Update (June 12, 2024): the big news was Zwift Ride, the first-ever indoor smart bike from Zwift! Read all about it here>
Today, Zwift released a teaser video clip across its socials, with the message “Something new is coming June 12“:
So what is it? What’s new and arriving June 12th?
It’s clearly something special since Zwift has invested in a media campaign, including recruiting Mathieu van der Poel and two others for a special video shoot!
Full disclosure: I know exactly what it is. But I can’t talk about it, because, like everyone else who knows about it, I am under a media embargo until June 12.
So, I’m going to furnish you with some links and enhanced photos from what’s already public and invite you to make some guesses and discuss the possibilities in the comments below.
First: some stills from Zwift’s video, with lighting enhanced to bring out details. The riders are all on the same bike setup, which appears to be using a direct-drive trainer like the Wahoo KICKR Core (the legs match). You can also clearly see some sort of Play Controller unlike what’s on the market today:
Over on Zwift Hype, there’s discussion fueled by James Eastwood sharing Zwift’s patent for a handlebar with an integrated version of the Zwift Play controller:
In that discussion, Zwift veteran Patrick Tan brought up the “Zwift Ride” smartbike that was teased in December 2021:
Your Thoughts
What is Zwift going to unveil next Wednesday? Share your thoughts below!
Something were we don’t have to pay for please, I’m skint…
I think they’ll unveil another price increase. That’d definitely be a surprise.
Let me guess… a price increase 🤪on top of the price increase. I’m just speculating.
Until more trainers have virtual shifting enabled it’s premature to release this add on. Steering is fun and very useful in races but virtual shifting is the compelling reason to give Zwift more of our money.
What add on?
Honestly if pay-to-win is part of the business model, loot boxes are the easiest option, don’t require competent hardware execution, and don’t risk breaking everything every 2 weeks as bugs are worked out.
It’s no different than the IRL pay-to-win model of light & aero bikes. Zwift add-ons like play controllers & sterzo are infinitely cheaper than buying lighter wheels for that outdoor climbing race…
Instead of another hardware project i would rather have more than 11km new tarmac a year.
A new change to their Level system, they are going to stick with 1-100, but reset everyone to level-1 and finally allow people to better organize their garages by removing all but the basic Zwift bike.
I hope it’s not new hardware that will become either obsolete in a year (waste of dev dollars), or required for certain races/events – which will cause riders who have smartbikes that they like to move away from Zwift
I assume it’s just The Grade “expansion” release
Well many of us have done the tours of Italy and California, and achieved the Everest challenges. Could that 4th challenge that’s been locked all these years actually be getting activated?
That is one item long overdue, but imo I could live without. I would certainly activate it and work towards it, but it would be a meh kind of thing without the prize being very cool
That could be the next step. Instead of increasing levels, make a bunch of really hard to achieve challenges. No need to accumulate or change XP for them.
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess, it’s nothing the users have asked for…
I am guessing your comment has the best odds of happening…
Not a lot of excitement here 🤣
I would guess its an add-on bike frame for a smart trainer with integrated play controllers so you dont have to use your own bike. Kinda smart as they arent competing in the smart trainer world but able to offer more of a complete package. Will see
#2 and #5.
“Smart Frame”
Those screenshots from the video; it really doesn’t look like there is a fork for the “front wheel”. Even the front wheel looks odd with the top half a lighter colour and the lower half darker. A frame with integrated controllers looks like a real possibility. If they are able to keep the price around $600 it might make a good combo with the Kickr Core.
Like others, based on all recent experience it will involve hosing subscription cash on some ill thought-out, flawed idea which the user base will not have any interest in or use for.
Why are people so negative about Zwift? Price increase aside (first in over 5 years, don’t blame Zwift for finally caving to inflation pressures) they’ve at least been trying new things. They’ve made it easier for riders to get connected with the hub and are rolling out new maps. The media behind this announcement seems a bit more purposeful than just a steering add on. I’m looking forward to the release
People are fully aware that our expenses have increased over 30% in the past 5-7 years but are unwilling to accept that maybe Zwift’s expenses went up too.
The people who are happy with Zwift are much less likely to comment. The company needs to turn a profit, at some point, in order to survive.
People whining over a $5 increase, after almost 7 years, are pathetic.
Without the ability for the end user to program or select their own gear ratios like the wahoo bikes do, virtual shifting is useless in my opinion… wahoo and zwift are in bed with one another, slap the logic over to zwift and have done with it.. the current ratios in the game are to jumpy, follow no logical ratio increases like a normal cassette does… random 1.3 jumps to the next cog, the equivalent of a 55X10 cog which is useless…
robopacers going to new worlds. That would be something to look forward to.
