Gone are the days of suffering on the indoor trainer in solitary confinement. The concept has quickly evolved into a more exciting and sociable way of training thanks to the advent of the smart trainer and a revolutionary indoor-training application called Zwift.
Zwift was the brainchild of Eric Min (CEO/founder) who together with programming wizard Jon Mayfield, envisaged making indoor cycling more socially connected, time effective and interactive. After months of invite-only beta testing during the latter part of 2014, Zwift quickly moved from an open-beta phase to a polished, subscription-based product in 2015.
With five courses to choose from and a host of other novelties and training options, Zwift has fast become the indoor-cycling tool of choice among cyclists of all ages, abilities and nationalities. The whole concept can be difficult to grasp at first — especially for newbies or those not familiar with smart-trainer jargon — but after reading this guide you’ll be Zwift ready in no time.
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What is Zwift and how does it work?
In a nutshell, Zwift is an interactive cycling game that mimics real-world cycling, via a turbo trainer and screen, allowing you to train and race against other cyclists from all around the world in the comfort of your own home.
But it’s more than just a game — there’s a physical element that makes it a captivating and immersive experience thanks to the relationship between rider, bicycle and turbo trainer. While classic turbo trainers or rollers are compatible with Zwift, the interactivity is rather limited in terms of resistance but Zwift can still calculate your power when an ANT+ or Bluetooth speed/cadence sensor is connected to your bike.
For the best experience, a dedicated, direct-drive smart trainer with variable resistance control and a built-in power meter is required. Using clever in-game algorithms, the resistance of your smart trainer will automatically adjust to match the topographical nuances of the Zwift world you’re riding through — the difficulty of which will increase on hills and decrease on descents. The game will even detect when you’re drafting another rider and reduce your power, albeit fractionally, just like in real life.
Is Zwift free or do I have to pay?
Getting started on Zwift
- Large bonus: 250 XP points
- Small bonus: 10 XP points
- Feather Lightweight (feather): Reduces your weight by 7kg for uphill attacks. (15 seconds).
- Truck Draft Boost (van): Boosts the draft you are getting off riders by 50 per cent. (30 seconds)
- Helmet Aero Boost (helmet): Handy for attacks off the front or contesting the sprint. (30 seconds)
- Climb Mt. Everest: Climb 8850m
- Ride California: Ride 1283km
- Tour Italy: Ride 2000km
What equipment do I need to use Zwift?
The best Zwift setup
Best Zwift courses and rides
The Zwift Academy
Best Zwift training and racing
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/zwift-everything-you-need-to-know
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