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“We Ride Paris” Challenge Launched on Zwift In Partnership with Paris Saint-Germain

Eric Schlange
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1
“We Ride Paris” Challenge Launched on Zwift In Partnership with Paris Saint-Germain

“We Ride Paris” Challenge Launched on Zwift In Partnership with Paris Saint-Germain

This week, Zwift rolled out the We Ride Paris “connected cycling challenge” as part of a unique initiative spearheaded by the Paris Saint-Germain football club. Powered by the support of pro cycling team Groupama-FDJ UNITED plus WHOOP, Zwift, and Wilier, We Ride Paris aims to “bring as many people as possible together around a fun, sporting and collective challenge.”

Completing the Challenge

Completing the challenge is quite simple – all you have to do is ride at least 16.4 kilometers, either on Zwift or out on the road. This needs to be done between August 18, 2026 at 9am PDT and September 13, 2026 at 23:59 PDT.

While you can technically get entered into the prize giveaways managed by PSG (see below) by riding any 16.4km+ session on Zwift or outside, Zwifters will probably want to click and free ride the Crêpe Escape route via the We Ride Paris card on their home screens, or take part in one of the special We Ride Paris events (see below), since doing so unlocks the special We Ride Paris kit and socks, and triggers an automatic email with more info on entering the prize giveaway.

A digital screen shows We Ride Paris, with an activity completion message, confetti, and a reward for a We Ride Paris Kit. A cycling route is displayed on the left with stats.

Special Events

A number of events are taking place as part of this initiative – some on Zwift, and some IRL.

Virtual group rides will be held on Crêpe Escape with professional Groupama-FDJ UNITED riders (see upcoming events at zwift.com/events/tag/werideparis, or click the banner below).

Paris Saint-Germain logo with We Ride Paris text and sponsors on a blue background with red and blue stripes and subtle graphic drawings.

An IRL finale will be held at the Parc des Princes and an auction of exclusive bikes, with proceeds donated to the Paris Saint-Germain Endowment Fund – PSG For Communities and the Xana Foundation.

Prize Giveaways

Complete the challenge for an opportunity to enter for a chance to win prizes including attending an exclusive in-person event at Parc des Princes, the home of Paris Saint-Germain. Six winners will be chosen to take part in the event at the Club’s iconic stadium. The event will include a unique group ride on Zwift alongside Club personalities and professional riders from Groupama-FDJ UNITED.

Other prizes include a Zwift Ride, annual Zwift memberships, VIP experiences at professional cycling races with FDJ UNITED, official We Ride Paris IRL cycling kit, WHOOP wearables and monthly memberships, and vouchers to spend at the Paris Saint-Germain online store.

Important note: to be entered into the prize giveaway, you must register at the PSG website here after completing your qualifying ride.

Kit Unlock

Completing the Crêpe Escape route via the We Ride Paris home screen card or via a special We Ride Paris Zwift event unlocks the We Ride Paris kit and socks:

Two animated cyclists in blue and red uniforms stand back-to-back, with one facing forward and the other facing away. The background features blue and red vertical stripes and abstract sketches.

Fundraising

Paris Saint-Germain commissioned internationally renowned artist Edgar Plans to create the distinctive visual identity for We Ride Paris. His design has been applied to a cycling kit, Zwift Ride smart bikes, and Wilier bicycles, bringing together the worlds of Paris Saint-Germain, PSG For Communities, and the Xana Foundation.

Wilier and Zwift will provide five Filante SLR ID2 bikes and five Zwift Ride smart bikes respectively, all customized in the We Ride Paris colors. These exclusive pieces, created especially for the occasion, will be auctioned by Paris Saint-Germain. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to PSG For Communities, through the Paris Saint-Germain Endowment Fund, and the Xana Foundation to support their work.

Questions or comments?

Share below!

Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of August 22-23

Eric Schlange
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0
Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of August 22-23

This weekend is headlined by a memorial ride – the sort of event we never want to see, but nevertheless must be held. RIP Finlay Tarling.

That event is followed by the kickoff of SISU’s popular stage race series, and we finish up with three popular weekly community rides of varying difficulty.

