This week, our Top 5 Zwift Videos include two determined mountain climbs in the Zwift Racing League. Also see a guide to workout mode, a trick that can get you more elevation faster, and a tour of one Zwifter’s indoor riding and streaming setup.
The COMEBACK?! Kind Of… || Plus Zwift Racing Tips!
Katie Kookaburra got dropped during the Zwift Racing League, but she didn’t give up. There was a mountain climb ahead, and she knew she might be able to claw her way back. Watch and see what happened!
Mountain Climb For MY ZWIFT RACING COMEBACK! Every Point Counts in Zwift Racing League
In the same ZRL stage, KOM Hunt TV fights for every point he can get for his team, even near the back of the field.
How to get Zwift Tron Bike in under 3 months | No slow suffering up the Alpe Du Zwift
Trying to earn the Zwift Concept Z1 “Tron” bike? Master Tofu has a trick for people wanting to rack up elevation faster!
ZWIFT WORKOUTS – How to get the most out of workout mode
For a thorough guide to using Zwift’s workout mode, check out this video by Everything Is Photogenic.
Pain Cave Tour and Streaming Setup – Zwift
Bradford Redpath shows off a well-equipped setup for a Zwift “pain cave” and streaming studio.
Got a Great Zwift Video?
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The Herd Racing League Announces “The Omnium” March 26-27
The Omnium is one of the great tests of cycling fitness. With six events over two days, the event is normally completed in a velodrome, but The Herd has created their own version in Zwift!
Taking place on the 26th and 27th of March, all Zwifters are invited to join in what is sure to be utter carnage and a heap of fun.
Race Details
Day 1 (March 26th)
Event 1: Sprint Race – A short race with a single lap of the Watopia Hilly Route Reverse course. Score points for your finishing position, with the finishing line shortly after the peak of the KOM.
Event 2: The Hill Climb – Completed on the Casse-Pattes route in France, only your time up Petit KOM will count against those set by your competitors!
Event 3: iTT – We take on a 16.1km (10 mile) Individual Time Trial on the Neokyo All-Nighter route. This will use the Time Trial module, so offers a staggered start without draft.
Day 2 (March 27th)
Event 4: Points Race – 10 laps of Downtown Dolphin with points scored each lap only for the time (vs competitors) on the uphill prime segment.
Event 5: iTT – A very simple 3km Time Trial on the Tempus Fugit route. Set the best time, win all the points!
Event 6: Scratch Race – A simple lap around the Figure 8 Route in Watopia. First over the line takes the points!
Time Zones/Scheduling
The Omnium will be run across four different leagues in ZwiftPower, each covering a different timezone, with each day’s events taking place at 1100, 1500, and 1900 local time. Click a league for a list of events:
Observant Zwifters riding Stage 4 of Tour of Watopia this week may notice subtle changes to the Jungle’s dirt roads. Here’s are some screenshots:
ToW Jungle roadToW Jungle road (and sloth)Standard Jungle road for comparison
Do you see the difference? The ToW surface (we’ll just call it “gravel”) is a greyish color instead of red/brown, and the gravel is more grown over with green plants.
Some riders felt the new gravel was dustier than the standard Jungle dirt, but we’re not sure this is the case – we think there’s just a lot of dust because there are a lot of riders in the ToW events.
New ToW Gravel:
Standard Jungle Dirt:
New Surface Is Big News
If you free ride or do a non-ToW event in the Jungle today, you’ll be riding on the standard Jungle dirt. But if you ride in the Jungle during a ToW Stage 4 event, that dirt magically transforms to the new gravel surface.
As far as we know, this is the first time Zwift has rolled out a new surface for a specific event. Presumably, this is a programmatic surface swap – that is, both types of surfaces are defined game-wide in terms of Crr, sounds, and visuals, and every bit of “path” in Zwift’s worlds has a default surface type. For this event, a custom setup flag was set, effectively saying “If surface type = dirt, swap it for gravel”.
This is an interesting development. Let’s consider what it could lead to:
Just having a “gravel” surface type makes sense – it’s something Zwifters have been pushing for for a long time. There should be gravel roads on Zwift where gravel bikes outperform MTB, then rougher roads (perhaps only singletrack trails?) where MTB outperform gravel bikes. Maybe this is a step in that direction.
