Seat Post Topper
Since the Zwift Ride’s initial release, some riders have requested the option of a seatpost that allows the saddle to be located further forward. (In fact, aftermarket options have arisen to meet this very need.)
The new seat post topper can be placed in 4 different positions for an additional 3 cm of fore-aft adjustability. Two positions can be reached with the topper oriented in one direction, while the other two positions are reached by turning the entire topper around to face the opposite direction.
A single bolt holds the assembly firmly in place, and it can be tightened or loosened using the Zwift Ride’s built-in tool.
Reduced Minimum Saddle and Bar Heights
Multiple changes to the frame geometry have made the Zwift Ride V2 more accommodating to smaller riders. While the V1’s stated rider size range was 152-198 cm with a minimum saddle height of 60 cm, the V2’s stated size range is 146-198 cm with a minimum saddle height of 56.75cm.
The main change enabling the reduced saddle height (and reach) is a slightly smaller frame, where all parts of the main triangle have been reduced in length. This also reduced the standover height and minimum bar height, with the V2’s bars able to drop almost 4 cm lower than the V1.
Reducing the size of the frame’s main triangle also reduces the minimum reach, further accommodating shorter riders.
It appears that Zwift labeled the seatpost heights, stem lengths, and bar heights so riders who know their Zwift Ride measurements from a V1 can easily set up a V2. They don’t translate perfectly, and modifying the new seatpost topper’s position will, of course, affect these. But it’s a thoughtful move on Zwift’s part, and a playful twist to have crown, smiley, and Ride On symbols as new measurements…
Wider Bar Tops
The narrow, uniform thickness of the original Zwift Ride’s handlebars didn’t win many fan awards, particularly for riders with larger hands.
The new Ride’s handlebars are oversized on the tops, like most modern bars, providing a much more comfortable grip surface.
Is it worth the upgrade?
That’s everything that’s new about the Zwift Ride V2 (apart from a new squirrel badge on the head tube and an updated rider sizing card). So the big question is – should you buy one?
Here’s my take: if you already own the Zwift Ride V1, upgrading to the V2 probably doesn’t make sense. If anything, you may want to purchase the adjustable cranks or updated seatpost, which Zwift says will be available at Zwift.com.
But if you’re looking for an upgrade to your existing bike/trainer setup, or looking to purchase your first indoor bike setup, the Zwift Ride V2 is everything the original Zwift Ride was, and more! The crank length options, saddle setback options, and accommodating minimum sizing for smaller riders are all big wins. Add that to the V2 shipping with the latest Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 and you’ve got a killer package at the same great price ($1299.99 / €1199.99 / £1099.99) as the original Zwift Ride.
Note: if you purchase the Ride bundle via the links above, Zwift Insider will be paid an affiliate commission by Zwift to help support this site. Thanks!
Share Your Thoughts
What do you think of the changes made in Zwift Ride V2? Will you be purchasing one yourself? Share your thoughts below!
What’s Coming Next? Read “This Season On Zwift” Fall 2026 Press Release
Zwift just released their latest “This Season on Zwift” announcement detailing map expansions, new app features, hardware updates, and events coming in the next few months. We’ve posted the complete press release below, and in the coming days, we’ll dive into some of the announcements in more detail.
This Season On Zwift Brings New Roads To Watopia, Zwift Ride v2, and Much More
The latest edition of this season on Zwift aims to make training simpler, more fun, and more effective for every rider
Zwift, the global online fitness platform, today announced highlights from its expansive roadmap coming This Season On Zwift. Designed to make the platform easier to use, more personalised, more effective, and highly rewarding, the upcoming updates cater to the full breadth of Zwift’s global community of active riders, from WorldTour professionals to beginner and recreational cyclists.
Zwift Ride v2 – Available Now
The best way to Zwift just got better. Available from today, Zwift Ride V2 brings more adjustability to Zwift’s much-loved smart bike while retaining the same great price ($1299.99 / €1199.99 / £1099.99). The updated Zwift Ride offers more adjustability, with a more compact frame that now accommodates riders from 4’10” to 6’6″ (146 to 198 cm). Additionally, Zwift Ride will come with adjustable cranks as standard, offering five different crank lengths (160 mm, 165 mm, 170 mm, 172.5 mm, 175 mm). An updated seatpost design also offers more fore-and-aft adjustability, helping Zwifters achieve a more forward saddle position than previously possible. For existing owners of Zwift Ride, the adjustable cranks and updated seatpost will be available to purchase as an accessory from Zwift.com.
