If you’re anything like me—balancing outdoor rides with Zwift sessions, jumping into races when the weather turns foul, and wondering how that rider just floated away from you on the Alpe—you’ve probably seen those little pop-ups about bike upgrades. Maybe you’ve swiped them away. Maybe you’ve been curious, then instantly overwhelmed.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share OWL-tailored strategies: which bikes to prioritize, the smartest order to upgrade them, and how to squeeze every last Drop out of the system. But first, let’s cover the essentials.
What Are Bike Upgrades, Anyway?
Every Zwift bike frame now comes with five upgrade stages—rewards for exactly what OWLs do best: miles, grit, and quiet consistency. Each stage delivers a real benefit: faster on the flats, lighter on the climbs, smoother power transfer, or extra in-game rewards. These are marginal gains that stack, from Volcano PBs to ZRL positioning.
No elite watts required. Just ride—like we already do.
How Do You Unlock Upgrades?
Zwift ties each upgrade to the kind of riding a bike is built for:
- Road/race bikes: unlock upgrades by riding a set distance
- TT bikes: unlock by spending time on the frame
- Climbing bikes: unlock by accumulating elevation
As you ride a specific frame, you progress toward its next upgrade stage. Hit the requirement, and Zwift unlocks the option to buy that upgrade with Drops, the in-game currency. That’s the catch: the riding unlocks the opportunity, but you still have to pay for the actual upgrade—so maybe don’t blow all your Drops on shiny new wheels just yet.
Every bike has five stages. You earn the unlock with your riding. You buy the upgrade with Drops. Simple.
Every bike has five upgrade stages. You unlock them by riding. You purchase them with Drops. Simple as that.
What Do These Upgrades Actually Do?
You might be thinking, “I’m not trying to win the Tour de Zwift. Do I really need to care about upgrades?”
Here’s my take: you’ve worked for every watt you put out. Why not let the game help you make the most of them?
Bike upgrades can give you up to five kinds of improvements:
- Aero improvements: Lower drag, more speed on flats and rolling terrain.
- Weight reductions: Easier climbing, from short bumps to the Alpe.
- Drivetrain efficiency: More of your effort turns into speed, everywhere.
- XP boosts (5%): You level up a little faster.
- Drops boosts (5%): You earn in-game currency a little faster.
Not every bike gets all five. Some focus purely on performance upgrades; others mix in XP and Drops bonuses. But whether you’re racing the field or just racing your past self, those changes are real and noticeable.
How Much Difference Do They Really Make?
Let’s talk numbers—because you know I love the numbers.
Zwift calls each upgrade a “subtle enhancement.” Subtle, yes. Irrelevant, no. A fully upgraded TT bike can save you around 45 seconds over an hour on flat roads compared to its stock version, and about 26 seconds over an hour of climbing. A maxed-out climbing bike like the S-Works Aethos might be around 21 seconds faster on flats over an hour—but up to 58 seconds faster on climbs.
On paper, those might look small. In practice, they hit hard. In a tight race, 45 seconds is the difference between “hanging on” and contesting the finish. In a PB attempt, it’s the gap between “so close” and “got it.” And given how hard we work for our fitness, we deserve every legitimate edge we can get.
A fully upgraded TT bike can save you about 45 seconds over an hour on flat roads compared to its un-upgraded version. Sounds small, right? But it packs a punch!
And honestly? We've worked hard for our fitness. We deserve every advantage.
The OWL Advantage
Here’s what I love most about the upgrade system: it rewards exactly the kind of riding OWLs are already doing.
Grey Zone Trivia rides?
Regular structured training?
Grandmasters racing, week after week, season after season?
All of that moves the needle. You don’t need to sprint like a 25-year-old or chase every breakaway. You just need to keep choosing to ride—and Zwift quietly turns those choices into faster, more efficient bikes.
Zwift sees you. Zwift values you. And Zwift rewards you—just for riding.
So the next time you’re torn between heading outside or hopping on Zwift, remember: those indoor miles aren’t just maintaining your fitness. They’re also unlocking upgrades that will make every future ride—indoors and out—a little bit sweeter.
Coming up next: Which bikes should you upgrade first? I’ll walk through a practical, OWL-friendly strategy to help you prioritize frames, spend Drops wisely, and focus on the upgrades that matter for the riding you actually do.
For now, clip in, load up Zwift, and start nudging those progress bars forward. Your future self—flying up that next climb—will be very glad you did.
Stay tuned as I continue to explore the data and share insights that empower women to thrive!