Zwift and Treadmill Control Questions & Recommendations

Running
1

Heading into rainy season here, and seriously considering adding a treadmill to my home workout room.

Want to clarify before purchasing… Zwift cannot control any treadmill’s slope or speed, correct?

However on compatible units Zwift can get data on speed, cadence, slope and speed which it uses to calculate run power, right?

Finally, with the list of compatible treadmills broken… what are recommendations for good to great midrange straight forward treadmills. Don’t need music or tv built in as I’ve got those in the room.

Thanks!

2

Hey Jamie!

Thanks for wanting to Run with Zwift!

You are correct that we don’t control incline or speed.

I was just able to open our supported treadmills page for smart treadmills, so I’m not sure why you were having issues with it earlier.

Alternatively, if you get a Zwift RunPod, you can use any treadmill! If you are in an area we don’t ship too from our store, you should be able to purchase a RunPod from our amazon store page.

I hope this information has been helpful, and we look forward to seeing you running the roads of Zwift soon!

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3

Thanks for the quick reply. I appreciate it.

Here’s the article I read which contained the broken link. The article was a top result on Google when Inse as searched “Zwift Compatible Treadmills”.

Broken link was toward the bottom and here’s its address:

https://support.zwift.com/en_us/what-treadmills-and-sensors-does-zwift-support-ByeebAJbBm

Thanks again.

4

I have a running document on my work computer that could be helpful to you, I will post it tomorrow.

1 Like
5

Got a request in with our Site Devs to get this fixed!

6

This could be of some help:

Speed sources for Zwift Running

TIM GROSE·SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017·

In order for Zwift to know how fast you are running, you will need a sensor (or ‘smart’ treadmill) of some sort to tell it. Here are some options below. The most popular options are foot pods, the cheapest options are the phone apps, the best options are probably the “direct” options.

NOTE: All of the options below also appear in a list of Platforms and Sensors that can be used to run the Zwift app (platforms) and that can deliver speed, cadence, heart rate or power data to Zwift (sensors).

Sensor types

Sensors come in two types depending on how they communicate with a receiving device:

ANT+ is popular in the Garmin world, and does allow a sensor to be connected to multiple receiving devices at the same time (e.g. you could connect an ANT+ footpod to Zwift on a PC and to your Garmin watch at the same time)

BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is popular in the apple and smartphone worlds. BLE sensors can only connect to a single receiving device, but given the popularity of apple/ smartphone devices, it can be easier to directly connect the sensor to your Zwift device

The following table shows the options available for connecting ANT+ or BLE sensors to each of the Zwift platforms. Find your platform and sensor type to identify your connection options:

Connecting Sensors to Zwift

OPTION 1: Direct from treadmill (GEM Modules aka GymConnect OEM Module) ANT+ or BLE

See https://npe-inc.com/gem-bluetooth-ant-module/ (pre installed on treadmill)

Note that the product line was originally developed by Wahoo http://www.wahoogym.com/gym-equipment-gem-module/ and is now with NPE.

Examples:

True Performance 800 (PS800) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills (verified - see Zwift Runners | Facebook)

True Performance 10o (PS100) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills

True Performance 300 (PS300) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills

Star Trac http://www.wahoogym.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Wahoo-Fitness-star-trac-case-study.pdf (this seems to be the OpenHub consoles - see under OPTION 3)

OPTION 2: Direct from treadmill (GEM Retro aka GymConnect Retrofit Module) ANT+ or BLE

See https://npe-inc.com/gem-bluetooth-ant-products/ Requires fitting to the CSAFE port. Note that the product was originally developed by Wahoo http://www.wahoogym.com/gym-equipment-retrofit-module-2/ and is now with NPE.

Examples:

Precor 966i (mentioned Zwift Runners | Facebook )

Woodway Desmo

Some versions of the Life Fitness Club Series, Club Series +, Platinum Club Series treadmills have CSAFE ports that work with the GEM although not all do and apparently not the latest Life Fitness Club Series+ with the Integrity X console. https://shop.lifefitness.com/cardio/treadmills Please check with the vendor prior to purchase if considering one of these.

