We couldn’t have scripted a better opening week. Just as our new Wattage Cottage podcast launches, the indoor cycling world gets rocked by one of the biggest business moves in the history of the sport — and we’re breaking it down on day one.
Episode one of Wattage Cottage sets the tone for everything this show is going to be — honest, informed, and genuinely enthusiastic about the world of indoor cycling. Host Dave Towle is joined by Eric Schlange, founder of Zwift Insider, and Shane Miller — GP Lama — Australia’s premier cycling tech reviewer. Together, the three tackle the Zwift-Rouvy bombshell and dig into two of the biggest ongoing conversations in indoor cycling right now.
In This Episode
BREAKING — Zwift Acquires Rouvy
This just landed, and it changes everything. Or maybe nothing changes? Two very different products with two very different philosophies. What does it mean? Is this about eliminating competition? Growing the pie? Building something new? We dig into the implications for subscribers of both platforms, what happens to Rouvy’s identity, and whether this is good or bad news for the indoor cycling community as a whole.
Zwift Levels 100+
Zwift is finally expanding its level caps, giving some of its most dedicated riders and runners a fresh carrot to chase. Dave, Eric, and Shane break down what this means, whether it’s genuine progress or long-overdue housekeeping, and what it tells us about Zwift’s approach to subscriber motivation and retention.
Gravel on Zwift — Does It Actually Work?
Gravel has become one of the most culturally vital formats in cycling. So what happens when you bring it indoors? Shane breaks down the physics and resistance modeling. Eric reports from the community side and suggests route design ideas. And Dave asks the harder question — can virtual gravel ever really capture what makes gravel gravel?
Listen On:
Meet the Team
- Dave Towle: The voice of American cycling, having called some of the biggest races in the country for decades. Now bringing that same sharp eye to the indoor cycling world.
- Shane Miller (GPLama): Based in Australia, Shane is one of the most followed and trusted cycling tech reviewers in the world. If it connects to a trainer or measures a watt, Shane has tested it.
- Eric Schlange: Founder of Zwift Insider, the internet’s most comprehensive and reliable resource for Zwift routes, updates, and platform intelligence. The guy who actually reads every release note.
Share Your Thoughts!
This is just the first episode of what we hope is a long-running and useful community Zwift podcast. Share your thoughts below. We’re listening!
Hoping this podcast works from my office!
The POD cast missed the bigger trainer market place. The narrow view of those wanting to ride a bicycle is a smaller market than all the cycle training classes in gym clubs. Adding this group brings more influence, more revenue options, and stronger training options. Software like Velocity is now in serious trouble.
I think that’s a much bigger and very different discussion. Putting together a successful strategy to get Zwift and/or Rouvy into gyms to replace whatever is on spinbike screens is… well, complicated.
A worthy topic, but very different from discussing today’s acquisition news, IMO.
Good point. Being a cyclist, I don’t really think of the people who only want the workout without the love of riding. Definitely big revenue stream there!
This podcast was timed perfectly, and with a big discussion to start it out.
Nice to see this and can see it be a part of my podcast schedule! Could you maybe provide direct links to eg Apple Podcasts, since I can’t actually find Wattage Cottage on there through simple search (yet). TYVM and ride on
Here you go – just added! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wattage-cottage/id1895857693
Thanks for mentioning the Golden Forest section in Makuri Islands, Eric. For me, it is the most beautiful scenery in the entire Zwift universe. I love the old watermill and that Zwift placed a hidden zoom-in-zoom-out-viewpoint at the lake there. Unfortunately, it is only used in three routes, if I remember correctly, with new Yumezi Grit being the only route riding it in west-to-east-direction.
Yes, Tom! It’s such a cool little corner of Zwiftlandia. More, please.
Good info. I recognized that portion of Yumezi Grit was exceptionally scenic. Didn’t realize it had a name.
I’m so happy my favourite podcast is back!