🤝 WCC Ride for Fin

A cyclist in race gear and helmet poses with a bike, surrounded by a crowd. The Wobble Cycle Club logo appears on the left, featuring a cyclist on a penny-farthing. Background shows a bridge over water.

✅ Good Cause 　✅ Popular

On August 14, the cycling world lost Finlay Tarling in a tragic accident during Stage 8 of the Volta a Portugal. This Sunday, we come together to remember Fin, celebrate his life, and honor his memory by doing what he loved most — riding our bikes together.

Led by the Wobble Cycling Club, this is a 60-minute open-paced ride on Watopia’s Tair Dringfa Fechan route.

Participants are invited to donate to the fundraiser at gofund.me/526400d3f. “This fund can hopefully serve as part of a legacy project providing an opportunity to help future generations of young Welsh riders discover the freedom and confidence that a bike can give a child.”

Sunday, August 23 starting @ 3:45pm UTC/11:45am ET/8:45am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5676711

🥇SISU Punainen – Stage 1 (iTT)

✅ Popular 　✅ Stage Race

This weekend SISU’s Vuelta-Inspired “Punainen” race series kicks off with an individual time trial on Watopia’s Hilly Route (9.3km, 109m) – the very first route ever created in Watopia! Bring your fastest TT rig and be ready to go all-in. These are by far the most popular races this weekend, so if you’re looking to compete with lots of riders, look no further.

Learn more about the SISU Punainen series >

Multiple time slots Saturday and Sunday
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/sisu

🤝 The BMTR Fundo

Top-down view of three cyclists in matching black BMTR jerseys riding on a road, with the BMTR logo featuring a bear on the left side of the image.

✅ Popular Ride　✅ Legacy Leaders　✅ Endurance Challenge　✅ Kit Unlock

A regularly featured event here on Zwift Insider, the BMTR Fundo consistently draws lots of joiners because it’s well led and run week after week, year after year.

This week’s ride is on the London Calling route (31.2km, 207m) and you have four distance groups to choose from, all the way up to 100 miles!

Saturday, August 22 @ 12:10pm UTC/8:10am ET/5:10am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5675864

🤝 Vikings Valhalla Sunday Skaal Ride

✅ Endurance Challenge　✅ Legacy Leaders

It’s been a while since we’ve featured this event, but it’s always well-attended and well-led at a pace that helps everyone stay together. Experienced leaders and sweepers do their best to keep the groups together so everyone can work together to knock out a long ride!

This week’s ride is offered at a D pace of 1.6-2.0 W/kg, and is on Greater London Flat for 8 laps. That’s a total length of 99.1km and 468 meters of climbing.

Sunday, August 23 @ 7:05am UTC/3:05am ET/12:05am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5676548

🤝 Phoenix Rising Tronathon (Banded)

A group of cyclists ride closely together on a road lined with sunflowers, under a blue sky with scattered clouds. A white logo with a phoenix and the text Phoenix is visible in the upper left corner.

✅ Climbing　 ✅ Beginner Friendly　 ✅ Banded

If you want to take on Alpe du Zwift but find it a bit intimidating, join the Phoenix Rising crew on this banded ride. They’re taking on the Road to Sky route, which features the Alpe. Even if that is a bit too much for you to handle, the beauty of banded rides is that as long as you keep pedaling, you’ll stay with the group and keep making progress!

Sunday, August 23 @ 1:15pm UTC/9:15am ET/6:15am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5676666

How We Make Our Picks

We choose each weekend’s Notable Events based on a variety of factors including:

  • Is the event unique/innovative in some way?
  • Are celebrities (pro riders, etc) attending/leading?
  • Are signup counts already high, meaning the event is extra-popular?
  • Does the ride include desirable unlocks or prizes?
  • Does the event appeal to ladies on Zwift? (We like to support this under-represented group!)
  • Is it for a good cause?
  • Is it just plain crazy (extra long races, world record attempts, etc)?
  • Is it a long-running, popular weekly event with a dedicated leader who deserves a shout out?

