I´m on a windows computer and connect through the computers Bluetooth, so not over companion app. Are you still facing the issue?
I opened a support ticket 2 weeks ago, still no explanation, resolution or ETA. Sigh.
Bluetooth connection for resistance is mandatory for Virtual Shifting [edit: only on Elite trainers! See comment below]. Stupid yes, but that is how it is.
I am on Win11. I also have an Android tablet for Companion.
Dircon: power and cadence from Elite Justo2
PC Bluetooth: Play, Clickv2, Elite Rizer steering, COREw/hrm, and resistance(justo2).
Everything is solid and reliable except resistance. When the resistance gets buggy the Rizer incline simulator seems to make unexpected movements or not move as expected to follow the incline displayed.
All the resistance disconnections and connection difficulties are destroying any desire to ride Zwift. I paid for the year but regret that.
I was coasting down Crow road yesterday after completing the weekly hillclimb. Crow road is more undulating than many climbs so I wasn’t even coasting that long before needing to pedal and noticed the VS gear indication was gone off screen. I tried to shift and got the “You don’t have a compatible trainer connected”. I finished pedaling and coasting to the portal but ended my ride because resistance had not started working again.
Come on Zwift this problem is getting worse not better.
Only with Elite trainers. Not a problem with Wahoo trainers. It’s a limitation of the Elite firmware.
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Thank you for that information that the Bluetooth for Virtual Shifting is an Elite trainer limitation on my Justo 2. Disappointing. My Elite Aria fan becomes unresponsive and requires unplugging from the wall to wake it back up. That is two of their supposed “Elite” products that are disappointing me.
I suspect Elite is working on implementing the virtual shifting protocol for their WiFi connected trainers so it’s probably a “not yet” kind of problem.
Just back from 4 weeks off, and this is still an issue on 1.106. Need to use about 2 gear higher for the same effort. This is just free ride mode so far with testing. It would seem that the resistance profiles have changed since 1.101?
AppleTV ,Wahoo Kickr v5 (Bluetooth connection)
Just updated to Game Update v 1.106 [January 2026]
Hello everyone,
Today, I began a standard workout (“Easy Hour”). Immediately at the start, the usual problem returned: my Elite Direto XR trainer applied extreme resistance, forcing me to output significantly more power than intended during what should be my warm-up phase.
Crucial Discovery & Proof of a Bug:
While the issue was occurring, I clicked the ERG mode button on the workout screen to switch to “Gradient” mode. Once in gradient simulation mode, I was able to adjust the trainer’s resistance perfectly using the +/-1% buttons to achieve my desired feel.
This is the definitive proof that the problem lies specifically with Zwift’s ERG mode software. The hardware (my Direto XR) is fully capable of receiving and applying resistance commands correctly, as demonstrated in slope simulation mode. However, the ERG mode algorithm is sending incorrect, excessive resistance signals during the initial minutes of a session.
Current Workaround & Impact:
My temporary solution for long Saturday rides is to start pedaling 5-10 minutes before the scheduled event, waiting for this “bug phase” to pass. However, the problem reliably returns every single time I select a free ride or start a structured workout.
This is a significant software issue that is degrading the user experience and making structured training nearly impossible to start properly. I plan to switch to my Cog trainer tomorrow in the hope of bypassing this Zwift-specific bug with the Direto XR.
I urge the Zwift development team to investigate the ERG mode initialization routine in the code, as the evidence clearly points to a software fault introduced in a recent update.
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Update: First session with the COG
I have just completed my first session using the COG.
I simply selected a route, got on the bike, and everything worked perfectly.
After the update:
Resistance maintained connection on a 30 minute ride with very little coasting. Rizer seemed to be at a different incline than indicated a few times.
Heart rate read zero the entire ride. I have a CORE which connects as a HRM and relays the HR as a combined signal. The core was connected and showed body temp on screen. Right after the ride I checked the CORE app and signal from HRM600 was present.
Considering the hundreds of dollars extra for the Justo 2 VS Justo I’m not thrilled that they dont seem in any rush. All the J2 added was wifi which ironically I don’t even use since I have Dircon. I bought J2 just to avoid FOMO and ensure I had the latest model that should get all updates for the longest period. Their premium model should have a “all-of-the-above” feature-set.
Having also spent for the Dircon dongle to bypass Bluetooth including by bridging my Bluetooth cadence sensor their lack of support for resistance is very annoying. Dircon is applicable to many of their models including those without wifi so they have had time to incorporate resistance.
At least, for the time being, it appears the connection problems are a Zwift issue so most of my frustration can direct there.
The Aria is another matter. My Wahoo fan works flawlessly. I put on my HRM and the Headwind will wake and detect it. I bought the Aria because of the body temp function and after experiencing it becoming unresponsive or going to full speed after I remove my belt I looked online to find I am not alone with this issue. Neither Zwift nor Elite are tiny companies but seem not to put the required effort into products marketed as Premium.
In case this is useful for anyone else on the Wahoo Bike Shift.
I found that when riding the power numbers being displayed on the Wahoo App did not match those being displayed in Zwift for the same gearing and cadence. e.g gear 1-5 at 90 RPM was giving 90W in the Wahoo app but 50W in Zwift.
Switching to a different bike profile in the Wahoo app (and then back again) seems to have reset the connection and now they are both displaying the same watts. My theory is that something in Zwift update 1.104 borked the profile settings and this is the equivalent of ‘turn it off and back on again’. I’ve shared these findings with support.
Today I was doing a workout in resistance mode. During the workout I already had the idea the resistance fluctuated which is strange as I have an Elite Nero and for the resistance to change a worm screw must be turned. Anyway right before the end of the workout the resistance suddenly greatly increased (so the trainer must have received some signal)
No spin down calibration option for the Kickr v5, as it auto calibrates. Ride yesterday, definitely 3 gears higher for same output
The lack of focus/reponse from Zwift telling. They break things constantly with new releases, but very slow to address/fix bugs
Having “attempted” an ERG mode workout today, can definitively say resistance is still bork.
Yes! I’m writing this from the indoor saddle during stage 5 tour de Zwift, tour of fire and ice on the Alpe. Zwift ride with cog, on Garmin Tacx Neo2t trainer, connected through Zwift companion mode on Apple TV. Still facing this issue where all of a sudden resistance changes dramatically and I spin out. Only for resistance to then get much harder 3-5 seconds later forcing me to switch gears. Very frustrating
I emailed Zwift support on this, and the issue was closed without any action. That says a lot about Zwifts focus on this issue…
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