Great to hear Shane Miller and Eric Schlange as part of the Pod Cast. Certainly these two are the experts on the topics worth listening to.
It’ll certainly be interesting on how Zwift and Rouvy will be integrated or not? I have both. Spend 90%+ more time using Rouvy since joining over a year ago.
Keeping my fingers crossed they don’t raise the price for ROUVY.
A graphic bike on a real video always looked fake to me.
I can do Zwift, because it’s all “game-ified.” In Rouvy, you have real video and a fake looking avatar, which looks strange to me… maybe a more realistic rider with smoother movements.
Where can I find this podcast (except here) , is it on Spotify?
Will be there soon, just waiting on approval since we launched the new channel late last night. I’ll reply here once we have a link…
That’s great 😀👌
Spotify and other links just added above, FYI.
Is this on Spotify?
Will be there soon, just waiting on approval since we launched the new channel late last night. I’ll reply here once we have a link…
It is showing up there for me now in the UK on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6vGCunj8VsEf6QBjwgq2Ly
But will u write an article also about the new levels?
Had to wait until they went live. Just published: https://zwiftinsider.com/accelerated-leveling-101/
Great, I purposefully move off Zwift to Rouvy as one of my tiny contributions to the Canadian boycott of U.S. products and services and they go ahead and buy my refuge. Guess it’s back to MyWhoosh.
Irony noted.
I won’t support sport washing or anything the UAE controls. MyWhoosh is heavily backed and funded by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
So what happens to FulGaz which was acquired by Rouvy just last year!? Feels like a consolidation happening in the indoor cycling world already.
FulGaz will continue to be run as it already is by Rouvy, Zwift says.
Gravel on Zwift – Does it actually work?
I’ve noticed in recent rides that while road bikes maintain a significant advantage on tarmac, they are still able to highly compete with gravel bikes on dirt and gravel sectors. To improve game realism and progression value, I suggest that Zwift implement a more distinct performance ‘gap’ based on the surface.
Specifically, a gravel bike should have a clear, measurable advantage on gravel routes to reward the effort of upgrading that equipment, just as a road bike naturally outperforms a gravel setup on the pavement. Ensuring this reciprocity in physics would make bike choice feel more meaningful across different routes.
Enjoyed this, and welcome back to the crew, but why does the cyclist in the logo have a helmet on? 🤣
Fair point. Let’s get that silliness fixed.
Can you clarify, either here or in the next episode, the degree of independence that the podcast has from Zwift? Who’s funding it? Does Zwift have any editorial review of scripts? Are the topics generated by the hosts or come from Zwift?
Yeah, we should state something in each episode… or semi-regularly, at least.
The Wattage Cottage isn’t funded by Zwift at all, and they have no editorial review of scripts. Topics are entirely generated by the hosts.
Thanks Eric – I truly appreciate independent voices and am happy that this is the case!
What happend to the offical Zwift-Podcasts? I like this alternative but why not use the old stated brand?
The original Zwiftcast was stopped several years ago by Simon (the creator) due to health issues. Zwift rebooted it and, with Simon’s help, handed it off to new hosts. This was Zwift-funded and directed, and it ran for a bit… but the feedback (and listener numbers) wasn’t great, so Zwift pulled the plug on it.
Two reasons not to use the old Zwiftcast brand:
1) It’s owned by Zwift. Coming in under that brand would certainly include some restrictions/requirements, and we didn’t want to hassle with those.
2) We love what Simon created with Zwiftcast, and didn’t relish the prospects of trying to replicate it or (on the other side of the spectrum) change it into something different. We felt it was better to let it be what it was, and to create something new.
Would you guys consider adding PocketCast to your list of platforms?
Supposedly we should be there already, since it picks up podcasts from Apple. But it’s not there yet. Hopefully soon.
Man, this sounds so familiar — exactly the right dose of nerdiness and enthusiasm. Definitely promising.
Excellent timing, listened to it on my first ride after (yet another) injury. Looking forward to the next one.