Zwift Companion Home Screen Refresh – Coming October
This October, Zwift Companion app will get a fresh new look. Major updates to the home screen will simplify the experience, bringing more of what you need front and centre. Zwift Companion will do more to celebrate what you’ve achieved and highlight progress. The weekly activity graph will be broken into two screens, making it easier to view your week and track your fitness.
WHOOP Integration – Live in Zwift
Available to Zwifters from today is a new partner integration with WHOOP. This first wearables connection helps Zwifters get a fuller picture of their training, providing insights based on their WHOOP Recovery Score. On red days, Zwift will automatically adjust your Personal Recommendations, so athletes can still get a meaningful session without overreaching.
The WHOOP connection is available within Zwift today. Later this fall, Zwifters with a WHOOP connection will also benefit from an enriched experience within the WHOOP app, where your Zwift rides and runs will be visible.
Zwift Game Home Screen Update – Roll Out Starts Sept 22
It’s not just Zwift Companion that is due a makeover this coming season. Rolling out from September 22, the Zwift game home screen will undergo a refresh, bringing planning and progress front and centre. Scheduled content is elevated within the new home screen design, meaning your next activity is just a click away. Additionally, day tags assigned to planned activities help you visualise your week by what’s coming up.
Zwifters will also notice a new Progress Widget, helping them track their progress towards their weekly goals, alongside career progression stats, a much-requested update.
Watopia Expansion – Coming October 26
Zwift is set to further expand Watopia, the most popular destination in indoor cycling. Inspired by the West Coast of California and Catalina Island, this expansion adds roughly 18 kilometres of new roads connecting Jarvis to the Jungle. The new environment features a flat bypass option around the Epic KOM, and two crit-style circuits designed specifically for racing.
Tour of Watopia – Oct 5 – Nov 22
Zwifters can explore the new archipelago island chain from October 26th, when it launches in time for Stage 4 of the Tour of Watopia. The Tour of Watopia returns this year from Oct 5th – Nov 22nd with Double-XP and a new ultimate challenge.
Watt Lock – Coming October
Launching this October, “Watt Lock,” will give Zwifters more power to control their efforts. Watt Lock is an ERG mode toggle accessible via the Zwift Action Bar during freerides that lets Zwifters lock into a target power with a simple click. Now Zone 2 days, stay Zone 2. Those using Zwift Game controllers (Zwift Ride, Zwift Click or Zwift Play) can use the controllers to make simple adjustments to the target power on the fly.
Power Play – November 23-December 27
An all-new campaign is coming to Zwift this November. Power Play aims to give Zwifters a fresh and fun new way to get a quality workout, making use of Power Segments in New York, the Montmartre and The Grade climbs, and new Power Segments that will launch in the new Watopia Expansion. As always, rewards are on offer, from kits to Drops.
Drop Shop Updates – Season Long
If you’ve earned bonus Drops by participating in Power Play, there will be even more to spend them on this season, in the Drop Shop. Drops are Zwift’s in-game currency and can only be earned by riding. Zwifters can spend their hard-earned Drops in Zwift’s Drop Shop, the ultimate store front in cycling. This year, Zwift has overhauled the Drop Shop, and there are no plans to stop. Coming in October will be a Kona-themed drop, bringing the latest triathlon bikes and wheels to Zwift. Following that, will be a drop many have been requesting. Factor Bikes will be coming to the Drop Shop, along with Black Inc wheels. In addition, the iconic Zwift x Pinarello paint scheme will be made available for Zwifters to purchase.
Two New Halo Bikes – Late 2026
Halo Bikes are the ultimate buy to show off your hard work in Zwift. Zwift currently has three Halo Bikes available from Specialized, Cannondale and Pinarello. To earn the chance to purchase a Halo Bike, Zwifters must fully upgrade three bikes from the respective brand – no mean feat! Zwift will be expanding the Halo Bike range for the first time since launch, bringing new flagship bikes from Cervélo and Canyon. Fans of these brands should start levelling up their bikes now! Zwifters will need to stay tuned for the bike unveil this season, but can you guess one of the bikes?
