Each stage of Tour of Watopia 2022 includes a brand-new route, most of which are former Rebel Routes. Finish the route, unlock the achievement badge, and you’ll earn triple XP for your efforts thanks to the extra XP being awarded for ToW!
Many Zwifters don’t realize that the bike frames and wheelsets you use in game affect your speed. Frames and wheels in the Drop Shop have a star weight and aero rating, and the more stars, the better! Just like outside, a more aero setup will perform best on high-speed flats and downhills, while a lighter-weight bike is what you want for long climbs.
If you’re looking to push the pace in your ToW efforts and get your very best course time, here are bike recommendations for each of the new routes.
Three Little Sisters (Stage 1)
With a mix of shorter climbs, rollers, and flat sections, the Three Little Sisters course is made for an all-arounder bike. You’re looking for a frame and wheels which are quite aerodynamic, but still lightweight.
- Beginner Option (Level 15 and below): Canyon Aeroad 2021 (568,000 Drops, level 10) with DT Swiss ARC 62 wheels (184,600 Drops, level 6)
- Advanced Options: Zwift Concept Z1 or the Chapter2 TOA (426,000 Drops, level 18+) with ENVE 7.8 wheels (205,900 Drops, level 39+)
Astute observers may notice we didn’t include the Chapter2 TOA in our recommended list. That’s because we thought Zwift made it a bit less aero in the latest update, placing the Scott Addict RC is back on top. Further tests showed the Chapter2 TOA is just as fast as ever, though, so we would recommend it above the Scott Addict RC as it’s just a bit faster.
The other two route options for stage one are Watopia’s Figure 8 and Two Bridges Loop. These routes feature punchy climbs and rolling roads similar to Three Little Sisters, so the same bike recommendations apply.
Triple Flat Loops (Stage 2)
As the name implies, Triple Flat Loops doesn’t involve much climbing. In fact, all three routes for this stage are flat, which means aero performance rules the day. Use the most slippery frame and wheels you can afford, then go go go!
- Beginner Option (Level 15 and below): Canyon Aeroad 2021 (568,000 Drops, level 10) with Zipp 808 wheels (177,600 Drops, level 13)
- Advanced Options: Cervelo S5 2020, Felt AR, Specialized Venge S-Works, or Uranium Nuclear frame paired with the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DiCut Disc wheels (1,579,800, level 42+). If you don’t have a disc wheelset, the Zwift Concept Z1 is your fastest bike.
Downtown Titans (Stage 3)
This route features short climbs and rolling roads, so the same options as Stage 1 will work well on Downtown Titans:
- Beginner Option (Level 15 and below): Canyon Aeroad 2021 (568,000 Drops, level 10) with DT Swiss ARC 62 wheels (184,600 Drops, level 6)
- Advanced Options: Zwift Concept Z1 or the Chapter2 TOA (426,000 Drops, level 18+) with ENVE 7.8 wheels (205,900 Drops, level 39+)
Handful of Gravel (Stage 4)
Since this is a gravel route, all riders will be placed on the Zwift Gravel bike with Zwift Gravel wheels. This setup performs much better than a road bike on gravel, just like outdoors!
Eastern Eight (Stage 5)
With two trips up the Titans Grove KOM and plenty of flat road in between, you’ll want to pick a setup that helps you perform when it counts on Eastern Eight. An all-arounder is a good choice here, since it helps you on the climbs but doesn’t lose much on the flats. Strong climbers, though, may choose a strictly aero setup (see stage 2) and have an extra edge on the flats and finish.
- Beginner Option (Level 15 and below): Canyon Aeroad 2021 (568,000 Drops, level 10) with DT Swiss ARC 62 wheels (184,600 Drops, level 6)
- Advanced Options: Zwift Concept Z1 or the Chapter2 TOA (426,000 Drops, level 18+) with ENVE 7.8 wheels (205,900 Drops, level 39+)
Going Deeper
If you haven’t done much research on how Zwift’s various frames and wheels perform, here are some places to start:
- Wheel Performance Charts
- Frame Performance Charts
- Fastest Frames and Wheelsets at Each Level
- Tron vs Top Performers
Good luck on your Tour of Watopia rides. Push hard, level up, and Ride On!
