Expanding the range of routes at the start of the winter season, and therefore the main season, has become a familiar procedure for Zwift, the most successful provider of training software in terms of numbers. Nevertheless, the plans announced in October 2021 deserve special attention: in addition to new routes in the Neokyo city area in the Japanese theme world Yumezi the indoor training platform addresses fundamental issues that have been on users' minds for some time.
Goal number one: to make the user interface more user-friendly. In plain language: Zwift wants to offer options such as changing bikes and clothing, which are currently only possible in ride mode, on the home screen. It should also be possible to select events in the start menu. Previously, you had to access the companion app to do this. Using the filter function, it should then be possible to select races, training sessions and group rides that fit into the time budget in just a few seconds. These are all logical improvements that are long overdue in view of the many possibilities offered by the software and the steadily increasing number of users.
The new club feature from Zwift
The implementation of "Zwift Clubs" could be a really big step. With this update, which has not yet been finalised, the software aims to give cycling clubs, racing teams and groups of like-minded cyclists more scope for development. Specifically, the design of your own kit (initially using jersey templates) and the branding of your own virtual events in the club colours are being considered.
From January 2022, users from level 20 will have the option to create Zwift Clubs and organise their own events with them on the platform. Head of Marketing Chris Snook described the new feature as the "next step after the successful introduction of the Meet-Up function". Zwift users have used this function over 950,000 times in recent months to invite friends to small virtual rides.
The Zwift Clubs will be expanded over time, Snook said without revealing any concrete plans. However, a lot can be expected. After all, the social component, i.e. the networking of users, has always been one of the primary reasons for the platform's growth.
New big online world: Neokyo
As mentioned at the beginning, the latest Zwift world, the "Makuri Islands" presented for the Olympic Games in summer 2021, is being expanded. In November 2021, the rural islands will be connected to a metropolis dominated by neon-coloured neon signs (the reference to Tokyo is not only clearly evident in the name). According to Zwift, this Asian-inspired track world will be the largest next to "Watopia". How long will it take for the developers to animate a picturesque pass road up to Mount Fuji, which can be seen on the horizon from "Makuri Islands"? The US company is still keeping a lid on this.