In the end, we want to call attention to events that are extra-special and therefore extra-appealing to Zwifters. If you think your event qualifies, comment below with a link/details and we may just include it in an upcoming post!

Tiny Race Series – August 22 Routes – Zwift Shorts

Eric Schlange
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0
Tiny Race Series – August 22 Routes – Zwift Shorts

Tiny Race Series – August 22 Routes – Zwift Shorts

See zwiftinsider.com/tiny for current Tiny Race details.

Zwift Climb Portal Schedule

Eric Schlange
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161
Zwift Climb Portal Schedule

Zwift Climb Portal Schedule

Zwift’s Climb Portal gives Zwifters access to a growing library of famous real-life climbs in a gamified environment where roads are colored based on gradient. Learn more about the Climb Portal >

While the library of climbs continues to grow, only up to three climbs are accessible on any given day. The climb of the month (in green below) is available in France, while a second climb rotates every few days and is only available in Watopia. Both of these climbs can be selected at the bottom left of your Zwift homescreen (scroll down).

There is also a third place where another climb is featured: in the Climb of the Week box on the homescreen. Learn more >

Learn more about a climb by clicking it in the schedule below.

< August 2026 >
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
          1Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine La Turbie + Col d'EzeLa Turbie + Col d'Eze 2Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Col du Galibier (Lautaret)Col du Galibier (Lautaret)
3Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Col de la Croix Saint-RobertCol de la Croix Saint-Robert 4Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Col de la CouilloleCol de la Couillole 5Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Pas de Peyrol/Puy MaryPas de Peyrol/Puy Mary 6Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine La Super Planche des Belles FillesLa Super Planche des Belles Filles 7Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Col du PlatzerwaselCol du Platzerwasel 8Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Pla d'AdetPla d'Adet 9Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Col de Peyresourde (Avajan)Col de Peyresourde (Avajan)
10Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Old La HondaOld La Honda 11Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Oude KwaremontOude Kwaremont 12Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine CipressaCipressa 13Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Crow RoadCrow Road 14Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Old Willunga HillOld Willunga Hill 15Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Mt FujiMt Fuji 16Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Bealach na BàBealach na Bà
17Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Alto de PatiosAlto de Patios 18Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine KoppenbergKoppenberg 19Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Norton SummitNorton Summit 20Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Hardknott PassHardknott Pass 21Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Montée du ChinaillonMontée du Chinaillon 22Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine RocacorbaRocacorba 23Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine TrollstigenTrollstigen
24Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Mur de HuyMur de Huy 25Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine PaterbergPaterberg 26Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Mûr de BretagneMûr de Bretagne 27Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Cheddar GorgeCheddar Gorge 28Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine PoggioPoggio 29Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Mt. HamiltonMt. Hamilton 30Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Lagos de CovadongaLagos de Covadonga
31Col de la MadeleineCol de la Madeleine Cote de PikeCote de Pike            
Categories
 Climb of the Month
 Climb Portal - Blue
 Climb Portal - Dark Blue
 Climb Portal - Light Blue

Access the currently featured climbs easily from the bottom of the Zwift homescreen under “Just Ride”:

“Spiral Summit” Route Details (Watopia)

Eric Schlange
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0
“Spiral Summit” Route Details (Watopia)

“Spiral Summit” Route Details (Watopia)

See zwiftinsider.com/route/spiral-summit/

All About the New Shimano Dura-Ace Wheelsets in Zwift: C36, C50, C60, and C99/Disc

Eric Schlange
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8
All About the New Shimano Dura-Ace Wheelsets in Zwift: C36, C50, C60, and C99/Disc

All About the New Shimano Dura-Ace Wheelsets in Zwift: C36, C50, C60, and C99/Disc

Back on July 29th, Shimano announced the details of their new DURA ACE wheelsets. Keen eyes had already spotted these wheels in the WorldTour peloton, including Mathieu van der Poel riding them to multiple victories, including his epic TdF stage 21 win on Champs-Élysées!

The new wheelsets include the C99/Disc combo, the C60, the C50, and the C36. These wheels currently show as “coming soon”, with Shimano saying they’ll be available to consumers beginning in September:

Grid of six Shimano Dura-Ace bicycle wheels with prices, five labeled COMING SOON. Center image shows a close-up of a bike disc brake rotor above text: Rotors, Shop Disc Brake Rotors..

