Learn how Zwift’s levels, XP, and unlocks work >
Learn how Drops are calculated >

Here’s a complete list of frames and wheels unlocked at each level, with the most useful unlocks marked in bold and the key purchases marked with a MUST BUY. We’ve even added notes so you know what makes those unlocks special!

Of course, you may want to purchase a particular frame or wheelset just because it looks cool or matches what you ride outdoors. Nothing wrong with that! Our recommendations, though, are based entirely on speed test performance.

Level 1

• Zwift Steel frame (Free)

Level 2

• Zwift Gravel frame (50,000 Drops)

Level 3

• Zwift Carbon frame (55,000)
• Zwift 32mm Carbon wheels (32,000)

Level 4

• Zwift TT frame (60,000): the first TT frame you can buy, but if you can wait for and afford the BMT Timemachine01 it’s much faster.
• Shimano C50 wheels (34,600 Drops): an affordable choice for your first set of racing wheels, although much faster hoops are available at higher levels.
• Shimano C40 wheels (35,900 Drops)

Level 5

• Parlee ESX frame (153,200 Drops): a nice upgrade for racing, or hold on until level 9 and pick up the faster Zwift Aero.
• Reserve 25 GR gravel wheels (83,900 Drops)

Level 6

• Mavic Cosmic Ultimate UST wheels (36,400 Drops): the fastest wheels available at this level.
• Chapter2 Tere frame (199,400 Drops)
• Cannondale CAAD12 frame (106,300 Drops)

Level 7

• Mavic Cosmic CXR60c wheels (39,800 Drops): the fastest wheels available at this level.
• BMC Timemachine01 frame (400,000 Drops): the fastest TT frame available at this level.
• Van Rysel EDR CF frame (144,100 Drops)

Level 8

• Canyon Inflite frame (200,000 Drops)
• Moots Vamoots frame (275,000 Drops)

Level 9

• Zwift Aero frame (250,000 Drops): The fastest frame available at this level.
• Specialized Allez frame (122,700 Drops)
• Zwift 50mm Carbon wheels (43,700 Drops)

Level 10

• Bridgestone Anchor RS9s frame (200,000 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames, the unfortunately-named Anchord is the fastest climber available at this level.
• Shimano C60 wheels (41,100 Drops): the fastest wheels available at this level.
• Cube Aerium frame (251,700 Drops)

Level 11

• Canyon Lux frame (275,000 Drops)
• Bontrager Aeolus5 wheels (67,700 Drops)

Level 12

• Campagnolo Bora Ultra 50 wheels (150,000 Drops): these are the best climbing wheels available at this level.
• Cannondale Synapse frame (270,100 Drops)
• Canyon Ultimate frame (322,500 Drops)
• Canyon Ultimate CFR frame (350,700 Drops)

Level 13

• Mavic Comete Pro Carbon SL UST wheels (45,400 Drops): the fastest wheels available at this level.
• Chapter2 Rere frame (326,400 Drops)
• Quintana Roo V-PR frame (297,400 Drops)

Level 14

• Specialized Allez Sprint frame (387,000 Drops): Just like IRL, this frame is a good buy in terms of price/performance. It’s the fastest frame available at this level, but a faster one is just a couple of levels away!
• Specialized Diverge frame (300,000 Drops)
• CADEX AR 35 gravel wheels (154,500 Drops)

Level 15

• Roval Rapide CLX wheels (200,000): the fastest wheels available at this level.
• Cervelo S3D frame (415,300 Drops)
• Ridley Helium frame (272,500 Drops)

Level 16

• MUST BUY! Felt IA 2.0 frame (750,000 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames and fastest tt climbing frames. The fastest TT frame available at this level. Buy this or the level 18 Scott Plasma RC Ultimate (they perform identically) if you’re racing TT.
• Felt IA frame (515,100 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames.
• Felt FR frame (562,700 Drops)
• Roval CLX64 wheels (150,000 Drops)

Level 17

• MUST BUY! Scott Addict RC frame (660,200 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames. The best all-arounder available in the Drop Shop, and the second-best climber in game!
• CADEX 42 wheels (119,500 Drops)
• HED Vanquish RC6 Pro wheels (120,000 Drops)
• Liv Devote Advanced Pro frame (450,000 Drops)

Level 18

• FFWD RYOT55 wheels (136,100 Drops): listed in fastest climbing wheels, these are the best climbers available at this level.
• Specialized Roubaix frame (333,500 Drops)
• Specialized Roubaix frame S-Works (405,200 Drops)
• Specialized Ruby frame (333,500 Drops)
• Specialized Ruby S-Works frame (399,300 Drops)
• BMC Roadmachine frame (344,100 Drops)

Level 19

• Scott Plasma RC Ultimate (600,000 Drops): listed in fastest tt climbing frames and fastest tt frames. This is tied with the Felt IA 2.0 as the best climbing TT frame in game, so get one of them if you’re doing uphill TTs!
• Zipp 404 wheels (115,600 Drops): The fastest wheels available at this level.
• Scott Plasma frame (528,600 Drops): listed in fastest tt climbing frames
• Factor One frame (600,000 Drops)

Level 20

• Cannondale System Six frame (725,100 Drops)
• Scott Spark RC frame (350,000 Drops)
• Scott Spark RC World Cup frame (750,000 Drops)
• Zipp 202 wheels (135,200 Drops)

