Zwift, the global online fitness platform for cyclists, has launched its first smart trainer, Zwift Hub. Priced at US$499 / £449 / €499, including a pre-installed cassette, Zwift looks set to shake up the market for direct drive bike trainers.
In May 2022, Zwift released a statement confirming that it was scaling back its plans to launch a smart bike. Citing ‘turbulent times’ economically, the company also made a number of staff lay-offs.
The new Zwift Hub sees the company shift to a smart trainer rather than smart bike. The new Hub uses hardware from the JetBlack Volt direct drive smart trainer – with Zwift adding its own firmware and branding.
Zwift notes that the new Hub smart trainer will interface seamlessly with Zwift’s virtual cycling platform. Although, it will also be compatible with other indoor cycling software.
“There’s no doubt that Zwift Hub is going to disrupt the market, and we think that’s great news for the customer,” said Eric Min, Zwift CEO and Co-Founder.
“When we started on our hardware journey, it was important that the hardware served the primary purpose of accessing and elevating the core game experience. Getting set up on Zwift hasn’t been an easy process. It can be hard to know exactly what equipment you need to Zwift, and that equipment can be costly.
“Zwift Hub will help us deliver our mission to make more people, more active, more often by making it both easier, and more affordable to get set up on Zwift.”
Launching to consumers in October, ahead of the northern hemisphere indoor riding season, the new trainer will integrate directly with the immersive experience of riding on Zwift.
‘Whether performing structured workouts in ERG mode, training with power for the first time, or riding the steepest gradients on Alpe du Zwift, Zwift Hub’s wheel-off design ensures that cyclists enjoy smooth and instantaneous resistance changes to match what they see on the screen, allowing them to focus on the ride.’
The company added… ‘With its rock-solid design, Zwift Hub delivers a smooth and realistic ride experience and one that won’t upset the neighbors. Even at high speeds, Zwift Hub is whisper quiet.’
Unique for the market, the Hub will ship with a cassette pre-installed (8, 9,10,11 or 12-speed) at no extra cost. Customers will be able to specify the number of gears they require at checkout, meaning Zwift Hub will ship with everything needed to take on virtual rides on the Zwift platform.
For those using AppleTV, Zwift’s new bike trainer is able to act as a Bluetooth bridge for a heart rate monitor, freeing up an additional Bluetooth connection that will enable riders to pair an additional accessory with Zwift.
Zwift Hub Pricing:
- USA $499
- UK £449
- EU €499
Zwift Hub will be available for purchase in the United States, United Kingdom, and the EU from October 3rd.
