2025 BWR Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> Idiots Guide to the cheapest setup to get going on Zwift!

Idiots Guide to the Cheapest setup to get going on Zwift

Burn fat, get stronger and save $$ CASH $$ without leaving the house during self isolation

Idiots Guide to the cheapest setup to get going on Zwift!

Whether you call it cycling or a spin class, pedalling a bike is one of the best ways to improve cardio health, lose weight and protect your mental health through exersize.

Zwift is an indoor training app that links your turbo trainer or indoor exercise bike to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Pedaling your bike powers a customisable avatar around one of the app’s five virtual worlds, each with its own network of roads.

Online virtual cycling game Zwift is great not just for taking the boredom out of indoor training, is so realistic, it will take you and your training to another dimiension, where you can join your friends, group rides, virtual events and races and ride with growing numbers of pro riders too.

What do I need to get Started?

To get up and running, here's the simplest and cheapest option:

  Your bike
  A basic indoor trainer or set of rollers
  A fan to keep you cool
  A compatible computer (PC or iMac), smartphone or tablet with Bluetooth or ANT+ (or an ANT+ USB dongle)
  An ANT+ or Bluetooth speed/cadence sensor measurement device (or on the more expensive side, a smart trainer or power meter)
  A Zwift account

If you’re using an iOS device, then connecting devices is via Bluetooth only, which saves you buying a ANT+ USB dongle.

ANT+ or Bluetooth Measurement Sensor

Without a smart trainer that measures your power you'll need a speed/cadence measurement device. Order one online and get it delievered to your door.

Any Bluetooth or ANT+ speed sensor will work and they are very easy to install and connect to your computer, smartphone or tablet.

If you are just using a speed/cadence sensor, then Zwift has two methods of calculating your watts.

If you own a trainer that Zwift has tested, this can be a fairly accurate way of measuring power, however in-game wattage will be capped at 1,200 watts.

If you have an unsupported trainer, Zwift will try to make a rough calculation based on your wheel speed using your sensor. Your in-game wattage will also be capped at 400 watts, which isn’t a great long-term solution, but gets you up and running!

You might want to invest in some kind of stand for your phone, tablet or computer positioned in front of you or on your handlebars. You can just as easily make do with a table, chair of shelf.

Finally, you’re going to need a fan. A cheap desktop fan will work fine, experiment with getting it in the right position. 

You'll find that you'll sweat a lot more, so something under your bike or rollers, like a cheap yoga mat of old piece of carpet will do.

Have a spare towel and sport drinks to hand.

How do I sign-up to Zwift?

Visit the Zwift website to sign-up for a FREE 7-day trial. After your trial period ends, Zwift costs £12.99 / $14.99 per month.

You can use a iMac or PC to create an account or use a compatible tablet or mobile device via the Zwift app, which is available through the Apple App Store or Google Play

Burn fat, get stronger and save $$ CASH $$ without leaving the house during self isolation

 
Tag: zwift
 
Jun 30 2020 - NEWS: Ride the Zwift Virtual l'Etape du Tour this July!
May 02 2020 - NEWS: WorldTour teams to race live to benefit Doctors Without Borders
Apr 12 2020 - NEWS: WATCH: Team Ineos Race Live on Zwift today at 12pm Eastern, 5pm UK, 6pm Europe
Apr 08 2020 - NEWS: Warren Barguil and nearly 18,000 riders tackled Haute Route Watopia
Apr 02 2020 - NEWS: Thomas De Gendt thrown out of a Zwift race for Super Human Power!
Mar 28 2020 - NEWS: Idiots Guide to the cheapest setup to get going on Zwift!
Oct 05 2019 - NEWS: UCI Sanctions Zwift’s e-Sports World Championships from 2020
Dec 31 2016 - NEWS: Buyer's Guide to Smart Turbo Trainers for Zwift
Jul 01 2018 - NEWS: Zwift to release 2018 UCI Road World Championships Zwift Course
Apr 04 2018 - NEWS: Heading into the mountains with Alpe Du Zwift
Feb 21 2018 - NEWS: Zwift announces National Championships – February 23rd and 24th
Dec 17 2017 - NEWS: Canyon-SRAM announce Zwift Academy winner
Nov 22 2017 - NEWS: VIDEO: Ollie Jones wins Zwift Pro Contract Competition
Dec 31 2016 - NEWS: Indoor Smart Training and Zwift
Jan 22 2017 - NEWS: Zwift Academy for women returns for 2017
 
Tag: corona
 
May 02 2020 - NEWS: Cyclists, Surfers and Joggers rush outside to exercise after 49 days of lock-down ends in Spain
May 02 2020 - NEWS: France offers €50 Euros to cyclists to boost cycling after the lock-down
Apr 23 2020 - NEWS: Paris to spend €300 million Euros to convert roads into bike lanes during coronavirus
Apr 18 2020 - NEWS: Davide Martinelli uses his bike to deliver medicine in the hard hit Lombardy
Mar 27 2020 - NEWS: WATCH: Movistar's The Least Expected Day series now available on Netflix
Apr 13 2020 - NEWS: Bikes a Vital Lifeline for New Yorkers riding out Coronavirus
Mar 21 2020 - NEWS: Rumours French police use Strava to fine cyclists for riding outdoors
Mar 30 2020 - NEWS: WATCH: Italian cyclist throws himself into sea to avoid quarantine arrest
Mar 28 2020 - NEWS: Idiots Guide to the cheapest setup to get going on Zwift!
Mar 26 2020 - NEWS: Could the Tour de France could go ahead without any Spectators?
Mar 23 2020 - NEWS: Jens Voigt heads up Digital WorldBike for the Bicycle Industry During Coronavirus
Mar 23 2020 - NEWS: Most UK Cycling events will be postponed in June due to Coronavirus
Mar 21 2020 - NEWS: Phil Gaimon launches series Empty Toilet Paper Roll Chats to help beat quarantine together
Mar 16 2020 - NEWS: Italy, France and Spain ban cycling completely due to Coronavirus Pandemic
Mar 19 2020 - NEWS: Swiss Pro Cyclist drops bike to help patients amidst the Coronavirus crisis