i was so thankful zwift was around after my crash at the start of the covid lockdowns in the uk as crashed 3 vertebra in back and zwift got me back on the bike was ahead as i could of without it and it kept me sane and gave me a lift when i needed it the most
It's actually really nice to hear Eric chat about this so openly and frankly. He seems like he gets it and understands the customer base and genuinely cares about the product/service and community and business and finding the balance between all of these. That said...I'm happy there's a legit competitor with MyWoosh. Competition is good and keeps everyone honest...not to mention that competition hopefully also grows the interest rather than being negative. There's a lot in this discussion to unpack. I'm glad it's been had in good faith and there's a level of respect for the user base beyond just being a way to make money.
It was interesting that when asked why a chain and not belt drive for the Zwift Ride, Eric responded “so that it feels like riding a bike”. Seems the same doesn’t apply to buttons instead of shifters!? 🤷♀️
If you looked at the bikes hanging, there were no commuter bikes(in the sense of practicality over flash and niceness). And guess their engineers aren't focused on maintenance.
A very instructive interview. I discovered Zwift recently, used to run and switched to cycling recently due to issues with my legs. Living in the UK, I was already dreading the winter ride and I was looking for an option (cheap enough) to allow me to train all year long. For me the Zwift Ride fits the price plan and I took the plunge this morning. I am now eagerly awaiting to try it out. So I am one of these new to Zwift customers and I think Eric and his team has worked appropriately, this product was sufficiently enticing for me that I did not look anywhere else to get my first indoor trainer.
As an avid Zwifter on both the bike and run side, I’m glad Ray brought up Zwift Run. Sadly though, if the future of Zwift Run hinges upon expensive treadmills growing the market demand, I don’t hold out too much hope for a Zwift Run experience that’s on par with Zwift Ride.
Peloton, Apple run workouts etc have that part nailed for the runner. Zwift cycling attracts the mix of the casual and the hardcore of the hardcore which makes it I suppose compared to Peloton cycling which is more casual/spinning different genre.
With the Unreal Engine boosting video game graphics to realistic, Zwift will need to upgrade its graphics sooner than they think. Fewer will want to ride on 2015 graphics when 2025 graphics are here in other markets. It will look and feel outdated. How long before a software developer offers an Xbox/PSx game with Unreal Engine via your existing smart trainer/bike? For now, community is driving Zwift, but don’t underestimate graphics (anyone look at NVidia’s stock lately?).
Good interview. I'd really like Zwift to finally polish their camera system. For example, since day one the start-paddock cameras still cut-thru rider avatar's. It looks terrible. Feels like they've forgotten all about it. More cinematic cameras during e-sports events would also help polish the experience. :)
Eric said the Ride belongs inside the home, but one of the reasons I bought a Wahoo Kickr v1 was because of the belt drive. I don't want a chain with the maintenance and safety with pets concern in my home. When I replace the Kickr Bike, I will be getting another belt drive smart bike. I think that was a miss for the Ride.
Drafting is a big part, but (without sauce) your only indicator is your avatar’s tuck, and not even that depending on your bike. Show the data on the hud. So much data affects decisions racing IRL, but we don’t have that on the stationary.
@@mikebrooks215 ok troll. IRL I know how to draft. I’ve been told I have a nose for it. But in game when steering is disabled, I can’t control whether I’m in the draft or not. It’s not clear that I am nor what I can do to get in the draft.
@@mikebrooks215 I’m an old experienced IRL racer, and what I think is that when I can’t steer and am riding in the gutter beside a group, or coasting downhill behind a group, I want to know if I should power forward or hang back to get into the draft. Sauce exists and shows the data to make an informed decision. Zwift should share the watt benefit of drafting in real time on the hud.
I ordered one last week and got an email with a DPD tracking number. Unfortunately the tracking number is not showing on the system I'm not getting much stasifaction from Zwift in tracking it. All I am getting from them is that it has been shipped and they are looking into it. I would be cautious before ordering. For the record i am in Ireland.
