The ultimate guide to the bikes of Zwift

Want to find out how you can get your hands on a Dogma F12 or a TRON bike?

Without doubt Zwift is the most widely used indoor training app and part of its appeal is the level of customisation available.

Not only can you choose between a host of routes and locations, you can also tune your avatar to look (a bit) like you. And then, there's the opportunity to 'ride' a vast array of pretty special bikes. But only if you can access them.

Almost all of the bikes available on Zwift can be purchased through the app's virtual bikeshop, the Drop Shop. Fortunately you don't have to spend your actual hard earned in order to unlock these beauties but through the spending of Zwift's Drop currency.

Drops are easy to earn but you basically pay in sweat (hence the Drops name), simply the more you ride, the more Drops you earn. The amount of Drops you earn can also depend on the amount of climbing and effort you put into each session so hit Zwift hard and you'll see your bank balance jump accordingly.

The Drop Shop is where to go to purchase those upgrades.

Now the age old dilemma of buying a solid, reliable bike and upgrading it over time or holding out and saving for your dream bike is also true within Zwift. And before you suggest that this is complete nonsense and that the equipment doesn't matter, try riding with your mate on a blinged out TT bike when you're on a MTB on any Zwift course - then you'll see how much harder you have to push (yes, I do this on a regular basis - don't ask me why!).

Each bike is rated for its weight and aerodynamics, with a score out of four - with one being the heaviest or least aerodynamic and four being the lightest and slipperiest. These have an impact on how fast you can go for a given effort or how rapid you can climb. This again might not really make a difference if you're just using Zwift for solo training efforts but if you intend racing your bike in the virtual world - it can make all the difference.

Each bike is given a star rating for Aero and Weight characteristics, with four stars being the best.

Some bike models are available at the Drop Shop almost immediately so you can begin tweaking your setup straight away. However most of the better performing bikes need you to have gained not only certain amounts of Drops but to have also advanced through the levels in order to unlock the ability to purchase them.

Just like Drops, you advance through the levels by gaining XP (Experience Points), earned with every kilometre you ride.

So without further ado, here's the comprehensive list of every bike manufacturer, model, ever attribute and when and how you can purchase them. Ready?

BMC

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ModelPriceLevel ReqAeroWeightType
Timemachine01781,0002441TT
SLR01376,2001923Standard

 

BMC's SLR01

BMC has two bikes available including the very rapid Timemachine 01 TT specific bike

Cannondale

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SuperSix EVO816,5003634Standard
SystemSix497,0002733Standard
Synapse298,2001223Standard
EVO213,000924Standard
Caad12184,500222Standard

Cannondale's older EVO model is one of the best climbers in Zwift.

Fan favourites Cannondale has plenty of standard road bike options including one of the fastest climbers in all of Watopia in the shape of the older EVO model.

Canyon

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Speedmax710,0002141TT
Aeroad532,5002333Standard
Lux461,5001011MTB
Ultimate461,5001024Standard
Grail355,0002323Gravel
Inflite234,3001023Gravel

Canyon has gone fully in on Zwift with a full quiver of machines so if you're into your Canyon bikes you can swap between road, TT, MTB and even gravel. The Grail (along with the Cervélo Aspero is believed to be the fastest gravel bike available).

Buyer's guide to Canyon's road bikes

Cervélo

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P5x1,065,0004541TT
P5710,0001541TT
S5603,5002533Standard
S3D468,6001332Standard
R5461,5002424Standard
Aspero426,0001333Gravel

There are choices from both of Cervélo's road going R and S ranges on Zwift as well as being able to choose a rapid TT specific bike. If you want to go even more bonkers, the triathlon spec P5X is about as Mad Max as bikes go and is the first of the million Drop bikes in the list.

The bonkers Cervélo P5X

Chapter2

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Tere390,500624Standard
Rere355,0001633Standard

Little known New Zealand brand (at least in the UK), Chapter2 has a pretty good looking line-up. On Zwift you can choose from the lightweight climber Tere or its aero sibling Rere for a bike that will stand out from the crowd.

Cube

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Aerium248,5002841TT
Litening177,5003223Standard

German bike giants Cube bring its fast and light weapons to the game in the shape of the Litening, albeit the older shape version, unlocked at level 32. It also has its triathlon specific Aerium with crazy twin head tube design to deliver PB smashing speeds.

Diamondback

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Andean572,9003541TT

If you want futuristic then look no further than Diamondback's Andean TT bike. Almost a complete monocoque construction complete with aero extensions make it super slippery on the flat courses.

Felt

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IA1,065,0003741TT
AR639,0003433Standard

You have to progress some way through the levels before you can unlock Felt's two bikes. You can choose between the aero road AR or Ironman winning IA TT specialist. The IA is also one of only four bikes that will cost you over a million Drops to buy.

