.png)
Get Into Zwift Indoor Training For Under $500.
- Feb 28, 2024
- 11 min read
Updated: Jul 22, 2024
So you're interested in upping your indoor training game? You've considered joining Zwift, but you haven't jumped in yet because the cost of Smart Trainers can be super expensive.
This post may contain affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you ultimately buy through links on our site. Learn more.
Maybe all you really want is to try Zwift out just to see if it's worth the hype? But you don't want to have to empty your wallet on a Smart Trainer only to feel guilty later if you don't actually use it enough to justify the cash outlay.
I totally get it.
Let's face it, cycling is already an expensive sport. Smart Trainers, especially the Direct Drive Trainers, are expensive. And let me just say, during the Pandemic, those prices were absolutely ridiculous... if you could even find one in stock to buy. You gotta love the economics of the supply-and-demand model.
What would you say if I were to tell you that you could jump into the Zwift indoor training universe and do it all for $450 or less? That is assuming you already have a bike. Would that be enough to get you Zwift'ing?
It is possible. I did it.
Though I did it in a slightly less conventional way (at least back then) than the typical Zwift configuration, I am all in at $420. And even today, I continue my indoor Zwift'ing anywhere from 5 to 6 times each week. And yes, my configuration includes just a bike, a physical wheel-on cycling trainer, and a couple sensors. No lie.
What do you need to Zwift?
Yes, Zwift is customarily used as a verb. Come to think of it, I pretty much use it as a verb. Go figure.
According to the Zwift Cycling Quick Start Guide, you need only 3 things to Zwift :
I can vouch for the above statement as being completely true. They make it all seem straightforward and simple. I mean, you have a bike, you have a computer/phone/TV, all you need to do is get a trainer and signup for Zwift. Makes sense. Seems super easy to just jump in, right? That is a resounding "yes", if you have the cash to buy one of the Direct Drive Smart Trainers. Just buy one, pop your bike into it, and start up the Zwift app. Easy-peasy. And you're pedaling away.
But what if you don't have that kind of cash? Or what if you simply aren't sure you want to go all in, quite yet?
I am right there with you, again.
How smart is your trainer?
Back in April of 2020, the Pandemic was just ramping up, and I was working from home like the rest of the world. I already had my Cyclops Fluid 2 Trainer (now owned by Saris) that I was using to get my miles in. Since 2012 when I first bought it, I have ridden my Cyclops trainer quite a bit. Especially during the winter when it is either dark or cold, or both. The problem was that there are only so many movie reruns that I could watch while riding my trainer. I was needing something new to distract me during those indoor miles.
Zwift seemed to pop onto the scene for me right as the Pandemic was starting to really get going. It seemed like Zwift commercials were everywhere on TV. I'd seen the commercials, and even saw that Zwift was hosting its own Virtual version of the Tour de France for 2020. This Zwift thing sounded pretty cool. Problem was I really did not know much about Zwift at all.
Okay... time to find out more.
That was the first time I saw the Zwift Cycling Quick Start Guide, and its marketing motto that "you need only 3 things to Zwift."
So yeah, I had a bike. Check.
Yeah, I had a trainer. Check.
And of course, I had a device... a laptop, a desktop, a Smart TV, an iPhone. Yup, I got 'em. Check.
I guess all I need to do now is sign up.?
Nope. Not quite.
As I started to read more about how the Zwift app worked, and how it interacted with the trainer, I had that first moment of shock. I had all of the necessary pieces to the Zwift universe, but unfortunately, my trainer did not appear to be up-to-snuff. I found out my trainer was "dumb". There were Smart Trainers out there, and mine wasn't one of them. Mine was just a plain Dumb Trainer. My years-long faithful, sturdy, and reliable indoor training partner was "dumb" in the eyes of Zwift. How could they be so harsh?
Back in 2020, there were only 2 types of indoor trainers: Dumb Trainers and Smart Trainers. The term Direct Drive Smart Trainer wasn't fully part of the lexicology back then. So the only distinction between a Dumb Trainer and a Smart Trainer was in the technology that was embedded. Smart Trainers had a speed sensor, a cadence sensor, and a few other sensors that allowed for integration with the Zwift app to control resistance and simulate uphill versus downhill. My trusty Cyclops trainer had none of these. It was simple and did its one job well. I'd already had my cash investment in it. For the number of years I have been using it, I've more than gotten my money's worth out of it. But I certainly wasn't going to give up on my faithful friend. Not yet. Not without a fight.
You just need to find 1 way to make it work.
Reading a bit more into how the Zwift app worked, I found out that in essence, the Zwift app has to be running on a device that is either Bluetooth and/or ANT+ capable. Much as folks have done for heart rate monitors and such. This is the way in which the Smart Trainer interacts with the Zwift app.
