Starting in October and going through November, Zwift has been celebrating its 10th birthday. You’ve probably noticed that they’ve been holding lots of fun events (like the Big Birthday Bash rides held in early October), along with repainting the Watopia blimp and adding bits of road art and confetti to our rides.
When the 10-year kit was unveiled in game, some of our readers asked if Zwift was going to sell an IRL version of the kit – because it’s pretty sweet!
We reached out to Zwift to ask if that was going to happen, and Zwift initially said they weren’t planning to do so. But then they came back to us a few weeks later to say that, based on the number of inquiries they’d had about an IRL kit, they were going to get it produced!
And that brings us to today’s announcement: Zwift x Pedal Mafia have teamed up to bring a version of the 10th-anniversary kit to life! The website went live today for pre-sale at pedalmafia.cc/collections/zwift-10
The jersey and bibs are based on Pedal Mafia’s Core Collection. Jerseys are $100USD and bibs are $150USD, and Pedal Mafia ships globally so you can get the kit anywhere in the world!
Orders placed now are pre-orders, and the site says items will ship in late November. This is a limited run, available for a limited time.
We’ve got some epic and unique events on top this weekend, including a Podcaster Battle Charity Race (it’s going to be absolute chaos) and a mass vEveresting. See our picks below!
This is just a crazy, unique, one-off event… with hundreds of people signed up. How can I not put it at the top of the list?
Podcasters and friends of Zwift Insider Holly Burgin and Nathan Krake are racing each other for charity. And they’ve invited the Zwift Community along to help them! Join Team Hollie or Team Nathan, then do whatever you can to get your captain over the line first. Live streaming provided by ZMS Esports Studio (watch it here).
Be sure to read the event details so you understand what’s going on. Riders will be racing two laps of Watopia’s Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop for a total length of 38.3km and 312m of elevation.
A group of riders from the Rhino Racing team is virtual everesting (vEveresting) Alpe du Zwift on Saturday, and they’ve invited the community to join! The kickoff event already has hundreds signed up, so if you’ve ever wanted to Everest but hate the idea of doing it alone, this may be the weekend to make it happen!
Tour of Watopia 2024 is well underway, with its double XP, double powerups, kit unlocks, and more! Ride these as social events, or go all-out and treat them as a race. You do you!
Team DIRT has organized “Hors Categories” endurance races for the next two weekends while we’re between ZRL rounds. These are endurance races on longer courses.
This week’s event is on Power to the Tower (45.6km, 1495m). Hope you’re ready to climb!
One of our most commonly-featured events, for good reason. The BMTR Flat 100 consistently gets big turnouts because it offers four different pace groups on flatter, distance-friendly routes.
This week riders are on France’s R.G.V. route, with three different pacing options. Be sure to read the event description for details!
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!
The Zwift Cog made its first appearance when the Zwift Hub One trainer was announced in October 2023. It’s a single-sprocket replacement for a standard bike cassette, designed to be used on trainers that support Zwift’s virtual shifting.
Zwift’s big goal with the Cog and virtual shifting overall is to simplify indoor bike setups, making it easier for Zwifters to set up their station and swap between bikes if needed. As hardware continues to evolve, Zwift has been evolving the Cog, releasing three versions we know of.
Before we get into the differences between the versions, let’s talk about what they have in common:
There are sloped spacers on either side of the sprocket that act as chain guides, keeping your chain on the sprocket even if it isn’t perfectly lined up.
Compatible with Shimano HG (Hyperglide) compatible freehubs.
No electronics are included in the Zwift Cog. It’s a simple piece of plastic and metal.
Compatible with most 8-12 speed drivetrains.
Product life tested to >25,000 miles.
Zwift Cog Versions
Version 1
Sprocket: 14-tooth
Color: Black
Tooth Profile: more pointed (~2mm across), thinner
Noise Level: 5/10
No longer sold
Version 1.05
Sprocket: 14-tooth
Color: Black
Tooth Profile: less pointed (~3mm across), thicker
Noise Level: 4/10
Version 2
Sprocket: 14-tooth (for all trainers except Elite, which uses an 18-tooth)
Color: Orange, with Zwift logo
Tooth Profile: same as v1.05
Noise Level: 2/10
Adjustable across 10 different positions left to right
Includes rubber rings and other housing changes for noise reduction
If you buy the Zwift Cog as a standalone product, you’ll need to install it onto your smart trainer. There are two installation methods depending on your situation, and Zwift explains both on this support page (including tutorial videos).