The new C36, C50, and C60 are effectively replacing the wheelsets of the same name that have been in Zwift for years (but you’ll need to buy the new wheels to get the upgrade). The older C36, C50, and C60 have been removed from the Drop Shop, but will remain in your garage if you’ve already purchased them. (Currently, the older wheels include “DURA-ACE” in the name, while the new wheels do not. Zwift says this will be changed soon, as all of Shimano’s wheels in Zwift come from their DURA-ACE line.)

Here are the ratings of the new wheels, along with level unlocks and pricing:

  • Shimano DURA-ACE C36: 3 stars aero, 4 stars weight, requires level 6+ and 600,000 Drops
  • Shimano DURA-ACE C50: 4 stars aero, 4 stars weight, requires level 10+ and 650,000 Drops
  • Shimano DURA-ACE C60: 4 stars aero, 3 stars weight, requires level 12+ and 650,000 Drops
  • Shimano DURA-ACE C99/Disc: 4 stars aero, 1 star weight, requires level 28+ and 900,000 Drops

The wheels are now available in the Drop Shop. But how do they compare with the previous versions, and how fast are they compared to other wheels on Zwift? Since Zwift’s 4-star rating system isn’t precise enough for our tastes, we ran these wheels through our standard battery of tests to determine exactly how they perform in Zwift and stack up against other wheelsets.

Let’s dive in and learn all about the in-game performance of these new Shimano DURA-ACE wheels!

Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance

A cyclist in racing gear rides a white Canyon bike on a road through a rocky desert landscape under a partly cloudy sky.

Shimano’s wheels have always been rather lackluster performers in game when compared to the full Drop Shop list, but they’ve been top performers if you look at wheels available at lower levels (like 12 and below). These new wheelsets continue the trend of being available at low levels, but are sped up so much that they effectively erase the need to purchase anything else!

Here’s how much faster the new versions of these DURA-ACE wheels are on the flats, compared to the older models:

  • C36: 11.2 seconds faster
  • C50: 21 seconds faster
  • C60: 17 seconds faster

Those are huge leaps! And the new C99/Disc pictured above is basically as fast as the best discs on the flats (and slightly faster on the climbs), while being available at a lower level (28). This has led to a major shakeup in our “fastest bike setups by level” tables, as shown below:

Fastest Wheelsets By Level (Pre 8/18/2026)

LevelFastest WheelsetTime
Savings
1Zwift Classic (Free)0s
3Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000)6.2s
12Shimano C60 (325,000)31.6s
15Roval Rapide CLX (500,000)33.4s
16Roval CLX64 (525,000)40.1s
25Zipp 808 (425,000)42.1s
28Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 (550,000) fastest non-disc53s
37Zipp 858/Super9 (750,000)54.7s
39Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc (900,000) fastest disc156.2s

Fastest Wheelsets By Level (New Table As Of 8/18/2026)

LevelFastest WheelsetTime
Savings
1Zwift Classic (Free)0s
3Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000)6.2s
6Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000)33.4s
10Shimano DURA-ACE C50 (650,000)46.1s
12Shimano DURA-ACE C60 (650,000)48.6s
28Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 (550,000) fastest non-disc53s
28Shimano DURA-ACE C99/Disc (900,000)158.2s

Climb Performance

A cyclist rides uphill on a sleek road bike through a vibrant, colorful cityscape with palm trees, modern buildings, and rainbow murals under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

As mentioned in the Flat Performance section above, Shimano’s wheels have been top performers among those unlocked at lower levels. These updated DURA-ACE hoops climb significantly better than their predecessors.

Here’s how much faster the new versions of these DURA-ACE wheels are on the climbs, compared to the older models:

  • C36: 3.5 seconds faster
  • C50: 12.6 seconds faster
  • C60: 13.1 seconds faster

This has led to a revision of our “Fastest Wheels by Level” list. While not as radical a revision as the aero performance list referenced above, it’s worth a mention.