Level 21

• Giant SLR 0 wheels (165,100 Drops): listed in fastest climbing wheels.
• Ribble Endurance frame (505,500 Drops)

Level 22

• Focus Izalco Max 2020 frame (712,900 Drops)
• Trek Speed Concept SLR 9 frame (670,500 Drops)
• ENVE SES 6.7 wheels (150,000 Drops)

Level 23

• MUST BUY! Felt AR frame (714,100 Drops): listed in fastest frames. The fastest frame available at this level, and indeed, the Felt AR is one of four frames all tied for “fastest” in Zwift.
• Giant Revolt Advanced Pro frame (475,000 Drops)
• Allied Able frame (550,000 Drops)
• ENVE G23 gravel wheels (241,800 Drops)

Level 24

• Zipp 353 NSW wheels (168,800 Drops): listed in fastest climbing wheels.
• Liv Langma Advanced SL frame (511,300 Drops)
• Liv Langma Advanced SL Disc frame (613,200 Drops)
• Cube Litening frame (536,500 Drops)
• Cube Litening C:68X frame (604,200 Drops)

Level 25

• MUST BUY! Zipp 808 wheels (200,000 Drops): listed in fastest wheels these are the most aero wheels you can buy until level 31, so you’d better pick up a set!
• Ventum One frame (440,800 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames.
• Trek Emonda SL frame (560,300 Drops)

Level 26

• ENVE SES 2.2 wheels (174,300 Drops)
• Scott Foil frame (676,900 Drops)
• Canyon Grail frame (750,000 Drops)

Level 27

• ENVE SES 3.4 wheels (200,000 Drops): listed in fastest climbing wheels.
• Canyon Aeroad 2021 frame (532,500 Drops)
• Giant TCR Advanced SL frame (566,100 Drops)
• Giant TCR Advanced TCR Advanced BikeExchange-Jayco Team frame (543,100 Drops)

Level 28

• Cervelo R5 frame (633,600 Drops)
• Pinarello Bolide frame (618,400 Drops)
• Pinarello Bolide TT frame (627,000 Drops)
• ENVE SES 8.9 wheels (250,000 Drops): listed in fastest wheels.

Level 29

• Cannondale EVO frame (714,500 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames.
• Cannondale SuperSix EVO frame (768,200 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames.
• Specialized Epic S-Works frame (950,000 Drops)
• CADEX 36 wheels (216,900 Drops)

Level 30

• MUST BUY! Specialized Aethos frame (966,300 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames, it’s the best climber on Zwift by a big margin. The Aethos belongs in your garage if you want to climb as quickly as possible.
• Zipp 454 wheels (204,300 Drops): listed in climbing wheels. A strong set of all-around wheels, good if you’re looking for something that climbs well while remaining quite aero.
• Ventum NS1 frame (750,000 Drops)

Level 31

• Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc TT frame (1,200,000 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames. The fastest TT frame available at this level.
• MUST BUY! Zipp 858 wheels (300,000 Drops): listed in fastest wheels. A favorite among many racers, the 858s are the fastest non-disc wheels in game, and they climb a bit better than the heavy discs. A good choice for the purists who just can’t stomach running a disc wheel on a road bike.
• Uranium Nuclear frame (700,000 Drops): listed in fastest frames.
• Canyon Speedmax frame (424,600 Drops)

Level 32

• Cervelo Aspero frame (800,000 Drops): the most aero gravel bike, it’s not a top climber but still a smart upgrade if you’re racing gravel.
• Parlee RZ7 frame (771,800 Drops)
• Roval Terra CLX gravel wheels (330,800 Drops)

Level 33

• Chapter2 TOA frame (800,000 Drops): listed in fastest frames.
• Ridley Noah Fast 2019 frame (950,000 Drops)
• CADEX 65 wheels (223,900 Drops)

Level 34

• Zipp 808/Super9 wheels (450,000 Drops): listed in fastest wheels. The fastest wheels you’ve been able to buy so far. If you’re into TT races, buy these for sure. Otherwise, only get them if you’re willing to look a bit silly sporting a disc in a road race.
• Cervelo P5x frame (1,000,000 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames.
• Cervelo P5 frame (920,700 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames, and fastest tt climbing frames.
• Trek Madone frame (1,050,000 Drops): listed in fastest frames.

Level 35

• Specialized Crux frame (950,000 Drops): the best climbing gravel bike, the Crux is probably the best gravel rig all around, beating all others on the Jungle Circuit. Pick it up if you’re racing gravel.
• Giant Propel Advanced SL Disc frame (1,102,900 Drops)
• Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35 wheels (250,000 Drops)

Level 36

• Cervelo S5 2020 frame (1,481,000 Drops): listed in fastest frames.
• ENVE SES 7.8 wheels (278,900 Drops): listed in fastest wheels, these are strong all-around performers on routes with shorter, rolling climbs.
• Specialized Tarmac SL7 frame (1,200,000 Drops)
• Specialized Tarmac Pro frame (856,100 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames.
• Cervelo S5 frame (1,438,400 Drops): listed in fastest frames.
• Specialized Amira frame (730,400 Drops)
• Specialized Amira S-Works frame (802,300 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames.
• Specialized Tarmac frame (786,300)

Level 37

• Specialized Venge S-Works frame (1,200,000 Drops): listed in fastest frames.
• ZIPP 858/Super9 wheels (550,000 Drops): listed in fastest wheels. The fastest wheels available at this level.
• Specialized Shiv frame (643,800 Drops)
• Specialized Shiv S-Works frame (910,600 Drops): listed in fastest tt climbing frames.
• Specialized Shiv Disc frame (1,000,000 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames.