If you buy the Zwift Cog with the freehub attached, you’ll need to remove your trainer’s existing freehub, then install the Zwift Cog and freehub in its place. Once again, Zwift shows the way:
Zwift Cog FAQ
Do I need the Zwift Cog in order to use virtual shifting?
No. In fact, I’ve ridden thousands of miles on Zwift using my road bike with a standard cassette and virtual shifting via Play and Click controllers. In fact, many riders (including myself) have found their chain is quieter and smoother on a standard cassette than on a Zwift Cog!
Zwift Cog v2 offers easy adjustability and compatibility with various bikes, so it’s nice to have if you’re swapping bikes on and off the trainer. But if you’re only using one bike, and especially if it stays on the trainer (so no need to ever tweak your shifting to be smooth on your trainer and outdoors), there’s no need to get a Zwift Cog. If you have Click virtual shifters or Play Controllers you’re ready to go, provided your trainer supports Zwift virtual shifting (see list below).
Should I upgrade my Zwift Cog version 1 to version 2?
Entirely up to you. The version 1 Zwift Cog is functional, it’s just louder than the v2 and doesn’t have that easy left-right adjustability. If either of those features are worth the investment for you then by all means, purchase a v2 Zwift Cog.
If I install the Zwift Cog on my trainer will that let me use Zwift virtual shifting?
Only if your trainer supports Zwift virtual shifting and you have a virtual shifter. Remember, the Zwift Cog doesn’t have any electronics in it – all the magic happens between the shift controllers (Zwift Click or Play), the Zwift game software, and your trainer.
What trainers are compatible with the Zwift Cog?
That depends on what you mean by “compatible.”
The Zwift Cog will install on any Shimano HG-compatible freehub, which means it can be installed on basically every direct drive smart trainer in the world. But – and this is a big but – you don’t want to install the Zwift Cog on your trainer unless it supports Zwift’s virtual shifting. Because without virtual shifting, your trainer with a Zwift Cog just makes your bike into a single speed! (Or two speeds, I suppose, if you’ve got two front chainrings.)
Here’s a current list of trainers that support virtual shifting.
Now that the first round of the Zwift Racing League is complete, it is time to look forward to Round 2. In this week’s top video, one Zwifter takes a look at the courses for Round 2 of the Zwift Racing League and shares his thoughts.
Also selected are videos about the Zwift Ride, tackling the Uber Pretzel, and more Zwift Racing League fun.
Zwift just rolled out a fresh Mission for November, and it focuses on training using structured workouts in game.
Getting Started
To begin the Mission, select the mission card on your homescreen and click to register:
Once you’ve registered, the mission card will show your Mission progress on the homescreen.
Completing the Mission
After you register for the mission, finish 4 different workouts by November 30th to complete the mission. Workouts can be completed by:
Completing a workout from the workout menu
Completing a workout sent through the new Zwift Training API from XERT, TriDot, etc
Completing a workout within an event
Completing a workout within a club
Completing a workout within a meetup
Completing a workout within a free-ride
Giveaway
It’s not often that Zwift does a giveaway with these missions, but November is a special month where mission completion earns you one entry to win a trip for 2 to the Grand Depart of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift!
Prize includes flights, lodging, and VIP finish line access to Watch the Femmes in person! See terms and conditions…
Badge Unlock
Finish this mission, and the Train Together badge will be yours.
Yesterday, TrainingPeaks and indieVelo announced big news in the indoor cycling space: TrainingPeaks has acquired indieVelo and effective immediately, indieVelo has been renamed TrainingPeaks Virtual.
A Bit of History
I first started hearing about indieVelo back in May of 2023, when George Gilbert reached out to me with an invite to give it a spin before it became available to the public.
(George, astute readers may recall, first stepped into the indoor cycling scene as chairman of ZADA – Zwift’s Cycling Esports Commission – a team responsible for “maintaining, implementing and communicating” Zwift’s Cycle Esports & Regulations which applied to a small number of top-tier races.)
After launching indieVelo beta in June 2023, George continued developing the platform at a rapid pace, sending out weekly emails with a list of updates. He would often end his emails with something like this (taken from a recent mailing):
With 100% of the indieVelo roadmap determined by your ideas and suggestions, every piece of feedback is incredibly valuable and really makes a difference to the continued improvement of indieVelo each and every week.