Questions or Comments?
Post below!
Chapter2 TOA nurfed…!!
Which are the new values of Chapter2 TOA?
If I interpret “Zwift made it a bit less aero in the latest update, which means the Scott Addict RC is back on top.” correctly, the TOA should have lost at least 2 secs in flat timings. TOA and Addict was really close before, Addict 1 sec fast on climb, TOA 3 secs faster on flat.
And if you compare with the Aeroad. Before the nerf, it was only 1 sec (now at least 3 secs) faster on the flats than the TOA, but 7 secs slower on climbs. I am wondering, if that qualify the Aeroad as a better all-rounder than the TOA…
Eric, we are really curious on the new numbers of the Chapter2!!! 🙂
I’m so tired of spending my drops on the “latest and greatest” frames only to have Zwift turn around and Nerf it on the next update. I literally got one ride on on the TOA before they decided my hard earned drops needed to be detuned. Can I email support and ask for a refund or exchange for the addict?
What? I’ve only just bought it and done one ride as well, thought it was better than the scott. has it been nurfed?
Don’t worry, assuming you’re in the level 18-30 range there’s nothing worth buying for a while now (and the Chapter 2 is still a great all around frame until you get Tron or level up for the Addict). You don’t need those drops, and but the time you’re high enough in level to get the best gear (Venge with disc, Addict & Enve 7.8) you will have 6 million drops just waiting to be used.
Been level 50 for 18 months and have more drops than I know what to do with 🤣 . Have all 3 disc wheels, ENVE’s, Lighweights, Swiss, Zipps, Tron, Venge, Felt AR, Addict, Best TT bikes etc, etc. just wish that stats wouldn’t move, might go back the Addict, I only liked the chapter as you could change colours 😄
I’m glad I waited! I suspected they’d nerf it. Lvl 18 – top allrounder. Sounded to good to be true.
Zwift should hire Eric to test their new equipment BEFORE they’re released!
I have so much crap-tier equipment in my Zwift garage now. I recently unlocked the Z1 and don’t see myself using anything else, ever, until I get the top-tier disc wheelset and want to do a TT on entirely flat routes.
If I had a do-over: I’d buy NOTHING until the top TT bike and wheelset. (and not use any unlock codes for kit since you can’t remove it once it’s in your garage)
Has the 2020 S5 been fixed Eric?
it was fixed 2 updates ago.
Eric did a whole post about retesting with the fixed group sets.
So, the TRON for all rides except the gravel ride. Got it.
Maybe you should have led with that. 🙂
I find the Scott Addict RC climbs faster so I always use that on routes with climbing.
So the new Crux and Enve gravel wheels I bought for the ToW will be sitting in my garage while I get assigned a standard bike? Ouch.
Yeah… that’s what I told ZHQ. 😬
Ridiculous and short sighted decision IMO
Exactly! Weird to roll out new gravel frame and wheels and then not let zwifters use them for their handful of gravel event!
My guess is that they expect a lot of people to not know that they should change to a gravel bike/wheels before the event so they set the equipment for the event, and they don’t have the ability to allow people to change up their own upgraded gravel equipment beyond the basic ones?
Another case of press hype by ZI and nerf for the TOA. It wasn’t mentioned officially in the patch notes. You just retested on a whim huh? You got me again, Eric. At least it was only for 426,000 this time. Go update the other 5 places on ZI it’s now listed wrong at least.
I’m on level 26. So for a long time it’s just been “set it to Canyon Aeroad and DT Swiss ARC 62 and never think about it again” for me unless I’m going through the Jungle. No incentive for me to drop shop or care really.
Erm, what happened to the Chapter2 TOA? It was the best all-rounder last week by some distance. Is there an updated speed test for frames and wheels? Some of the references/links seem outdated. It’s getting boring/tiring with them changing the speeds on a whim every week 🙄
If indeed they are changing the speeds as much as is ‘claimed’….
No bike / wheels choice advice for stage 4 Eric?
Thanks. R.
