It’s April Fools’ Day on Zwift, and We’re Big Wheelin’…

It’s April Fools’ Day, and you know what that means – the game team at Zwift is going to have a little fun!

This is our 7th April Fools’ Day on Zwift, and each year ZHQ has come up with something fun for the community. (Last year we were transported to 1989, and in 2019 we were burning rubber. The year before that it was Paperboy. In 2017 we had big heads, 2016 gave us the old-timey effect, and 2015 we rode big wheels on Jarvis.

This year Zwift recycled some of the funny stuff they’ve done in the past (with a twist). That’s right – the big wheels are back!

Changing Bikes

If you’re free-riding in game today, you’re stuck on the Big Wheel bike. Attempting to change to a different bike simply changes your bike’s colors. But if you head back to the garage, you’ll see your frame change wasn’t saved. And you can’t change your wheels, either!

Not Used In Events

It appears that the big wheel isn’t being used for official events – Zwift says they definitely aren’t being used in races. Which is good, since today is TTT day, and these trikes do not perform well (see below)!

Tron Trike

Some riders are seeing themselves in game with a Tron trike. This is the first time we’ve seen a Big Wheel with a tron look! It seems as though only you see yourself on the Tron trike, though – other riders see you on the normal trike.

And not everyone gets a Tron trike. It seems to be level-based, but we’re not sure what level that is! Our test account at level 13 didn’t have the Tron trike, and our test account at level 42 did have it. So the level unlock, if there is one, is somewhere in between 13 and 42.

Speed Testing the Big Wheel

We took the Big Wheel for a spin on our regular flat and climb tests. (We also tried testing it after “changing” frames, to see if it made a difference. It didn’t.) Here are the times the Big Wheel turned in:

  • Flat Test: 51:37 – this is quite slow – the same time as the Zwift Safety bike, and about 80 seconds slower than the fastest road setup.
  • Climb Test: 50:04 – this is quite slow – the same time as the Scott Plasma TT bike with the stock 32mm carbon wheels. Slower than any of the road frames, coupled with the 32mm wheels.

Runners

Some runners are showing up in the Delta Daring skin, which debuted in game for Halloween 2020:

But we’re not seeing that for all runners, and we’re not sure what determines who suits up and who doesn’t!

See It In Action

Watch our favorite Aussie Lama test the big wheels:

Your Comments

What do you think of April Fools this year? Did I miss anything in my summary above? Share below!

Eric Schlange
Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

33 COMMENTS

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

33 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
P Madigan Jr
P Madigan Jr
2 years ago

I thought it was fun. A little disappointed that it was used during the TOW ride so I logged back in just to ride it. It would be fun to do a group ride with everyone on trikes.

René Rosendahl
René Rosendahl
2 years ago

I got a good laugh today🤣🤣🤣

Steve Ricketts
Steve Ricketts
2 years ago

Great fun… appreciate the time and effort Zwift puts into it just for a change of pace and a little fun!

Missy Bennie
Missy Bennie
2 years ago

I actually rode better this morning with my Big Wheels. It actually fits me better being 5′ tall. I’d like to keep it please. LOL

Brent
Brent
2 years ago

So it’s not the new aero recumbent e-bike, the Trek Mad-money?

Isaac
Isaac
2 years ago

I am Level 29 and I have the Tron Tricycle:
//:0

Isaac
Isaac
2 years ago
Reply to  Isaac

argh cant copy the image

Humbug
Humbug
2 years ago

Tedious. Perhaps the devs could spend time fixing the piss-poor UEX and less time on nonsense like this.

M4rk0
M4rk0
2 years ago
Reply to  Humbug

Picturing all the people asking for handcycles for all these years, shaking their heads.

Simon Shackleton
Simon Shackleton
2 years ago
Reply to  Humbug

Bet you’re fun at parties.

Whitney Stidham
Whitney Stidham
2 years ago

I think it’s hilarious! I saw a couple yesterday when I was riding.