Level 38

• Roval Alpinist CLX wheels (634,300 Drops): #1 climbing wheels (only buy these if you haven’t yet unlocked the Lightweight Meilensteins)
• Colnago V3Rs frame (800,000 Drops)
• Trek Supercaliber frame (750,000 Drops)

Level 39

• MUST BUY! DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT DISC wheels (655,600 Drops): listed in fastest wheels. The fastest hoops in game – you might as well just pick ’em up. If you’re at level 39 you’ve probably got the Drops to do it!
• BMC SLR01 frame (759,500 Drops)
• Diamondback Andean frame (950,000 Drops)

Level 40

• MUST BUY! CADEX Tri frame (1,500,000 Drops): listed in fastest tt frames, this is the current fastest TT frame.
• DT Swiss ARC 62 wheels 400,000 Drops): listed in fastest climbing wheels. A solid set of all-around wheels, good if you’re looking for something that climbs well while remaining quite aero.
• Pinarello Dogma F frame (1,081,900 Drops): listed in fastest climbing frames and fastest frames.
• Zwift Buffalo Fahrrad wheels (3,200 Drops)
• Zwift Buffalo Fahrrad frame (9,500 Drops)
• Pinarello Dogma 65.1 frame (577,800 Drops)
• Pinarello Dogma F12 frame (1,242,700 Drops)
• Pinarello Dogma F10 frame (710,000 Drops)

Level 44

• Zwift Safety wheels (710,000 Drops)
• Zwift Safety frame (3,550,000 Drops)

The climbs are really the focal points of the route. Everything else is just turnarounds and descents!

What makes it really interesting, though, is that the longer climb is mostly gravel. With different types of bikes rolling at different speeds on different surfaces, City and the Sgurr’s mixed-surface design leaves riders asking: which type of bike should I use for this course?

Our Test Bikes

To answer the question, we tested the route using three different frame/wheel combos and a solo rider (75kg) holding steady wattage (300W) with no drafting. Here are the bikes, in order of their performance on a flat, paved road:

• Tron Bike (Zwift Concept Z1)
• Specialized Crux + CADEX wheels (gravel bike)
• Scott Spark RC World Cup (mountain bike)

Results: Sgurr Summit North

This is the main climb on the route, so naturally we were curious how each bike would perform. Not surprisingly, the gravel bike (Crux) beat everyone else, hands-down.

Results: Sgurr Summit South

What about the paved side of the climb? Again, the results aren’t surprising – the road bikes won, and aero won the day:

The Venge and its heavy disc wheels edging out the Tron and Aethos may be surprising, but this can be attributed to a few factors:

1. The climb is short, leaving already closely-matched frames without enough road to pull away from each other
2. The climb isn’t very steep on this side, so aero abilities still matter
3. Strava is only precise to the second, so the time difference could just be a rounding error

Results: Full City and Sgurr Course (Not Including Lead-In)

Now the big question: which setup is fastest over one lap of the course?

Why did the Cadex Tri win? Because TT bikes on Zwift are much more aero than other frames. But in a race with drafting, a TT frame definitely isn’t your best choice.

In a drafting race, the Crux wins. Why? Do the math. The route is only 5.9km long, and that includes going up and down the 1.6km gravel climb. That’s ~3.2km of gravel, which means more than half the route is gravel.

If you include the lead-in, the gravel percentage actually increases to ~55% of the course. And in fact, if you include the lead-in, the Crux beats the Cadex Tri in a TT race by 2 seconds. Truth.

More to Consider

Hopefully, the timings above are a helpful guide when choosing your bike for the City and Sgurr route. But before you go, there are a few more things worth noting:

Watch the Finish

The last bit of the gravel climb is actually paved, so if you’re on a gravel bike racing riders on road bikes, you’ll want to shake them off your wheel before you get to the end.

Last Climb Counts

In a race, riders will generally save what they can and then go all-in on the final climb. That final climb is the gravel side, and you’ll probably want every advantage you can get for your last ascent of the Sgurr.

Power Savings

Based on the Crr numbers, gravel bike power savings is around 2x that of the road bike, when each bike is on its ideal surface.

Example: at 40kph a road bike saves 36W over gravel on pavement. But at that same speed on gravel, a gravel bike saves 66W over a road bike!

Bike Choice Doesn’t Matter (Much)

Don’t stress about using the exact same gravel or road bike setup as I did in my tests. The fastest gravel bike or fastest road bike you have access to will turn in very similar times. The biggest concern is the type of bike (road vs gravel).