Zwift Racing – New Series Starts September with Zwift Racing p/b DURA-ACE
Zwift’s always-on racing content is expanding this season with ‘Zwift Racing’. Zwift Racing will deliver “always-on” racing across TT, Crit, and Epic formats. The first series is powered by DURA-ACE and begins this September.
Zwift Racing League – Returns September
Also starting in September is Zwift’s team-racing event series, Zwift Racing League. This year, Zwift aims to make the series more accessible with ‘Road to Zwift Racing League’ introductory rides that aim to introduce new racers to the formats and how to find a new team. Additionally, a new ‘Race of Truth’ format will be introduced in Season One, a mass-start, draftless points race that will introduce a new tactical challenge.
Share Your Thoughts!
What do you think of Zwift’s roadmap for the next few months of new features? Comment below!
Zwift version 1.121 begins its phased rollout today. This minor update includes improvements to help us earn route badges with RoboPacers, plus new route badges for riders and runners. Read on for details!
Route Badges with RoboPacers
Historically, earning Route Badges while riding with a RoboPacer has been a bit hit and miss. While it seems logical that you would earn the badge as long as you cross the route’s start and finish line, that didn’t always happen.
Zwift says, “… completion badges are now awarded after teleporting to a friend or RoboPacer and completing a full route lap from the official start of the route. Please note that you must still complete a full lap from the route’s official starting point to earn the badge.”
Interestingly, Zwift added this note: “We have an open ticket to explore awarding route completion badges after a full lap, regardless of where on the route you begin.”
New Route Badges for Riders
Zwift has added cycling achievement badges to the following short routes:
These are all event-only routes, so you won’t see the unearned badge on your Badges screen. They’ll only show up once you’ve earned them!
And yes: all of these routes are included in the currently-running Zwift Shorts Challenge, which means many of us recently rode them. Alas, we did not earn the route badges when we rode the routes in recent weeks. We’ll need to ride them again!
New Route Badges for Runners
Zwift has added seven new route badges for runners, continuing the trend they started in the v1.119 release. Once you’ve installed version 1.121, the following routes will have achievement badges and XP available for runners:
Are you interested in racing on Zwift? ZRacing is a great place to begin. These events are popular because they’re made to fit anyone’s schedule, delivering a solid 1-hour workout (including warmup and cooldown) on an ever-changing set of courses.
Here’s everything you need to know about Zwift’s “ZRacing” – the platform’s most popular ongoing race series.
September’s Routes
Here are the routes we’ll be racing in this month’s series:
Stage 1 (September 7-13)
ZRacing: Croissant, 2 laps (21.8km, 122m) Aero + Draft powerups
Crit Club: The Bell Lap, 9 laps (17.8km, 152m) Draft + Aero powerups
Zwift has replaced the achievement badges you could formerly earn for completing every race in a ZRacing series with XP bonuses. You will now earn a 1000 XP bonus for completing stage 1, then additional bonuses for each stage thereafter.
GC Leaderboards
Zwift’s web-based leaderboards track the monthly GC competition. Access the ZRacing leaderboards at zwift.com/racing/zracing.
Your GC ranking is based on your best finishing time for each stage, and you can race each stage more than once to try for a better time.
Choosing Your Category
Zwift schedules three different flavors of ZRacing events in order to encourage “Fairer, more competitive racing for everyone.” They are titled Advanced, Range 1, and Range 2. Read on for details!
One common complaint among top-ranked racers is a lack of participation in the top category of ZRacing events. Zwift is working to change this by hosting special “Advanced” category races targetting riders with a Zwift Racing Score of 650+.
Advanced races are held less often than the Range 1/2 races in order to focus participation and improve competition at the top level.
Tighter, Alternating Categories for 700-
For riders with a Zwift Racing Score of 700 and below, ZRacing events feature tighter categories that alternate hourly between two different sets of ranges:
Category ranges flexing across events has implications for riders competing in the overall monthly GC. More on this below…
Riders with scores between 650-700 have the option of racing in the new Advanced events, or in the top category of Range 2 events.