Interesting – if this is what it looks like, an entry level “all in one” Zwift bike to rival a Kickr Bike or Stages SB20, it would be a pretty big deal.
That said, after the ill-fated Zwift Hub, I wouldn’t be lining up to be an early adopter. Doubly so if it’s a Zwift-only solution…
I hope it’s a very affordable Zwift bike. I don’t personally want one (as with everyone here I’ve already got a Zwift setup), but I’ve had to explain what’s required to get started on Zwift to several non-techy non-cyclists and the startup configuration is way too difficult for a lot of potential riders. (You have to buy a bike, figure out what casette the bike has, buy a trainer, buy a casette for it, you might want controllers, etc. etc.) they need an all in one solution. Buy Zwift bike. Pull out of box. Plug into wall. Get riding.
Smart move if they’re making this for spin-class businesses. Lots of money to be made threre.
The release of Rowing?! Nope no, not it. A portal from world to world… that does not require climbing! 😆
If it’s some cool hardware, I sure hope they offer it to more than 15% of the world’s population this time.
Zwift knows now that to get UCI to have more fair competition it needs to have the hardware, so I hope it’s the HUB+Zwift ride+ the bar (Zwift play)
Related to the video. Maybe the Avatars will lean more when cornering …
Fast switch load-outs while you ride, including via Zwift play?
‘Sauce for Zwift’ or equivalent on Zwift directly?
Loot boxes?
Please no to loot boxes.
Clearly a velodrome! 😱
Given that the 3rd race of the ZRL Summer Showdown is listed as a 1 lap, 1 km race, I’m switching my vote to a new velodrome near the start of the Climb.
how about this then
this is exactly what i was thinking
With virtual power being discontinued, it seems there is greater demand for a new trainer/smart bike now…
For the record, VP will still be available for broad use in Z. But they are not allowing VP users into some of the races (Zwift owned specifically). It is not a wholesale remove of VP as your comment implies.
Thanks for the correction 👍🏼
Another hardware add on that has wasted effort and resourses that very few will use instead of the software upgrades actually needed. I’m not cynical by the way😂
Probably just some drama to lure in new subscribers
I have never read so many negative responses. Good grief. Y’all sound like a bunch of spoiled brats.
LOL, Matt. Cancel Culture comes to Zwift.
Maybe something like the Muov with a Zwift controller (somebody will buy the company)
MUOV Road Bike
Will we see this first on Outside Magazine again? Really easy to break the news first when you ignore the embargo
LOL. Hopefully they learned from that mistake.
Well, if it doesn’t work with my Tac X Neo, I really don’t care what it is. What would be the point of coming out with something that doesn’t work with all the big-name gear. I am certainly not going out to buy a new trainer to get an upgrade. Also if the upgrade requires me to rip apart the bike I have mounted on my trainer and then doesn’t work as advertised, I would really be upset.
The new Zwift/Wahoo Kickr Bike. (That’s probably why they haven’t released virtual shifting for Kickr v5 …)
sign me up!
“(That’s probably why they haven’t released virtual shifting for Kickr v5 …)”
And for that exact reason, I will never buy anything from Wahoo again.
Wahoo have also pushed it in their social media channels so it’s obviously something hardware related
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/TLUAqW8VrRqjcaH4/
Zwift bike with a belt drivetrain. Perfect integration with virtual shifting, zero maintenance and smooth as silk. Keep it simple. You’re welcome.
What’s old is new again!
New socks! 🤭
I’m hoping for the storage shed so I can empty out the garage with all of the crap I NEVER use. We’ve asking for this since about the first quarter of 2021 and all we’ve gotten is hand waving. Please, please, please…
The brake/shift lever hood type controller would be cool. I have an early 2000’s US Postal Service Trek 5200 I use as my dedicated Zwift bike. It would be fun to ditch the old Ultegra shifters and mount those, instead.
Give me a…. Velodrome!!!!
Zwift Frame: Integrated play controllers with an optional? Elite Rizer/Kickr Climb type front end. Steering and climbing in one package.
The ability to use your Zwift Click or Zwift Play virtual shifters on your real-world bike.
2 and a half hour left and nothing new on 12th june.
Which year?
Any year now! Can’t wait for it!
in the end it’s 2024. it’s on the zwift page. a bike frame with kickr and gamified handlebars.