As noted above, everyone gets the Zwift Gravel bike and Zwift Gravel wheels.
Oohhhhh thanks, so weird, just read that 🤔
So we don’t get the option of riding our own gravel bikes on st4? Why bring out the new gravel wheels for ToW then?
That’s a very good question! 🤷♂️
My guess is that its only a tactics used to “sell” bikes in the Drop Shop. Bit of publicity to the manufacturer to have them hand over more cash.
Same with the Chapter2 bike. It might have been nerfed, but thousands were sold and not everyone will read this article.
Thanks for this nice write up by stage!
Have you updated the charts with the new Chapter 2 performance?
It’s ridiculous pretty much every new bike that gets released with decent performance gets a downgrade on the next update 🤨.
Would you like to receive alerts of new posts? NOT YET YES.
How about NEVER? Seriously, I like this site Eric but the amount of bullshit crap popups that I have to block to make it usable is getting beyond ridiculous.
As a beginner, if you opt for the Focus Izalco over the Aeroad, you’re 5 seconds faster up the Alpe for the cost of just 1 second on the flats *and* 142,000 drops closer to those sweet Zipp 808s that’ll save you two or three times more time than the frames ever will.
Unless I’ve misunderstood, that seems like a better option.
… until the most recent updates make the Canyon Aeroad the best bike in the game and make a fool of me. Hey ho.
Thank you for this Eric. I only recently earned the Zwift Concept Z1 but, the more I read, the more I’m convinced there’s little reason to use anything other than the Z1 else unless I’m shooting for a specific PR. (pure flat Time Trial, or pure climb segment on Strava) I’m not high enough level to own a disc wheel-set so that’s another factor.
I’m almost level 16. 5’10” 195 lbs and not much of a climber using Spec Allez sprint with 808’s with 200,000 drips wanting to buy my next frame soon. Should I buy Canyon Aerod 2021 or Chapter 2 TOA. I’m only 36% up Everest.
Hi I would choose Canyon Aerod 2021 as Chapter 2 TOA performance has been downgraded since the last update. If you have sufficient drops I would also purchase DT Swiss Arc 62 wheelset as they are only a few seconds slower than Zipp 808’s on the flats but climb much better for hillier courses.
Thank you for replying James. That’s exactly what I was leaning towards.
Hilarious. You know you should really put a disclaimer on all performance pages that the timings change frequently without warning or reason and the charts are frequently out of date. It’s all pretty misleading as it is. As far as I can tell the only useful recommendation is not to worry about frames unless you’re racing and until you reach level 30 and have several million drops so you can buy whatever happens to be fastest that month. Until then just get the stupid tron.
Great post! Thank you!
Of course!. Not even sure I got my first ride in with the TOA after buying it before they changed it. That is frustrating.
Etapa 3 alpe du zwift?
I think your Stage 3 is based on the Short Option only. The Long and Standard Options both climb Alpe du Zwift.
Correct. This post focuses on bike recommendations for Zwift’s NEW routes, as the title says.
Glad I only wasted drops on all the new gravel wheels getting ready for stage 4 while deciding which specialized frame to get. Advertise new gravel products to hype TOW then don’t allow us to use them. Womp Womp
I just hit level 18 and almost have enough drops to buy the Chapter2 TOA. I still don’t have the Aeroad 2020, which costs about 160,000 more. I bought the Focus Izalco as my all-arounder, since the Aeroad had been removed from the beginner “best-of” list due to the drivetrain bug. Also picked up the Cannondale Evo for climbing. Two days later they pushed the update that fixed the Aeroad but I was all out of drops. So do I hold on to my drops for the Aeroad or is the TOA worth buying even after the recent nerf?
Izalco and Evo have you covered for a while.
Look at wheelsets to match whilst ensuring you have the Everest challenge in place and climb 50k for the Tron.
Eric, as always another great piece of writing and analysis. Very nicely done breaking down the stages and best bike choices! Great work !! Thanks
All the nerfing and changing is bs. Buy the Chapter 2 and a week later it’s nerfed. That’s just stupid
It’s actually not nerfed… didn’t change. I’ll amend the post above.