Giant

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Propel Advanced SL Disc816,5002233Standard
TCR Advanced SL305,300823Standard

Giant's highly rated Propel Advanced and TCR Advanced are the only choices from a brand with a massive resume. Luckily they are both pretty decent although the Propel will cost you a pretty packet to buy at over eight hundred thousand Drops.

Liv

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Langma Advanced SL745,5002223Standard

Apart from Specialized, Liv is the only brand here that has a women's specific bike. Liv, for those that might not know, is Giant's female specific brand. The Langma  is a bit of an all-rounder but a very good looking one at that.

Parlee

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ESX603,5001633Standard
RZ7511,2002833Standard

Parlee's aero styled road bike the ESX is represented on Zwift along with the more radical looking RZ7. Both are really good all-rounder that bring a touch of class to proceedings.

Pinarello

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Bolide TT1,065,0004241TT
Bolide923,0002541TT
Dogma F10710,0003933Standard
Dogma 65.1603,5002932Standard
F8 (2)0033Standard
F12958,5002933Standard

Some of the most sought after bikes on Zwift are the Pinarello bikes. However none of them come cheap including the Bolide TT, another member of the million Drop club. You also need to ride a pretty long way to access even the standard Bolide, available only at level 25. Pinarello also sees the first of the 'money can't buy' bikes in the shape of the Dogma F8. This can only be gained after completing the Tour Italy challenge.

Complete the Tour of Italy and get this Dogma F8.

Ribble

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Endurance390,500733Standard

British brand Ribble has its excellent Endurance machine represented on Zwift for those that want to show a little British pride.

Ridley

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Helium461,500323Standard

Want something Belgian to remind you of the Spring Classics that could have been? You'll need the Helium, Ridley's aero road machine.

Scott

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Plasma852,0001741TT
Foil781,0001733Standard
Spark RC418,9001711MTB

Scott has the gamut of requirements met with its triptych of bikes. You can currently access the Spark RC MTB for free by signing up to the Cape Absa challenge.

Specialized

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SpecializedShiv Disc994,0001841TT
SpecializedShiv S-Works852,0001041TT
SpecializedVenge S-Works798,8003333Standard
SpecializedRoubaix S-Works745,500523Standard
SpecializedRuby S-Works745,500523Standard
SpecializedShiv710,0001041TT
SpecializedEpic S-Works675,900511MTB
SpecializedRoubaix461,500523Standard
SpecializedRuby461,500523Standard
SpecializedVenge461,5001833Standard
SpecializedTarmac Pro408,3001124Standard
SpecializedAmira S-Works355,0003124Standard
SpecializedAmira142,0003123Standard
SpecializedAllez127,800422Standard
SpecializedAllez Sprint127,8001433Standard
SpecializedTarmac (1)0024Standard

Without doubt Specialized has the heaviest presence in the Drop Shop and you can pretty much pick up anything from its road line-up. A top tip if you want to start climbing as much as possible is to purchase the Tarmac Pro at level 11 as it's one of the best climbers in the shop and will help you unlock the ultimate bike quicker than most.

Specialized also has a Collector's Only Tarmac that can only be unlocked by completing the Ride California challenge.

Trek

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Madone887,5002033Standard
Emonda SL142,0002623Standard
Emonda (3)0024Standard

It's lightweight or aero from Trek. But if you want to unlock its best climbing Emonda you will need to complete the Climb Everest challenge and climb 8,850m.

Ventum

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One482,8003141TT

The Ventum One is another mental looking TT bike. This time it forgoes the down tube and seat stays to create a pretty radical machine that will definitely stand out.

Zwift

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ZwiftSafety3,550,0004422Standard
ZwiftAero319,500633Standard
ZwiftGravel163,300022Gravel
ZwiftSteel142,000712Standard
ZwiftBuffalo Fahrrad9,5004011Standard
ZwiftCarbon (4)0023Standard
ZwiftConcept 1 (Tron) (5)0Row 6 - Cell 3 Row 6 - Cell 4 Row 6 - Cell 5 Standard
ZwiftMountain (4)0031MTB
ZwiftTT (4)0041TT

Zwift's own Concept 1 'Tron Bike' is the best performer. Engage your climbing legs if you want one though.

Obviously Zwift has a plethora of its own machines to choose from and the good news is quite a few are available from the start of your Zwift experience.

There is one bike that stands out from the rest as the 'Ultimate Zwift Bike' and that is the Concept 1. The Concept 1, or Tron bike as it's affectionately known, is regarded as 'The Bike' to have for racing and just being as rapid as possible when riding with your mates.

The Tron bike is not easy to unlock though, you'll need to climb 50,000 metres before you can get your hands on one (without cheating).

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