News: Starting today, online training platform Zwift is expanding its offering with new sophisticated Zwift Off-Road MTB and Gravel training plans, as well as in-game gear designed to provide a better experience for off-road riders.
Based on the success of the successful partnership with the Absa Cape Epic earlier this year, Zwift would like to further establish the attractiveness of indoor training for mountain bikers and gravel riders. Because off-road drivers already make up 10% of Zwift users.
“We already have a large number of users who spend most of their outdoor rides off-road. This may not come as a complete surprise, as indoor training isn't just an effective training tool for road cyclists. Today's first coordinated move to improve the experience is a major milestone in the evolution of the off-road world on Zwift. For the first time we have dedicated training plans and bikes tailored to the needs of off-road riders. —Eric Min, CEO and co-founder of Zwift
Specifically for this, the game update released today includes two new training plans tailored to the needs of off-road cycling, where the specific requirements of performance and pedaling technique differ from those on the road. The new Pebble Pounder plan complements the only gravel training plan to date, the Gravel Grinder. The Pebble Pounder was developed for beginners who want to take the leap into the gravel world. The "Dirt Destroyer" is intended for advanced mountain bikers who have a high level of endurance but want to improve their specific strengths for mountain biking through repeated loads well above the threshold. This aims to increase anaerobic capacity and increase maximum pedaling torque, helping to conquer even the steepest climbs. A second, more advanced training plan for Cross Country riders will follow in early 2020.
In addition to the new training plans, Zwift has released a new fleet of bikes for the game, available in the Drop Shop. Zwifters can use their "Drops" — Zwift's proprietary currency earned by mileage earned in-game — to purchase the new Canyon Grail and Cervelo Aspero gravel bikes. In addition, mountain bikers can choose between the Canyon Lux, the Scott Spark and the Specialized Epic.
These wheels will be more than just a visual upgrade. All wheels in Zwift now have ride characteristics that more closely match the wheels to their real-world versions. Gravel bikes are fastest on gravel, moderately fast on the road, and slower off-road. Mountain bikes are of course fastest off-road, slower on gravel and slowest on the road.