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Zwift adds massive mountain to virtual reality course

published 21 March 2016

30min climb with snow, fog and HD vistas thrown in for good measure

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Clicking the number keys on a keyboard or the switch views button on the companion app lets you see different angles(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Coasting downhill off the top of the couse(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Zwift just added a mountain expansion (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

On a particularly steep section, riders 'paperboy' side to side, like in real life. Thankfully, they don't crash you like they do in real life... (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

You don't need a smart trainer to use Zwift, but it definitely helps. On this rollercoaster section, for instance, you can coast downhill and then feel the road kick back up to a steep climb as the trainer adds resistance (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

You can change directions by pressing the down arrow key(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

The graphics are excellent, with conditions changing from clear to foggy to snowing(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

When used with a smart trainer, the mountain expansion offers a quality workout(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

The new 30min climb includes a trip through what looks to be an alpine German village(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Press "P" and enter "BIKERADAR" to get our custom kit (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

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Zwift, the indoor trainer videogame, added a substantial new mountain section to its virtual course, allowing riders to do a steady climb for about 30 minutes — and then bomb down the other side.

As with the rest of Zwift, getting access to the game requires a $10 / £8 monthly fee, a bike, a computer, a trainer, a USB dongle and either a power meter, a speed/cadence sensor or a smart trainer.

BikeRadar took a test spin of the new section using a Kickr smart trainer, and we were impressed by the quality of both the graphics and the simulated slopes, which hover around 6% for the main climb and kick to 14% for a little offshoot bonus climb at the top.

While you don't need a smart trainer for Zwift, having the resistance controlled to match the course definitely adds a level of engagement. And with the mountain expansion section, it forces you to put out a decent effort, instead of just putzing along the flats.

"The Mountain Expansion is the latest of many exciting product release scheduled for 2016 and as always, we're determined to keep things fresh, do things differently, and build a uniquely evolving platform for our community of users and industry partners to benefit from," said Mike McCarthy, Zwift's vice president of partnerships.

One of the fun things about Zwift is the ability to customize your avatar and gear. Besides gender and skin color, you can also choose from different wheels, clothing styles and bike frames — including Pinarello and Specialized.