Zwift is a virtual, multiplayer platform (or gaming app) for indoor cycling that allows users to train and compete in a virtual world! Two decades ago, indoor cycling looked and felt very different, but in 2014 Zwift took the cycling world by storm โ and indoor training would never be the same again. As Zwift turns 10 years old this year, Dan takes a look back to see how we got here: This is the story of Zwift.
In collaboration with @Zwift ๐ค https://gcn.eu/Zwift
00:00 THIS Changed Cycling Forever
00:55 How Indoor Training Was Fundamentally Changed
01:27 The Creation of Zwift
04:39 GCN & Zwift ๐งก
06:26 Zwiftโs early days & The Birth of Zwift Academy
09:26 2020: Covid-19 & The Tour de France Virtuel
11:17 ASOโs Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift
12:36 Finding Cycling Talent Through Zwift
14:45 Community
15:32 Zwift Has Been A Gamechanger
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๐น 9 Things I Wish I’d Known About Zwift ๐ https://youtu.be/8_SOKZ-FkDQ?si=m-_1D6Jd-0NVWfrs
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๐ธ Photos – ยฉ Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & ยฉ Sirotti Images
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43 Comments
Thanks!
Cost me NZ$2.5K to setup a Tacx Neo and Zwift in 2016. There is and was nothing you could buy for that money that would have improved my enduro race times by that amount.
I've been racing on Indievelo for a while now and i have to say it's so much more engaging than Zwift. Yes the community is definetly smaller but the app is FREE!!!
Let's hope the is paid content
Zwift itself is O.K as a training tool but itโs an outrageous amount of money to pay for what is essentially a 1990โs level of sophistication computer game.
I spend time on my Wattbike to get away from people, Zwift is definitely not my thing.
5yrs a member and love the Zwift platform but, donโt use it much, if at all in summer. Even so, I maintain my subscription which is $30 AUD/PCM in Australia which is expensive! Thatโs the common thread for all users I think. Itโs great even awesome, just expensive!
If only it was cheaper, membership numbers would likely increase, potentially having only a small impact on revenue. To illustrate, surely it would be better to have 1000 members at a $1 each rather than 10 members at $100 each?
At the end of the day if my personal finances got tight, this is what Iโll be cancelling and that might be the same for many others and the undoing of Zwiftโs future. Itโs free to ride outdoors after all. Shame really, but the considerable funds to sponsor the tour de france femmes avec Zwift has to come from somewhere. Iโll enjoy it while it lasts as my usual winter fitness recovery tool and hope they improve membership access with more moderate or at least, variable pricing plans.
PS Great video Dan ๐๐ป
I stopped cycling in 2016 and had never used Zwift – came back to cycling this year but now am partially sighted – decided to see what the hype was about and Iโm blown away by the platform theyโve built – truly a game changer, not just from being more enjoyable but making cycling more accessible for folks who canโt necessarily always join the club runs or head out on busy roads โค
Itโs a fascinating story, but for me โindoor cyclingโ will always be an alien concept!
I'm a new Zwifter, I bought the Zwift ride a month and a half ago and it was a game changer for me, in fact what I didn't like before was the thought of having to mount and dismount my bike every time to be able to train indoors. As other people have already said, perhaps the cost is a bit high (200,00 euros a year here in Italy) and what I hope is that Zwift will soon decide to create a family account, because my wife is also getting passionate about it but, honestly, 400,00 euros a year is really really too much… considering that we are not professionists and we train for fun and to stay fit and healthy.
Iโm a loner, I prefer FulGaz. And the realism and HUD on FG is hands down so much better.
Zwift is a way for me to connect with other cyclists, something I have struggled to do locally. My only criticism is the lack of adaptive training, the training plans overall are not very good, but it is a relatively minor quibble. I use TrainerRoad and Zwift I know itโs expensive but compared to a local gym it isnโt at all bad. Thanks Dan again great reporting, missed you on the cycling commentary this year!
Could you please start featuring Rouvy as well? They sponsor La Vuelta and have an increasing number of users. Thx!
I'm thinking about buying a smart trainer this winter if it does indeed get cold and snowy. I see some people in the comments prefer it to real life cycling, but this sounds ridiculous. The reason I got back into cycling after my teenage years was the feeling of freedom and interaction with the outside world. I like the sensation of speed, leaning into corners, slaloming around potholes and the added bonus of keeping myself fit.
No matter how good simulators get, I'd always prefer the real thing.
Good summary. I converted to Zwift about a year ago and it's a life changer in terms of fitness. Anyway, the sun's out so I'm off out on my bike.
The current indoor training industry is a scam.
Having had such a bad experience with indoor trainers in the past I was skeptical. However itโs been the best investments Iโve made in cycling.
VERY DISAPPOINTED that you didn't mention COMPUTRAINER. Zwift and all the others are standing on the shoulders of RacerMate who 10 YEARS+++ BEFORE ZWIFT came to market had an outstanding product with legions of followers. I spent years in my basement getting incredible workouts (putting at least 2 or 3 towels over the bike and on the floor) while watching animated (8 bit!) versions of myself racing against a virtual opponent on dozens of different courses and challenges. Later on, RacerMate produced actual VIDEOS (e.g. Ironman Kona!) that a rider could ride against with actual terrain changes, a very immersive experience to say the least. Again, sorry and disappointed you didn't give credit to the founders who led the way to where Zwift (et al) are today.