Racing Tips: City and the Sgurr on a Gravel Bike

If you opt for a gravel bike on your next City and the Sgurr race, here’s how I would break up the race mentally in order to finish well against other gravel bike riders while dropping the roadies:

1. Paved Lead-In (0-1.1km): Be ready to go hard for the first kilometer: Zwift race starts are always a bit spicy, but this will be extra hard for you since you’ll be trying to keep up with road bikes on pavement. Sit in the draft, hold a good position, and wait for the gravel before you attack.
2. First Gravel Climb (1.1-2.6km): keep the pace high, but know that if you go off the front you’ll get pulled back by roadies on the paved descent and climb. Put the hurt on the road bikes if you can, or just maintain a good pack position if you’re struggling.
3. Paved Descent (2.7-3.7km): normally you’d be recovering on the descent, but you may need to put in a bit of work to stay in the wheels of the road bikes. Try not to let them drop you, as you may never pull them back if they get too far away this early!
4. Paved Climb (4.1-5.1km): this will be the most challenging part of the ride in terms of maintaining a good place in the peloton, since you’re fighting against advantaged road bikes. Grit your teeth, sit in the wheels, and push hard – you’ll be able to recover on the gravel descent just up the road.
5. Gravel Descent (5.1-6.7km): probably the easiest part of your race, unless you’re needing to push to bridge across to groups ahead. If you’re in the front group you should be able to almost soft pedal here and get that heart rate down.
6. Second Gravel Climb (7-8.6km): there’s probably carnage all over the race course, but this final climb is going to be extra brutal. If you’ve survived in the front pack, be sure to drop any roadies before the final paved ~100m to the line, so they don’t outsprint you. Mid-pack or near the back? See how many roadies you can catch before the top. Go for gravel glory!

Question or Comments?

Post below!

Just looking for the fastest frame? Check out our Fastest Frames and Fastest Frames for Climbing posts. Want to dig into the data to see how each wheelset performs? See our speed test charts. 

Bike Frames on Zwift

Notes

1. Frames with a (1) are given to all Zwifters upon account creation
2. Frames with a (2) are no longer available for sale in the Drop Shop, but remain in the garage of any Zwifter who owns them.
3. Specialized Venge unlocks when completing the “Ride California” Challenge.
4. Trek Emonda unlocks when completing the “Climb Mt Everest” Challenge.
5. Zwift Concept 1 (aka “the Tron bike”) unlocks when completing the secret extra “Climb Mt Everest” Challenge. Details here >
6. Zwift Atomic Cruiser unlocks via the spinner in Zwift Big Spin events.

Zwift’s release of the Drop Shop opened up a whole new universe of TT frames, taking us from just one (the “Zwift TT”) to 20+ options! Now all the TT racers are asking which TT frame is best?

We’ve been hard at work in our lab testing wheels and frames, and this is the second in a series of posts giving you some solid, data-driven answers. Read more speed tests here >

*First, a Disclaimer

The “which bike frame or wheelset is fastest” question isn’t as easy to answer as you might think. Each piece of equipment has unique weight and aerodynamic (CdA) values, making them perform in ways that mirror outdoor physics. Lighter items perform better on climbs, while more aerodynamic items perform better on the flats. Differences between options will also be magnified or minimized by your own power levels, drafting abilities, and more.

Your best Zwift setup, more than ever, depends on your specific situation.

About the Results

Below you will find the fastest TT frames in game for flat and rolling courses. “Flat and rolling” covers most routes on Zwift, with the exception of anything including major climbs like Alpe du Zwift, the Epic KOM, or Innsbruck’s KOM. This isn’t an exact science, but we’re pretty confident in our findings thus far.

This list is based on our recent speed tests using the Tempus Fugit route which is almost perfectly flat. We’ve found that the best performers on flat routes are also the best performers on routes with shorter, rolling hills.

Your Winners

#1: CADEX Tri

1,500,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 40+

The distinctively-designed CADEX Tri is the newest TT frame in game, and also the most aero. It’s no slouch on climbs, either, beating the Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc on uphills.

#2: Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc

1,200,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 31+

Canyon’s Speedmax CF SLX Disc is faster on the flats than almost any other frame in game. And its level lock isn’t terribly high, either! Read more about this frame >

#2 & #3: Felt IA 2.0 & Scott Plasma RC Ultimate

Felt: 750,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 16+
Scott: 600,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 19+

Some of the newest frames in game, the updated IA from Felt and Plasma from Scott are nipping at the Canyon Speedmax’s heels on the flats, but outclimbing all other TT frames when the road tilts upward. And they’re super attainable! If your TT race includes any significant climbs, opt for these frames over the Canyon to optimize your time.

#4: Felt IA

IA: 515,100 Drops to purchase, must be Level 16+

The Felt IA turns in nearly the same performance as the Cervelo PX-Series on flat/rolling routes and Alpe du Zwift, besting the Cervelo by just 0.5s in both tests. So we give it the edge here. But we recommend buying the 2.0 version instead!

#5: Cervelo PX-Series

PX-Series: 1,000,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 34+

According to Cervelo, “The PX-Series is faster and more aerodynamic than any other triathlon bike we have tested.” That seems to almost apply in Zwift as well, where the PX-Series is quite slippery.

#6: Trek Speed Concept SLR 9

670,500 Drops to purchase, must be Level 22+

The newish TT frame from Trek is fast on the flats, but watch out – it’s a dog on climbs. So only use this if you’re in a very flat race!

#7: Specialized Shiv Disc

1,000,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 37+

This radical non-UCI legal frame was created to win at Kona. Optimized for crosswinds, with a distinctive tailfin water reservoir, the Shiv Disc was unveiled at Ironman Kona 2018.

