How to use TrainerRoad and Zwift at the same time

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3 years 2 months ago #34351 by BarryR
Here's how to use TrainerRoad and Zwift at the same time. You can follow a workout on TrainerRoad while riding in Zwift.

Don't be put off by the length of this post. It's actually very simple. Try it.

Why do this?
Perhaps you prefer TrainerRoad's structured training programmes and workouts to Zwift's workouts, but you still want to have Zwift's scenery and community to keep you motivated during the workout (and distracted from the pain!).

It also means you get to use your TR workout to gain Zwift points (XP) to move up towards the next Zwift level. In addition, Zwift gives you bonus XP the first time you finish a route, so if you choose a Zwift route that you haven't completed before then it gives you extra motivation to finish your TR workout and the Zwift route.

What's needed?
You need:
  • A smart trainer;
  • TrainerRoad running on your phone;
  • Zwift running on your computer;
  • (Optional) An ANT dongle attached to your computer will make things a bit easier and more reliable (assuming your trainer is ANT compatible).
It is possible to use a non-smart trainer, and it is possible to have TR and Zwift both running on the same computer, but it can get a bit complicated and prone to problems.

How does it work?
The basic principle is that you run TR and Zwift at the same time, but only TR controls your trainer resistance. They both receive your power values so they both use that to monitor how much work you're doing.

TR works as normal, monitoring and controlling your smart trainer to follow the selected workout.

Zwift works almost as normal, without being able to control your trainer resistance. The harder you work the faster you'll go in Zwift, but you will not "feel" Zwift hills or drafting. Only the TR workout will control your trainer resistance.

The steps
1. If your phone is Android, then disable bluetooth on it. This will force TrainerRoad to use ANT to connect to your trainer and other sensors.

2. Start the TrainerRoad app on your phone as normal. Log in, choose your workout, and let the app connect to your smart trainer (and any other sensors you're using, such as HR, cadence, etc). Confirm that the phone and trainer are connected by tapping on "Devices" in the app and checking the displayed list (see screenshot below).

3. If you have an ANT dongle, attach it to your computer's USB port. Remember that if you get occasional ANT connection problems between your computer and your smart trainer, you can fix that by using a USB extension cable to let you position the ANT dongle closer to the trainer.

4. Start Zwift on your computer. Log in, but stop and wait when you get to the sensor pairing page (see screenshots below). Over a few seconds you will see Zwift connect to your smart trainer and any other sensors you have. Watch carefully. Make sure that "Power source" is connected to your trainer, but that "Controllable" is not connected. Zwift will always connect to "Controllable" if it can, so you must wait for it to connect and then click on "Unpair" to disconnect it. This is very important. If you don't unpair it, then TR and Zwift will end up fighting for control of the trainer resistance.

5. On TR on your phone start your workout, and on Zwift on your computer choose your route and start the ride.

ANT and Bluetooth
This works most reliably if you use ANT instead of Bluetooth to connect both your phone and your computer to your smart trainer. However, if your phone is an iPhone then you don't have that option there. Android phones have ANT built in but iPhones do not.

Computers (any type) generally don't have ANT built in so the only way to use ANT there is with a dongle. If you don't attach an ANT dongle then your computer will use Bluetooth.

If your phone is an iPhone and you don't have an ANT dongle attached to your computer then your phone and your computer will both try to connect to your trainer by Bluetooth. This may not work properly because older Bluetooth devices have a limit of just one connection to each sensor. ANT does not have this limit. If you only have Bluetooth on your phone and computer then try it and see what happens.

My phone is Android (with Bluetooth disabled) and I have an ANT dongle attached to my computer, so all my connections are ANT not Bluetooth. I've found that that is the most reliable arrangement.


This is an Android phone. Bluetooth is disabled, so only ANT+ is available to TrainerRoad. The Kickr is connected (paired) via ANT+.


#1: The 2 pulsating logos tell you both ANT+ and Bluetooth are available on the computer.
#2: Zwift has connected to the Kickr as a "Power source". This is good. We want this.
#3: Zwift has also connected to the Kickr as a "Controllable" trainer. We don't want this so click on the "Unpair" button.



After clicking on the "Unpair" button there is no "Controllable" device connected. This is what we want. Continue to the next Zwift screen and start your ride.

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The following user(s) said Thank You: Declan Quigley, Louise Keane, Fergal Quinn, Bryan Johnston, David O'Halloran

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