Last November, Team OWL—the women ages 65–80 who make up my Grandmasters TTT squad—did something truly epic. We’d been racing together online for over four years, but this time, we raced a Team Time Trial in person at Zwift HQ in Long Beach, California. It was an unforgettable experience, and it changed how I think about indoor training.
And that was just the beginning. Not only did we race together in real life for the first time, but all six of us got to try Zwift’s new trainer, the Zwift Ride. Racing a team time trial on the Zwift Ride, side by side, was nothing short of OWLsome.
Pre‑Race Jitters: Will the Zwift Ride Hold Up?
I was excited to try the Zwift Ride, but I’ll admit I was also a little skeptical. Could it live up to the standard set by the trainers I’ve trusted for years?
Would the Zwift Ride live up to the high standards I’m used to?
Since 2019, I’ve mostly ridden on my Tacx Neo 2T, a smart trainer I rely on for accuracy and reliability. The Tacx Neo 2T and the Wahoo KICKR CORE—the trainer bundled with the Zwift Ride—are very different beasts. The Tacx uses a magnetic drive system; the Wahoo uses a belt‑driven design. The difference shows up in feel, noise, and how long they last.
The Tacx Neo 2T is an engineering gem. I’ve cleaned and tuned it every year, always impressed by the smooth, precise resistance of that magnetic drive unit. Power accuracy sits at about ±1%, which is as good as it gets. The Wahoo KICKR CORE (inside the Zwift Ride) is still solid, but its power accuracy is about ±2%—still fine for most riders, but a noticeable gap if you’re obsessive about data.
The big question for me was: would I feel that difference on race day in Long Beach?
Dialing Everyone In
Before heading to Zwift HQ, I wanted to make sure our indoor setups mirrored our normal racing bikes as closely as possible. I sent each teammate a simple diagram with the key measurements to take at home:
- Saddle height
- Grip reach
- Grip drop
- Saddle setback
When we walked into Zwift’s “pain cave,” we got to work adjusting the Zwift Rides so each setup felt familiar. The single adjustment tool and range of built‑in changes made it easy to match our home bikes. Zwift’s team gave us a quick walkthrough of the Zwift Ride and how to set up virtual gearing, and then it was time to ride.
Racing on the Same Machine
Stepping onto the Zwift Ride for our first real‑life TTT was a big deal. We’d raced together online for years, but this was the first time we were all on the same trainer. If you’ve raced a Zwift TTT, you know how much small differences in equipment and feel can add up over a race.
Having everyone on the same hardware felt like an unfair advantage—in the best way. Our power outputs were different, but the consistency of the platform made the paceline feel smoother, more synchronized. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance: riders pushing up front, rotating back, then jumping in again.
After the race, we spilled into Zwift’s break room, sweaty, hungry, and buzzing. Lunch was delicious, but the main conversation was about the Zwift Ride. Despite low expectations going in, everyone agreed on one thing: it blew us away.
Back home, the secret wish was the same for all of us: a Zwift Ride of our own. We didn’t talk about it out loud at first, but within a month, our Discord exploded with teammates posting, “Guess what I just bought!” It felt like a Zwift Ride buying frenzy had taken over the team. Now, six out of eight of us train and race on a Zwift Ride—and we’re loving it.
Rethinking Indoor Cycling as Its Own Sport
Before this, I was sure I needed my indoor setup to mimic my road bike exactly. My thinking was simple: if my trainer setup felt like my road bike, indoor training would make me stronger outside.
I was wrong.
That Long Beach race showed me something important: racing on Zwift is its own sport, with its own demands. Just like I have a dedicated road bike and a gravel bike for different types of riding, I now see the Zwift Ride as a bike built specifically for indoor racing and training.
When you treat e‑cycling as its own discipline, you want equipment that excels at the indoor experience. The Zwift Ride delivers.
Unboxing and Setup: The Fun Part
The Zwift Ride ships in three boxes: one for the frame and seat, one for the handlebars and accessories, and one for the trainer. If you already own a Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One, you can skip the trainer box and just buy the Zwift Ride frame.
Zwift’s setup videos walk you through assembly in a way that’s clear and approachable, even if you’re not a bike mechanic. At OWL.BiKe, empowering women 50+ to take charge of their health and happiness includes helping them feel confident building and adjusting their own gear. Putting the Zwift Ride together yourself is a great way to start.
Quick heads‑up: BYOP (Bring Your Own Pedals). The Zwift Ride comes with flat pedals, but if you’re riding clipless, bring your own. You’ll thank yourself once you’re in a race and not fighting to stay on the pedals.
Fit: Making the Zwift Ride Work for Your Body
Zwift has a helpful video on dialing in your Zwift Ride fit, and it’s a great starting point. After that, fine‑tuning is where the real magic happens.
Two decades ago, with long legs and a short torso, I struggled to find a bike that truly fit me. Curiosity turned into a lifelong education in bike fit, biomechanics, kinesiology, and injury prevention. Now, at 65, I’m obsessed with helping women 50+ ride strong, pain‑free, and happy for as long as possible. I fondly refer to as OWLs – Older Women in Lycra—and I’m determined to show that age doesn’t have to mean discomfort or compromise.
A good fit is like a tailor‑made suit for your body, specifically designed for your bike. When everything lines up, riding feels lighter, smoother, and more powerful. Over the next year, I’ll share the bike‑fitting lessons I’ve learned the hard way—no more saddle sores, no more mystery knee or hip pain, just more joy on the bike.
And a big part of that teaching will happen on the Zwift Ride. The Zwift Ride’s range of adjustments, plus the ability to swap a few parts, means I can often get a better fit than on my road bike—especially for my unique proportions.
Why the Zwift Ride Loves Women 50+
Let’s be honest: indoor riding can feel like a chore. You’re stuck in a room, staring at a wall, sweating through the same three songs. It’s not always inspiring.
But the Zwift Ride changes that. It’s more than a smart trainer; it’s a way to make indoor cycling something you genuinely look forward to, especially for women 50+.
- It’s super easy to use. The interface is intuitive, the setup is simple, and even if you’re not tech‑savvy, you’ll be riding in no time.
- It’s gentle on the joints. No impact, just smooth, fluid resistance that’s kind to aging bones and connective tissue.
- It’s highly adjustable. By playing with the built‑in size options and swapping a few parts, you can dial in a fit that feels better than your outdoor bike for time‑trial‑style riding.
As for my trusty Tarmac, it’s thrilled. Freed from my Tacx Neo 2T, it’s back out on the road, doing what it was built to do. My Zwift Ride, meanwhile, lives in my “velosphere”—the cozy corner of my life devoted to indoor riding, training, and racing.
The Zwift Ride isn’t just an indoor trainer; it’s a ticket to staying active, strong, and connected to the sport we love, no matter our age. It keeps the joy in the ride, even when the weather is awful or life is busy.
. . . . .
Coming up, I’ll be diving deeper into what makes the Zwift Ride such a fantastic piece of equipment for both riding and racing on Zwift—with a special focus on how it can help women 50+ train smarter, stay injury‑free, and race with confidence.
Follow me on substack »
Empowering Zwift Women
Maria Shannon
I agree entirely with every word you said Elaine. I regret waiting x6 months to change to a Zwift ride since riding one at Zwift headquarters in Long Beach. It far exceeds my x3 previous trainers by a mile and worth every penny!!