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All About the New Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 Wheels in Zwift

Eric Schlange
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11
All About the New Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 Wheels in Zwift

All About the New Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 Wheels in Zwift

This week’s game update includes two new wheelsets from Swiss Side, long-term collaborators with DT Swiss, whose in-game wheels are familiar to any Zwift racer since they’re fast! Swiss Side helps optimize the aerodynamics of DT Swiss’ high-end wheel lines, while DT Swiss provides manufacturing capabilities and hubs for Swiss Side.

Swiss Side has also partnered with Van Rysel to optimize the aerodynamics of their bike frames, so it’s no coincidence these new wheels dropped at the same time as three new Van Rysel frames arrived in Zwift’s Drop Shop.

Here’s how the Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 wheels are described in the Drop Shop: “Engineered at the limit. The HADRON Ultimate 650 hits the UCI depth cap with a 65mm profile optimized for aero efficiency and stability. A refined rim shape reduces crosswind sensitivity while keeping drag low – built to hold speed and control when conditions aren’t perfect.”

The wheels are now available in the Drop Shop, accessible at level 28 and above, for 550,000 Drops. They are rated 4 stars for aero and 3 for weight, which indicates they are strong performers. But just how strong? 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 Swiss Side’s first wheelset in Zwift!

Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance

Swiss Side’s HADRON Ultimate 650 wheels are very close to the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 65 wheels in terms of performance. And this makes sense, since they’re basically the same wheel IRL, with different branding.

The DT Swiss 65 are very fast wheels – basically the best aero-focused all-arounders in game and #2 on our Top 10 Wheelsets in Zwift list. The Swiss Side version has the same aero capabilities, while being slightly lighter. This leads to the Swiss Side wheels having a slight performance edge in both our flat and climb tests, although the weight difference is so small that the performance improvement, particularly on the flats, is within our test’s margin for error. Less than half a second!

Climb Performance

The slightly lighter weight of the Swiss Side 650 is more apparent in our climb test, with these wheels beating the DT Swiss 65 by 1.5 seconds across an hour of climbing Alpe du Zwift.

These aren’t climb-focused wheels, so they’re best used on flat and rolling races where speeds stay high. That’s not to say they’re terribly heavy – but there are better wheels for more climby races. The Swiss Side 650 improves on our baseline climb time by 5.7 seconds across an hour, while the fastest wheels, the Princeton Carbonworks Alta 3532, improve by 14.1 seconds.

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

Conclusions

The Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 is the new top “aero-focused all-arounder” wheelset in Zwift, since it edges out the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 65 while being available one level lower for a slightly reduced price.

With that said, it’s worth mentioning that the Princeton Carbonworks Wake 6560 is only 2.5 seconds slower on the flat, while being 6.6 seconds faster on the climbs. So if you’re in a race with any significant climb, the Princeton hoops are probably a better bet.

These wheels have been, or will soon be, 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.

All About the New Van Rysel RCR-F Frame on Zwift

Eric Schlange
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3
All About the New Van Rysel RCR-F Frame on Zwift

All About the New Van Rysel RCR-F Frame on Zwift

Zwift’s latest update includes three new bike frames from Van Rysel. Today, we’re digging into the in-game performance of the RCR-F, Van Rysel’s aero racing frame:

On Zwift, you’ll need to be updated to game version 1.113+ to see this bike in the Drop Shop. You’ll also need to be at level 35+ with 1,500,000 Drops to buy it. Here’s how it’s described in the Drop Shop:

“Built to beat the wind. Developed in the wind tunnel with SwissSide and proven in the pro peloton, the RCR-F pairs deep aero shaping with high stiffness for maximum power transfer. It thrives at speed on rolling terrain – the harder you push, the more it gives back.”

See our master list of all frames in Zwift >

It’s rated 3 stars for aero and 3 stars for weight, like many race bikes on Zwift. But how does it actually perform? Since Zwift’s 4-star system isn’t the most granular of performance measurements, we ran this frame through our precise tests to measure performance at nerd-level detail. Let’s dive in!

Note: test results below are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm Carbon wheelset on the un-upgraded version of the frame, unless otherwise noted.

Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance

The RCR-F turns in a strong aero performance, which makes sense given that its “pure aero” pedigree includes development in Swiss Side’s wind tunnel.

The frame’s time puts it 60.7 seconds ahead of our baseline frame across an hour of riding, which means it’s only <3 seconds away from the fastest road frames in Zwift after an hour.

Climb Performance

The stiffness and deep aero shapes that give the RCR-F an advantage on the flats also add weight, unfortunately.