Fastest Climbing Wheelsets by Level (Pre 8/18/2026)

LevelFastest WheelsetTime
Savings
1Zwift Classic (Free)0
3Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000)11.4s
5Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (150,000)18.7s
24Zipp 353 NSW (600,000)21.2s
29CADEX Max 50 (680,000)22.5s
32Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 (685,000)24.1s
35Princeton CarbonWorks Alta 3532 (685,000)25.9s

Fastest Climbing Wheelsets by Level (New Table As Of 8/18/2026)

LevelFastest WheelsetTime
Savings
1Zwift Classic (Free)0
3Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000)11.4s
6Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000)22.2s
29CADEX Max 50 (680,000)22.5s
32Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 (685,000)24.1s
35Princeton CarbonWorks Alta 3532 (685,000)25.9s

Not reflected in these tables but worth mentioning, the new C50 wheels come in just behind the C36 in climbing performance, putting them 5th overall. But the C50 are much better aero performers.

The new C99/Disc wheelset, while of course not a strong climber compared to non-disc wheelsets, is actually a bit lighter than the top disc wheels, meaning it climbs better than the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc and Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc. And when I say “a bit,” I mean less than 1 second faster – within our margin of error, but a measurable difference nonetheless.

Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using the Zwift Carbon frame.

Conclusions

With the release of these updated DURA-ACE wheelsets, Shimano’s wheels are finally truly strong performers. This is particularly true when you look at their very low level unlocks, but it’s even true compared to the overall landscape of wheels available to upper-level Zwifters. Our Wheel Ranking Charts show this clearly:

  • The C60 and C50 are in the 3rd and 4th slots in the Time Savings, Stacked (300W) chart
  • The C99/Disc is ranked above all other disc wheels when sorting by climb performance in the Time Savings Over 1 Hour (300W) chart, while the C36 and C50 are in the 4th and 5th slots

More experienced Zwifters may not pull the trigger to purchase the new DURA-ACE wheels (although I would bet many TT racers buy the new C99/Disc). But beginning Zwifters will surely be adding the non-disc DURA-ACE hoops to their garage early in their progression, since they’re the fastest wheels available below level 28.

These wheels have been added to the following posts:

Questions or comments?

Share below!

Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.

Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level

Eric Schlange
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25
Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level

If you’re racing on Zwift, upgrading your frame and wheels can cut crucial seconds off your efforts. But figuring out where to spend your hard-earned Drops can be confusing! So we’ve put together this table which lists the best climbing frame and wheelset available at every Zwift level.

Keep in mind this list applies only to bigger climbs. If your race is flat or only has short, rolling climbs you’ll probably want to go with a more aero setup.

Fastest Climbing Frames by Level

LevelFastest Frame Time
Savings
1Zwift Steel (Free)0
3Zwift Carbon (55,000)31.1s
8Liv Langma Advanced SL 2025 (1,000,000)72.1s
10Canyon Aeroad 2024 (1,100,000)73.9s
12Canyon Ultimate CFR (350,700)74.2s
17Scott Addict RC (660,200)77.8s
21Van Rysel RCR Pro (1,400,000)79.4s
30Specialized Aethos S-Works (966,300)*85.8s
40Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 (1,900,000)87.7s

* The un-upgraded version of the Specialized Aethos S-Works climbs a bit slower than the un-upgraded Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9, but if you compare the fully-upgraded versions of both bikes, the Aethos is a much stronger climber. This is due to how Zwift’s upgrade system is structured. See charts/data >

Fastest Climbing Wheelsets by Level

LevelFastest WheelsetTime
Savings
1Zwift Classic (Free)0
3Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000)11.4s
6Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000)22.2s
29CADEX Max 50 (680,000)22.5s
32Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 (685,000)24.1s
35Princeton CarbonWorks Alta 3532 (685,000)25.9s

Total time savings of fastest frame and wheelset over stock Zwift setup (Zwift Steele frame and Zwift classic wheels): 87.7+25.9=113.6 seconds

Times above are based on our climbing speed tests, done with a solo 75kg, 183cm rider at 300 watts on Watopia’s Alpe du Zwift.