OPTION 3: Direct from treadmill (BLE)

Examples:

MYRUN Technogym https://www.technogym.com/gb/newsroom/technogym-myrun-now-compatible-with-zwift-running-platform and confirmed as working as for 19th Feb 2018 in this forum.

Woodway 4Front https://www.woodway.com/products/4front This seems to allow iOS users to pick up pace direct from the treadmill over BT and also HR from an ANT+ strap that is rebroadcast as BT). See Zwift Runners | Facebook for discussion here.

Life Fitness treadmills with a Track Connect console https://lifefitness.com/home/products/consoles/track-connect-console Confirmed as working in the comments of this doc and with Life Fitness. The T3, T5 and F3 home treadmills are offered with this console. Note the older Track Plus console or the cheaper Go console do not work with Zwift.

Life Fitness treadmills with a Discover console https://lifefitness.com/home/products/consoles/discover-console This appears that it may well work like the lower spec Track Connect console above but has not been verified.

BowFlex BXT116/BXT226, BXT216/BXT326. Confirmed as working with Zwift with Bowflex. Note that the BXT116 and BXT216 are the North America versions and the BXT226 and BXT326 respectively are the International versions of the same treadmills.

Star Trac treadmills with one of the OpenHub consoles https://corehandf.com/openhub (see in the video on that page or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD9XPw5Grpc). These ones have the “Bluetooth button” that is mentioned by Zwift in https://support.zwift.com/en_us/what-treadmills-and-sensors-does-zwift-support-ByeebAJbBm

Sole F80 2019 model (and TBC other 2019 versions of Sole treadmills).

Treadmills that support Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service - see https://www.bluetooth.com/specifications/gatt). Examples of any treadmills that support this to be established.

Note see https://support.zwift.com/en_us/what-treadmills-and-sensors-does-zwift-support-ByeebAJbBm for Zwift’s list of the latest supported treadmills.

Other direct from treadmill (BLE)

Tacx Magnum treadmill http://magnum.tacx.com/

OPTION 4: Foot pod (BLE) - these are typically attached to your shoe.

Polar Stride Sensor https://www.polar.com/en/products/accessories/stride_sensor_bluetooth_smart

MilestonePod http://www.milestonepod.com/ (Note that the MyFitPod http://www.theathletesfoot.com.au/myfitpod is a rebranded MilestonePod)

Stryd https://www.stryd.com/ (also ANT+ compatible)

Stryd Live https://www.stryd.com/live (also ANT+ compatible). This is a cheaper version of the Stryd that was designed just for Zwift and omits the power functions of the fully featured Stryd. As of September 2018 it has permanently sold out but will still work.

adidas MiCoach Speed Cell (discontinued)

Needs more verification:

Pyle Sports http://www.pyleaudio.com/sku/PSBTFS40/Wireless-Bluetooth-Footpod-Fitness-and-Training-Sensor-for-Running,-Jogging-and-Walking-Step-Cadence

RunScribe Plus https://runscribe.com/ (also ANT+ compatible)

Boltt Stride Sensor https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also ANT+ compatible)

Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also ANT+ compatible)

Foot pod (ANT+) - these are typically attached to your shoe.

Garmin https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/15516

Suunto http://www.suunto.com/en-GB/Products/PODs/Suunto-Foot-POD-Mini/

Stryd https://www.stryd.com/ (also Bluetooth compatible)

Stryd Live https://www.stryd.com/live (also Bluetooth compatible). Discontinued - see above.

Needs more verification:

RunScribe Plus https://runscribe.com/ (also Bluetooth compatible)

Boltt Stride Sensor https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also Bluetooth compatible)

Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also Bluetooth compatible)

OPTION 5: Apple Watch (BLE)

An update at end March 2017 has enabled the ability to use an Apple Watch

OPTION 6: iPhone Apps (BLE)

Treadmill Smart Speed (TSS) https://appyappster.com/apps/ John McManus (member here) developed this for the iPhone and is available in the App Store.