The frame’s climb test time puts it 40.7 seconds ahead of the baseline frame after an hour, but that’s ~17 seconds slower than the best climbers in game (frames like the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8, Specialized Aethos S-Works, and Cannondale SuperSix Evo LAB71).

Upgrading Your Van Ryself RCR-F

Like all frames in Zwift, the RCR-F can be upgraded in five stages. It uses the Distance, High-End upgrading scheme, giving it the following characteristics:

Performance At Each Upgrade Stage

This chart shows how many seconds this frame will save across 1 hour of riding compared to our stage 0 baseline frames (Zwift Carbon or TT). This is based on a 75kg rider, 183cm tall, at 300 watts, riding on tarmac.

Upgrade Stages (Distance, High-End)

Stage12345Totals
km2002603203804401,600
cost100,000200,000350,000500,000750,0001,900,000
upgradeAeroWeightDrivetrainAeroWeight
  1. 200km: Aero Upgrade for 100k Drops
  2. 260km: Weight Upgrade for 200k Drops
  3. 320km: Drivetrain Upgrade for 350k Drops
  4. 380km: Aero Upgrade for 500k Drops
  5. 440km: Weight Upgrade for 750k Drops

Conclusions

The Van Rysel RCR-F earns a 97.6/100 aero rating in our ZIMetrics, indicating it’s near the top of the heap on flat roads. This isn’t surprising for an aero-optimized bike, of course! But it only earns a 65.7/100 climb rating, meaning it’s a bit heavy and not ideal for races that include significant climbs.

We’ll be adding this bike to the following posts soon:

Questions or comments?

What do you think of Van Rysel’s new RCR-F in Zwift? 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.

“Quickfire 30” Challenge Launched

Eric Schlange
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14
“Quickfire 30” Challenge Launched

“Quickfire 30” Challenge Launched

Today, Zwift launched a ten-workout challenge featuring new, 30-minute workouts for Zwifters “looking to make a big impact on their fitness in a minimal amount of time.“ The series runs from May 12 to July 5. Read on for details…

Challenge Requirements

The Challenge features ten workouts, and you can complete them in any order you’d like:

  • Balance Point
  • Ghost Pepper
  • Burn Notice
  • Spark Plug
  • Silk Road
  • Turn the Screw
  • Aurora
  • Pop Rocks
  • Press Play
  • Red Shift

Completing the Challenge

Everyone is automatically signed up for this challenge. As long as you’ve got version 1.113 or higher installed, and you’re within the challenge date window, you can ride the workouts above in any way you’d like and get credit for completion.

That said, I can’t find the workouts in Zwift’s workout library, so it looks like you’ll need to choose them from the Challenge card to complete them. (Clicking that challenge card also lets you see all the workouts and your reward details.)

Pro tip: Want to double up on bonus XP? Choose your workout from the Quickfire 30 challenge card, then pick one of the Route Chaser Challenge routes to ride. You’ll get credit for completing the workout and the route!

Challenge Rewards

You will earn an XP bonus for each workout you complete in the challenge, with a total of 2500 XP available:

  • 1 workout: 250 XP
  • 4 workouts: 500 XP
  • 7 workouts: 750 XP
  • 10 workouts: 1000 XP

Read more about Zwift levels and unlocks >

Deadline

This challenge goes live at May 12, 2026 at 09:00 PT, and ends July 5, 2026 at 23:59 PT.

(I recommend finishing before the final day, though, as some past Challenges have ended earlier than expected, and you don’t want to be caught out if that happens.)

Questions or Comments?

Post below!

“Route Chaser” Challenge Launched

Eric Schlange
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16
“Route Chaser” Challenge Launched

“Route Chaser” Challenge Launched

Today, Zwift launched a three-route challenge centered around the Volcano KOM in Watopia. This “mini challenge” runs from May 12 to July 5, and requires game version 1.113 (releasing today) or higher. Read on for details…

Challenge Requirements

The Challenge features three routes in ascending level of difficulty. You can complete them in any order you’d like, though:

Completing the Challenge

Everyone is automatically signed up for this challenge. As long as you’ve got version 1.113 or higher installed, and you’re within the challenge date window, you can ride the three routes above in any way you’d like (in an event, as a free ride, for a structured workout, etc) and get credit for completion.

Click that challenge card to access the routes and see reward details.

Pro tip: Want to double up on bonus XP? Tackle one of the new Quickfire 30 Challenge workouts, using one of the three routes above as your route. You’ll get credit for completing the workout as well as the route!