It was clear that George’s experience at ZADA had shown him the pain points of current performance verification tech and key areas where virtual bike racing could be improved. From indieVelo’s launch, his message has been consistent: he’s working to develop a platform for accurate and engaging eracing.
But where was it all heading? How long could George continue to maintain the platform as a one-man army? Even as the number of subscribers recently passed the 40,000 mark, and many of them chose to join the “Founders Club” to support the platform’s upkeep and development, it was sort of a forgone conclusion that being acquired was the next step, and that step was coming soon.
The question was, by who?
A Buyer Is Found
Enter TrainingPeaks – the popular training app used by cycling coaches to schedule workouts and track fitness.
I’m not sure anyone saw this coming, although in hindsight it makes sense. Here’s a snippet from TrainingPeaks’ press release (I bolded some text for emphasis):
The newly acquired assets of indieVelo now enable TrainingPeaks coaches to strengthen their communities with increased athlete engagement through virtually hosted group rides, events and races. With robust customization features, TrainingPeaks Virtual can look however the coach wants — with custom avatars, bikes, team kits and branded events.
“The core values of trust and authentic achievement are something that both indieVelo and TrainingPeaks share, and as TrainingPeaks Virtual, we are doubling down on that focus in the future,” said Gilbert. “This acquisition brings both the investment and the expertise needed to take it to the next level — creating a fully integrated, seamless training and racing platform, both indoors and out.”
TrainingPeaks
Effective immediately, George Gilbert is an employee at TrainingPeaks. And not just any employee – sources tell me his position within the company is at the VP level.
TrainingPeaks Virtual will remain free to use for the duration of the northern hemisphere winter, transitioning to a paid platform around March 2025. After that time, TrainingPeaks Virtual will only be available to users at the TrainingPeaks Premium Tier ($19.99/month or $124.99/year).
What Does It All Mean?
Of course, this is Zwift Insider, so it only makes sense to look at this news from a Zwifter’s perspective.
In some ways, the news of TrainingPeaks acquiring indieVelo feels a lot like the news of Wahoo acquiring RGT back in April 2022. It’s an established fitness company acquiring a small upstart competitor to Zwift.
But there are probably more differences here than similarities. RGT had a larger development team, and was more focused on cool maps and “Magic Roads” features while indieVelo has really focused on accurate esports racing from the beginning. Additionally, I always got the vibe that RGT’s development wasn’t a priority at Wahoo, while George Gilbert’s new VP-level position at TrainingPeaks would indicate that significant further investment into the platform is planned.
From Zwift’s corporate perspective, it shifts indieVelo from a tiny upstart (and potential acquisition target) to a serious competitor. That means there are three serious Zwift competitors today: MyWhoosh, Rouvy, and TrainingPeaks Virtual. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. Put up against Zwift, MyWhoosh wins based on price (free), while Rouvy offers lots of “real” roads and indieVelo TrainingPeaks Virtual promises the most accurate racing experience.
Zwift is still the 800lb gorilla in the indoor cycling space, though. The platform’s cross-device compatibility and strong feature set coupled with its social focus and massive user base make it the obvious standard that all other indoor cycling apps are compared to.
On top of that, Zwift’s recent hardware releases – most notably the Zwift Ride – make it easier (and more affordable) than ever for new cyclists to get it on the fun.
But Zwift can’t rest if they want to maintain their dominance. They must continue developing compelling new features while polishing existing ones. And they must find ways to both improve and expand the content on the platform. That means races that are more fun than ever, group rides that really draw you into the supportive Zwift community, workouts that build fitness super-efficiently, fresh roads you want to explore… you get the idea.
I’ve said it before. and I’ll say it again: competition in this space is good for Zwifters since it keeps Zwift on their toes. It’ll be interesting to watch how things develop with TrainingPeaks Virtual moving forward, and if Zwift responds in any noticeable way to yesterday’s news.
Will TrainingPeaks Virtual maintain its racing focus, even though it’s been acquired by a company known for its training focus? Will current TrainingPeaks subscribers move to TrainingPeaks Virtual instead of Zwift since it’s part of the subscription they’re already paying? And will the development of TrainingPeaks Virtual continue at a high pace once it moves from a one-man show to a team?
Time will tell.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of this big news from TrainingPeaks+indieVelo? Share your thoughts below!
