I’ll admit it. Before the holidays, I was stuck in an exercise rut, doing the exact opposite of what I tell my personal training clients to do—sticking to one type of exercise.
And while I love strength training and it’s really helping with my perimenopause symptoms (and sanity), I’d neglected cardio workouts, which are equally important for immunity, heart health and reducing my risk of chronic diseases.
It was this realisation and an impending cycling holiday in the mountains of Gran Canaria that led me to take the opportunity to test the Zwift Ride with Wahoo Kickr Core 2 ($1,299), a smart indoor bike frame paired with a turbo trainer that connects to the Zwift app (explained below, but it’s less complicated than it sounds).
Trying out the indoor smart bike for a month really helped get me out of my workout slump, and jump-started an unexpected love of cardio. Here’s what else I discovered.
It’s a beautiful machine
The Zwift Ride is a gorgeous-looking bike, with a racer-style seat and drop handlebars. It’s lightweight, sleek, quiet and feels as close to a real-life riding experience as you can get indoors. It’s definitely one of the more stylish smart bikes I’ve tried in my time as a fitness writer.
It’s a wheelless bike that you pair with the Wahoo’s Kickr Core 2 smart trainer and all you need to get started is a nearby power source and Bluetooth connectivity.
The frame can be lifted to vertical, hinging at the trainer end, so it’s out of the way when not in use, but it’s good-looking enough to be out on display.
(Image credit: Future / Maddy Biddulph)
It comes with a basic accessories holder, but if you want to use the Zwift app on your tablet (recommended because there’s so much data on the screen) then you’ll need to pay extra for a media stand. I also swapped the standard pedals for clip-in cleat ones so I had a smoother pedal stroke and more consistent push-pull power on the bike.
The Zwift app is excellent, if a little oversaturated
The Zwift app basically gamifies cycling, allowing you to win rewards for your rides and workouts, and participate in challenges, live events and 24/7 group rides (including women-only rides), as well as cycle some of the most picturesque routes around the world.
You can also choose individuals to ride with or race against, so it’s a great option for those who are more motivated to exercise with others and like a sense of community. There’s a free 30-day trial period, then it’s $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year.
Speaking as a Zwift beginner, I found that there’s almost too much choice and the data on the screen can feel a little busy. I recommend you use a tablet rather than a smartphone with the app so you can see everything properly. There’s too much going on for a small screen, frankly.
I enjoyed being able to choose different cities to ride through—especially London, where I used to live—although the graphics can feel slightly dated at times. The motivational phrases that pop up on the screen during a workout helped at times when I was flagging. Plus, the lighted arches on-screen that buzz as you cycle under them, signalling a change in rpm (how quickly to pedal), helped me hang on and push through to get to the next stage of the ride.
You can also create your own avatar, personalising your look and bike if you enjoy that kind of thing. You can spend your rewards on virtual kit for your ride, such as new wheels, glasses or shoes.
It helped me get fit enough for my first cycling holiday
I live in Oxford, UK, where people cycle everywhere. I’m used to being on my bike, and cycling to school with my two daughters is the norm, but I am a complete newbie with hill and road rides of any length. So with an impending trip to the winding mountains of Gran Canaria, I had some serious training to do.
Thankfully, the Zwift Ride delivered—helping me to kickstart a new love of cardio and improving my fitness levels enough to enjoy the holiday and come back in one piece.
I really appreciated the electromagnetic resistance that automatically changes during workouts. It takes the stress and thinking out of your rides, and the choice of routes, challenges and training plans are varied and fun. This helped me to slowly but surely build up my stamina and cardiovascular fitness without getting bored.
On days I was short on time, the selection of 30 minute workouts like Calorie Crush and Wave Rider helped me work up a sweat, while the longer endurance rides, including the 90-minute Mishmash provided a decent challenge on weekends. You’ll definitely need some padded cycling shorts like this training bib one from Maap for those longer rides, though.
Zwift Ride with Wahoo Kickr Core 2 explained
Zwift is first and foremost a virtual cycling app, beloved by road bike enthusiasts, who often access the app by taking the rear wheel off their road bike and connecting it to a smart turbo trainer.
Zwift Ride is a frame that’s designed like a road bike, but connects easily to both the Zwift app and a turbo trainer, in my case, the Wahoo Kickr Core 2 that the Zwift Ride came bundled with.
If that all sounds a bit complicated, it’s because you can make it very complicated if you like, but the beauty of the Zwift Ride package I tried is that you don’t really need to bother yourself with any of that.
Here’s more about Zwift Ride from the brand.
