Zwift’s November update included the first in-game frame from Uranium, a new bike brand created by pro cycling star Rigoberto Urán.
Here’s how the Uranium Nuclear is described in the Zwift Drop Shop:
“Uranium is the new bike brand from the Colombian cycling star Rigoburto Uran. The Uranium Nuclear sports a super stiff high modulus T900 carbon fiber frame and fork, paired with a climbing-aero geometry and integrated handlebar and stem to create a fast and clean-looking bike.”
This frame was released to coincide with the Virtual El Giro de Rigo happening on November 21st. All riders in those events will be on the Nuclear, and completing either of the Giro de Rigo courses will unlock the Nuclear for you to keep.
This frame is affordably priced at just 184,500 Drops and level-locked at 19. It is rated 3 stars for aero and 3 for weight on Zwift, so it could potentially be a strong performer. Of course, we can’t know that with certainty until we run it through actual tests on Zwifts – so that’s what we did!
Here’s everything you need to know about the performance of the new Uranium Nuclear frame in Zwift.
Aero (Flat/Rolling) Performance
The Uranium turns in a strong performance on the flats, matching the time of other top race frames including the Trek Madone, Felt AR, and Cervelo S5. In fact, our tests show it is only bested by the Specialized Venge S-Works and Cervelo S5 2020!
Its test time of 51:19 is 17 seconds faster than the default Zwift Carbon frame given to all Zwifters. By comparison, the fastest frame in Zwift (Cervelo S5 2020) turns in a time of 51:17.5 on our test course, which is two laps of Tempus Fugit, totaling 34.6km.
Climb Performance
Due to Zwift’s Dura-Ace 9200 bug (see “Still Not Fixed” note at bottom of page here), the Nuclear performs quite poorly on the climbs, turning in the same time as the Zwift Aero frame, which places it in the lower 15th percentile.
Without the bug, the frame would climb around 19 seconds faster, which would boost its percentile ranking up to around 55%. This corrected time puts it in the neighborhood of other fast frames – a few seconds faster than the Madone, one second slower than the Cervelo S5, etc.
The Uranium Nuclear currently turns in an Alpe climb time of 49:28. 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 new Uranium Nuclear frame on Zwift performs very nicely on the flats, but its climbing performance is hampered by the Dura-Ace 9200 bug. Without the bug this frame’s climbing performance would be very close to the fast aero frames it is competing against. But for now, it’s hard to recommend this frame for any racing that includes climbs.
When Zwift fixes the Dura-Ace bug it’ll be interesting to retest this frame to see where it fits, because it should speed up a bit in terms of aero performance along with a significant reduction in climb times. It may just be the fastest aero frame in game if that happens – and for the low price and level lock, that would be a remarkable development, especially for newer Zwift racers!
The Nuclear’s numbers will be added to the following posts, and it can also be found on our Master Zwift Frames List:
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.
Here is Uranium bikes website:
https://www.uranium-bikes.com/
Funny enough, uranium is about 2.4 times denser than iron. So, in one sense, uranium isn’t the first thing I’d have named my bike company after, although depleted uranium can be used in armor plating and it might carry connotations of durability … if you knew that factoid.
It’s more about URANium then about the material I guess…
maybe its in is family name
Wow, very strong performance for a low-level-option with a low price. But as you said Eric, this frame will be only then really interesting if ZHQ is able to repair the Dura-Ace-bug. I also hope that especially the Aeroad21, Dogma F and SL7 will get back these 2 and 19s. Let’s pray for it together :-). Ride on everybody and stay healthy as much as possible all over the world.
1 question to Eric : wouldn’t it make a bit more sense in the moment that you put the 6 Dura-Ace-frames with their current (“bugged”) times in your frame ranking charts ? Because now, some frames are listed with their old times (we hope to get back soon) and some with their new buggy times. Thanks for all your work.
The “Dura-Ace Bug” … is there a reason Zwift hasn’t fixed this yet other than the fact that their dev team has proven time and again to not be the sharpest tools in the shed?
Did you know that you can voice criticism without being a dick? It might help conveying your point.
Explain to me why every damn update Zwift releases comes with a new host of bugs and other issues. With the amount of money Zwift has rolling in every month from subscribers, you’d think that they could afford some competent people to get and keep things rolling while keeping hiccups to a minimum. The people they have now, to quote a line from the movie Gettysburg, ain’t fit to pour pee out of a boot with instructions on the heel!
Supporting a Billion Dollar company that everyone knows could do better are we?
I’m certain there is a reason that this minor problem has yet to be addressed and/or resolved — which could be as simple as the devs have more important tasks or projects to address at this time — such as perfecting the new UI interface or getting the new road expansion out for us to enjoy. I do appreciate you taking the time from your lofty endeavors to ignorantly globally denigrate the people providing this product to us.