#8: Cervelo P5

920,700 Drops to purchase, must be Level 34+

The precursor to Cervelo’s PX-Series, the P5 is a mighty fast frame on its own, just 7 seconds behind the P5x in our ~50 minute flat tests.

What’s the Time Gap?

The frames above are separated by only 10 seconds on a ~50 minute test on Tempus Fugit route at 300 watts with a 75kg rider (see stats). That may seem like a slim margin, but that’s significant in a TT effort!

The next fastest frame is 3.5 seconds behind the Cervelo P5, so the frames above are truly in a group by themselves when it comes to speed on flat courses.

About TT Frames

TT frames cannot draft on Zwift, so while the frames above turn in faster times than any non-TT setup in our solo rider tests, you would not want to use them in a standard Zwift race which includes drafting because you’ll get dropped!

Use these frames for TT racing and any solo training where you want to look and feel fast.

Looking for more detailed TT frame performance numbers? Check out our TT frame performance charts >

What about Climbing?

Time to climb? You’ll want a different frame than those listed above because as cyclists know, weight (not aero) is what matters on longer, steeper climbs! Here’s the list of top climbing TT frames on Zwift >

Share Your Thoughts

We hope all you TT fanatics found this post useful. Got questions or comments? Post below!

Changelog

• December 6, 2023: updated prices, level unlocks, and text to account for Zwift’s Drop Shop reorg.
• September 22, 2022: added CADEX Tri frame in #1 slot
• August 23, 2022: added the Felt IA 2.0 and Scott Plasma RC Ultimate thanks to their incredible performance numbers. Added Trek Speed Concept SLR 9. Removed the Ventum One.
• September 19, 2021: moved the Felt IA to #2 and the Cervelo PX-Series to #3 based on fresh test data.
• March 23, 2021: added the Canyon Speedmax CF SLX Disc as #1. Kept the other frames on the list.
• November 6, 2019: added the Ventum One as #5 on the list. Updated #1 and #2 to be a tie after further testing on Tempus Fugit.
• June 6, 2019: added Felt IA as #1. Kept the other 3 frames on the list.

Our Tron vs Top Performers chart is very popular with Zwift racers constantly looking for the perfect frame+wheelset combo for their race course.

But recently we’ve had many Zwifters asking how the Tron bike’s performance compares to time trial frames in Zwift. (This question is even more popular thanks to WTRL’s recent announcement that TT frames can now be used in TTT events.)

After lots of testing, we’ve created a scatter plot chart pitting the Tron bike against top-performing wheels and TT frames. Here’s how the best time trial frames and wheels in Zwift compare to the Tron bike on flats and climbs.

Tron vs Top TT Performers

Colored based on frame. Mouse over each point for details.
Zwift Concept Z1, CADEX Tri, Canyon Speedmax CF SLX-Works, Felt IA 2.0 & Scott Plasma RC Ultimate, Specialized Shiv Disc, Cervelo P5

Chart updated September 23, 2022

Observations

Not surprisingly, TT setups are more aero than road setups (like the Tron bike), but don’t climb as well. This replicates what we see outdoors.

The Tron bike is clearly the standout here in terms of climbing performance, beating the best TT combination (Felt IA 2.0 or Scott Plasma RC Ultimate + Lightweights or Roval Alpinist wheels) by 49 seconds up the Alpe.

But if you look at aero performance, the best TT setup (CADEX Tri + DT Swiss Disc wheels) beats the Tron bike on our flat test by a whopping 110.5 seconds.

We’ve enlarged the points which perform best (you want points that are lower and leftward).

Your Thoughts

What conclusions do you draw from this chart? Share your thoughts below!

TT Frame Tests – Introduction

While Zwift’s 4-star rating system for weight and aero is simple and easy to understand, performance varies even among frames with the same star rating, because the stars are just an approximation.

So we’ve ranked all the TT (road frames are ranked here) against each other based on their actual performance on flat roads (2 laps of Tempus Fugit) and a long, steep climb (Alpe du Zwift).

Some frames perform well on flat roads while others are nimble climbers. Some are all-arounders, performing well on flats and climbs but not quite able to beat the specialized frames on their own turf.

See the complete list of frames available on Zwift, along with level requirement, star rating, and Drops price >

Charts last updated September 23, 2022

TT Frame Timings, Stacked

This chart shows actual timings for flat and climb tests, in seconds. The shorter the bar, the faster the bike.

Notes:

• Flat tests run on 2 laps of Tempus Fugit at 300 watts steady with an isolated 75kg rider 183cm tall, using the Zwift 32mm Carbon wheels. This test data is used for all flat results on this page.
• Climb tests run on Alpe du Zwift at 300 watts steady with an isolated 75kg rider 183cm tall, using the Zwift 32mm Carbon wheels This test data is used for all climbing results on this page.

TT Frame Timings Scatterplot

This scatterplot helps you see how each frame performs on both flats and climbs. The further left the dot, the faster it is on flat ground. The further down the dot, the faster it is on the climbs. So down/left is good, up/right is bad!

TT Frame Percentile Rankings, Stacked

This format lets you easily see how frames perform across both flats and climbs, and compare that performance with other frames. This is useful for planning your race strategy.

For example: assume you had only the Specialized Shiv S-Works and Felt IA to choose from for a TT race in Bologna. You know you want more of an advantage on the decisive and steep climb, so you pick the Specialized Shiv S-Works even though the Felt IA is ranked slightly better overall.