If you’re looking for a race where you have the best shot of winning, the alternating Range 1/Range 2 events give you access to an event where you are fairly close to the top of the category range.
Looking for a harder workout? You can always race up a category, or choose a category range that puts you near the bottom of the category.
Monthly GC Competition
Every race event is a competition itself, but each month’s series is also a time-based GC (general classification) competition based on riders’ finishing times on each stage. The rider with the lowest overall time for that month’s races wins!
With three different flavors of ZRacing events being scheduled (Advanced, Range 1, and Range 2 as explained above), riders chasing the GC need to consider the following:
Field Size Matters: all else being equal, the fastest times will come from the largest fields. So riding in the most popular races can help your GC results. But also…
Category Range Matters: a group of riders with scores between 330-450 will be faster than a group of riders at 270-390. So while Zwift may recommend either of these categories for you if your score is 350, and you may have a better chance at a race win in the 270-390 group, the upper category may very well give you a better finishing time. But also…
Your Abilities Matter: neither of the above considerations matters if you get dropped from the front group midway through the race.
While the GC results pages at zwift.com let you filter by score range, those are really artificial groupings at this point since the actual events aren’t using those score ranges. It may be most helpful to see the GC as a way of ranking yourself against the entire universe of ZRacing participants, which means it’s up to you to choose your events and execute your races strategically to maximize your GC ranking.
Also worth noting: you can race each stage multiple times to improve your finishing time!
Planning a ride with a friendly RoboPacer but aren’t sure which route they’re riding? We’ve got you. This is Zwift’s cycling RoboPacer route rotation schedule for upcoming days. According to Zwift, Robopacers swap at 00:00 Pacific Time/08:00 UTC. Click a route for details!
Zwift Racing Powered By DURA-ACE Series Announced for September 2026
Zwift’s “ZRacing” is the platform’s most popular ongoing race series, and beginning in September, Zwift is placing it under the “Zwift Racing” umbrella. Moving forward, expect each monthly series to include ZRacing, Crit Club, Epic Race Club, and TT Club events.
This means each week’s offers races in four formats. Completing any of the four earns you an XP bonus and credit for the stage. Read on for details!
New This Month
DURA-ACE Features and Prize Draw
Each race of this series puts riders on one of the fast new Shimano DURA-ACE wheelsets. The C99/Disc is used for all the time trials, while the C50 and C60 are used for most of the other races, with the lighter C36 featuring only in week 4’s ZRacing event.
Additionally, there’s a DURA-ACE unlock and giveaway! Complete any event of this series and you’ll also unlock the in-game DURA-ACE cycling cap. You’ll then receive an email (if you’re opted into emails from Zwift) with details on how to enter the Shimano giveaway, with the chance to win:
One of 100 Shimano DURA-ACE baseball caps
1 set of DURA-ACE C50 wheels
Entry and prize fulfilment are administered by Shimano. Full eligibility and terms and conditions will be provided by Shimano.
Racing 101
For riders who want to get familiar with racing before jumping into an event, new Zwift Racing: Racing 101 events offer a guided introduction to the basics. Learn key racing skills in a group ride, then put them into practice when you’re ready to take on your first race.
You’ll earn a chunk of XP for each stage you complete, including 1000 XP for your first stage! Total XP for completing all four stages is 2000 XP (1000 XP for first stage, +500 for two stages, +300 for three stages, +200 for four stages).
Monthly GC leagues are also available for the Crit, Epic, and TT races. These can be found at ZwiftPower>Leagues.
Your GC ranking is based on your best finishing time for each stage, and you can race stages more than once to try for a better time.
Your Racing Profile
In May, Zwift launched the new “Racing Profile Page” at zwift.com, bringing all your Zwift race results together in one place so it’s easier to track performance and results etc. This page continues to be built out, including the addition of a power dashboard (see below). Sources tell me a ZRS history chart is arriving very soon!
In addition to the Crit, Epic, and TT races, Zwift now schedule four different flavors of ZRacing events to encourage “Fairer, more competitive racing for everyone.”
