Riding with Zwift is a bit like playing a video game, except you play with your legs rather than your hands.
Having seen lots of people taking on virtual cycle rides, and since the Other Half got into it, I decided to go for a Zwift ride as one of my 52 new things in 2025.
If you’re wondering what it’s like, here’s how I got on, and how you can try it too.
What Is Zwift?
- It’s an online cycling (and running) app.
- Using some Zwift kit, you can hook your own bike up to the trainer and it becomes a bit like an exercise bike.
- Linked up to a laptop through bluetooth, you can choose from thousands of rides in virtual worlds which you can cycle through.
- The trainer simulates the climbs of the routes through the bike, making you work hard up the virtual hills, all from the comfort of your own home.
- With millions of other riders virtually cycling, and plenty of gamification, it’s an immersive world for fitness.
Cycling In Winter
The chill in your fingers as you grip the handlebars. The wind scratching at the skin on your face. The sleet soaking through your clothes making you cold to the bone. The ice that whips your wheels into alternative directions.
The winter weather is often less than encouraging for outdoor activities, and for cycling it can sometimes present quite dangerous conditions.
I am definitely a fair weather rider. I also prefer my routes to be flat and relatively car free. Not asking too much am I?!
The Other Half gets out on his bike a lot, but in November, with a few months of shorter days and inclement weather ahead, he decided to get himself set up with a Zwift so he could keep up his fitness.
Setting Up - Riding With Zwift
As the Other Half had already set his bike up on a Zwift trainer, all I had to do was create an account. It was really straightforward and took me through the steps easily.
I had to input my weight, height and age as this is all used to measure speed for a given power/effort.
My avatar was slightly customisable, in that I could change the hair style and colour. The more your ride, the more new pieces of kit you unlock so you can personalise your character over time. With the vaguest of resemblances to me, I was ready to ride.
The Ride
I let the Other Half pick my first route which was called Rooftop Rendezvous in Makuri Islands. A distance of 6.5km with an elevation of 91m, it seemed like a fairly gentle introduction.
I straddled the bike, and looked at the screen. It’s all animated, and I could see my avatar poised and ready to pedal.
To get going, I simply started pedalling. The version of me on the screen started pedalling too. We were off.
The road on the screen rolled along as I cycled across the rooftops of a busy cityscape at night, overtaking other riders, passing by runners, and even street performers! Visually, it reminded me of the video game Grand Theft Auto, only a lot more wholesome.
It was nothing like an actual ride – I’ve never seen a route of cycle paths that span over multiple rooftops of high rise buildings. It felt a bit like I was riding through some sort of Blade Runner set. Yet it kept me interested and I enjoyed traversing the unusual terrain.
Pedal Power - Riding With Zwift
I was able to pick up the pace fairly quickly as I got going. There was plenty of data on the screen, from my speed, distance covered, distance remaining, time elapsed, and the incline.
I felt the climb as the resistance kicked in and I had to pedal harder. It wasn’t very steep, and it wasn’t very long, but it certainly got the heart rate going.
Rather than one long climb, it was an undulating route, giving my legs a little bit of respite during the flatter sections.
Social Riding
Whilst I was riding without moving in our front room, there were lots of other people virtually riding the route.
Names flash up to show who else is pedalling, and where in the world they are from. There’s even the function for people to share kudos and encouragement throughout the ride. This was a bit too advanced for me on my first outing, I was too busy concentrating on keeping going!
It did add a competitive element as I tried to keep ahead of people closing in behind me, and pedalled harder in an attempt to close the gap with the rider ahead.
Smashed It - Riding With Zwift
The route had suggested it would take around 20 minutes to complete the course. Well these little legs smashed it in 15! It had been a hot and sweaty ride, and I was really impressed with it as a workout.
For a short duration it felt like I’d given my body some intense exercise, and it felt good! That said, you can go at your own pace, and take a breather if you need to.
At the end of the ride, it gives all the metrics, and stores them on your account so that you can compare it with other rides, and, if you do multiple rides, you can see the cumulative data too.
It's Brilliant Being Able To Just Ride
I really enjoyed the Zwift, and the fact that it was all about the riding.
It was brilliant not having to worry about traffic, or to think about signalling and turning corners. There were no pot holes, no rogue dogs, and of course, no weather.
All I had to do was ride, and focus on keeping the legs turning.
It also took less time to start pedalling. Usually there’s a lot more faff and palaver when I get my actual bike out.
Whilst I much prefer being out in the fresh air and seeing the scenery, I really enjoyed Zwifting, and I definitely made the most of the free trial days!
How To Get Set Up On Zwift
Zwift Equipment
There are various bits of kit available to get cycling on Zwift. In a nutshell;
- Zwift Ride – which is all of the kit and caboodle to get going. It includes a bike-like frame, and the trainer which is the bit that provides the feeling of going up and down the hills.
- Zwift Ready Trainer – which means you use your own bike, and attach it to the trainer.
There’s a lot more information about all of the options and additional equipment you can buy on the Zwift website.
Zwift Membership
You need to create a Zwift account in order to access the routes. You need to access the routes so that the trainer knows when to kick in for the hills. There are currently two types of membership;
- Annual – Which at £179.99 per year is the best value option. This comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.
- Monthly – Which at £17.99 per month is the most flexible option. This comes with a 14 day free trial.
I signed up for the monthly membership so that I could use the free trial to give it a go as one of my 52 new things.
Want To Try It Yourself?
- There are lots of ways you can try virtual cycling.
- For the same experience that I tried, take a look at Zwift. There are lots of pieces of kit available and information to get you set up.
- Other companies offering virtual cycling include Peloton, and Rouvy.
- If you’re not sure you want to invest in the kit, you could see if your local gym has any that you could try.
- Spinning classes are another way that you can try virtual cycling, so keep an eye out for any near you.
Cost Of Experience
- My Riding with Zwift experience was free. I used the equipment the Other Half had set up, and signed up for the monthly membership to access the 14 day free trial. I am pretty sure I will be buying some monthly membership next winter though!
- The cost will vary depending on what equipment you need.
Recommendations
- Be kind to yourself. For a first ride, be realistic with your goal so that you can get a feel for how it all works.
- Have some water. I was amazed how quickly I got hot and sweaty and I was very grateful I’d got a bottle of water to hand.
- Listen to your body. You don’t have to pedal as fast or as hard as you can, take a breather if you need it.
- Enjoy! Let me know how you get on if you give it a go!
I have not heard anything about this (which is part of why I love your blog, I get to read about all sorts of wonderful things), but it sounds pretty cool!
Thank you so much! You’ve made my day! :o)
I’ll admit, I’ve been making full use of the free trial, and have been zwifting every other day!
I love that I can pick a ride that fits in with the amount of time I have free, and although my little legs feel the burn during the route, it’s a great sense of achievement afterwards. I might pay for the monthly membership next winter when I definitely won’t want to go out in the bad weather and dark nights.
Thank you as always for reading and commenting.
Sally :o)