Frame Time Improvement, Stacked

This format lets you easily see how frames perform across both flats and climbs in terms of actual timing, and compare that performance with other frames. This is useful for selecting the best bike frame for your race course, and may be an improvement over the percentile chart above since it is based on precise timings and not percentiles.

To be precise, this chart shows how many seconds a particular frame improves on the time of the lowest-ranked frame for both the flat and climb tests. So the Felt IA 2.0’s flat improvement of 33 seconds means it is 33 seconds faster than the Zwift TT on our flat test.

Your Feedback

We’d love to know what you think of these charts, including suggestions for improvements. Share your comments below.

One question every rider should ask as they head into a Zwift race is: which frameset is should I use on this route?

At Zwift Insider we test every Zwift frame and wheelset using a standard, isolated procedure to determine how it performs on flats and climbs. This gives us the data to determine which frames and wheels are best for any given route. Read more speed tests here >

*First, a Disclaimer

Although our test results are accurate and repeatable, the “which bike frame or wheelset is fastest” question isn’t as easy to answer as you might think. Each piece of equipment has unique weight and aerodynamic (CdA) values, making them perform in ways that mirror outdoor physics. Lighter items perform better on climbs, while more aerodynamic items perform better on the flats. Differences between options will also be magnified or minimized by your own power levels, drafting abilities, and more.

Your best Zwift setup, more than ever, depends on your specific situation.

About the Results

Below you will find the fastest draftable frames for flat and rolling courses. This does not include TT bikes, which cannot draft and are in a list by themselves. “Flat and rolling” covers most routes on Zwift, with the exception of anything including major climbs like Alpe du Zwift, the Epic KOM, or Innsbruck’s KOM.

Additionally, routes with key climbs over a couple of minutes long (think Watopia’s Volcano or London’s Box Hill) may lend themselves well to an all-arounder as opposed to a straight aero performer. Some of those all-arounders are included in this list but ranked lower because the list is sorted strictly by aero performance.

This isn’t an exact science, but we’re pretty confident in our findings thus far.

This list is based on our latest speed tests using the Tempus Fugit route.

Your Winners

#1/#2: Specialized Venge S-Works & Felt AR

Specialized Venge S-Works: 1,200,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 37+
Felt AR: 741,100 Drops to purchase, must be Level 23+

These two frames turn in identical times in our flat and climbing tests, so they are ranked together here. Which one should you buy? Depends on whether you prefer white or grey, since neither frame has a color slider!

#3/#4: Cervelo S5 2020 & Uranium Nuclear

Cervelo S5 2020: 1,481,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 36+
Uranium Nuclear: 700,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 31+

These two frames turn in identical times in our flat and climbing tests, so they are ranked together here. The real standout is the Uranium Nuclear, though, due to its low price and level lock.

#5: Canyon Aeroad 2021

1,029,200 Drops to purchase, must be level 27+

This bike has always been a standout in all-arounder performance, making the Aeroad 2021 a smart buy for just about any Zwift racer. It turns in the same flat test time as the Cervelo S5 and Trek Madone, but beats both of those frames handily when it comes to climbing – so we’ve ranked it at #5 here.

#6: Cervelo S5

1,438,400 Drops to purchase, must be Level 36+

The Cervelo S5 matches the Trek Madone’s flat test time, but outclimbs it by 2 seconds, so we give it the edge here.

#7: Trek Madone

1,050,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 34+

The Madone is a solid race machine on the flats, and fairly easy to maintain since it is level-locked at 20+. Its flat test times match the Canyon Aeroad 2021 and Cervelo S5, but it is a bit heavy and climbs the Alpe slower than either frame, so we’ve ranked it last in that set of three.

#8: Pinarello Dogma F

1,418,600 Drops to purchase, must be Level 40+

The Dogma F is an excellent all-arounder, handily outclimbing every other frame on this list! But since we’re talking about flat/rolling speeds, we’ve ranked it lower on this list. Got a mostly-flat race route with a key climb? The Dogma F may be a better choice than the frames above. (It’s also the most expensive frame on our list, but that’s Pinarello for ya!)

#9: Chapter2 TOA

800,000 Drops to purchase, must be Level 33+

The TOA turns in the same flat test time as the Dogma F, but is 4 seconds slower up the Alpe, so we ranked it lower. Still a very good all-arounder, at a lower level lock and less than half the price of the Dogma F.

#10: Zwift Concept 1 (Tron)

Cannot be purchased, must be unlocked

The Tron bike may not be at the top of these rankings, but keep in mind if you don’t have a disc wheelset to couple with one of the fast frames above, the Tron is faster than any frame on this list on flat/rolling routes!

What’s the Time Gap?

The frames above are separated by just 3 seconds on a ~50-minute test on the Tempus Fugit route at 300 watts with a 75kg rider. That’s a slim margin, and one you’re not likely to notice in the craziness of the Zwift peloton.

There are other frames not far behind those you see above. See our speed test charts for a complete list.

A Note About Wheels

It bears mentioning again that the frames listed above only beat the Tron bike if they are paired with a disc wheelset.

See complete wheelset data here >

Since those wheelsets are level-locked at 35+, many Zwifters will not have access to them. The fastest non-disc wheelset (Zipp 858) puts you 3 seconds behind the Tron bike in our flat test, assuming you’re on one of the first four frames in our list above.