Events with custom road types: the Jungle could be paved. A cobbled climb up Alpe du Zwift. Swap all dirt on a route for pavement… and swap pavement for dirt! Or a super fast glass road for a Tempus Fugit TT.
Swapping surface types could change the very nature of many routes on Zwift, creating attack points where none existed before.
If surface types change, so does rolling resistance. Not a huge deal if you put in a surface type with higher Crr, but if you use a lower Crr riders will be setting PR times on courses which they can never beat.
The Big Difference: Lower Crr
While the gravel is visually different from the standard dirt, perhaps the biggest difference is one you can’t easily spot. The new gravel surface has lower rolling resistance (Crr) than the standard dirt.
The stock Zwift Gravel wheels (which everyone uses for ToW Stage 4) have a Crr of .018 in the standard dirt. But on this new gravel surface, their Crr is .012! That’s a significant reduction in resistance which is noticeable in terms of how much power it takes to hold a particular speed on course.
By our calculations, a solo rider holding 40kph on standard Jungle dirt would be putting 147W into overcoming rolling resistance. But when the Crr is lowered to .012, the same rider only needs to put in 98W to overcome rolling resistance.
No Bike Choice? No Big Deal.
For Stage 4, Zwift is placing everyone on the stock Zwift Gravel frame and wheelset. Some Zwifters have complained about this, because they wanted to use the “faster” new gravel wheelsets which Zwift recently released (read about those here and here).
But here’s the thing: we don’t actually know if those new wheelsets would be faster on the new gravel surface or not! Remember, they roll faster on dirt (.016 Crr vs the standard .018). But if they roll at .016 on the new gravel surface, that would make them significantly slower than the stock Zwift Gravel wheels which roll at .012.
So don’t sweat the bike choice thing. Everyone’s on the same setup, and the new gravel surface makes for a faster trip around the Handful of Gravel route than you could have with any other setup. Get dirty, and have fun!
Zwift’s March update included the first frame in game from Mosaic Cycles, a bespoke bike builder based in Boulder, CO. Named the RT-1d, this is the disc version of the Mosaic’s flagship titanium RT-1 road bike.
The Mosaic RT-1d in real life
This frame is priced at 852,000 Drops and level-locked at 15. It is rated 2 stars for aero and 2 for weight, which would indicate that it’s not going to perform particularly well on either climbs or flats. That said, we still ran it through our normal tests.
Here’s everything you need to know about the performance of the new Mosaic RT-1d frame in Zwift.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
Rated only 2 stars for aero, we didn’t expect much speed from the RT-1d. In the end our flat test results matched those of several other frames in game, including the recently-released Moots Vamoots and Van Rysel EDR CF. All of those frames are at the 24th percentile in terms of aero performance.
Its test time of 51:34.5 is just 1.5 seconds faster than the default Zwift Carbon frame given to all Zwifters. By comparison, the current fastest frames in Zwift turn in time of 51:17 on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit, totaling 34.6km.
Climb Performance
We didn’t expect much in terms of climbing performance, since the Mosaic is rated 2 stars for weight. It turned in the same time as the Moots Vamoots, placing in the dismal 6th percentile against the universe of Zwift frames.
The RT-1d turns in an Alpe climb time of 49:35. By comparison, the fastest climber in game (Specialized Aethos) completes the test is 48:50.
Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm carbon wheelset.
Conclusions
The Mosaic RT-1d is the second titanium frame to be released in Zwift. While Ti is legendary in the cycling world for its blend of lighter weight, quality ride feel, and durability, none of those characteristics transfer well in terms of Zwift performance. So these titanium frames are really here to add some visual variety to the peloton – an aesthetic twist – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Pick up the Mosaic if you want to ride a virtual frame that few in Zwift have seen. It even has a color slider so you can dial in whatever look you’d like.