Strategic Shopping

It may seem simplest to just purchase each frame or wheelset on the list as soon as you level up, but if you want to maximize performance you also need to take Zwift’s Bike Upgrade functionality into account, since it rewards riders who stay on the same frame long enough to fully upgrade it. Simply put: it doesn’t make sense to buy each frame/wheelset on this list, since you won’t be able to fully upgrade it before having access to buy the next fastest frame. So you’ll need to choose your purchases/upgrades wisely.

There’s another factor to consider here as well, when you’re looking strictly at climbing performance. Zwift’s upgrade system is structured so that, if a bike is classified as a climbing bike, the upgrades it receives are more climbing-focused. All-arounders and aero bikes, on the other hand, receive more “balanced” upgrades between aero and climb performance.

Specialized Aethos + Roval Alpinist CLX

So while the table above shows the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 outperforming the Specialized Aethos S-Works on climbs, this is only true if the frames aren’t upgraded. If you compare fully-upgraded versions of those frames (the toggle on this Tron vs Top Performers chart may help), the Aethos is actually a much better climber, putting ~21 seconds into the S-Works Tarmac SL9 over an hour on a climb.

A close-up side view of a cyclist riding a road bike, focusing on the legs, pedals, wheels, and part of the frame against a white background.
Trek Emonda SL + Lightweight Meilensteins

The Trek Emonda (unlocked by completing the Climb Mt Everest Challenge) earns a mention here as well, because it is classified as a climbing bike and will outclimb all bikes except the Aethos when fully upgraded.

Don’t have enough Drops? Keep riding – you’ll get them soon enough! (Learn how to earn more Drops here.) And if you’re wanting to level up faster, check out How to Earn More XP and Level Up Faster on Zwift.

Improvement by Level

Even more so than our list of most aero frames and wheels by level, the biggest performance gains for climbing come very early in a Zwifter’s level progression. Over 83% of total gains are attainable by just level 8!

Your Thoughts

Hopefully this helps you select a bike for your next race, no matter your Zwift level. Got questions or comments? Post below!

Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.

Fastest Aero TT Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level

Eric Schlange
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23
Fastest Aero TT Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level

If you’re racing time trials on Zwift, upgrading your frame and wheels will cut some significant time off your efforts. And in the “race of truth” where there is no hiding in the draft, every bit of savings counts!

But figuring out where to spend your hard-earned Drops can be confusing, so we’ve put together these tables listing the fastest TT frame and wheelset available at each Zwift level.

Keep in mind this list applies only to flat and rolling routes. The list below is essentially a simplified, flat-race-focused version of our complete Zwift Shopping Guide. If the climbs in your time trial race are steep and/or last more than a few minutes, you may want to consider a more climbing-friendly setup.

Fastest TT Frames by Level

LevelFastest Frame Time
Savings
1Zwift Steel (Free)*0s
3Zwift Carbon (55,000)*5.1s
4Zwift TT (60,000)137s
7BMC Timemachine01 (400,000)158s
10Cube Aerium (251,700)158.2s
16Felt IA 2.0 (750,000)174.8s
19Scott Plasma RC Ultimate (600,000)175.2s
31Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc (1,200,000)178.8s
40Canyon Speedmax CFR (1,250,000)184.1s

* the Zwift Steel and Carbon frames aren’t TT frames, but they are the fastest frames available at their respective unlock levels, so they’re listed here as a baseline reference.

Fastest Wheelsets By Level

LevelFastest WheelsetTime
Savings
1Zwift Classic (Free)0s
3Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000)7.2s
6Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000)38.3s
10Shimano DURA-ACE C50 (650,000)52.3s
12Shimano DURA-ACE C60 (650,000)55.2s
28Shimano DURA-ACE C99/Disc (900,000)75.6s
39Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc (900,000)75.8s

Total time savings of fastest TT frame and wheelset over stock Zwift setup (Zwift Steel frame and Zwift Classic wheels): 184.1+75.8=259.9 seconds

Times above based on our flat speed tests, done with a solo 75kg, 183cm rider at 300 watts on Watopia’s very flat Tempus Fugit route.