Zwift is the most amazing thing since sliced bread. After a long day of work staring at a monitor there's nothing better than staring at a different monitor doing something that resembles something I love.
Anyone else see Eric's gray Zwift Ride? ๐ฅ
Matty Hayman winning Paris-Roubaix is still one of my favourite memories of watching pro cycling bar none.
Lee Timothy White Lisa Lopez Elizabeth
Just checked and I've been Zwifting since 3 July 2015. Think that means I'm one of the Open Beta users. Get to celebrate my own 10yr anniversary in 2025!
The very thought of Zwift annoys me.
Love Zwift! I donโt participate in the community, but I enjoy getting on and turning my old legs over, regardless of whatโs happening outside.
I tried indoor riding three times… I concluded that I'd rather eat my bike piece by piece. Granted, the circa 2000 turbo trainer made a racket that'd wake the dead, sweat was pi&hing everywhere, despite it being Winter in Scotland, with the window ajar, and nowt to look at but the curtain ahead. Despite indoor riding having, apparently, moved on in leaps and bounds, over the almost quarter century since, I'll stick with the 'whole-istic' experience that comes with riding in the great outdoors, regardless of weather, except icy days…. I'm much less gallus and break much more than bounce, these days. Wherever you want to ride, though, all power to your elbow(or should that be legs, in this case?).
I was using the Tacx i-magic well before Zwift was even though off. You said for the 1st time ever, that gradients were simulated when Zwift came out but the I-magic was doing this year's before Zwift. You had the choice of riding real roads like Rouvy or Virtual reality like Zwift. So more of a evolution than a revelation. ๐
i just started zwift 2 days ago ๐
Imagine all this energy and all these watts stored in some capacitor and rewards you with some customizable offers, considering Zwift gear or in-play gifts or whatever, depending your Zwifting and power reservoir. In the meantime Zwift could gain incomes from power companies around the world, selling your power outputs. I know you thing it's a silly idea, cause your just an individual, but when you put big data down, literally a whole country and who knows for how many avg. hours Zwifting on behalf you, then it's a totally different story. So what do you think Zwift? Put your numbers down and Zwift us Up!
Like many I hadnโt ridden a bike for well over a decade and then boomโฆโฆCovid. I bought a bike. Fell instantly back in love with cycling and very soon after discovered zwiftโฆ being out of work due to the Covid lockdown I wasnโt prepared to spend much so found the cheapest possible smart trainer on eBay and used my iPad as my screen. without doubt I would never of suffered hour long workouts in the spare room without the data zwift offeredโฆ. il just do another few kmsโฆil just do another few minutesโฆ. Il just do another few feet of elevationโฆ. Iโd always finish dripping with sweat and out of breath,, sure signs of a great workout. thanks Zwift!
Rouvy is so much better !!
Zwift or no Zwift, I still get bored riding indoors. Itโs why I bought a velomobiel so I could ride year round in any weather. Much more fun than riding the trainer. Respect to those of you that can stand riding inside.
Hudson Vista
Dan Lloyd's ashtray?
Love zwift, used it a lot from initial release to a few years ago, it just become too expensive for me.
The second biggest change was GCN bringing the joy of cycling to the masses.
The biggest change was GCN becoming a sellout.
Started using Zwift last October. Trained entirely indoors using Zwift and a Wahoo Kickr bike. In April I completed the Mallorca 312. Indoor training works.
Lewis Anna Thomas Betty Hernandez Angela
I acknowledge that I'm the odd one out here, but I've never felt that connected to Zwift. Having had a membership from when Wahoo SYSTM dropped RGT, I worked my way to level 10 last winter, but won't be paying for a renewal. I just prefer do my workouts in SYSTM and recovery rides with a good documentary, or GCN videos and still have the choice of strength and yoga sessions.
It is great though reading some of the stories here of how Zwift has got people active and in to cycling.
I cancelled my subscription when they put the price up. I might get a couple of months worth for the depths of winter but itโs not worth it for me the rest of the year, I donโt care about races or the group stuff. I wish they had a lower tier where I could just ride around the courses without the other stuff.
I started indoor training with the "unofficial" Sufferfest videos – absolutely loved them. They were a critical tool in rehabilitation from an ACL reconstruction during my elite rugby career. I started on board with the Sufferfest during it's early days and I thought it was fantastic. I didn't have a power meter so never really got into Zwift. Nowadays, I ride my indoor trainer several days a week, but still stick to my Garmin sensors / computer and GCN Training or CTXC videos. I do watch Zwift's progress (great work, I say), but, honestly, I am still called by the raw thrill of those original Sufferfest videos while training for a sport I'd built my life around.
Any 2nd hand roadbike for under 1.5k euro u reccomend? and what components
I really like ZWIFT FOR TRAINING. I WISH THEY WOULD LEAVE ANY Political BS off of it. Like supporting anything other than cycling.