Indoor cycling has changed a lot over the last decade. Gone are the days when we had to stare at a wall as we punished ourselves on a turbo trainer.
Now, we can explore new worlds and ride alongside people from all over the globe. All from the (dis)comfort of our living rooms.
This has all been made possible by the proliferation of indoor cycling apps, but none have proved to be as popular as Zwift. The online platform has become popular among amateur and pro riders alike and thousands of cyclists can be found cruising around its virtual worlds at any given time.
If you want to join this online community or are already a part of it but want to maximise your indoor cycling experience, there are some common Zwifting mistakes you’ll need to avoid.
What is Zwift?
Zwift is an online training platform that transports riders into virtual worlds from their living rooms.
Riders can simply choose to explore these worlds - and with 12 worlds in total, there’s plenty to explore - or they can take part in races, join group rides, or select from Zwift’s extensive library of workouts. Whatever type of rider you are, Zwift has you covered, and the platform has revolutionised indoor training.
Testament to its popularity, the app has spawned multiple words around its name, with anyone who uses the app described as a ‘Zwifter’, or they are ‘Zwifting’.
Since its release back in 2014, Zwift has also expanded into hardware and it now also offers a range of smart turbo trainers. The latest edition to the range, the Zwift Hub One, has helped to make indoor training more accessible than ever before thanks to its Zwift Cog. This uses virtual gearing and is compatible with most 8-12-speed bikes.
How to get better at Zwift
Hopefully, you've started with our beginner's guide to Zwift, but are you getting the most out of your smart trainer and Zwift experience?
Ex-pro cyclist and GCN presenter Manon Lloyd is a big fan of Zwift - "I love Zwift, it's a fantastic way to have fun, get fit and push yourself in many ways" - so we asked her to share the mistakes she made herself when starting out, and things to watch out for on your first rides in Zwift’s virtual worlds.
Avoid these 10 Zwift mistakes, and you’ll soon be training better, riding faster, and moving up the ranks in Zwift races and events.
Need more indoor cycling help or inspiration? GCN's ultimate guide to indoor cycling has you covered with advice and guides on everything from turbo training tech to workouts.