OPTION 7: Android Apps (BLE)

Treadmill Speed Transmitter https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bipr.treadmill.speedtransmitter

OPTION 8: Chest straps (dual BLE and ANT+)

Wahoo TICKR X http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-tickr-x-heart-rate-strap

Wahoo TICKR Run http://uk.wahoofitness.com/tickr-run-running-monitor

OPTION 9: Treadmill Belt Measurement (BLE)

TreadTracker http://store.runsocial.com/products/treadtracker Make sure you get the gen 2 version which works with Zwift as the gen 1 does not. It is however very difficult to tell which is which from just looking at them. It is thought the gen 2 version comes with
a branded cover sleeve for the cardboard box it comes in but the gen 1 just comes in the box with no cover sleeve. Recommend asking the vendor prior to purchase.

OPTION 10: BLE Shoes

UnderArmour Record Equipped shoes. Mentioned in https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000697031-What-Treadmills-and-Sensors-Does-Zwift-Support-?section=360000168612

Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/shoes.php

OPTION 11: BLE Headphones (yes really!)

Jabra Elite Active 65t https://www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-active-65t Confirmed as working in Zwift Runners | Facebook although accuracy is subject to further investigation.

Sensors that will not work as Speed Sources

There are some devices that Zwift users have expected to be able to use as a speed source that do not transmit speed data (they cannot be used as a speed source).

Garmin Running Dynamics Pod https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/561205
This pod clips to the back of your shorts/leggings and measures torso movement. It does not measure (or transmit) running speed.

Most running watches. Running watches do not typically broadcast running speed - Zwift cannot use them as a speed source.

Appendix

BLE/ANT+ bridges (for use with iOS and with ANT+ foot pods)

4iiii Viiiiva https://4iiii-innovations.myshopify.com/collections/heart-rate-monitors/products/viiiiva

WASP CABLE http://www.npe-inc.com/products/products-cable.html

iOS to ANT+ conversion (to use ANT+ sensors on iOS devices)

Wahoo Key http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-key-16 (this also would need the Apple Lightning to 30 pin adaptor http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter ). This does however need confirmation that it actually still works properly with Zwift as various users here have reported issues with it since a recent iOS update which seems to have adversely impacted it. As such it is NOT a recommended bridging solution at this time.

Note that the Garmin ANT+ Adapter for iPhone definitely does NOT work https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/103887

ANT+ stick (to use ANT+ sensors on Windows & Mac computers)

Garmin USB ANT Stick https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/10997

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8

Here’s a quick followup for anyone following this thread:

I purchased a refurbish Precor Treadmill to keep inline with my budget while delivering a very robust motor and platform.

Initially, I used the Zwift/Milestone Runpod which frankly was a disappointment. Accuraccy wasn’t great, and would chew through batteries like a popcorn at a movie.

Got a Stryd Runpod for Christmast and it works superbly. Great battery life and accuracy, as well as additional run dynamics on and off the treadmill. Just a bit spendy.

Around the same time NPE release preorder of their Runn sensor and I bought it. It’s been great. It’s simple. Super easy to configure. Accurate and has infinite battery life when plugged into a USB charger. Have’t quite been able to cadence to work on it yet, though.

Still haven’t found a system where Zwift will control elevation or speed of the treadmill, but I don’t think this exists, and likely it may not ever do to safety concerns. This is fine with me. The current setup is delivering a much more engaging indoor running experiences for less than $2k which is what I really hoped for.

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9

I swear I watched a treadmill this morning adjust to multiple speeds without the runner touching the treadmill. Guy had Zwift setup on his iPad. Treadmill screen was inactive so I don’t think he selected an interval session preprogrammed in the treadmill. Absolute head scratcher

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Hi! We keep without an option at Zwift on control the incline of the treadmill. As are other softwares there doing it, can we expect to have it in a near future on zwift? Thanks

12

Zwift controlling the elevation is my #1 request. I can see it being a bit hard in that the roads change elevation a lot (small adjustments up and and down), so the treadmill would be ‘whir’ing’ constantly going up and down. But they could add some hysteresis to the elevation algorithm to avoid that and still give you the sense of following the road contour.

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13

I can’t believe zwift doesn’t control the inclination, so the treadmill support is nosense

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14

Sorry being blonde i understand how Zwift can control my watt bike but not a treadmill

thanks

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15

At the moment Zwift chooses not to control the inclination of the treadmill. It is possible to make it work though by using the Runcline app.

