The latest Zwift update is now available for download on PC, Mac, and Android and will appear for iOS and Apple TV soon.
Not sure if your Zwift install is up-to-date? Here’s how to check >
Like the previous update, this release doesn’t contain much by way of new features. But it does include welcome improvements to the very popular Pace Partners, and new workouts which are always a plus! Let’s dig into the details…
Pace Partner Updates
Thanks to the new Drops Multiplier game and their “always on” nature, Pace Partners have become very popular very quickly. This update includes two small improvements to the Pace Partner experience.
First: Pace Partners now have a beacon over their avatar, so they’re easier to spot in the bunch. If you’re trying to stay close to the Pace Partner in order to earn additional Drops, this is a big help!
Second: if you’re following a Pace Partner but on a different route than that Pace Partner, you may come to an intersection and make a different turn than the Pace Partner! That’s a bummer. So Zwift has added a warning to help you make the right turn.
Interesting bit of related triva: Zwift stats show that a lot of people riding with Pace Partners are simply joining them randomly from within a free ride. Did you know you can easily find a Pace Partner from the startup screen, then start your ride and be dropped into the Pace Partner’s pack? Just click Watopia, then choose the Pace Partners box…
New Training Plan + Workouts
A new Training Plan has been added, called “Back to Fitness”. This plan is specifically targetting those at a low level of fitness who want to kick start their return to cycling after a hiatus.
Back to Fitness plan Rapha Festive 500 workouts
Five workouts have also been added to help Zwifters prepare for the 2020 Rapha Festive 500. This will be the 11th year of this popular challenge (ride a total of 500km between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve) and while the challenge isn’t on Strava yet, we expect it to show up soon.
Canyon Aeroad 2021 Tweaks
We received a tip from within ZHQ that this release includes tweaks to the aero + weight settings for the Canyon Aeroad 2021 frame. If you recall, this frame was released in the previous update, and its performance was amazing – making it the best all-around frame in the game as well as the best climber.
Its level lock has been reduced from 23 to 10, price raised from 532,500 to 568,000, and weight rating reduced from 4 stars to 3 (so it’s heavier).
We’re testing it now, but we expect it won’t be the best climber anymore. Stay tuned. #sigh
New Trek Super Caliber MTB
Not mentioned in the update notes: this release includes a new Trek Super Caliber MTB frame in the Drop Shop. We’re testing its performance and will share our findings ASAP.
Halloween Fun
Zwift likes to have a little fun on certain holidays – especially Halloween, Christmas, and April Fool’s Day. Today’s update notes say, “Halloween has arrived in Watopia. Keep a close eye out for some fun surprises.”
We earned dino costumes in 2019, rode bone bikes and swapped heads in 2018, and looked like witches and monsters in 2017. What do they have up their sleeve for 2020?
Who knows. Certainly it won’t be any scarier than what we’ve already encountered this year!
Bug Fixes and Improvements
Update notes included these various bug fixes (with our notes in italics):
- Updated the minimum allowed time for the Yorkshire sprint to reduce incorrect flagging in race events. If you’re lucky enough to have noticed this bug, we salute you!
- A steering icon will now appear in the Zwifters Nearby UI to indicate riders who are using a steering device. A welcome change! It will be interesting to take part in ZHQ Steering Races and see who indeed has steering and who doesn’t.
- Bluetooth devices should now be easier to pair and reconnect for Windows users. More and more Windows users are utilizing native Bluetooth for connections, so Zwift is investing some resources in making it function better on this platform. That’s great news.
- Numerous new assets (decorations and kits) added to support upcoming events and programs.
- Fixed a bug on iOS causing a crash when users tried to restore a purchase. Specifically, this has to do with subscribing to Zwift via the Apple store.
- Fixed a bug on iOS which would cause an occasional crash on the pairing screen while an Apple Watch was also connected.
- Fixed an issue with event kit and bike overrides not appearing for those outside of the event.
- Fixed a bug that would sometimes cause the race results screen to appear blank after a race. We’ve seen a lot of blank screens at the end of group rides lately. Hopefully this is fixed!
- Fixed a bug that would cause frame rates to drop when taking a screenshot.
- Minor fixes and improvements to the Dirt Destroyer and Pebble Pounder workouts.