Strategic Shopping

It may seem simplest to just purchase each TT frame or wheelset on the list as soon as you level up, but you won’t have the Drops to do so. Plus, if you want to maximize performance, you also need to take Zwift’s Bike Upgrade functionality into account, since it rewards riders who stay on the same frame long enough to fully upgrade it.

Speaking of upgrades: all the time data in this post is from un-upgraded versions of the frames. Upgraded frames will be even faster. Get detailed charts here >

Don’t have enough Drops? Keep riding – you’ll get them soon enough! (Learn how to earn more Drops here.) And if you’re wanting to level up faster, check out How to Earn More XP and Level Up Faster on Zwift.

What About the Pinarello Espada?

The Pinarello Espada is currently the only TT Halo Bike in Zwift, but it wasn’t included in the list above for two reasons:

  • It takes a lot of work to unlock. You’ll need to fully upgrade three Pinarello frames before you can purchase the Espada, and even then you’ll need 10 million Drops to add it to your garage!
  • It’s not the fastest TT setup on Zwift. Not even close, actually. It’s 90.9 seconds faster than the base TT setup on flat roads, but the top TT frame (Canyon Speedmax CFR) coupled with the top wheelset (Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc) is 115.7 seconds faster. And let’s not even talk about how slow the Espada is on climbs!

The Espada is a status symbol on Zwift, for sure, but it performs like what it is: a TT bike that’s over 30 years old.

Read all about the Pinarello Espada >

Improvement by Level

The biggest TT performance gains come early in a Zwifter’s level progression, just as they do with road bikes. Here’s how much time you would be saving across an hour of flat riding if you upgraded to the recommended setups above at each level:

The biggest individual improvement comes when you upgrade to the Zwift TT frame (your first TT frame) at level 4. And by level 12, over 82% of your possible improvement has already been achieved. And once you’ve hit level 40, the only way you’ll get faster is by racing smarter and training stronger!

Digging Deeper

Want to dig deeper into the speeds of various frames and wheels? Check out our ranking charts and public test data.

Your Thoughts

Hopefully this helps you select a rig for your next TT effort, no matter your Zwift level. Got questions or comments? Post below!

Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the TT frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top TT Performers for current time trial-related performance data.

Top 5 Zwift Videos: Alpe du Zwift, Zwift vs IRL, and Zwift Racing League

Oli Chi
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0
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Alpe du Zwift, Zwift vs IRL, and Zwift Racing League

As we make our way into the latter half of 2026, there is still time to chase your goals for the year. In this week’s top video, one Zwifter discusses new goals for 2026 and sets a fitness benchmark on the iconic Alpe du Zwift.

We’ve also included videos about climbing Mont Ventoux on both Zwift and in real life, details on Zwift Racing League, riding a stage from the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (TDFFaZ), and a look into a year’s worth of fitness gains.

Can I DESTROY My Alpe du Zwift PR in 5 Months?

After some time off from serious training, Benji Naesen climbs Alpe du Zwift to set his benchmark for his upcoming training block. How far is he from his goal for 2026?

Can You REALLY Experience Mont Ventoux On Zwift?

Adam from Road to A climbs Mont Ventoux in real life and compares it side-by-side with Zwift’s version of the climb.

ZRL 2026/27: Everything We Know About the New Season

Looking to get involved in some of Zwift’s finest racing? Casual Creations breaks down the changes made for the upcoming Zwift Racing League season.

Can I Survive The Hardest Stage Of The Tour De France Femmes?

Ryan Condon joins the Zwift team (including Zwift CMO Steve Beckett) to tackle the most challenging stage of the TDFFaZ in the L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes.

What 333 Days on Zwift Actually Does to Your Body

It’s been nearly a year since Liam Shaw entered the world of Zwift. In his latest video, he looks at how much his power numbers have improved.

Got a Great Zwift Video?

Share the link below, and we may feature it in an upcoming post!

Fastest Aero Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level

Eric Schlange
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18
Fastest Aero Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level

If you’re racing on Zwift, using the fastest frame and wheels available can cut some significant time off your efforts. But figuring out where to spend your hard-earned Drops can be confusing! So we’ve put together this table which lists the fastest frame and wheelset available at every Zwift level.