What About Climbing?

Time to climb? You’ll want a different frame than those listed above because as cyclists know, weight (not aero) is what matters on longer, steeper climbs! Here’s the list of top climbing frames on Zwift >

Share Your Thoughts

We hope all you riders/racers found this post useful. Got questions or comments? Post below!

Changelog

• Jan 11, 2024: updated Felt AR unlock level after Zwift’s update.
• Dec 5, 2023: updated prices and level requirements due to Zwift’s Drop Shop shuffle.
• Jun 27, 2022: updated the overall post and added back the Cervelo S5 2020 and Canyon Aeroad 2021. Also added the Pinarello Dogma F and Chapter2 TOA, and removed the Cannondale SystemSix and Specialized Venge since they are the slowest on the list and we’ve got to keep the list short.
• Dec 27, 2021: removed Cervelo S5 2020 and Canyon Aeroad 2021 because the overweight groupset bug slowed both (read more)
• Sep 14, 2021: a big reshuffle thanks to updated test data. No new additions to the list, but removed some and moved Tron to the bottom.
• Sep 2, 2021: added the Cervelo S5 2020 in the #1 slot. Changed Felt AR and Cervelo S5 to be tied for 3rd/4th based on current tests.
• Jul 26, 2021: added the Pinarello Dogma F in the #4 slot.
• Oct 1, 2020: removed the old Canyon Aeroad (which was ranked #8) and listed the new Canyon Aeroad 2021 in the #5 slot.
• Nov 13, 2019: removed #6 Giant Propel Advanced SL 1 and #7 Specialized Allez Sprint. Reshuffled the deck based on our latest speed tests.
• Jun 6, 2019: added the new Felt AR as #4. Kept all other frames already on the list, for a total of 10 frames listed.

Frame Tests – Introduction

While Zwift’s 4-star rating system for weight and aero is simple and easy to understand, performance varies even among frames with the same star ratings–because the stars are just an approximation.

So we’ve ranked all the standard road frames (TT frames are ranked here) against each other based on their actual performance on flat roads (2 laps of Tempus Fugit) and a long, steep climb (Alpe du Zwift).

As you will see, some frames perform well in flat tests, while others are nimble climbers. In between we have the all-arounders: frames that perform well on all course types but can’t beat the specialized frames on their own turf.

See the complete list of frames available on Zwift, along with level requirement, star rating, and Drops price >

Charts last updated April 19, 2022

Frame Timings

This chart shows actual timings for flat and climb tests, in seconds. The shorter the bar, the faster the frame.

Notes:

• Flat tests run on 2 laps of Tempus Fugit at 300 watts steady with an isolated 75kg rider 183cm tall, using basic Zwift 32mm Carbon wheels. This test data is used for all flat results on this page.
• Climb tests run on Alpe du Zwift using 300 watts steady with an isolated 75kg rider 183cm tall, using basic Zwift 32mm Carbon wheels. This test data is used for all climbing results on this page.

Frame Percentile Rank, Stacked

This format lets you easily see how frames perform across both flats and climbs, and compare that performance with other frames. This is useful for selecting the best bike frame for your race course.

Example: you want a top-performing frame for a road race that ends on the Innsbruck KOM, so you look at the longest bars. But you know the race will be won or lost on the big climb, so you go with the Scott Addict RC since it is near the top of the climbing rankings and also offers decent performance on the flats.

Frame Time Improvement, Stacked

This format lets you easily see how frames perform across both flats and climbs in terms of actual timing, and compare that performance with other frames. This is useful for selecting the best bike frame for your race course, and may be an improvement over the percentile chart above since it is based on timings and not percentiles.

To be precise, this chart shows how many seconds a particular frame improves on the time of the lowest-ranked frame for both the flat and climb tests. So the Scott Addict RC’s flat improvement of 23.5 means it is 23.5 seconds faster than the Zwift Buffalo on our flat test.

Since there is a bigger swing in climb times (130.5 seconds) than flat times (29 seconds) it could be argued that this chart is overly weighted toward climb performance.

What About the Tron Bike?

The Tron bike (Zwift Concept 1) is not listed above because it’s impossible to test the Tron frame without also testing the Tron wheels, since they are inseparable.

What we do know is the Tron is not a strong climber, but it’s among the fastest setups for flat and rolling courses. Only a handful of frames, coupled with the disc wheelsets, can beat the Tron by 1-3 seconds in our ~50 minute flat test.

Here’s a post comparing the Tron bike against top-performing frames and wheelsets >

Your Feedback

We’d love to know what you think of these charts, including suggestions for improvements. Share your comments below.

But what about climbing? Any cyclist worth their chamois knows the fastest bike on the flats isn’t the fastest bike on the climbs. It’s just physics: when the road is flat, most of your resistance comes from the air, so aero is everything. But when the road tilts up, gravity kicks in and weight matters.

Watopia’s magnificent Alpe du Zwift provides a perfect testing ground for climbing rigs, since it’s a fairly steep and long grade. With 30+ wheelsets and 85+ bike frames in Zwift’s Drop Shop, we’ve done hundreds of Alpe test climbs to answer the question: what is the fastest bike+wheelset combination up Alpe du Zwift?