- Fixed a bug making it difficult to pair a Sterzo Smart while using the Zwift Companion Bluetooth bridge function.
- Fixed a localization error for the French save screen.
See/discuss release notes on Zwift’s forum >
Questions or Comments?
Share your thoughts below!
Wow! I suggested that they add a beacon for the pace partners and they did it!
You’ve got some clout!
That must be the first time in the history of Zwift that they’ve actually implemented a suggestion 😫😂
One reason I could see people joining the pacer bots in free ride is that they likely need to warm up – it’s hard to jump into the pacer bot fresh out of the gate. And since you can’t warm up then join…
this x1000. I like riding with the pace partners, especially ones going slightly above my usual pace, but jumping straight in without a warmup is never a good thing
Yep agreed on this.
Why you don’t just warm up at a free ride, and after that you start again with a pace partner?
Yup, I agree. I’d like to see on the start screen ‘Join Pace Partner in 5/10/15 minutes’ so I can start warming up in free ride and then get dropped to the pace partner just the same as we do now when starting events. It would also help to show the PP’s on the companion map permanently, not just in the nearest 100 riders so I could ride out to meet them, warming up on the way.
NOOOOOOOO! Not the Aeroad! I love that bike, please Zwift, leave it be! I liked having an amazing all-round bike that climbed crazy fast.
I agree, Whyyyyy?
Specialized is one of the companies that invests heavily in Zwift. Canyon with better performance than a Specialized in the game? Nooooo. If I were a platform investor I would not allow this.
A big investor in Zwift actually wants to invest / buy 500.000.000€ into Canyon. So that is not a good argument 😉
Well the Canyon downgrade is a bummer. I want my drops back.
Exactly. That’s like buying the bike IRL for 12 large and it weighs 2 pounds more than it should. I would be bringing it back to the store…
Not even that, but more like someone from the shop coming a month later and supergluing 2 lbs of lead weights inside the frame without telling you…
No, that’s like buying the real bike, then Canyon breaking into your garage a few days later and adding weight to the frame.
That is why they have raised the price, so that people who already bought it, won’t complain that much.
The waste of drop points is annoying but I have so many it won’t really matter.
Having an aero bike as the vest climber was stupid. Putting the Lightweight wheels on it to climb quickly looked rubbish.
t is funny that they have made it perform worst and at the same time made it more expensive to buy.
If it’s any consolation… the Aeroad is just as fast on the flats, and still a good climber. So they didn’t totally ruin it! Details to come…
It should be within a few seconds of the SL7.
And just like that the Aeroad is knocked off it’s virtual pedestal. Too bad. Guess the S-Works Venge reclaims its Top Dog ranking, eh? Maybe Zwift so do some tweaks to the vaunted Tron; mute the brightness a bit and allow for more fine-tuning of the color pallet — (why can’t I just get a solid red glow?)
The Venge never lost its ranking as the fastest in the flat. The Aeroad was a better all-arounder because it had good speed in the flat while being a top climber. Now the climbing is reduced, but the flat speed is still the same. It could still be the best all-arounder, just not as good at climbing.
/\ This
My game keeps telling me it’s still level 23 after update.
Was the new update supposed to wipe out all the progress from previous workouts? Also, the prompts on the screen were new, but they didn’t seem like they were synced to the actual workout…. Timing was off per the actual workout. Spin easy for 5 min when it was only 3, or along those lines.
As always, thanks for the article! I have a few comments: First, I’ve been riding with Diesel a few times already. Always a great experience. I can drop in with him from the start without a warm-up. I’ve been wanting to join Coco, but I have yet to build the courage. I was thinking that if I look up her route, I should be able to see where she is. I can then warm-up at my own speed. Then join as her group passes. We’ll both be on the same route so no need to navigate. Second, sad news about… Read more »
Hopefully they fix the companion app bluetooth issues as well, I’ve given up using it this month – you lose all bluetooth connection ability after finish a ride. Only if is to restart the phone.
Badly need an edit button on this interface…. you lose bluetooth connection ability after you finish a ride and try and start another, the only fix is to restart the phone.
I was looking forward to the frame in game after getting through ZA for all round use. Have my Cdale Evo for climbing and Spec allez sprint for the flats/races. Which I am hoping the Evo keeps the same performance as the Spec. tarmac post testing in climbing.
