Our wheel and frame performance charts are useful tools, but they don’t answer one crucial question for many Zwift racers: how does X frame and Y wheelset compare with the Zwift Concept Z1 (Tron) bike?
After lots of testing, we’ve created a scatter plot chart pitting the Tron bike against top-performing wheels and frames. Here’s how the best frames and wheels in Zwift compare to the Tron bike on flats and climbs.
Frames used, in order of aero performance:
- Zwift Concept Z1 (Tron)
- Specialized Venge S-Works: best of the aero frames (1,200,000 Drops, level 37) along with the Felt AR, Uranium Nuclear, and Cervelo S5 2020
- Scott Addict RC: top all-arounder (660,200 Drops, level 17)
- Canyon Aeroad 2021: former best beginner all-arounder (now 1,029,200 Drops, level 27)
- Chapter2 TOA: former top all-arounder (800,000 Drops, level 33)
- Specialized Aethos S-Works: featherweight climber (966,300 Drops, level 30)
Wheelsets used, in order of aero performance:
- DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT DISC: most aero wheels (655,600 Drops, level 39)
- Zipp 858/Super9: former most aero wheels (550,000 Drops, level 37)
- Zipp 858: most aero non-disc wheels (300,000 Drops, level 31)
- ENVE 7.8: aero all-arounders (278,900 Drops, level 36)
- Zipp 808: popular OG racing wheels (200,000, level 25)
- DT Swiss ARC 1100 DiCut 62: strong all-arounders (400,000 Drops, level 40)
- Zipp 353 NSW: strong all-arounders (168,800, level 24)
- ENVE 3.4: strong all-arounders (200,000 Drops, level 27)
- Roval Alpinist CLX (634,300 Drops, level 38) or Lightweight Meilensteins (unlocked via Alpe du Zwift spinner): both top climbers deliver the same performance
Tron vs Top Performers
Colored based on frame. Mouse over each point for details.
Zwift Concept Z1, Specialized Venge S-Works, Canyon Aeroad 2021, Chapter 2 TOA, Scott Addict RC, Specialized Aethos
Chart updated April 19, 2022
Observations
Not surprisingly, the most aero setup (Specialized Venge S-Works + DT Swiss disc) is also the slowest climber, and the best climber (Aethos + Roval Alpinist/Lightweights) is slowest on flat ground.
The Tron bike is a standout all-arounder thanks to its blazing fast flat test and mid-pack climb times. But the Scott Addict RC is very close, depending on the wheelset you choose.
The ENVE 7.8 wheels make a surprisingly good showing as “aero all-arounders”. The DT Swiss ARC 62s also display solid all-around performance, but skewed a bit more to the climbing side of things.
We’ve enlarged the points which perform best (you want points that are lower and leftward). Notice the almost perfect trendline traveling from the lower-right to the upper-left. There are no significant outliers in terms of performance, but rather a consistent tradeoff between climbing and flat test results.
Your Thoughts
What conclusions do you draw from this chart? Share your thoughts below!
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