Cycling News Roundup: Zwift Adds a $29.99 Tier, Garmin Adds Voice Control

Zwift has added a $29.99 monthly subscription tier with coaching and video routes, while Garmin is bringing voice commands to more bike computers. Also in this cycling news roundup: a moving smart trainer, a solar-charging computer from COROS, and a way to take a folding bike on a Southern California train without reserving a bike space.

Zwift Adds Coaching, Video Routes and More Watopia Roads

Zwift Plus launched October 29 at $29.99 per month in the U.S. The new subscription includes Zwift Coach, which builds training plans around a rider’s goals, schedule and riding preferences, and Zwift Video, which adds filmed outdoor routes to the platform.

The coaching plans can include workouts, routes, RoboPacers and events. Zwift says they adjust when riders miss a session or do something different. Plans are set up in the Companion app, with guidance before rides and feedback afterward.

Zwift Video launches with 21 routes totaling 385 kilometers, including the Col du Galibier, Sa Calobra and Norway’s Lofoten Islands. Riders can repeat routes and use workouts on them. Organized events and MeetUps are planned for later.

Separately, the Wild Isles expansion adds about 17 kilometers of flat roads to Watopia, with nine cycling routes and three running routes. The three islands sit between the Mayan Jungle and Jarvis Island, providing a bypass around the Jungle for longer, flatter rides.

Garmin Adds Voice Control to Edge Computers

The Garmin Edge 1060 has a built-in microphone and speaker for voice commands, navigation prompts and voice messages. Riders can ask for ride statistics, find a destination or report a road hazard without changing screens by hand. Messaging requires a connected smartphone, and Garmin cautions that voice-command performance varies with riding conditions.

The $799.99 computer also adds physical buttons and routing options that compare ride time, elevation and bike type. Garmin rates battery life at up to 20 hours under demanding use or 60 hours in battery-saver mode.

The navigation-oriented Edge Explore 3 and Explore 3 Plus cost $399.99 and $499.99. Both offer turn-by-turn maps, points of interest, reported road hazards and adaptive Garmin Cycling Coach plans. The Plus adds the microphone, speaker and voice control. Claimed battery life is up to 16 hours for the Explore 3 and 14 for the Plus, or 48 hours in battery-saver mode.

Tacx Nera Trainer Includes Built-In Movement

Garmin’s Tacx Nera smart trainer uses motion pods for forward, backward and side-to-side movement. It costs $999.99 with either a preinstalled cassette or a Zwift Cog and Click setup for virtual shifting.

Garmin specifies power and cadence accuracy within 1%, resistance up to 2,200 watts and simulated grades up to 20%. Built-in Wi-Fi and compatibility with the separate Tacx Alpine gradient simulator round out the equipment list.

COROS DURA 2 SOLAR Arrives November 3

The COROS DURA 2 SOLAR bike computer adds offline rerouting, climb detection without a preloaded route, live tracking and voice commands. It has a 3.5-inch Memory-in-Pixel touchscreen and weighs 99 grams.

COROS claims 120 hours of battery life and solar charging that can add two hours of runtime for each hour of sun exposure. Sales begin November 3, with U.S. pricing of $499 without a mount or $549 with the aluminum standard mount.

FasCat Starts Coached Zwift Rides November 17

FasCat’s Winter Training Series begins November 17, with Tuesday intensity sessions, Thursday Zone 2 rides and Saturday sweet-spot training. Coaches provide instruction through Discord, and riders are divided into pace groups.

The rides are included with CoachCat membership, listed at $35 per month, or individual coaching starting at $199 per month. A separate Zwift subscription is required. Riders also need a smart trainer or a power meter on a conventional trainer. There are no sessions during Thanksgiving week.

Castelli Returns to the Tour’s Leaders’ Jerseys

Castelli has unveiled the yellow, green, white and polka-dot leaders’ jerseys for the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes. The company previously supplied Tour leaders’ jerseys from 1989 through 1994.

Its related Maillot Jaune collection is available online. The Classement jerseys use the construction and race fit of the leaders’ jerseys with different colors and graphics. The Échappée range draws on Castelli’s Espresso and Corretto clothing, with short- and long-sleeve options, vests, bibshorts and a Perfetto 4 jacket also in the collection. Pricing varies by market.

Bosch Reduces Active Line Plus Motor Size and Weight

Bosch’s redesigned Active Line Plus e-bike drive unit is rated at up to 60 Nm of torque and 600 watts of power, with pedal assistance up to 20 mph in its U.S. Class 1 configuration.

Bosch says the unit weighs about six pounds, roughly 1.1 pounds less than its predecessor, and occupies 17% less volume. Trek’s Marlin+ will be the first North American bike to use it. Bosch also announced an Intuvia 200 display, smaller LED Controller, updated ConnectModule and PowerTube 720 battery.

Folding Bikes Take the Train Without a Bike Reservation

Brompton and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner marked a new partnership October 24 with 75 riders taking folding bikes from Los Angeles to San Diego, then exploring the city and Coronado.

The useful detail for other travelers: folding bikes smaller than 34 by 15 by 48 inches can travel in place of a piece of luggage without a bike reservation. They must be folded before boarding and stored in luggage areas, not overhead racks. Full-size bikes require a free reservation on the specific train. Check the Surfliner’s current service advisories before planning a trip.

Industry and Event Briefs

A million printed saddles: Manufacturing company Carbon says more than one million cycling saddles have been produced using its 3D-printing platform. It now works with 11 saddle brands, with more than 60 models in production. The technology uses lattice structures in place of conventional foam to vary cushioning across a saddle.

Shimano raises its outlook: Shimano increased its full-year sales and profit forecasts after reporting higher sales through September. Its bicycle-component division’s sales rose 4.6% to 278.4 billion yen over the first nine months, according to Bicycle Retailer. The company nevertheless described North American sales of complete bikes as weak.

VeloSwap returns November 7: Denver’s VeloSwap runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the National Western Complex. Organizers expect more than 250 vendors selling new and used bikes and equipment. New features include a marketplace for new gear and free bike-fit validation from BUILD Sports Performance Lab & PT. Proceeds support Bicycle Colorado.

Bike the Coast raises more than $10,000: More than 1,300 riders participated in Bike the Coast San Diego on October 24. The event offered routes from seven to 100 miles and raised more than $10,000 for the National MS Society for the second consecutive year.