Zwift for Beginners: Your Guide to Indoor Cycling, Smart Trainers & the New Zwift Ride
Indoor cycling has changed dramatically over the past few years. What used to be simple turbo trainers and static workouts has evolved into a fully immersive digital riding experience thanks to Zwift. Whether you are training for your first event, building winter fitness, or looking for a fun way to stay active at home, Zwift makes indoor riding engaging, social and genuinely addictive.
In this guide, you’ll learn what Zwift actually is, what equipment you need, how to get started, and why the new Zwift Ride, together with Wahoo’s smart trainer ecosystem, is one of the most exciting developments in indoor cycling.
Learn more about Zwift and Zwift products on Wahoo Nordic →
What Is Zwift? A Simple Explanation for New Riders
Zwift is a virtual training platform that lets you ride through digital worlds, follow structured workouts, join group rides or race against cyclists from all over the world. Your power, speed and cadence are measured by your smart trainer or indoor bike and translated into movement inside the app.
Instead of staring at the garage wall, you’re climbing Alpe du Zwift, rolling through London or joining a social group ride with 200 other riders. It’s training, entertainment and community in one.
The Equipment You Need to Start Riding on Zwift
To begin, you only need three things:
A smart trainer or indoor smart bike, a device to run Zwift, and a bike. Wahoo’s ecosystem makes this incredibly simple, especially with the new generation of Zwift-ready hardware.
Below are the key options you can choose from — all fully compatible with Zwift and designed to deliver a smooth, realistic ride.
Zwift Ride: The New Indoor Bike That Changes Everything
This is the product everyone is talking about — the new Zwift Ride. Built to create the most natural and rider-friendly indoor bike experience possible, Zwift Ride combines adjustability, stability and integrated shifting into one incredibly user-friendly package.
If you want an indoor bike that feels like your outdoor bike, requires no maintenance and offers the best Zwift immersion available today, this is it.
Key reasons it’s a game-changer:
- Built specifically for Zwift’s new drivetrain-free ecosystem
- Fully adjustable to fit nearly any rider
- Quieter, cleaner and easier than any turbo trainer setup
- Perfect for families or shared household use
- Seamless shifting, calibration and connectivity
Explore Zwift Ride here: Buy Zwift Ride at Wahoo Nordic →Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 + Zwift Cog & Click: The Best Starter Setup
If you want a quiet, reliable and accurate smart trainer that works perfectly with Zwift, the KICKR CORE 2 is the natural choice. It now comes bundled with Zwift Cog and Zwift Click, bringing a completely cassette-free system to your indoor training setup.
Why it’s great for beginners:
The Cog eliminates the need to match cassettes or worry about drivetrain compatibility. Zwift Click mounts to your handlebar and allows you to shift virtually — smooth, fast and totally wireless.
Explore the product here: KICKR CORE 2 with Zwift Cog & Click →
Already Own a Trainer? Upgrade with the Cog & Click Kit
If your current indoor setup still uses a traditional cassette, the Zwift Cog & Click Upgrade Kit is the easiest way to modernise your drivetrain.
This system reduces noise, simplifies compatibility and brings smoother virtual shifting — perfect for riders wanting a cleaner, more intuitive Zwift experience.
View the upgrade kit: Zwift Cog & Click Upgrade Kit →
Why Zwift Is the Best Way to Stay Motivated Indoors
Beginners often worry that indoor cycling will feel repetitive. Zwift solves this through variety, creativity and community. You can challenge yourself with structured workouts, join locals on a group ride, or explore new worlds at your own pace.
The feeling of progress — better fitness, faster climbs, stronger legs — comes quickly. That’s why riders who start with Zwift tend to stick with it.
With Wahoo’s latest hardware and Zwift’s constantly expanding features, there has never been a better moment to start.
Getting Started: Your First Ride in Zwift
Once your trainer or Zwift Ride is set up and paired, your first session can be as simple as choosing a world and pressing Start. Most beginners begin with the “Tempus Fugit” route — flat, simple and great for getting used to riding indoors.
As you get more comfortable, try structured workouts, events, or even races. Zwift rewards consistency, and you’ll quickly notice improvements both indoors and outdoors.
Ready to Start Your Zwift Journey?
Indoor cycling is no longer a compromise. With Zwift and Wahoo’s ecosystem — especially the new Zwift Ride — it becomes one of the most immersive, motivating and enjoyable ways to stay fit year-round.
Explore all Zwift-compatible products:
Zwift Collection with Zwift Ride and Zwift ready products →
Start your riding journey with Zwift today.