The Mosaic RT-1d’s numbers will be added to the following posts, and it can also be found on our Master Zwift Frames List:
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 Zwift’s New Reserve 25 GR and CADEX AR 35 Gravel Wheelsets
Zwift’s March 2022 game update included two new gravel wheelsets, making a total of five gravel wheelsets available. This month’s new gravel wheels are:
Reserve 25 GT (11,400 Drops, no level requirement, rated 3 for aero, 1 for weight)
CADEX AR 35 (21,300 Drops, no level requirement, rated 3 for aero, 1 for weight)
Let’s look at how these wheels perform in game…
Speed Test Results
Both wheelsets perform identically in our tests, and their times match last month’s new wheelsets (the ENVE G23 and Roval Terra CLX). To put it simply: these two new gravel wheelsets precisely match the performance of last month’s wheelsets. So none of the new gravel wheelsets offers any advantage over the other, but they are significantly faster than the stock Zwift Gravel wheels on dirt thanks to their lower Crr (see below). Jungle Circuit times using Zwift Gravel frame:
Reserve 25 GR wheels: 13:56
CADEX AR 35 wheels: 13:56
Zwift Gravel wheels: 14:15
So the dirt is where these wheels really shine. Pair them with a faster gravel bike like the Canyon Grail and you’ve got a rig that’s a few seconds faster than any mountain bike on a lap of the Jungle Circuit.
In our tests on flat pavement they essentially matched the existing Zwift Gravel wheelset (just 1/2 second faster over 50 minutes). And on the Alpe du Zwift climb test they were just 2-3 seconds faster than the Zwift Gravel wheels.
So on pavement, these wheels don’t offer any substantial performance advantage. But on dirt, it’s another story!
Custom Dirt Crr
Like last month’s new ENVE G23 and Roval Terra CLX wheels, the Reserve 25 GR and CADEX AR 35 have a lower rolling resistance on dirt than the stock Zwift Gravel wheels.
The Zwift Mountain wheels have a Crr of .014 in dirt, while the Zwift Gravel wheels have a dirt Crr of .018. These new gravel wheelsets have a dirt Crr of .016. And this makes them much faster than the stock Zwift Gravel wheels on dirt.
Based on our calculations, the difference between a Crr of .018 and .016 works out to a watt savings of around 15W if you’re a 75kg rider traveling at 40kph. Heavier riders or higher speeds could increase that power savings to ~25W.
High Availability
These new gravel wheelsets have no level requirement, and they’re very affordable. Zwift is clearly saying, “We want all Zwifters to have access to these wheels.” But we’re not entirely sure why, because Zwift’s biggest upcoming gravel event (Tour of Watopia stage 4) will supposedly be placing everyone on the stock Zwift Gravel frame and wheels.
Zwift could make it much more interesting by letting riders pick their wheels for this stage. We aren’t sure why that’s not happening. But clearly Zwift is putting more emphasis on gravel these days, which makes sense given its huge popularity, especially in the USA.
Questions or Comments?
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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.
Zwift’s March update included the second gravel frame from Specialized: the Diverge. This comes hard on the heels of last month’s release of the Specialized Crux. What’s the difference between the two bikes? In real life, the Crux is a CX race bike that works as a gravel racer, while the Diverge is sort of a do-anything drop bar bike great for more casual gravel riding.
The Diverge modelled in game is the Diverge Pro Carbon. We won’t include the full Drop Shop text description here, but you can read it on the bike’s homepage at Specialized.com.
The Specialized Diverge Pro Carbon in real life
This frame is priced at 532,500 Drops and level-locked at 12. It is rated 2 stars for aero and 2 for weight, which would indicate that it’s not going to perform particularly well against other gravel bikes in game, most of which have 3 stars for at least one of the ratings. So we ran the frame through our standard tests to see exactly how it performs.
Here’s everything you need to know about the performance of the new Specialized Diverge frame in Zwift.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
Rated only 2 stars for aero, the Diverge comes in with a flat test time just behind the Canyon Inflite and just ahead of the stock Zwift Gravel frame. This places it in 5th place out of 7 gravel frames currently in game.
Its test time of 53:53.5 is just 0.5 seconds faster than the Zwift Gravel frame. By comparison, the fastest gravel frame (Cervelo Aspero) turns in a time of 53:47 on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit, totaling 34.6km.
Climb Performance
We didn’t expect much in terms of climbing performance, since the Diverge is rated 2 stars for weight. It climbed slower than the Cervelo Aspero, but faster than the Zwift Gravel and a few other frames. This places it in 4th place out of 7 gravel frames currently in game.
The Specialized Diverge turns in an Alpe climb time of 51:51. By comparison, the fastest gravel climber (Specialized Crux) completes the test is 51:18.
Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm carbon wheelset.
Broken Color Slider
Like the new BMC Teammachine, the color slider on the Diverge isn’t currently working. Slide all you want – the color won’t change! We’re sure Zwift will get it fixed.