Challenge Rewards

You will earn an XP bonus for each route you complete in the challenge, with a total of 1500 XP available:

  • 1 route: 250 XP
  • 2 routes: 500 XP
  • 3 routes: 750 XP

Read more about Zwift levels and unlocks >

Deadline

This challenge goes live at May 12, 2026 at 09:00 PT, and ends July 5, 2026 at 23:59 PT.

(I recommend finishing before the final day, though, as some past Challenges have ended earlier than expected, and you don’t want to be caught out if that happens.)

Questions or Comments?

Post below!

Zwift Update Version 1.113 (161309) Released

Eric Schlange
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49
Zwift Update Version 1.113 (161309) Released

Zwift version 1.113 begins its phased rollout today. The update adds configurable fields to the workout HUD, plus three new Van Rysel bikes and two Swiss Side wheelsets to the Drop Shop. See details below…

Configurable Fields Added to Workout HUD

As requested by Zwifters and promised in the latest This Season on Zwift, four configurable data fields have been added to the central workout HUD element, allowing you to choose which performance metrics you’d like front and center.

Configure these fields by going to Settings>HUD and selecting “Workouts” at the top. This lets you modify the setup for the HUD that only shows during structured workouts:

The prior central workout HUD showed heart rate and cadence. With the new design, those two fields have been replaced by four slots, and you can choose what’s in each slot from these currently available metrics:

  • Cadence (RPM)
  • Average Power
  • Heart Rate (BPM)
  • Energy Burned (CAL)
  • Power to Weight (W/kg)
  • Kilojoules (KJ)
  • Stress Points (SP)
  • Core Temperature (Deg)
  • Heat Stress Index (HSI)
  • Weighted Power (WP)
  • Power Balance (L/R)
  • Average W/kg
  • Average Speed

There’s more coming to this feature. Zwift says, “We plan on adding metrics that show power, HR, or cadence for the current interval in an upcoming release.”

New Van Rysel Bikes and Swiss Side Wheels

Zwift has added three new bikes from Van Rysel to the Drop Shop, along with two wheelsets from Swiss Side:

  • Van Rysel RCR-F (Aero: ⭐⭐⭐, Weight: ⭐⭐⭐) – Requires Level 35+ and 1,500,000 Drops
  • Van Rysel RCR Pro (Aero: ⭐⭐⭐, Weight: ⭐⭐⭐⭐) – Requires Level 21+ and 1,400,000 Drops
  • Van Rysel RCR-X (Aero: ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Weight: ⭐) – Requires Level 40+ and 1,200,000 Drops
  • Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 650 (Aero: ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Weight: ⭐⭐⭐) – Requires Level 28+ and 550,000 Drops
  • Swiss Side HADRON Ultimate 850/Disc (Aero: ⭐⭐⭐⭐, Weight: ⭐) – Requires Level 39+ and 900,000 Drops

We’re working on testing the new frames and wheelsets, and will release posts with performance details this week. Early indications are that the Van Rysel frames won’t beat any of the current top performers, while the Swiss Side wheels essentially match the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT 65 and the ARC 1100 DICUT 85/Disc wheels (top performers in their categories) while costing a bit less and being available one level lower.

Removed From the Drop Shop

Although it isn’t in the release notes, the following were removed from the Drop Shop in this update:

If you already own one of these items, it will remain in your garage. But it cannot be purchased from the Drop Shop once you’ve updated to game version 1.113.

Release Notes

Zwift supplied the following additional release notes (our added notes are in italics):

  • Improved connection reliability for trainers connected via Wi-Fi and Ethernet. On mobile platforms like iOS and Android, this improves connection reliability when temporarily switching to other apps.
  • Corrected the weight of the Specialized Tarmac SL8 bike frame: a few updates ago, a bug was introduced that made the Tarmac SL8 (not the S-Works version) a bit lighter than it had previously been. It is now back to its original weight.
  • Apple TV: Performance and stability improvements.

Discuss this update in Zwift’s forum >

Questions or Comments?

If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!

Top 5 Zwift Videos: Alpe Attack, Rouvy vs Zwift, and Rouvy Acquisition

Oli Chi
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0
Top 5 Zwift Videos: Alpe Attack, Rouvy vs Zwift, and Rouvy Acquisition

Looking for a challenge? Alpe du Zwift serves as a classic test of fitness. In this week’s top video, watch as one Zwifter tackles an all-out climb up Alpe du Zwift.

We’ve also included videos about Rouvy vs Zwift, Zwift’s acquisition of Rouvy, the new Zwift Racing Profile, and a race between two bodybuilders.

