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
| Level | Fastest Frame | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Steel (Free) | 0 |
| 3 | Zwift Carbon (55,000) | 31.1s |
| 8 | Liv Langma Advanced SL 2025 (1,000,000) | 72.1s |
| 10 | Canyon Aeroad 2024 (1,100,000) | 73.9s |
| 12 | Canyon Ultimate CFR (350,700) | 74.2s |
| 17 | Scott Addict RC (660,200) | 77.8s |
| 21 | Van Rysel RCR Pro (1,400,000) | 79.4s |
| 30 | Specialized Aethos S-Works (966,300)* | 85.8s |
| 40 | Specialized 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
| Level | Fastest Wheelset | Time Savings |
| 1 | Zwift Classic (Free) | 0 |
| 3 | Zwift 32mm Carbon (100,000) | 11.4s |
| 6 | Shimano DURA-ACE C36 (600,000) | 22.2s |
| 29 | CADEX Max 50 (680,000) | 22.5s |
| 32 | Princeton CarbonWorks Wake 6560 (685,000) | 24.1s |
| 35 | Princeton 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.
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.
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.