Conclusions
While it makes sense for Specialized to want both of their gravel frames in game, the benefits of the Diverge (mainly comfort and flexibility) don’t really apply on Zwift. With the Crux outperforming the Diverge on flats and climbs, there’s no reason to choose the Diverge instead, unless you prefer the look of it or want to match your IRL bike.
The Specialized Diverge has been added to the following posts, and it can also be found on our Master Zwift Frames List:
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.
Since January, a day doesn’t go by where there isn’t a Castelli ride to join in the Companion app. They have introduced new rides to see those in the Northern Hemisphere through the worst of winter, and these rides have been well attended and enjoyed by all. Their Tuesday monthly “Epic ride” has remained constant and this month sees the Castelli team leading us up the Alpe du Zwift, on the “Road to Sky” route.
The ride will be paced around 2.5-3 w/kg which means it will take probably 80 minutes to ascend the mountain. I have to say, if you have not done a group ride up the Alpe, it’s certainly something to try at least once. It’s pretty special seeing and being part of a huge group of riders all ascending together!
The event is hosted on Tuesday 22nd March at 7:25pm CET/6:25pm GMT/2:25pm EDT/11:25am PDT.
These items of clothing have brand new designs and I must say they’re pretty jazzy with their urban camouflage theme. This item is from Castelli’s Premium line and as such comes with a premium price tag attached. In Castelli’s own words, “It’s the one jacket that does everything well.”
Understanding the design of the jacket makes for some interesting reading, with Castelli noting that they “initially designed it as a cool-weather training and extreme-weather race piece for pro riders.” However, they note that “it excels in many conditions thanks to its full wind protection, great fit through stretchy fabrics, and best-in-class breathability.”
“RoS” denotes Rain or Shine as the jacket works in both scenarios thanks to GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® fabrics Castelli worked with Gore to develop.
Notably, this is Castelli’s best-selling jacket.
How to Win the Jacket
To win the jacket you need to stay close to the yellow beacon and at a set point a screenshot will be taken and the person nearest will win the prize. For more information, visit their Strava club page here: Fonzaso, Belluno, Italy Club | Castelli Squadra Corse on Strava.
Zwift’s March update included the fourth frame in game from Switzerland’s BMC. Named the “Teammachine”, this frame is the updated version of the in-game frame named the “SLR01”, which is really just an older Teammachine. (A bit confusing, but so are BMC’s bike names, so this is par for the course.)
Here’s how the BMC Teammachine is described in the Zwift Drop Shop:
“10 years ago, BMC launched a bike that kickstarted a revolution in the design and construction of the performance road bike. The Teammachine has won every major title that a bike can win including Monuments, World Championships, Olympic Games, and the Tour de France. Using the combined knowledge from the past decade, BMC have changed the game again to deliver an all-new, class-leading frameset ready to lead for another 10 years.”
The BMC Teammachine SLR01 in real life
This frame is priced at 832,900 Drops and level-locked at 26. It is rated 3 stars for aero and 3 for weight, which means it’s at least somewhat aero and lightweight. But Zwift’s star ratings aren’t precise enough to communicate actual performance in game in a useful way, so we ran the new Teammachine through our standard battery of tests.
Here’s everything you need to know about the performance of the new BMC Teammachine frame in Zwift.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The Teammachine turns in a mid-pack aero performance, matching the Liv Langma Disc at the 60th percentile.
Its test time of 51:29.5 is 6.5 seconds faster than the default Zwift Carbon frame given to all Zwifters. By comparison, the current fastest frame in Zwift (Specialized Venge S-Works) turns in a time of 51:17 on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit, totaling 34.6km.
Climb Performance
The frame’s climbing performance puts it in between the Cube Litening and Trek Emonda SL, which is to say its climbing performance is decent, but not great. The Teammachine ranks right around the 71st percentile compared to all the frames currently in game.
The BMC Teammachine turns in an Alpe climb time of 49:02.5. By comparison, the fastest climber in game (Specialized Aethos) completes the test is 48:50.
Note: all test results above are from a 75kg, 183cm rider holding 300W steady using Zwift’s stock 32mm carbon wheelset.
Broken Color Slider
One odd bug with the Teammachine that we haven’t seen before with other frames is the broken color slider. No matter where you put the slider, nothing on the frame appears to change. Something for Zwift to fix in the next update.
Conclusions
The new Teammachine is an upgrade from the older “SLR01”, trimming 4.5 seconds off its climb time and 4 seconds off its flat time. So that’s a nice, sensible improvement if you’re a BMC fan.
