Introduction
For over a decade, Zwift has turned indoor cycling into a virtual playground. It’s the platform that keeps thousands of cyclists and triathletes motivated through winter, turning training into a social, gamified experience.
AeroX answers a different question. It doesn’t take you into a virtual world: it measures your real position. With a simple webcam, it shows in real time how your body position changes your frontal area, and what that costs or gives you in speed.
Two tools, two purposes. Here’s what each one does, where Zwift stops, and how AeroX complements the app you already use.
What does Zwift offer indoor cyclists?
Zwift is a gamified indoor cycling platform: you ride with thousands of cyclists worldwide, join group rides, race live and follow structured training plans. Its main strength is the motivation and consistency it brings through the winter.
The experience is highly gamified: badges, XP, virtual bikes and wheels to unlock, routes to explore. From endurance base to VO2max intervals, Zwift offers a complete environment for structured progression.
To compute your speed, Zwift models your weight, height, drafting behind other riders and the virtual equipment you choose (frame, wheels). What it doesn’t model is your real position on the bike: upright or tucked, the same watts give the same speed.
For triathletes and riders who race outdoors, that’s the missing piece: the position you hold on race day is the one thing indoor training never measures.
What does AeroX measure?
AeroX is indoor training software that measures a cyclist’s frontal area in real time with a standard webcam. The frontal area (A) is the part of drag you control through your position. AeroX turns every position change into its effect on speed and watts. Typical observed gains are 2 to 3 km/h at the same power.
Frontal area (A): the projected area of the cyclist’s body seen from the front, in m². Drag depends on CdA = Cd × A: the smaller your frontal area, the lower your drag and the faster you ride at the same power.
As soon as you start pedaling, AeroX measures your frontal area with your webcam and uses it, together with your power and the slope, to compute a realistic speed. You see, and feel, what each posture change costs or gives back.
AeroX training modes
- Target Speed Mode: your trainer adjusts its resistance to hold a target speed based on your position, so you feel directly how posture affects performance.
- Free Simulation Mode (GPX): ride real routes where your speed depends on power, slope, wind and position, to prepare for a race or a climb.
- Technique Mode: compare positions, test cockpit setups and see the aerodynamic gain instantly.
- Aero Time Trial Mode: races where the result depends on both power and aerodynamics, not just watts per kilo.
- Workout Builder: build structured sessions with power and aero targets.
AeroX doesn’t try to rival Zwift’s social side. It adds what Zwift doesn’t measure: real-time feedback on your real position.
Zwift and AeroX: what each one does
Zwift simulates a virtual world where your real position doesn’t count; AeroX measures that position and shows its effect on your speed. Zwift excels at motivation and community; AeroX at position work. The two combine well.
| Zwift | AeroX | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Motivation, community, racing | Measuring and training your aero position |
| Speed model | Weight, height, drafting, virtual equipment | Your measured frontal area, power, slope |
| Real riding position | Not modeled | Measured live by webcam |
| Structured workouts | Yes | Yes, with aero targets |
| Route simulation | Virtual worlds | Real GPX routes |
| Community & online racing | Very developed | In development |
| Trainer connection | ANT+ or Bluetooth | Bluetooth FTMS only |
| Devices | Computer, tablet, phone, Apple TV | Mac or Windows computer |
How to combine them
Keep Zwift for group rides, races and motivation. Use AeroX for the sessions where you work on your position: find your fastest position, then train to hold it. At 35 km/h, gaining 2 to 3 km/h saves about 4 to 5.5 minutes over 40 km, without producing a single extra watt.
Conclusion
Zwift trains your motivation and your engine. AeroX measures and trains the position that turns those watts into speed. They’re not competitors: AeroX is the complement that measures what Zwift doesn’t model.
💡 Next step: find out how many watts your position is costing you with the AeroX Diagnostic: up to 10 positions compared live, then a hold test on the best one, and your recommended position with your time and speed gains. Discover the Diagnostic
Frequently Asked Questions
Can AeroX replace Zwift?
How much faster can you get with a better aero position?
What equipment do you need for AeroX?
Does body position matter on Zwift?
Is AeroX useful for triathlon training?
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