Wahoo Releases Firmware Updates for KICKR v6, CORE, MOVE, BIKE v2, and BIKE SHIFT
In the past few days, Wahoo has released important firmware updates for their most popular trainers and smart bikes. Read on for details…
KICKR v6, CORE, and MOVE Updates
KICKR v6KICKR COREKICKR MOVE
In the past month or so, I’ve been hearing more and more murmuring from the Zwift racing community about a bug in Wahoo’s trainers when used with Zwift’s virtual shifting. The bug, as I’ve experienced it, is triggered when you use virtual shifting and stop pedaling while in a big virtual gear (let’s say, gear 22 out of 24).
When you stop pedaling long enough (perhaps while descending the Epic KOM), the trainer automatically recalibrates. And when it does so, it calibrates incorrectly, resulting in riders getting free watts!
It’s pretty easy to spot, because once it starts happening, when you coast the HUD will show you’re putting out 10-15 watts without pedaling.
Worst of all, the problem doesn’t seem to fix itself with subsequent automatic calibrations. A factory spindown seems to be the only fix.
As time went on and Wahoo still hadn’t patched the bug, I went back and forth about whether Zwift Insider should publicize it or not. In the end, I settled on keeping it quiet, since I didn’t want the bug exploited further and was assured by Wahoo that fixing it was a top priority.
Today, Wahoo released firmware updates that fix the issue for the three affected trainers:
For reference sake, here’s how Wahoo describes the bug in their KICKR v6 firmware notes:
In the previous firmware versions, there was an issue with the trainer calculating the correct spindown values during the auto calibration process in certain scenarios when also using Zwift Virtual Shifting. The conditions could result in the trainer reporting “ghost” watts (watts while coasting), and could result in a power offset throughout the ride. If you are currently experiencing “ghost” watts, this firmware update will not immediately fix the issue on its own, but having updated to the current firmware, the auto calibration process will fix the power offset over time without manual intervention. If you would like to resolve the power offset immediately, you can complete a factory spindown.
If you are using any of the three affected trainer models, you should connect to the trainer via the Wahoo app on your phone and update to the latest firmware. (Wahoo says WiFi-enabled trainers will be updated automatically, but in my experience, this doesn’t always happen reliably.)
This will be an especially welcome upgrade for KICKR BIKE SHIFT users who have no gear display on the bike itself!
And before you ask, I also asked… about the KICKR BIKE v1. Will it get a similar firmware upgrade to show gearing in Zwift? Wahoo says, “This feature won’t be coming to the KICKR BIKE v1.” 😬
This firmware update includes other new features for the KICKR BIKE v2 and KICKR BIKE SHIFT. Both bikes now support Zwift Protocol, so they can do Ride On bombs, braking, and more. Here’s the diagram from Wahoo:
Note that Zwift Protocol is Bluetooth-only, so you won’t have this functionality if you pair your KICKR BIKE via ANT+.
Zwift version 1.77 begins its phased rollout today. While not a major release, it includes some basic garage sorting, new badges for the upcoming Watopia expansion, XP bonuses for ToW workouts, a welcome update for Wahoo KICKR Bike owners, and more. Let’s dive into the details!
New Badges (for Unreleased Routes), Re-Sorted
Zwift has re-sorted the list of route badges, grouping them, it appears, by map then sorting them by release date (oldest to newest).
But the bigger news here is 7 new badges, which are attached to the Watopia expansion arriving November 12 for stage 5 of Tour of Watopia!
You can see the new route names are:
Deca Dash
Waisted 8
Loopin Lava
The Classic
The Classic Run
Coast to Coast
Triple Twists
KICKR BIKE Gearing Visualization
KICKR BIKE V2KICKR BIKE SHIFT
While not mentioned in Zwift’s release notes (because the functionality has been in game for a while, just waiting for Wahoo to update firmware), today Wahoo released firmware updates for KICKR BIKE v2 (firmware version 2.2.22) and KICKR BIKE SHIFT (firmware version 1.21.18) enabling the display of your current virtual gear on the Zwift HUD.
This will be an especially welcome upgrade for KICKR BIKE SHIFT users who have no gear display on the bike itself.
And yes, we asked: Wahoo says, “this feature won’t be coming to the KICKR BIKE v1.”
Garage Auto-Sorting
When the Drop Shop was released in 2019, Zwifters did what cyclists do: we bought every bike we could afford.
Since then, the community has been asking for ways to better organize our crowded Zwift garages. Could we “favorite” are top setups? Sell used frames or wheels back? Or even just delete some we’ll never use?
This update contains the first garage sorting update ever (as far as we know). Zwift says, “Items in the Garage (frames, wheels, kit) are now automatically sorted by most recent use.”
