Issue with Virtual Shifting – Zwift Ride + Wahoo Kickr Core

Bugs and Support
1

Hi everyone,

I’d like to report a bug I recently encountered on Zwift. I’m using the following setup: Wahoo Kickr Core paired with the Zwift Ride. All firmware and software updates are installed and up to date.

I’ve been using this combo for quite some time, mostly in Workout mode with ERG enabled, and everything works perfectly in that context.
However, yesterday I wanted to do a free ride, and I noticed that gear shifting was suddenly manual.

After doing some research, I found out that in order to enable automatic gear shifting, you’re supposed to go into the Settings and disable the Virtual Shifting option.
But the issue is: this option doesn’t show up at all in my settings (again, everything is updated).

So I ran a test:

  • I disabled the Zwift Ride at the login screen
  • And instead enabled the Zwift Click
    → And just like that, the Virtual Shifting ON/OFF toggle appeared in my settings!

I then switched back to the Zwift Ride instead of the Click, and the option disappeared again.

What’s strange is that I had already ridden with the Zwift Ride in free ride mode before (no workout, no ERG), and automatic shifting worked perfectly.
Now that feature seems to be disabled or simply inaccessible.

Is anyone else experiencing the same issue?

I talked about this in a Discord group, and several users confirmed they’re seeing exactly the same problem.

I contacted Zwift support, and they simply told me to “click the toggle to enable or disable the option” — clearly missing the point that the option doesn’t even show up when the Zwift Ride is connected.

Given the price of the equipment, this kind of bug definitely deserves a quick fix.

Has anyone found a permanent solution for this issue?
Or is there any word from Zwift about a pending update or fix?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Ride on,

Edit: Second email from Support today:
“Please perform the updates and do not connect via ANT+.”
I believe I’ve told them at least 50 times in both emails that all updates have been completed, and that I am absolutely not connected via ANT+. A bit more consideration would be appreciated — we pay a high price for the equipment plus a monthly subscription.

2

Hi there, if anyone can support that would be really appreciated as I have the exact same issue.

1 Like
3

Trying to understand the issue here. Can you please explain what you mean by manual shifting vs automatic shifting?

1 Like
4

Capture_decran_2025-07-20_a_18.13.37
Capture_decran_2025-07-20_a_18.13.371272×705 58.9 KB

As you can see in the screenshot, the third line that I can toggle ON/OFF appears when I connect either the Zwift Click or the Zwift Play controllers. However, when I connect the Zwift RIDE, this option no longer shows up. This option allows me to avoid having to shift gears manually.

5

Are you pairing the Zwift RIDE controllers in the controllers section of the pairing screen like how you would with the Play controllers? Do the other buttons on the Zwift RIDE work?

6

Yes, every buttons works, but i can’t disable virtual shifting

Capture d’écran 2025-07-21 à 22.35.51
Capture d’écran 2025-07-21 à 22.35.511265×742 93.1 KB

7

What do you mean by disable virtual shifting? The Zwift RIDE really won’t work unless you have virtual shifting enabled…

8

I may be misunderstanding, but are you perhaps not clear about the difference between ERG mode (where you don’t feel the gradient and the resistance changes automatically to ensure you produce the target power output) and free riding (or SIM) mode where you feel the gradient and need to shift gears to maintain your progress just like you would out in the real world?

9

I mean, I no longer want to have to shift gears manually, but for it to happen automatically (like when I was using Zwift Click or Zwift Controllers). I want to get that option back. I feel like no one knows about this feature. There was never any requirement with the previous equipment to shift gears manually.

10

No, I’m not confusing it with ERG mode. What I’m talking about has already been mentioned in other posts on the forum, and I’m not the only one experiencing this issue.

11

I still don’t understand what you mean about shifting gears manually vs automatic, because there is no automatic gear shifting (i.e. without pressing something) on Zwift. There is virtual shifting on compatible trainers, but you still have to press a button (Zwift Click,Zwift Play controllers, Zwift Ride) to activate each shift.

So I’m out, sorry. Perhaps someone else can help.

12

Do you mean lowering the simulated resistance so that it doesn’t change based on gradient? That’s the only way you can not have to shift

13

Also please point me toward a thread where there are others experiencing this issue. That will help me understand what’s actually going on…

14

It’s like having erg. Meaning automatically changing gears to stay at same watts whatever you are climbing or not.

15

Try putting your trainer difficulty setting at zero

1 Like