Zwift Ride Smart Bike: Ideal for Rocker Plates in Indoor Cycling
By Albert Knowles
Introducing the Zwift Ride Smart Bike
If you browse online discussion groups about indoor cycling, you'll see that many Zwifters are excitedly buying Zwift Ride Smart Bikes for their training setups. At velocityrockers.com, most recent orders have been for rocker plates to use with the Zwift Ride. Zwift’s latest product is rising fast in popularity because it's simple, highly functional within the Zwift ecosystem, quiet, tidy, and just plain works. For an in-depth review by Eric Schlange of Zwift Insider, click here. You’ll also find links to other reviews.
Is the Zwift Ride Compatible with a Rocker Plate?
A common question among customers is whether the Zwift Ride can be used with a rocker plate. The unconventional front end of the Zwift Ride, which has a sturdy post instead of a fork and wheel, is at the center of these queries. This setup actually provides a simpler footprint, with more surface area contact between the front post and the floor or, in this case, the rocker plate.
“Hang Loose”
The front post doesn't actually “hang loose,” but let's back up to the rear end of this setup. When using the Zwift Ride, you will likely pair it with a Wahoo Kickr, Kickr Core, Zwift Hub, or a similar trainer. Secure your trainer to the back of the rocker plate using hook-and-loop straps, clamps, or ratchet straps. As long as the trainer is firmly secured and centered on the rocker plate, there's no need to worry about the front end. The bike will be securely attached to the trainer by a thru axle, making it immovable. The front post is simply placed on the platform. Velocity Rockers provides compressed rubber square pads (⅛” x 2” x 2”) to place under the contact points of the trainer to protect the surface paint of the rocker plates. For the Zwift Ride, they also include a quarter-inch thick, 3” x 3” foam rubber square to place under the front post.
Continuous Innovation
The Zwift Ride is a welcome addition to indoor cycling hardware. Though platform-specific, it offers good value at $1,299.99 for the Zwift Ride Smart Frame plus the Kickr Core, or $799.99 for the Zwift Ride Frame alone. It’s cheaper than other smart bikes like the Kickr Bike, Tacx Neo Bike, and Wattbike Atom. While it lacks some adjustability features of its pricier rivals, it performs well for daily rides.
Rocker plates have also seen innovation. The Delta RS rocker plate by Velocity Rockers has improved upon its predecessor's fore/aft motion by placing its mechanism mostly under the trainer and rider where it matters most. It’s designed to fit any indoor cycling configuration with its adjustable length, thus future-proofing it for upcoming hardware innovations.
Both the Zwift Ride and the Delta RS rocker plate have hit the market around the same time, and we confidently conclude that using the Zwift Ride on a rocker plate is not only possible but an excellent combination for your indoor cycling setup.