To their credit, even back in 2020 when the number of physical trainer products to which Zwift integrated was small, Zwift made mention of alternate ways to get speed and cadence data flowing into their app. In specific, they mentioned the possibility of using external Bluetooth or ANT+ sensors to read both the cadence and speed from your bike. Effectively, the very same sensors that were wholly integrated directly into the Smart Trainers. I could just buy the sensors, and not the entire Smart Trainer.
So it is possible to integrate separately purchased sensors with the Zwift app. Perfect!
That is exactly what I needed to know.
I can keep using my trusty Cyclops trainer? Sahweeeet!
And Garmin, Magene, Scosche, and Wahoo all offer these sensors. Just take your pick.
Smart is now smarter, but dumb is still dumb
It is funny to recall that I had to hunt around to find this information back then. Today, the technology has advanced enough that there are now 3 types of trainers on the market. And Zwift does a great job of side-by-side comparisons:
Wheel-on Dumb trainers,
Wheel-on Smart trainers,
Direct Drive Smart Trainers.
And they even have Smart Bikes which is a melding of a Peloton-looking bike and a Direct Drive Smart trainer, all in one machine. A very technology-rich machine!
So really, the change in the nomenclature is just evidence that the marketing is keeping pace with the technology as it evolves.
Here's my take on explaining the different types of trainers.
Wheel-on, simply means your bike's rear wheel remains on your bike with this type of trainer. Or, you could think of it as being that your bike's rear "wheel sits on" the trainer's flywheel drum. Your choice of how you want to think of it.
The Dumb vs Smart nomenclature remains the same as mentioned earlier. It is merely distinguishing the fact that the trainer either has added sensor technology, or it doesn't. Yup, my Dumb Trainer is still "dumb". No added tech. But I do still love it!
And the last and newer term is Direct Drive which effectively means your rear wheel is removed so that your bike can be inserted onto a cassette that is physically part of the trainer.
So yeah, very organized and methodical... the marketers got all this nomenclature spot on. The terms actually make sense.
How do I know what sensors I actually need?
So why did I share all of this information? Did I really need to know it?
Well, I say that I needed to know all of this back when I was figuring out how I could join Zwift, but still keep my trusty Dumb Trainer. And for you, knowing what technology your trainer has, or doesn't have, will be what determines your Zwift configuration, and ultimately what you will need to purchase.
For me, I try to think of the Zwift configuration in simple terms: from where does the Zwift app get the speed and cadence (and any other sensor-related) data?
Zwift needs to get its cycling data metrics from somewhere. There are only a few places from where it can get that data. And that will determine your ultimate configuration and what you need to purchase for that configuration:
Zwift gets data from the trainer? (Direct Drive Smart Trainer)
Zwift gets data from the trainer and the bike? (Wheel-on Smart Trainer)
Zwift gets data from the bike? (Wheel-on Dumb Trainer)
To be more accurate, Zwift actually receives and sends data when communicating with the Smart Trainer (think resistance to simulate hills). But you get the idea.... there is a data exchange.
Take a look at the following diagrams I put together to illustrate the 3 configurations (that I know of). In particular, I wanted to visually impart the that you need sensors that will push and/or pull data using your chosen device. And that device will then push/pull data using the Zwift servers. Data is flowing end-to-end in both directions (well not so much in the Dumb Trainer configuration). The configuration question you will need to answer is where will these sensors be located... in your trainer or on your bike or both? Therefore, I say start by knowing exactly what type of trainer you have, and what sensors it has. From there, you can determine if you will need to buy any additional sensors, if at all.
Just a couple of notes as you look at the configuration diagrams:
Zwift says that a cadence sensor is not required. But I say you should have one. Otherwise, your calculated distances and climbing metrics will be skewed. And overall, your Zwift experience will be quite lacking.
Zwift says that an Internet connection is not needed. But I say you should have an Internet connection. Otherwise, you will not be able to see other riders, and they cannot see you. The social/community aspect is one of the big draws of Zwift. But there are those cases where your electricity or Internet is out. Clearly, in this case it is actually great to know that you can still ride even if your Internet is down. Which is better than not riding IMHO.
I bring these 2 points up for awareness only. I am not saying that I am smarter than all the brains at Zwift. No way that I am. They are the big brains. I am simply saying that for the best Zwift experience, I recommend that, at a minimum, you will need both a speed sensor and a cadence sensor.
As you can see, all of the sensors are embedded into the Direct Drive Smart Trainer. In this configuration, you would be purchasing a Direct Drive Smart Trainer and a Zwift subscription... that's all you will need beyond the bike. Granted, this configuration is the second most expensive configuration after the Smart Bike.
This configuration spreads the technology across both the trainer and the bike. The advent of the Wahoo KICKR SNAP Smart Trainer makes this possible. This was not an offered product back in 2020, but based on pricing, it is extremely comparable to the cost of both a Dumb Trainer and a speed sensor, but with the added tech embedded in the trainer itself. Here, you would purchase the Wheel-on Smart Trainer, plus a separate cadence sensor, and a Zwift subscription. So really, if you don't already have a Dumb Trainer, this configuration is the next best from an affordability standpoint.
