How Fast Are Zwift’s Newest Bike Frames?

Zwift added two new frames at the end of March (the Parlee RZ7 and Pinarello Dogma F12). And their latest update adds two more: the Factor One and Ridley Noah Fast 2019. All of these frames are rated 3 stars for weight and aero – the same ratings given to those frames which made it onto our “fastest frames” list.

So how fast are these new frames, really? There’s only one way to find out: by testing!

We ran each frame through our standard tests: two laps of the flat Tempus Fugit route, giving us ~50 minutes of flat. And one time up Alpe du Zwift, giving us ~50 minutes of pretty steady climbing. All tests are run using our “standard” setup: Zwift 32mm carbon wheels, a 75 kg rider, at 300 watts steady.

Flat Performance

Here are the raw performance numbers on our flat tests, as well as a percentile ranking showing how the frame lines up with all other “standard” frames available on Zwift. (A “standard” frame is a normal road racing frame – not a TT, MTB, or cross/gravel frame.) A lower number of seconds is better, a higher percentile is better.

  • Pinarello Dogma F12: 3083 seconds, 85th percentile
  • Factor One: 3084 seconds, 81st percentile
  • Ridley Noah Fast 2019: 3085 seconds, 75th percentile
  • Parlee RZ7: 3087 seconds, 69th percentile

Climb Performance

Here are the raw performance numbers on our climb tests, as well as a percentile ranking.

  • Pinarello Dogma F12: 2950 seconds, 63rd percentile
  • Parlee RZ7: 2962 seconds, 35th percentile
  • Ridley Noah Fast 2019: 2966 seconds, 25th percentile
  • Factor One: 2967 seconds, 21st percentile

Solid Beginner Options

The Ridley and Factor frames are both quite affordable, and have very low level locks:

  • Ridley Noah Fast 2019: 426,000 Drops, level 9 required
  • Factor One: 426,000 Drops, level 8 required

Comparing them to other frames available for beginning Zwifters, they actually rank quite high in performance! So we’ve added them to our “Fastest Frames and Wheels for Level 15 and Below” list. The Factor is ranked at #2, the Ridley at #3. We’ve also highlighted both frames in our Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy At Each Level.

Dogma F12: a Solid All-Arounder

It’s also worth mentioning that the Pinarello Dogma F12 is a solid choice in terms of all-around performance. Looking at our combined percentile ranking chart, we can see the F12 is ranked 6th overall when we combine the climbing and flat performance performance rankings of all frames.

It’s quite fast in terms of aero performance, too: If we were to expand our “fastest frames” list to include just one more frame, this would be it, at the bottom of the list. So this is a solid choice if you’re looking for a good aero bike that climbs decently well.

Conclusion

None of these frames made it into our “short lists” for fastest aero frames and fastest climbing frames, but if you’re a beginning Zwifter or someone with a taste for Italian who is looking for a solid all-around performer, there are some good options in Zwift’s latest additions.

To see how the performance of these frames compares to other bikes in Zwift, check out our Frame Ranking Charts.

Your Comments

Questions or comments? 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

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Mick Such
Mick Such
3 years ago

Thanks Eric.. Yet again you have performed valiantly. 😋 👍👍

Ben
Ben
3 years ago

So, 3 of the 4 new frames are “good”.
I bought the RZ7 yesterday, lol

philgrum
philgrum
3 years ago

Maybe more importantly, can you change the frame colour on these new frames???

Robert Barrett
3 years ago
Reply to  philgrum

That’s the most important question as I am a right fashion victim when it come to my avatar looking the part 🙂

200324 zwift.jpg
David Cooper
David Cooper
3 years ago

Thank you for all this testing you do for the community Eric.

We really could use a better rating system within Zwift, though. Having so many frames simply rated 3* weight, 3* aero makes it pretty much redundant, and provides no means of making a meaningful comparison between them. Praise be to this site so that we can at least get some objectivity into it.

MATHEW M ROSE
MATHEW M ROSE(@matrose617)
3 years ago

As someone who owns multiple Ridley bikes IRL, this seems about right. 🙂 Not the lightest or fastest, but coming from the land of cobbles they do tend to last.

hussein
hussein
3 years ago

excellent content thanks again for the hard work.

Vault Boy
Super Member
Vault Boy(@cogentwanderer)
3 years ago

Thanks Eric! btw who decides which bikes get into zwift? Is it both zwift and manufacturer? Just waiting for Scott Addict RC

C H
C H
3 years ago

I wonder how much Specialized paid Zwift to have the fastest and lightest bikes in the game?

Michiel
Michiel
3 years ago

Thanks for the test Eric! There is one thing I’m really interested in with these speed tests. You test at 4 w/kg, but I’m FAR away from ever reaching those kind of figures for more than a few minutes 🙂 If you would do the test at 2.5 or 3w/kg, what is the difference between the bikes? Does the effect of a better bike decrease at lower watts (like aero doesn’t really matter at low speeds in the real world), or is it the other way around?

Nick Keat
Nick Keat
3 years ago

I think that any newly introduced bike that is currently being ridden by a top level/world tour team is likely to have very similar performance, so that there is minimal benefit relative to others when the team ends up riding in Zwift races and events. Are there any really good bikes or wheels that will used in next week’s series?

M4rk0
M4rk0
3 years ago

Still hoping for a revamped in-game ranking system that more accurately gives the user the info they need, without having to resort to looking up several blog articles. 4 stars for weight and aero is pretty much meaningless.

Joel
Joel
3 years ago
Reply to  M4rk0

True, but do you really know all of that information in real world cycling? Make it too easy and everyone just gets the same 🚴 bicycle 🚴unless they really care about the fashionista!

Robert Barrett
3 years ago

Sounds like I’ll be sticking with the S5 and the ENVE most of the time then 🙂

Simon
Simon
3 years ago

Thanks Eric. Was wondering about these. Knew you’d come through for us.

Jeff
Jeff
3 years ago

Actually I think that all frames should be available to all Zwifter’s regardless of Level. If you have the “drop” bucks you should be able to purchase the bike of your choice. Just like walking into a bike shop…if you have the money you can purchase a 16K $$$ Pinarello regardless of your cycling ability!

John
John
3 years ago

Is it true that only 4 seconds flat improvement moves from the 69th percentile to 85? And 17 seconds on climbs goes from 21 to 63rd percentile?

mario
mario
3 years ago

it’s time to tell us how many watts give us the ceramicspeed kit 🙂

Frankus
Frankus(@faven44d)
3 years ago

Great update Eric, thanks! But I have to admit – when I see a pro or semi-pro rider at level 5 on a Zwift Carbon speed right by me on my Dogma F12, I’m immediately reminded that my frame is more fun than fact! 🙂

Eddie Wetbeak
Eddie Wetbeak(@ed_hump)
3 years ago

Hi Eric. Does drafting work the same with the gravel/MTB do you know? As in, is there less of a draft benefit if you’re in a pack on a gravel or MTB compared to being on a road bike?

Eric
Eric
3 years ago

Hmmmm…someone said something over on the ZR FB page that got me thinking…

Not that you need a ton more work, but what about acceleration performance for the frames. Ie let’s measure something dynamic?

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