Keep in mind this list applies only to road bikes on flat and rolling routes. The data here doesn’t apply to climbing races or time trials using TT frames. (That info will come in other posts.)

Fastest Frames By Level

LevelFastest Frame Time
Savings
1Zwift Steel (Free)0s
3Zwift Carbon (55,000)5.1s
8Liv Langma Advanced SL 2025 (1,000,000)65.2s
10Canyon Aeroad 2024 (1,100,00)*68.1s
30Canyon Aeroad CFR Alpecin Premier-Tech* (1,750,000)68.4s
40Cervelo S5 (1,800,000)68.6s

* There are several frames which all turn in times within ~1 second of the Canyon Aeroad 2024 in our flat tests, so we consider them to be essentially equal in flat performance. The Aeroad is listed here since it is available at a much lower level than the others. These fast frames differ significantly in climb performance, though (learn more), so you’ll want to pay attention to that metric when choosing a bike.

Fastest Wheelsets By Level

LevelFastest WheelsetTime
Savings
1Zwift Classic (Free)0s
3Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000)6.2s
6Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000)33.4s
10Shimano DURA-ACE C50 (650,000)46.1s
12Shimano DURA-ACE C60 (650,000)48.6s
28Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 (550,000) fastest non-disc53s
28Shimano DURA-ACE C99/Disc (900,000)158.2s

1 It’s worth noting that disc wheels perform better on TT frames than road frames, so the performance gap between disc and non-disc wheels will be larger on TT frames vs road frames. The data above applies to road frames only.

Total time savings of fastest frame and wheelset over stock Zwift setup (Zwift Steel frame and Zwift Classic wheels) across 1 hour of riding: 68.5+58.2=126.8 seconds

Times above based on our flat speed tests, done with a solo 75kg, 183cm rider at 300 watts on Watopia’s very flat Tempus Fugit route.

Strategic Shopping

It may seem simplest to just purchase each frame or wheelset on the list as soon as you level up, but if you want to maximize performance you also need to take Zwift’s Bike Upgrade functionality into account, since it rewards riders who stay on the same frame long enough to fully upgrade it. Simply put: it doesn’t make sense to buy each frame/wheelset on this list, since you won’t be able to fully upgrade it before having access to buy the next fastest frame. So you’ll need to choose your purchases/upgrades wisely.

Speaking of upgrades: all the time data in this post is from un-upgraded versions of the frames. Upgraded frames will be even faster. Get more details here >

Don’t have enough Drops? Keep riding – you’ll get them soon enough! (Learn how to earn more Drops here.) And if you’re wanting to level up faster, check out How to Earn More XP and Level Up Faster on Zwift.

What About the Tron Bike?

The Zwift Concept Z1 (Tron) bike is much faster than the stock Zwift Steel+Classic wheels setup, and in fact just slightly faster than the fastest setup shown above.

The Tron bike doesn’t climb well, though; a fact you’ll want to consider if you are racing a course with any significant hills.

We didn’t include the Tron in the chart above since you can’t separate the Tron’s frame from its wheels, and there is no set level where the Tron bike is unlocked. That said, we think it’s certainly a bike worth unlocking! Here’s how to do that >

Want to look closer at the Tron bike’s performance compared to other top racing setups? See Speed Tests: Concept Z1 (Tron) Bike vs Top Performers.

Charting Speed Increase by Level

The biggest performance gains come early in a Zwifter’s level progression. Here’s how much time you would be saving at each level if you upgraded to the recommended setups above:

You can see that purchasing the fastest frame and wheelset at level 12 delivers 90% of the overall possible improvement.

The chart only goes up to level 40, since there aren’t any new bikes or wheels available beyond that level. At that point, the only way you’ll get faster is by racing smarter, training stronger, and of course, upgrading your bike frame!

Digging Deeper

Want to dig deeper into the speeds of various frames and wheels? Check out our ranking charts and public test data.

Your Thoughts

Hopefully this helps you select a bike for your next race, no matter your Zwift level. Got questions or comments? Post below!

Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.

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