Alan
Alan
2 years ago

Super upset that I couldn’t use the Trike for TOW!! I don’t really see the logic behind that one. I know some people may not have wanted it, but it definitely should have been an option. Really really really sucked!!!!

Hugh Grainger
Hugh Grainger
2 years ago
Reply to  Alan

I did the TOW and one person was riding the trike. Very funny. No idea how.

Evan
Evan
2 years ago

I thought that people who have the Tron Bike, get the Tron Trike. I have the Tron Trike, and was riding it, and then I switched to Canyon Aeroad and it was different. Maybe only me?

D eadpool
D eadpool
2 years ago

I wish they’d not disabled it for group rides. It would have been easy to make it a sub fit the basic Zwift carbon as they have in the past so Zwifters could choose to ride it if not (which we couldn’t today).

Sherpa Dave
Sherpa Dave(@dashton)
2 years ago

I just wish we all had BigWheels for the TTT… that would have been amazing

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Although there’s quite a few things to fix and on going bugs I do get a load out of zwift so top marks for today’s trikes. Gave me and my mate a laugh today!

Lori
Lori
2 years ago

I loved it! Took photos!

Tracy M
Tracy M
2 years ago

Hey Zwift! Can you make the Big Wheel a regular option???? It was just so fun to switch things up like that!!! Thanks for the experience! PS the wobble head 🤣

John Laurence
John Laurence
2 years ago

Perhaps a coincidence but Zwift crashed on me on me 44 miles into a 45 mile ride today. Never once crashed before. Can’t but help think it was related to the silliness.

Pat
Pat
2 years ago

A TRON Big Wheel is about the only thing I’d spend drops on, should be choice in the shop along with the other one off bikes we’ve gotten over the years.

No supertuck coming off of Fox Hill on my Big Wheel, looks like the long arm of the UCI extends to Zwift…

Saw two aliens out for a run among all spacesuits out for a jog, different.

Isaac
Isaac
2 years ago
Reply to  Pat

yeah i saw an alien in watopia

MeBikeEscape
MeBikeEscape
2 years ago

Been using Zwift for a few years now and this is the first time I was able to ride the Hot Wheels. So enjoyable. Especially since my main bike is a Catrike Expedition, which is a three wheel tadpole style recumbent bike. Wish it was an in game skin/bike I could use my drops on. 

Barry Flegenheimer
Barry Flegenheimer
2 years ago

Hated it. Stopped trying to ride immediately.

Joel
Joel
2 years ago

All you had to do was end your ride and start a new one and it reverted to everyone in normal bikes.

M4rk0
M4rk0
2 years ago
Reply to  Joel

And how is one supposed to know that?

Ken
Ken
2 years ago

Loved the Big Wheels. Great change of pace to look at. Loved how they went up on 2 wheels around sharp bends even though it was the inside wheels instead of the outside wheels. Super cool if we could drift them haha

Xavier
Xavier
2 years ago

I saw someone on a trike during a TOW stage yesterday and I was immensely jealous.
As a triker IRL (never rode a normal bike) I would love to be able to ride a trike in Zwift as well. I see it’s technically possible and I have 20 millions drop, how much is it going to cost me? 🙂

Norman Barrett
Norman Barrett
2 years ago

Not for me I’m afraid very distracting 🙁

Dan
Dan
2 years ago

Wife and I laughed watching our heads bobble side to side.

m.lee
m.lee
2 years ago

fun but the dynamics seemed off. i got passed a few times but trikes at much lower w/kg. maybe that was part of the April Fool’s fun?

Daniel Goehring
Daniel Goehring(@daniel-goehring)
2 years ago

For next years April Fools day shenanigans, I’d like to see zwifters all riding unicycles.

Get Started on Zwift

Newest Featured Posts

Support This Site

Write a post, shop through us, donate or advertise. Learn more

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Zwift tips and news every 2 weeks! Click to subscribe.

33
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x