But the frame’s overall performance doesn’t make it stand out from the crowd in any way. So we don’t think you’ll be seeing the Teammachine on Zwift’s roads in any significant numbers. It will be used in game mostly by sponsored riders and IRL BMC owners.
The BMC Teammachine’s numbers will be added to the following posts, and it can also be found on our Master Zwift Frames List:
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.
The weekend’s theme is centred around “climbing” as there are several big events with that focus. It’s almost like Zwift planned it! (I know I did, as one of the events I am highlighting is the launch of my new “Mountain Massif” race, but more on that in a moment…)
ToW Stage 3: The Queen
The Tour of Watopia has been excellent so far, made special by the new routes to ride and badges to collect. Like many, I have treated these as an opportunity to undertake some nice group rides and until now, I haven’t been tempted to race any of the routes. However, this weekend sees us head to the mountains, and I take the opportunity to push myself and race one of the routes.
The three routes on offer are Tour of Fire and Ice (28,1km), Road to Sky (17.6km) which is one of my favourite routes in Zwift, taking you straight up the Alpe, and Downtown Titans which is a Rebel Route that has now made its way onto Zwift after being created by Shawn McAfee and published by Zwift Insider in 2020.
Would you believe that the “Mountain Massif” event I created solely for the purpose of a Zwift Insider article is now approaching its 1 year anniversary? In that time, the event has been well received and resulted in me expanding the concept so my “Mountain Massif” races now tackle all the major climbs in Zwift.
Because of this, it felt like the right time to expand my offering still further. So on Saturday I am hosting my first non time trial weekly race and am inviting you all to attend. The event is still very much keeping to theme as the race takes place on the Climber’s Gambit course which has my favourite climb on Zwift, the Epic KOM reverse, which is featured in my “Monday’s Mountain Massif TT”. Like my other events, there are no PowerUps and the race has a mass start with categories and is fully inclusive. In this race, there is drafting, which is the only change in format to my other events.
Unlike the launch of my other events, where I have invited Pro riders along and done a big marketing campaign, I decided not to do that this time and just simply invite my fellow Zwifters, who I ride with and race with day in, day out, to enjoy the race with me. Sometimes, less is more and on this occasion, it felt like this was appropriate.
There are two different time offerings to cater for the global audience and I look forward to seeing you on the start line.
I am very much keen to highlight the 2022 Women’s Ride and Run Series. This is a “Women’s Only” event and looks like it will be a lot of fun, and I will certainly be recommending this to someone close to home as it looks like an excellent way to tackle the hardest and biggest climbs in Zwift – the Ven-Top and Alpe du Zwift. As the event description states:
“March 19: Alpe du Zwift or Ven-Top Challenge — Flex your climbing skills as you hunt for badges alongside the global community. Rise to the challenge with an epic climb that takes you from feeling like a mountain goat to the G.O.A.T.”
This race is 24.6km in length and tackles the Bologna course. Having raced this distance on the course, I can tell you that it is brutal. So if you want a tough, hard race, this is the one to try. The reason why it is such a hard race is twofold. Firstly, the flat section is fast, really fast, so you find yourself close to your limit. Secondly, the climb is steep and leg-sapping. It’s exhausting doing it one time, but to do it for the second time is seriously challenging. Enjoy!
This special edition of Top 5 Zwift Videos is all about the 2022 UCI Cycling eSports World Championships. Take a look at how different athletes announced, prepared for, and raced the Worlds!
My Day Competing at a Cycling World Championships!
British rider Ed Laverack takes us through the day of a competitor in the 2022 UCI Cycling eSports World Championships.
Racing for British Cycling at the UCI eSports WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Weeks before the event, Ed Laverack announced that he’d be representing Great Britain at the cycling eSports world championships. Wait for his reaction when he tries the kit on for the first time.
Preparing For UCI/Zwift World Championships
What goes into preparing for a cycling eSports world championship? Canadian Oliver Dowd gives us a look behind the scenes.
Preparing For UCI E-Sports World Championships pt. 2
As the race gets closer, Oliver Dowd shares more about his preparation for the UCI Cycling eSports World Championships.
UCI World Championships ZWIFT – Michał Kamiński FINISH
Polish rider Michał Kamiński makes his final push to the finish line at Worlds in this video by Paweł Kalita. Listen to those cheers from his supporters!
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