Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One: Wahoo and Zwift continue to work together

In November, Wahoo and Zwift had Joint membership packages presented. The aim was to introduce beginners to indoor cycling. The deal was: with a new Wahoo Kickr, you got a year's Zwift membership for free.

Now Wahoo and Zwift are announcing a collaboration on the hardware side, so to speak. The Wahoo Kickr Core loses its physical cassette and gains a virtual circuit from Zwift. And we got the Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One test unit just in time before the release to take it for a few test rides.

Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One - Unboxing

The outer packaging of the "normal" Kickr Core was no different from that of the new model. Inside, however, there was a small change, as the bright Zwift orange colour immediately caught the eye. The small cardboard box of the Zwift Click is labelled with the typical Zwift orange.

Once the "lid" is lifted, even more of the Zwift orange catches the eye. Where the physical cassette usually sits on the Wahoo Kickr Core is the single sprocket of the Zwift One.

What's new about the Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One?

So what makes the difference when Zwift and Wahoo join forces? The well-known Wahoo Kickr Core now has the pre-installed Zwift Cog instead of a physical cassette. This makes the smart trainer almost universally applicable from 8- to 12-speed bikes. The new Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One should be particularly interesting for households in which more than one person wants to use it and/or more than one bike is to be clamped on the same smart trainer. Thanks to the single pinion, every bike can be mounted quickly and easily.

With the combination of Zwift Click and Zwift Cog, it is possible to shift gears virtually and silently. With a total of 24 virtual gears, you can tackle any incline in Zwift. The Zwift Click also allows you to adjust the intensity of a workout.

>> Here we have introduced the Zwift Hub One

>> You can find out more about indoor cycling here

Wahoo Kickr Core Zwift One in practice

The Kickr Core Zwift One could be set up and the bike mounted quickly and without prior experience. One positive aspect - compared to physical shifting - the gear change is really quiet. Normally, I sometimes forget to take the pressure off the pedal when changing gear, which often results in a loud crash at the rear. At home, my partner has already complained about this. Fortunately, I now have the Kickr Core with Zwift One, which means the chain no longer has to change sprockets.

One disadvantage of this, however, is that the Zwift Click has to fit somewhere on the handlebars if you don't have the Zwift Play controller owns. The Zwift Click may be small, but when it is placed within reach of my thumb, it used to bother me because my thumb couldn't find its usual position. However, when the click is mounted on top of the handlebars, it is almost impossible to reach, especially in racing situations. You have to take your hand off the handlebars first. With lactate in your legs and gasping for breath, this can mean the decisive moment in a Cycling Esports race. I still need to find the perfect position for the Zwift Click.

The price of the whole thing: 599 euros. Once again, a one-year Zwift membership is included, available at zwift.com and wahoofitness.com. The annual membership otherwise costs 149.99 euros, a monthly subscription is available for 14.99 euros per month.