Until now, frames and wheels have simply been sorted alphabetically. Now, they will be sorted chronologically based on last use.
In our tests, it appears that there’s no limit to how many frames or wheelsets show in this chronological list. That means for now, you’ll have the alphabetically sorted list of frames and wheels, and then as you select new frames or wheels to use, those will be moved to the top of your lists. Eventually, your frame and wheel lists will be topped by the handful of frames or wheels you use.
Friend Notifications
Zwift has always been a social platform, and this week’s update includes a small tweak to help riders connect a bit more easily. Zwift says, “Looking for a friendly wheel to join? Zwifters will now receive a notification when a friend starts Zwifting in the same world. Simply use the Teleport feature to join them.”
Here’s what the notification looks like in game:
BRAEk-fast Crits and Grits Route Opens
Scotland’s new BRAEk-fast Crits and Grits route, raced recently for the last event of ZRL Round 1, is no longer event-only. It is open to free ride whenever you’d like, and yes, there’s an achievement badge with 415 bonus XP attached.
Tour of Watopia Workouts Bonus XP
If you’ve been riding Tour of Watopia events and routes, you know there are XP bonuses available. Riders earn 2x the usual XP when riding in ToW events, and 1.5x the usual when riding a ToW route on demand.
Now, with this week’s update, if you do a workout on a ToW route, the XP you earn will be increased by 1.5x.
In the past, if you were on a group ride with a designated leader (yellow beacon) or sweeper (red beacon), things could get a bit confusing if one of the beacons left mid-ride.
This week’s update includes a tweak for PC and Mac users so the beacon will switch to an alternate designated ride leader or sweeper after 1 minute instead of the previous 10 minutes.
More Release Notes
Zwift provided notes on additional tweaks and bug fixes in this update:
Runners can now open the Pairing screen and continue running in-game at the same time.
The gradient percentage shown in the dynamic elevation display now changes more smoothly during a climb.
The symbol for the distance indicator in the HUD has now been updated to provide 100% (IYKYK) clarity.
The font size in the left section of the HUD has been increased to improve readability.
The estimated difficulty and duration for the Navig8 and Power to the Tower routes in Watopia are now more accurate.
Fixed an issue that could cause the Zwifters Nearby list to not be visible when fan viewing another Zwifter in an event paddock.
Fixed an issue where the virtual shifting gear indicator was not displayed after pausing a workout.
Fixed an issue that could potentially cause flashing orbs to appear on the Epic KOM in Watopia.
Android: Fixed an issue that could prevent Bluetooth devices from reconnecting after a disconnection.
All About Trainer Difficulty on Zwift (Concept Testing a ZI/AI Podcast)
Over the years, we’ve toyed with the idea of starting a podcast here at Zwift Insider. But it was simply too time-intensive of a project, so we opted to leave it to the experts.
Recently, though, I’ve been messing around with AI-based podcast generation tools. We all know AI is the biggest thing happening in tech right now – and it’s only getting bigger. What you may not know is that AI is revolutionizing the way podcasts are created, since AI can greatly reduce the time required to edit a podcast’s raw audio to remove unnecessary content and tweak audio settings for an optimal listening experience. (Simon used Adobe’s AI tools to edit the latest episodes of the Zwiftcast, in fact.)
I was interested in going one step further, though. Having already spent the time to write up detailed articles on so many Zwifty topics, I was looking for a way to auto-generate a full podcast. Just point the robot at key source articles, let it consume the content, and spit out a podcast with real (simulated) human voices.
Enter Google’s just-released NotebookLM, which does exactly that. And does it very well.
List to our first (let’s call it beta) episode, a 12-minute romp on the topic of Trainer Difficulty:
This podcast was created by pointing NotebookLM to the following posts:
As you’ll hear, NotebookLM has two voices (a male and female) who riff off of each other on the topic at hand. Having listened to this particular episode multiple times, I’m impressed by how they organize the content thoughtfully, summarize it, and even add little comments that I don’t remember writing in my original posts. Maybe that info comes from user comments on the articles? Or maybe the bots are more Zwift-smart than anyone realizes?
Your Feedback
I’m sharing this with the Zwift Insider audience because I want your honest feedback: do you believe a podcast with short episodes on specific Zwift features be useful to you, and/or the Zwift community at large?
Yes, no, maybe so… let me know in the comments below. You won’t hurt my feelings – after all, the episodes aren’t hard to create, and it’s not my voice you’re hearing!