Alpe du Zwift Attempt #2… Can I Break 90 Minutes?

Bikes with Becks comes back to Alpe du Zwift for a second attempt. Can she complete the climb in under 90 minutes?

Real Pro Routes! Racing on Rouvy versus Zwift

J Dirom revisits racing on Rouvy and answers common questions about it. He also compares Rouvy and Zwift. 

Zwift Acquires Rouvy: All Your Questions Answered!

Ray, aka DCRainmaker, breaks down everything you need to know about Zwift’s acquisition of Rouvy.

Zwift’s New Racing Profile… But It’s Hard to Find

Titanium Ben shares information about Zwift’s recently added “Racing Profile” feature.

Fit Girl vs Bodybuilder In a Zwift Race

In bodybuilder Greg Doucette’s latest video, he breaks down a 1-mile Zwift race between fitness influencers “Mepsogram” and Hussein. 

Got a Great Zwift Video?

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

VO2sday Micro Races, Week 2: More Times, New Categories

Eric Schlange
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21
VO2sday Micro Races, Week 2: More Times, New Categories

VO2sday Micro Races, Week 2: More Times, New Categories

Last week’s launch of the new VO2sday Micro Races was a big success! 371 riders started, making it the biggest race of the day by far. Read the story and watch the video of my race day >

But we’re not stopping there. This week, we head to Makuri Islands for a new set of routes, with a race structure modified to help make the experience the absolute best it can be. Read on for details…

Changes This Week

I’ve made two big changes to the races this week:

  • Two more time slots! I’ve added more times based on rider feedback. We now have three time slots to choose from:
  • Compound Score-based categories: Riders are now grouped based on your compound score, which is a metric Zwift records but nobody knows anything about. 😄 It’s based on your 5-minute power and body weight, computed as (5-min power in W/kg) * (5-min power in W). Example: my 5-minute power best is 359W, and I weigh 84kg. My compound score is (359/84)*(359)=1534. In theory, this should work well for grouping riders into competitive categories. We’ll see how it works this week, and adjust accordingly!
    • A: 1800+
    • B: 1400-1800
    • C: 1100-1400
    • D: 1100 and below

May 12 Race Details and Signup

Here are this week’s courses:

Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/vo2sday/ >

Time-Based GC Results

Final GC winners in each category are crowned based on overall completion time across the 5 races. The leaderboards are available on ZwiftPower:

My dream with these races is to make them be time-based, so each race would be (for example) 4 minutes long. This would let us dial in precise VO2 max interval lengths for the races, would ensure that all riders go hard for the same length of time regardless of ability, and (maybe the most fun part of all) set up a unique GC that is based on overall distance covered in the allotted time.

The problem is, ZwiftPower doesn’t support this. So I’m talking to WTRL and a few other community organizers to see if we can pull it off some other way. Stay tuned.

Structured Workout Racing

The VO2sday Micro Races are nothing like your typical Zwift scratch race. Here’s how these races are distinctly structured to be engaging and fun while delivering a proper VO2 max session:

  • 5 races in less than an hour – that’s 5 hard VO2 max intervals
  • Very short efforts: Each race is very short, with a target completion time of 3-5 minutes, just like a good VO2 max interval
  • Recovery time: Races are 10 minutes apart, so a 5-minute race leaves you with 5 minutes of recovery before the next interval
  • Mix of courses: Each week’s race courses feature a mix of flat, climb, rolling, and even downhill parcours. Riders with lots of pure watts have the advantage in some races, while riders with strong w/kg have the advantage in others.
  • Compound Score categories: Since results will be driven by your power numbers, riders will be categorized based on compound score, not Zwift Racing Score. This takes into account your zMAP and body weight.
  • Mass start: While riders are broken into categories for results, these are mass-start events with all categories starting together, so everyone has riders ahead to chase. (Remember, the goal is to push as hard as you can for the duration of the race, not to sit in the pack and conserve so you can sprint to victory in the last 15 seconds!)
  • Drafting is disabled, so these are effectively time trials. (Yes, you’ll want a fast TT setup.) Hopefully this forces you out of the “sit in then sprint” mindset, and into “hold steady high power for the duration” mode.
  • GC-Based final results: overall rankings are based on your cumulative time across the 5 races (see links above).

Questions or comments?

I’d love to hear your feedback after you’ve completed the latest set of VO2sday races. Share it below, along with any questions or comments you’ve got beforehand!

Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of May 9-10

Eric Schlange
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0
Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of May 9-10

This weekend’s picks include Sir Chris Hoy’s popular monthly ride, the kickoff of a popular stage race alongside the Giro d’Italia, a unique paced Alpe challenge, and more! See event details below…

🤝 Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4

✅ Good Cause 　✅ Popular 　✅ Kit/Cap Unlock

With more signups than any other event this weekend, the Tour de 4 ride with Sir Chris Hoy looks like it’s as popular as ever! Join Sir Chris and special guests for an open-paced 45-minute ride on France’s flat Douce France route.

Donate to Tour de 4 >

Saturday, May 9 starting @ 9am UTC/5am ET/2am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/tourde4

🥇 SISU Pinkki Kicks Off

✅ Popular 　✅ Stage Race

SISU’s 7-stage Pinkki race series runs across the 3 weeks of the men’s Giro d’Italia, and it all begins on Saturday! Stage 1 is on Watopia’s Sugar Cookie (39.2km, 260) and there are several event times to accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Read all about the SISU Pinkki Series >

New this year, the series can be raced in open events (men+women) or in women-only events. The series can also be tackled as an individual, or you can work with your team.

Multiple timeslots on Saturday, May 9
Sign up at zwift.com/events/tag/sisu

🤝 Alpe 65 & 85 min Pace & Chase

✅ Alpe Climb 　✅ Chasers 　✅ Unique Event

I picked this event simply because it’s unique, and that’s fun! This is officially a group ride on the Road to Sky route (17.6km, 1044m), but it will feel rather like a chase race. Riders choose their pen based on their target pace, and each pen’s start time is set so everyone hopefully comes together in the final segments of the Alpe climb.

Saturday, May 9 @ 1pm UTC/9am ET/6am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5549461

🤝(Rubber-Banded) TDZ Ride with James’ Friends!

✅ Banded 　✅ Jungle

This beginner-friendly banded ride is 120 minutes long on Watopia’s Climb Control route. Pro tip: bring a gravel bike!

Ride at whatever pace you’d like. As long as you keep pedaling, you’ll stay with the group!

Saturday, May 9 @ 12:30pm UTC/8:30am ET/5:30am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5574444

🤝 Shimano Super Cycling Sunday

✅ Popular 　✅ Special Guests 　✅ Unlocks

Always a popular event, Shimano’s weekly series runs through the end of the year. Rides typically include special guests, including WorldTour riders! Finishers unlock the Shimano Super Cycling Sunday kit and Lazer Sphere helmet.

This is an open-paced ride on France’s Bon Voyage route (31.4km, 155m).

Sunday, April 26 @ 8am UTC/4am ET/1am PT
Sign up at zwift.com/events/view/5552918

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!

Outdoor Rides Added to Zwift’s “Next Up” Recommendations

Eric Schlange
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32
Outdoor Rides Added to Zwift’s “Next Up” Recommendations

Outdoor Rides Added to Zwift’s “Next Up” Recommendations

Just in time for spring weather, today Zwift flipped the switch on an expansion of their “Next Up” personalized recommendations feature. Now, in addition to recommending a workout, Robopacer ride, and route for the day, it also recommends an outdoor ride.

The Goal

Zwift’s stated goal with these outdoor recommendations is to offer “simple, effective outdoor ride suggestions to keep your progress moving forward, with guidance designed to build endurance and manage fatigue.” As such, expect the recommendation to include an overall ride time, and a basic mid-ride goal or two. For example, my recommendation today is:

Viewing Your Outdoor Recommendation

To view your outdoor recommendation, make sure you’re using version 3.82+ of the Zwift Companion app, go to the Next Up card on the homescreen, and tap the sun icon to toggle to your outdoor ride.

Note: You can only flip personalized recommendations. Manually planned workouts or workouts synced from a third-party platform can’t be flipped.

Planning An Outdoor Ride?

Adding outdoor ride recommendations to Next Up makes sense, and shows that Zwift realizes many (most) of their users also ride outdoors, particularly when the weather is good. If Zwift wants people to use their Fitness Trends and recommendations year-round, they have to include outdoor rides in the mix.

That said, with Zwift releasing a new planning feature on the Companion app just two weeks ago, it seems sensible to let us plan outdoor rides in Companion as well. But that isn’t currently possible. Hopefully it comes soon!

Your Thoughts

What do you think of outdoor ride recommendations? Chime in below, or share your thoughts on the Zwift forum thread.

Tiny Race Series – May 9 Routes – Urukazi Kamikaze

Eric Schlange
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0
Tiny Race Series – May 9 Routes – Urukazi Kamikaze

Tiny Race Series – May 9 Routes – Urukazi Kamikaze

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

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