I wonder if they are making room for the new specialized bike?
Maybe the new Specialized Aethos Founder’s Edition will be the bike at the top of the Alpe?!
They already have the Meilenstein’s for the Alpe, it would be a more appropriate incentive for the Aethos to be offered at the top of Ventoux
I really enjoy your website heaps of great tips and advice thanks!
Thanks Jeffrey!
I have a TACX blacktrack steering frame. Is there any plan for an update to include ANT paring of steering devices?
oops sprellung mustiq I meant PAIRING
No plans I’ve heard.
So what about the Sterzo Smart Glitch when riding with Pace Partners, where you can not join the group but keep bouncing of it instead, far into the oncoming traffic, and end up having no slipstream ?!
Disconnect your Sterzo then?
It is really bad that we can use steering only in one event that is crit Downtown Dolphine. Is there any reason for that?
Because it’s too big of an advantage in races, and not enough people have a Sterzo. Hopefully that’ll change over time.
I put my Sterzo Smart on eBay last week, as literally no use at all at the moment
Thought the partners used to go up to 2.5x instead of jus 2x, and count upwards slightly quicker too.
I find the newly added emphasis on the metres ahead of the Bot more helpful than the icon above then.
Did they change the timings and the limit? Ugh… don’t make me test this again!
Have they changed the maximum drop multiplier, only goes up to x2.0 now?
yes. I discovered this today to my dismay. I don’t know why they don’t have the multiplier go higher but make it more of a game: e.g. have the bar at the top show the boundaries you need to stay inside in terms of distance to the pace bot to get the multiplier and then make those boundaries smaller each time it ticks up a multiplier.
Is the Trek MTB new with this update?
Yes.
So what I’m gathering from this is that the best thing is to simply stop buying bikes and go for the Tron (if you don’t already have it) as anything else will be a waste of drops if they’re going to continue changing the bikes bikes around like this.
Hasn’t Zwift changed the performance of the Tron/Concept bike at least once?
They did make the Tron a slower climber when the Drop Shop opened up, if I recall…
They did, but at least it’s a different type of investment to get that one. The challenges are kind of set and forget and you don’t need to do anything else for them whereas the drops are something that you may need to think twice about in terms of which frames or wheels to get.
Anyone know about fixes for event results or London’s elevation in mini map gradients? Or am I the only one with these issues…
Not 100% sure what you mean, but in London on the mini map elevation profile, my little dot rides along the bottom rather than on the hill (as it does for the other worlds). Also, the gradient indicator is blocky rather than sloped in other worlds
Eric,
This question might have been asked a bunch of times before…, but is there any talk from ZHQ to show Wahoo Kickr Bike Gear Selection on the Zwift via the Screen or just the Companion App?
Thanks
Very curious about the new numbers for the canyon. I’ll wait for the results, before buying on impulse
Anyone who signed up for this year’s Academy got the Aeroad after completing the first workout so I’m glad I wasted no drops. It’s just a shame they crippled the performance at the request of Specialized .. who likely cried at their SL7 being overshadowed by a cheaper (drops) bike. Boo hoo, your products are over-rated anyway 🙂
So the first the tron was amazing at climbing then it got slowed down
The tarmac was amazing then it got slowed down
The aeroad was amazing then it got slowed down
Even the safety bike was the best climber and then they slowed it down
The tarmac and aeroad really make it look like zwift is making new bikes great and then screwing them up to make room for the next new bike to spend drops on……
Anyone else having issues with connecting to Zwift since installing the update? Major issue and bummer! 🙁
Hi Katheryn! I’ve only done one ride since the update and it was fine. I’m about recovered from my “procedure” so this was my first ride in two weeks. I guess we’ll see tomorrow if it’s still solid…
Hour and 15 minutes today and all I could get in was 13 minutes of riding…
Eric, Not sure if you can pass on but seems like a bait and switch in a sense with the Canyon. As in… Lets release this new bike (as i’m sure Canyon paid $ for marketing to Zwift) with really good stats. Everyone spends their hard earned drops. Then Zwift makes the bike heavier or not perform ‘what folks sweated for’. It artificially inflated how many folks bought the bike in the drop shop. If they released it and it was ‘just another bike’ they wouldn’t be able to report large purchase numbers and impressions back to Canyon. Overall really… Read more »
Oh, I’ve passed it on! They know.
