Zwift thrives on its large user base, which turns role training into a social event - and serves the human play instinct more skilfully than any other software. In September 2014, the US company based in Long Beach launched the gameification of indoor training. Almost three million Zwift accounts have now been opened worldwide. The German market alone grew by over 90 per cent in the 2020 calendar year. What makes Zwift so fascinating and how does the training platform work?
Structure of Zwift: Training as a game
With its level system and freely playable content, Zwift is modelled on classic games such as Super Mario. The selection of mode, track and clothing is simple, only the overview of challenges and awards is hidden in the menu.
The overriding goal in Zwift is to collect new experience points, known as XP, with every kilometre you complete, thereby leveling up and unlocking new tracks, bikes and accessories. With the Drop Shop Zwift even has its own small marketplace where users can invest their XP in new wheels, smart shoes or lighter carbon frames. There are now 50 levels and a correspondingly large amount of unlockable material.
Hundreds of kilometres of virtual routes
Zwift's event calendar lists over 100 events every day: Virtual group rides, joint training sessions or hard-hitting Indoor racing. In particular, the cooperation with Tour de France organiser ASO as part of the Tour de France Virtual in July 2020 has opened new doors, and spectacular new routes have been added with Mont Ventoux and Champs Élysées. In 2021, the completely new world of Makuri Islands was added, which will also be further expanded for 2023. By the end of 2022, Zwift will have a total of nine virtual worlds, each offering several route options:
- Champs Élysées
- France (including Mont-Saint-Michel and Mont Ventoux)
- Innsbruck (World Championship course from 2018)
- London (based on the 2012 Olympics)
- New York (futuristic course through Central Park)
- Richmond (World Championship course from 2015)
- Watopia (fictional island world with Alpe d'Huez replica, among other things)
- Yorkshire (WM 2019)
- Makuri Islands (fictional, Japanese-inspired island world)
Both fans of real-life routes will find what they are looking for with the World Championship routes from 2015, 2018 and 2019, as well as racing cyclists who prefer more offbeat action: on the fictional island of Watopia, you ride through jungle landscapes, volcanoes and along picturesque beaches. The New York course, which was released in November 2018, focuses primarily on spacey space optics and dizzyingly high skyscrapers. However, Zwift specifies which three worlds are available on which day - although this can be bypassed by making manual adjustments in the editor outside of the game. As part of the Tokyo Olympics, the new island world Makuri Islands was added in 2021, which has a Japanese flavour and now offers 25 routes.
Driving on Zwift: Now it's time to shoot!
The numerous mountain classifications and intermediate sprints on all routes encourage you to pedal hard. The training sessions, whether ridden alone or in a group, also provide constant variety. The programme is rounded off by an event calendar with training rides and races around the clock. However, all events are run faster than advertised - new roller sports enthusiasts should bear this in mind when making their choice. A warm-up is recommended here, as is a slow approach to the performance classes, which are divided into four categories, starting with D for beginners and ending with A for quasi-pros.
It is noticeable during group training sessions and races: The more participants there are at the start, the faster the limits of realism become visible. Avatars regularly ride through in a jumble, crashes are not possible. This makes it difficult to keep track of the racing action at the beginning and does not do justice to the dynamics of real bike races. Nevertheless, the battle for positions is fun. In particular, the "Crit City" circuit, which is only unlocked for races, promises sore legs within a few minutes!
Training plans: How do I train on Zwift?
The portfolio of individual workouts and multi-week training plans has grown steadily, in the The 2022/2023 indoor season offers more choice than ever before. If you want to start a quick and uncomplicated training session to work yourself to the max in 30 to 60 minutes, you will certainly find what you are looking for. However, many trainers come up with overly complex and intensive interval structures for long-term training build-up. Sure, more variety keeps people on their toes - but with a view to the upcoming road season, Zwift training plans have only been of limited use in the past. But that has changed over the past two years: Zwift has massively expanded and upgraded its training plans, workouts and FTP tests. Also important: even the units of the dynamic training plans are fixed to certain days and the plans do not automatically adjust if you have missed individual units.
Info
- Costs: 14.99 euros/month (7-day free trial)
- Languages: German, English
- Info: Manufacturer website
TOUR test conclusion
- Graphic: 4/5 stars
- Fun factor: 5/5 stars
- Training effect: 3/5 stars
