I am looking for a new way to do cardio in any weather and at home. I found zwift but it seems that it is very expensive. What is everything I need for a setup and what is the cheapest rig I can make?

Hi @relin_dwto welcome to Zwift forums. We have a terrific support hub with great articles and videos that will guide you through the stuff you’ll need to ride on Zwift. Maybe I shouldn’t assume you’re a cyclist. Zwift Run has a similiar set of how-to articles we hope you’ll find helpful. Let us …

A fluid trainer that is recognized by Zwift like a Cyclopes, a speed sensor and a bike . Trainer you can buy used but make sure Zwift has it their list or else it can’t calculate power. You won’t get the full experience with a “dumb” trainer but it works. Magene speed/cadence sensors on AliExprss ar…

I don’t think Zwift itself is that expensive, considering you’d pay more for a monthly gym membership. And there are some good options for low budget turbo trainers. You don’t have to get the top of the range direct drive models, but as mentioned above, a smart trainer is really required.

Andrew, I disagree with you that a smart trainer is really required. A smart trainer is one that is controllable by Zwift and you don’t “need” that. A “dumb” trainer that is Zwift compatible and a speed sensor is the bare minimum to get going.

I suppose as a bare minimum, but without control of the trainer by Zwift, you wouldn’t get automatic variation in resistance for changes to the incline, would you? For me that’s what brings indoor training alive. And you get the full benefit of ERG mode, also controlled by Zwift, for really effectiv…

Yes, with a dumb trainer the resistance doesn’t change dynamically and ERG Mode would not work. That doesn’t mean it’s easier or harder because watts are watts. So, it really depends on what you want to get out of the experience. I started low budget with a free week on Zwift until I decided that I …

[image] Andrew_Fielden: I don’t think Zwift itself is that expensive, considering you’d pay more for a monthly gym membership. Is Zwift less than $10 per month?

Depends on location then. For me a monthly gym membership costs me £18/month, and that’s ultra cheap. Zwift is £12/month.

It does indeed depend what you want to get out of the experience. But this is all good information for the OP to be aware of.

Zwfit setup on a budget

General Discussion

Flanders (James Eastwood) July 18, 2020, 11:38pm 14

My post on this thread may be helpful. An affordable way to have a “power meter” instead of zpower.

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Zwfit setup on a budget

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