The good news is, the Aeroad 2021 is still a strong climber. Still the best all arounder in game: https://zwiftinsider.com/tron-vs-top-performers/
From the look of the charts there is no reason to ever pick the canyon if you have the Tron and the tarmac. Pick Tron for flat, or the tarmac for anything hilly. Shame, as I love the look of a ‘real’ bike!
joined a groupride in meetup stay together in France yesterday. We all stand at the side of the road ready to go. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go! All the riders in the group turns right and I go left!!?? Why?? couldn´t turn back and join so I went for that workout all by my self, weard or not?
This must be the oldest bug, where the display would momentarily freeze at about 40 minutes into a ride while Zwift automatically took a screenshot.
Curious to see Eric’s updated test of the Aeroad.
just went up the Alpe and it was roughly a minute slower than last time at 4.1 w/kg. So back to the Tron for me I guess.
It’s only 9s slower than previous, up the Alpe. Details to come, but all our pages are now updated…
From the look of the charts there is no reason to ever pick the canyon if you have the Tron and the tarmac. Pick Tron for flat, or the tarmac for anything hilly. Shame I love the look of a ‘real’ bike!
After reading Eric’s updated performance stats, I went ahead and dropped my drops for the Aeroad anyway. Despite it’s lowered climbing rank, it still holds best all-rounder status and being a Zwift newbie (on about 1 month at level 16) I’m a long way from the Tron bike. Plus, for a sustained climb, I suppose I could swap to the Trek Emonda which I surprisingly unlocked somehow (Everest?) and has a high percentile for climbing.
So is the tarmac the king again for best climber?
Yeah, it’s tied with the Cannondale EVO as the best climber. https://zwiftinsider.com/updated-canyon-aeroad-2021/
I bought a Giant TCR way back when I got to the right level as that’s my real world bike, and pretty much use it exclusively Enve climbing wheels / zipp 808s…. Just unlocked Zwift concept and will probably use it all the time…. The only other bike I’ve used is canyon grail – purely for the jungle loop.
Maybe once I get to level (whatever) I’ll get the zipp disc wheel and buy a TT bike for the flats.
I use a PC and the companion app. The Bluetooth pairing seemed to work better.
thanks,
I’d like to be able to track all the pacers or have them intersect more often. The reason is I cannot jump on a B or A pacer bot without a warm-up. Would be great to jump from a D to a C to a B…
Hi Eric.
Thanks for the information. I wonder when Zwift will make an actual GUI makeoverno? Nothing have happen on that front for more than a year. With the Zwift season coming rapidly I find it strange that they haven’t used the summer for launching an update which I think that have announced will happen?
regards
Flemming
Have you listened to the latest Zwift Cast Podcast? It doesn’t sound like there are any changes coming and the previously talked about redesign really wasn’t a a major redesign.
Thanks Travis. That’s a bit disappointing to hear. But thanks for answering
Zwiftpower rider still able to get KOM bests and jerseys. How difficult can it be …
Ran into a bug Thursday night after applying the update. Tried to update my weight while in the start pen for the WTRL TTT and it wouldn’t let me get back to the ride. Forced me to quit. I missed the race because of it.
why does my child’s account not work on this update? it just says that I need to join now and that my free trial is up
also i tried reinstalling zwift and the update won’t load now
I’m not sure if the update caused this or the increase in users. But Coco sucks as a pace partner. I’ll be doing 120 watts and dropping coco, or 250 and barely hanging on coco’s wheel. Prior to the update coco was awesomely smooth.
I’m writing as an apple TV user, not the PC kinda guy… so maybe some features are available on PC and not commenting particularly to last update When is Zwift finally going to change it’s “homescreen” where you can select worlds/rides and training, so you can go directly in your garage and change bikes before you’ve selected a ride? That’s how we do it here IRL in Europe, you take a bike out off your garage and go riding, not the otherway around 😉 Also making some default bike setup possible, having a flat road bike with aero wheels and… Read more »
Will I be able to connect my windows 10 laptop via Bluetooth without the need for ant +