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Hi Jon,
Can you explain how the Runcline app would affect the incline of a treadmill? My understanding of this app is that it acknowledges the inclination of a slope as data, but I don’t see how it would control the treadmill. Is this correct?

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Hi Pete, there are a couple of hacks that work to allow Runcline to read the incline from Zwift and then send it to certain treadmill. If you have a PC or Mac then there is a video clip here

For all other platforms then use the below taken from a post by the developer in the Zwift Runners FB group.

Zwift incline control hack #2 for ALL Zwift platforms when using RunCline. That means Zwift on iOS, AppleTV and most likely Android. Stick to hack #1 for PC/Mac.

General idea: You need to setup a meetup! You pair in bike mode and wait on the road with your bike to get a notification for the meetup. Once you joined the meetup you use the Menu to go in pairing mode and select your running devices then go back to your activity. By doing this, Zwift forgets to reset the Bluetooth connection and will continue to send incline control packets to RunCline which will send them back to your treadmill.

Detailed procedure:
1- Setup a meetup with any duration. Incline control will stay after the meetup ends so why not just set a 0km meetup? You’ll know why I propose 0km in a bit.
2- Pair your TM in RunCline (and possibly a foot pod and/or HRM).
3- Start Zwift and go in BIKE mode. Pair both Power and Controllable. Start a ride, select a route and go on the road. You are now on the road with your bike.
4- Wait for the meetup to be announced and hit the Join button when it shows up.
5- Now you are back on the road but in RUN mode. You need to pair in Zwift again. Hit the Menu button and select the RunCline devices again for Speed, Cadence and HRM then get back to the road.
6- Now, you are ready to run and you still get incline controls. Use the TM/ZWIFT buttons in RunCline to switch between manual TM controls and Zwift incline control.

Based on David’s idea above, I wanted to know if it would work with scheduled events? Yes and no. No, a running event will not show up in bike mode BUT a running event will show up in a meetup. So, let’s me explain the general idea:

Incline control for schedule events: Setup a 0km meetup so that it ends before the scheduled event. You join the meetup. Once the meetup ends, you still keep incline control. Once the scheduled event occurs you’ll get another Join button and you’ll jump in that event without losing incline control.

So, the detailed steps are as follow:

0- Setup your scheduled event as usual. Then setup a meetup that will end before before your scheduled event using the procedure above. Set it to 0km so it will end immediately and then you can join your scheduled event.

Follow steps 1 to 6 above

7- When you see the Join button for the scheduled event then click it. Enjoy the event with your TM’s incline controlled by Zwift through RunCline.

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I tried it a bunch of times, but no luck so far. It seems that runcline and my treadmill cannot both be connected by bluetooth, but I’ll keep trying. Thanks for sharing that info. I’ll post a solution if O have one to save other people with the HF 7.0AT the trouble.

19

Hello!
I m still on doubt!
Sorry….
As I understood the footpod is perfect to mesure : speed and cadence.
The device ( example IPhone ) ia perfect to Connect footpod with App Zwift.
But, how could I Connect my no smart treadmill with Zwift App to be able to affect the grade ( inclination ) on my treadmill ( my treadmill doesnot have negative grade).
Thanks a lot!
Reinaldo Hossepian

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Check this project github.com /cagnulein/qdomyos-zwift/issues/525#issuecomment-1025170429

Remove spaces, zwift doesn’t allow links

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I needed a small track with simple controls.

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I think that automated incline and speed are a must-have if Zwift running is to really catch on.

  • The share of smart treadmills will significantly increase in the coming few years as the technology becomes really cheap.
  • Safety should already be covered on the treadmill. In the EU this kind of device is obligated to have a dead man’s switch that makes it stop in case of a problem. I have a cord attached to my clothing that literally pulls a plug when I get to the end of the treadmill. I’m no lawyer, but probably a waiver would suffice.
  • Other apps are already doing this!

During a short interval training that includes heights it currently is impossible to really focus on the running while also keeping the treadmill up to date with the height and speed changes.
My device has the controls for speed on the right handlebar and inclination on the left side. Doing these intervals is way too close to playing a game of pinball.

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