I think the lower category D could be more gamified to an extreme and the higher categories have a bar to entry. I am all about getting couch potato gamers into Zwift. I just don’t want them to beat me in a race because they paid more or got more power ups than me.
so when are they opening up the zwift controllers to other platforms? this has been promised for a while and looks like they doubling down on locking people into zwift only (which I get, its their platform, their controllers, their company).
Happy to chat the user generated content alignment to why esport and streaming "waned". There is a chicken egg situation with interim props along the way.
The asymmetry of allowing other *hardware* companies to use Zwift virtual shifting APIs whilst not allowing customers to use the cog with other *software* is notable. Beginners (read the Peleton market) might appreciate the plug and go, but any more knowledgeable cyclists will see the lock-in. Two spacers and one cog is clever - but I could 3d print a set in an afternoon. The gear simulation software API is the thing - and Zwift doesn't seem in a hurry to license anytime soon. Remember steering blocks and ANT+ extensions? No, noone else does - and that's the problem of closed protocols.
If it basically works with Trainer Road, who Zwift really does not compete against directly, and assuming their objective is to drive subscriptions, not making a profit in The Ride, what's the downside of keeping it proprietary?
Any chance of an interview with the people behind Rouvy? They seem to be delivering a more interesting indoor cycling experience which scales better than Zwift’s dated cartoon world.
And after that, I now know why Swift is having an exodus. 30% price increase! Get stuffed. The graphics look the original move Tron. That's not a compliment.
I was thinking getting into team sports training for 8-12 could provide a huge boost in their market base, esp. with educational discounts for schools (licenses for up to 5, 10, 20+). I could also see this in the big gym chains. I would LOVE it if my 24 Hour Fitness had a few bikes with screens that allow connecting to Zwift via my own account!
@@kwings00 I've been a loyal customer for many years. Not seen much of an improvement over the years, except for the additional maps. Also heard they sacked a third of their staff lately. Time to check what the competition is doing. A few of my club mates have moved to IndieVelo. Will be joining them.
I’m convinced that Eric overestimated the price increase in subscriptions. If they wanted to make the business profitable, they should have just created micro transactions. As it stands zwift is the most expensive mmo on the market and is very light on content compared to other subscription mmo games. I’m sure there is a market for whales who will bling out their bikes, avatars, kits and special effects and pay separate fees.
As a reformed “world first” type of hardcore WoW raider, I generally hate the idea of microtransactions though would accept them as long as it is not a pay2win implementation. I would also hate daily missions/quests or other grinds that are designed to feel obligatory.
Unless you have insight into Zwift's financials, you shouldn't be "convinced" of anything related to subs. Unless they lose 250,000 people, the new price will generate more revenue. Also, comparing them to other MMOs is silly. The gaming aspect of Zwift does not appeal to all subscribers. It's harder for Zwift to estimate how much revenue they could generate from micro transactions especially when it would be a bad idea for anything you buy having the ability to make you faster. That would annoy a lot of subscribers.
Hey, I have heard some weird sh*t, like not in a normal context on Zwift. But, with repeats timings tones, background noise and other such things. Like, normally normal words and conversations, but made "strange". Such, as hey daddy, wow such a beautiful day. Or, some such thing. I have heard such type of things, in more than one "area" of "exercise", so to speak. I would appreciate, if this is not dismissed from a language, business, type of thing. I will spend a hundred hours on three seconds of sound. Well, not anymore, I am trying to no "work". But, the point is, I am very much qualified to make this assertion. I "taste" it, and I will speak for myself, and whoever wants to be in. This is a true, thing, and "you", are an important person in this company, and can do something. I am not able to think in the fast and healthy way, as all of you. But, I am able to perceive, "creepy" weird sh*t. I thought to the extreme, long ago, about how if anything I should ever say, if anything, and to who. It is my opinion. But, that background sound is not an excusable thing. It is deliberate. Also, thank you very much for helping me, just in living your life. I enjoyed the beer talk, and cookie ride talk a little while ago. I wish "you" the best. Thank you.