I know Zwift has a lot going on, but how much effort can it really take to fix this? It’s not like designing a new course, or even new visuals for the equipment. It’s literally just a changing a number somewhere in the code from “x grams” to “y grams” or whatever. Best case, the weight is an attribute of the groupset, they only need to change it in one place, and it flows through to all the bikes. Worst-case, the weight is attached to each individual bike, and they have to change it in a dozen or so places in the code. Either way, this is like five minutes of work we’re talking about.
Are you sure we get the bike for free? Just did the B course, no new bike in my garage
Not sure. I double-checked with ZHQ when I wrote this post, because a bike UNLOCK is rare and I wanted to make sure that’s really what happened. They said it would.
Possible you have to log in and start another activity for the unlock to happen? I’ve seen that before. Or it could be they’re manually giving all the finishers the bike, and it might take a while for that to happen.
I would recommend contacting support if your bike doesn’t show up. I’m doing the ride in an hour… we’ll see if I get it.
I’ve contacted support and they said they will try to manually inject the bike to my account, might take a week or so
The same happened with me, even after starting a new activity it’s not there. Only thing I can think of is I’m only level 17 – however I was rewarded the Bridgestone rs9 for a previous event before I was the right level for it. Not sure if it’s a bug or not.
Update: ZwiftHQ has not set up these events to unlock the Uranium Nuclear bike. (This was the original plan, which was later changed.) Finishers who want the frame added to their garage may contact Zwift support to get the bike added to their garage.
I have just finished the ride. Got the jersey but not the bike. Is it a bug?
Not sure. I double-checked with ZHQ when I wrote this post, because a bike UNLOCK is rare and I wanted to make sure that’s really what happened. They said it would.
Possible you have to log in and start another activity for the unlock to happen? I’ve seen that before. Or it could be they’re manually giving all the finishers the bike, and it might take a while for that to happen.
I would recommend contacting support if your bike doesn’t show up. I’m doing the ride in an hour… we’ll see if I get it.
Thank you,
let us know if you do get it
Update: ZwiftHQ has not set up these events to unlock the Uranium Nuclear bike. (This was the original plan, which was later changed.) Finishers who want the frame added to their garage may contact Zwift support to get the bike added to their garage.
Just for the record – did that and got the frame today.
Me too
Can I ask who and how did you contact? I contacted Zwift support by email after the event and got a very non-committal response saying it may or may not be unlocked in my garage – and no progress since
Also completed the ride and only unlocked a Jersey, did log out and back in for a cool down ride, but no bike unlocked.
Update: ZwiftHQ has not set up these events to unlock the Uranium Nuclear bike. (This was the original plan, which was later changed.) Finishers who want the frame added to their garage may contact Zwift support to get the bike added to their garage.
Funny how a groupset, which I didn’t realize had any direct affect when riding, has a bug that cripples any bikes that are equipped with it on Zwift. So strange that the groupset is more than just mentioned as part of the bike.
Since it does make a difference they should allow us to buy group sets in the drop shop, that way we could workaround the bug. 🙂
Zwift description says “…integrated handlebar and stem…” – meanwhile the in game bike has a traditional steam and bars, but set atop integrated style spacers…nice one.
Never heard about “Uranium” this brand, after be added into ZWIFT…
This brand is, brand new, and is his (Rigoberto Urán … get it, Urán-ium)/their first bike.
Anticipating another nerfing…..
People need to calm down on the bug fixes. Go ride outside if it’s that much of an issue.
ZwiftHQ should commit to fixing the Dura-Ace bug before the next season of ZRL or refund the Drops we have used on buying useless frames. I have +1,000,000 drops wasted on a useless Pinarello Dogma F that I would much rather spend on something that I can actually race on …!
I decided to give the Uranium a shot for the low cost and because I do not have any true speedster bikes. I’m 70% to Tron and will finish this month. I’ve really focused on climbing in my first few months on Zwift just to get Tron. I’m now trying do improve sprints and general flat riding and this bike is really fast. I don’t do anything scientific but when I get a new bike I take it for a badge ride. I look for route I have not done that will test both the bikes strengths and weaknesses. I’ve only been riding since November but I’ve avoided all bikes effected by the bug. I decided to give this a go and its as advertised on the flats, and not uncomfortable for lighter climbs. I’m having fun with it for sure.
I’m curious how the new numbers will turn out for the Uranium after the groupset fix. As I see it, the Uranium equals the famous Cervelo S5 (1 sec slower on the flats, 1 sec faster on the hills). Presuming the 19 secs gain on the hills (holds for both frames), the Uranium is the (almost) fastest frames on the flats and shall be in the 2/3-percentile on the hills. Much value for few drops.
did the dura ace bug get fixed???
Yeah, many months ago!
I’m guessing the climbing bug has been fixed? Or should I be reconsidering bike choice for the Cobbled Climbs ZRL race next tuesday?
Yes, Dura-Ace bug has been fixed for months.
So really what would be the point in getting the Uranium Nuclear when leveled up and garaging the Canyon 2021?