Wheels: Lightweight Meilenstein or Roval Alpinist CLX

The Lightweight Meilensteins held the title of best climbing wheels for a few years, but the new Roval Alpinist CLX wheels match their performance (same climb test time, and just 0.5s slower on our flat test.)

The Lightweight Meilensteins aren’t easy to acquire, since you can only get them via the prize spinner at the top of Alpe du Zwift. So you have to ride the whole Alpe climb just for a chance at the wheels. Some riders get them on the first try. Others get them on the 25th! Chances are you’ll be somewhere in between.

The Roval Alpinix CLX wheels are the lightest clincher wheelset Roval has ever produced, so it’s no surprise that they’d strong climbers on Zwift. And they only cost 135,300 Drops (but you must be level 32+ to unlock!)

Frame: Specialized Aethos S-Works

The new frame from Specialized edges beats all other frames, finishing the Alpe climb 4.5s faster than the closest contender. Read more about the Specialized Aethos frame >

This frame coupled with the Lightweight Meilenstein or Roval Alpinist CLX wheels beats all other combinations, whether you ride up the Alpe at 1 w/kg or 5 w/kg.

Browse our test data spreadsheet for more results >

Alternative Wheels

If you don’t yet have the Lightweight Meilensteins or Roval Alpinist CLX wheels, the ENVE 3.4 or Zipp 353 NSW are tied for the next best climbers (although the Zipp 353 NSW perform better in our flat test). Both wheelsets climb the Alpe 8 seconds slower than the Meilensteins and Alpinists.

See Fastest* Wheels for Climbing for a list of the best climbing wheels

Alternative Frames

If you can’t get the Specialized Aethos S-Works frame, here are your next best options:

• Cannondale EVO, Canyon Ultimate CFR, or Scott Addict RC (~5 seconds behind)

See Fastest* Frames for Climbing for a list of the best climbing frames

Time Gap Notes

The time gaps given above are based on our standard test rider who weighs 75kg, is 183cm tall, and rides at 300 watts steady (4 w/kg). If you ride at a lower w/kg, time gaps between different pieces of virtual kit will be larger. Think of it this way: if your time up the Alpe is 25% longer than our test time, then the time gaps will increase by 25% as well.

For stronger riders, time gaps will be smaller than what we state above. Riding up the Alpe at 5 w/kg will produce a much faster time than our 4 w/kg test rider, and time gaps between different wheels and frames will be reduced proportionally.

Hopefully this information helps you earn a PR next time you hit the Alpe. Of course, equipment changes help a bit, but it’s our fitness and willingness to suffer that really make the difference. So climb on!

Questions or Comments?

Share below!

So how fast are these new frames, really? There’s only one way to find out: by testing!

We ran each frame through our standard tests: two laps of the flat Tempus Fugit route, giving us ~50 minutes of flat. And one time up Alpe du Zwift, giving us ~50 minutes of pretty steady climbing. All tests are run using our “standard” setup: Zwift 32mm carbon wheels, a 75 kg rider, at 300 watts steady.

Flat Performance

Here are the raw performance numbers on our flat tests, as well as a percentile ranking showing how the frame lines up with all other “standard” frames available on Zwift. (A “standard” frame is a normal road racing frame – not a TT, MTB, or cross/gravel frame.) A lower number of seconds is better, a higher percentile is better.

• Pinarello Dogma F12: 3083 seconds, 85th percentile
• Factor One: 3084 seconds, 81st percentile
• Ridley Noah Fast 2019: 3085 seconds, 75th percentile
• Parlee RZ7: 3087 seconds, 69th percentile

Climb Performance

Here are the raw performance numbers on our climb tests, as well as a percentile ranking.

• Pinarello Dogma F12: 2950 seconds, 63rd percentile
• Parlee RZ7: 2962 seconds, 35th percentile
• Ridley Noah Fast 2019: 2966 seconds, 25th percentile
• Factor One: 2967 seconds, 21st percentile

Solid Beginner Options

The Ridley and Factor frames are both quite affordable, and have very low level locks:

• Ridley Noah Fast 2019: 426,000 Drops, level 9 required
• Factor One: 426,000 Drops, level 8 required

Comparing them to other frames available for beginning Zwifters, they actually rank quite high in performance! So we’ve added them to our “Fastest Frames and Wheels for Level 15 and Below” list. The Factor is ranked at #2, the Ridley at #3. We’ve also highlighted both frames in our Zwift Shopping Guide: What To Buy At Each Level.

Dogma F12: a Solid All-Arounder

It’s also worth mentioning that the Pinarello Dogma F12 is a solid choice in terms of all-around performance. Looking at our combined percentile ranking chart, we can see the F12 is ranked 6th overall when we combine the climbing and flat performance performance rankings of all frames.

It’s quite fast in terms of aero performance, too: If we were to expand our “fastest frames” list to include just one more frame, this would be it, at the bottom of the list. So this is a solid choice if you’re looking for a good aero bike that climbs decently well.

Conclusion

None of these frames made it into our “short lists” for fastest aero frames and fastest climbing frames, but if you’re a beginning Zwifter or someone with a taste for Italian who is looking for a solid all-around performer, there are some good options in Zwift’s latest additions.

To see how the performance of these frames compares to other bikes in Zwift, check out our Frame Ranking Charts.

Your Comments

Questions or comments? Share below!