This configuration is really the bare-bones minimum you need to have a great Zwift experience. Here, there is no tech embedded in the trainer... voila... the Dumb Trainer. Your separate purchases would include both a speed sensor and a cadence sensor for you bike. Quite a bit more simplistic. Here, you would purchase the Wheel-on Dumb Trainer, plus a separate speed sensor, a separate cadence sensor, and of course a Zwift subscription. So if you already have a Dumb Trainer, the only new costs would be the purchase of the 2 sensors, and the Zwift subscription. Clearly well within the realm of wallet friendly.
My Zwift Wheel-on Dumb Trainer configuration for under $500.00 USD
Okay, I promised early on that you could get yourself into the Zwift universe for under $500 USD.
And that hasn't changed.
At least the noted prices were as listed on the day I wrote this article... but they do change. Sometimes more, and sometimes you catch a sale!
Here is how I came to that cost statement based upon my own Zwift Wheel-on Dumb Trainer configuration all in costs. I actually paid $399.99 for my Cyclops Fluid 2 Trainer way back in 2012. Crazy, eh?
Cyclops Fluid 2 Trainer (now Saris) Competitive Cyclist | Amazon $ 249.00 Wahoo RPM Speed sensor Competitive Cyclist | Amazon $ 49.00 Wahoo RPM Cadence sensor Competitive Cyclist | Amazon $ 49.00 iPhone or laptop connected to TV with Zwift monthly subscription Zwift signup $ 14.99
All in total including the 1st month subscription $ 362.98
before taxes of course.
Oh, I almost forgot. I do recommend you consider picking up a Saris Training Mat to place under your trainer to help save your floor from scratches, not to mention your sweat. Things can get nasty pretty quickly. Even this additional purchase still has you well under the $500.00 USD mark!
Notes: More cost savings possible...
If you already have your Dumb Trainer, then you have even less out of pocket money needed to get you into Zwift. At that point, your only cost of $112.99 would be to get you the 2 sensors and the 1st months Zwift subscription.
You can even pick up the Speed sensor and Cadence sensor as a pair for around $90 at Competitive Cyclist or Amazon.
You can even save another $100.00 USD or more if you consider a search on eBay for the Cyclops Fluid 2 Trainer or equivalent. I actually picked one up for a friend for around $110.00 USD. Alas, this eBay option is all based on what is currently available at the time.
BONUS SECTION - Zwift Wheel-on Smart Trainer configuration for under $500.00 USD
I just want to point out just one more thing... the Zwift Wheel-on Smart Trainer configuration mentioned above also comes in under the $500.00 USD for your all in cost. And even at that, you have 2 options based upon which Wheel-on Smart Trainer you choose.
Again, the noted prices were as listed on the day I wrote this article... but they do change. Sometimes more, and sometimes you catch a sale!
Saris Wheel-on Smart Trainer option (formerly CycleOps)
Fluid 2 Smart Trainer (now Saris) Competitive Cyclist | Amazon $ 299.99 Wahoo RPM Cadence sensor Competitive Cyclist | Amazon $ 49.00 iPhone or laptop connected to TV with Zwift monthly subscription Zwift signup $ 14.99
All in total including the 1st month subscription $ 363.98 before taxes of course.
Wahoo Wheel-on Smart Trainer option
Wahoo KICKR SNAP Smart Trainer Zwift | Competitive Cyclist | Amazon $ 399.99 Wahoo RPM Cadence sensor Competitive Cyclist | Amazon $ 49.00 iPhone or laptop connected to TV with Zwift monthly subscription Zwift signup $ 14.99
All in total including the 1st month subscription $ 463.98 before taxes of course.
And as I mentioned in the section detailing my Zwift configuration, I do recommend you consider picking up a Saris Training Mat to place under your trainer to help save your floor from scratches, not to mention your sweat. Given the current price of that mat, it might knock you over the $500.00 USD target a smidge. But like almost everything you need, Amazon has training mat options that will still keep you under the $500.00 USD mark.
Time to get your Zwift indoor training on
Not bad. Not bad at all. You now have 3 very good Zwift configurations available to get you Zwifting for under $500.00 USD.
So now, I don't think you can use the Smart Trainer costs as your excuse any more. While you and I both might still want to have one of those sweet Direct Drive Smart Trainers, the plain truth is you don't really need one. You can get your Zwift on without them. And I promise you will still enjoy it.
So what's stopping you? Get yourself into the indoor training world by signing up for Zwift today!
Ride on, my friends!
For a complete list of referred products, see our Affiliate Products page.
©2024 Stirling Cycling Chronicles
Commenti