Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health & Fitness

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Wahoo and Zwift team up to challenge Peloton for at-home biking workout supremacy

Zwift, Wahoo, and premium equipment may topple Peloton

Tabitha Britt
By
Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One
Wahoo / Zwift / Wahoo / Zwift

If you’re a Peloton fan but not willing to shell out thousands of dollars for a high-end bike, a new, more affordable alternative is now available thanks to Zwift (an online fitness platform) and (a leader in fitness tech).

Together, these companies created something entirely different from the traditional Peloton experience. Enter the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One (a mouthful, we know).

Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One against an orange background
Wahoo / Zwift / Wahoo / Zwift

What is the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One?

Unlike the Peloton, the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One isn’t a stationary bike but a smart trainer that you can attach to your own bike. It’s compatible with 8- to 12-speed bikes and offers a realistic indoor cycling experience.

Recommended Videos

At first glance, this contraption looks a little odd. But when broken down, you’ll notice that it includes the for virtual shifting capabilities (there are 24 virtual gears). It’s also ready to ride right out of the box, with easy setup and connectivity to the Zwift platform.

Related

According to the press release, the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One is available in the U.S., U.K., and European Union for $599/£549/€599 and includes a one-year Zwift membership. Residents of Australia and Canada will be able to purchase the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One via the Wahoo Fitness website in late March.

Zwift click cog on handle bars
Wahoo / Zwift / Wahoo / Zwift

Peloton vs. Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One

The Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One isn’t a stationary bike like the Peloton but rather a smart trainer that allows you to use your own bike for an immersive indoor cycling experience. You can check the Wahoo Fitness compatibility chart to see if your bike is compatible.

It’s ideal for cyclists who prefer the comfort and familiarity of their own bike but still want the benefits of an at-home cycling workout. (It’s safer to cycle inside during the winter.)

With the , which is free for one year with the purchase of the Wahoo KICKR CORE Zwift One, you can access a variety of virtual cycling routes, group rides, and races, as well as training plans and workouts designed by professional coaches. And, if you’re into gaming, Zwift has a beta product called the (not included with purchase) that transforms your indoor cycling experience into a virtual game where you can test your skills and race against the clock.

By combining the Wahoo KICKR CORE smart trainer with the Zwift online training platform, you now have a more affordable alternative to Peloton for your at-home biking workouts.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Tabitha Britt
Tabitha Britt
Freelance Writer
Tabitha Britt is a freelance writer, editor, SEO & content strategist.
What to eat before a workout: These are the best pre-workout snacks
The best pre-workout snacks to fuel your workout
best pre-workout snacks.

 

Whether you work out first thing in the morning or hit the gym after work, a portion of healthy pre-workout food is an important step in fueling your body for the exercise ahead. Not sure what to eat before a workout? A pre-workout snack should contain carbohydrates to top off your energy stores, protein to provide amino acids to your muscles, and fat to keep hunger at bay and blood sugar levels stable. Good pre-workout snacks leave you feeling energized and strong without feeling bloated, heavy, or running to the bathroom, so they should contain complex carbohydrates without an excessive amount of fiber, fat, or volume.
Rich foods or excess protein can cause heartburn and indigestion during exercise, so opt for light, balanced pre-workout snacks. Pre-workout snacks should ideally be consumed 30-90 minutes before exercise, depending on the type of exercise you’ll be doing, the planned intensity and duration, how hungry versus fueled you feel, and what you are eating for your pre-workout snack. The closer it is to your workout, the lighter and more carbohydrate-based the snack should be because protein and fat will slow digestion, potentially reducing the effectiveness of your pre-workout snack.
Ultimately, fueling yourself properly with the best pre-workout snacks before you hit the gym, head out on a run, or take a spin class will allow your body to have the nutrients and building blocks it needs to power your activity and maximize the gains from your workout. If you’re overly hungry, weak, and lacking the glycogen needed to push your body, your performance will be lower and you’ll make slower progress on your fitness goals. Therefore, keep reading for our recommendations for the best pre-workout snacks to step up your fueling game and take your workout gains to the next level.

Read more
This simple calisthenics workout will build arm strength, and fast
Build arm strength with this calisthenics fitness routine
a man in plank pose outside

Building arm strength isn't merely an exercise in vanity. Yes, those ripped bodybuilders on social media may seem "aspirational." However, having functional upper-body strength and mobility allows us to move through day-to-day tasks like opening doors and reaching out to hug a family member without thinking twice.

Speaking of social media, arm workouts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok often involve muscular gym-goers lifting weights that look so heavy your biceps ache. For one reason or another, these upper-body exercises may not meet you where you are. You might be traveling without access to weights or snowed in without heavy dumbbells at home.

Read more
This is why you need dumbbells in your next workout (and every one after that)
These dumbbell exercises are simple to add to your home workout
Renegade rows

"I prefer dumbbells to barbells any day of the week," said CJ Hammond, a former personal trainer, writer, and fitness consultant in Los Angeles. If you haven't been in a gym in a bit, what he said seems like sacrilege. Where are the bench presses of yore? Where's a young Arnie Schwarzenegger barefooted at the squat rack, as seen in Pumping Iron? The reality of today's trainers, Hammond said, is that for most cases and most people, dumbbells are more effective and versatile than any home workout machine you can buy.

"There's a time and a place for [barbells]," Hammond explained, "but for the most part, training is transitioning to functional."

Read more