There are lots cycling terms, Zwift specific terms and acronyms that are used on this wiki and in the game. This Glossary will attempt to explain those terms and provide an easy to understand definition.
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A[]
Aerobic - n - Effort relying principally on energy generated by the body’s aerobic (with oxygen) system.
Anaerobic - n - High-intensity effort relying principally on energy generated by the breakdown of glucose anaerobically (without oxygen).
ANT+ - n - Adaptive Network Technology. A method of communication between hardware equipment and gaming software.
B[]
Bacon - n. - 1. A nickname for the yellow beacon that highlights the ride leader during group rides. Originally derived when Tim Searle who was the first to test the beacon in group rides on Zwift and his autocorrect altered “stay with the beacon” to “stay with the bacon”.
Blob - n. - 1. A large group of riders on Zwift that can travel very fast due to the draft effect; 2. The shape of an evenly-paced group, compared to the snake-like shape of a group ride on the verge of breaking apart.
BTLE - n - Bluetooth Low Energy. A method of communication between hardware equipment and gaming software.
C[]
Cadence - n - The number of revolutions on the bike or steps taken on a run per minute.
Cone of Shame – n. – An orange triangle with “!” in the middle that appears next to your name when you go faster than Zwift expects. A rider with the Cone of Shame will lose any segment jerseys and won’t appear on the leaderboards for the next hour.
Coned – adj. – Someone who has received the Cone of Shame. “I was winning the race before I got coned.” See Cone of Shame.
D[]
Dongle – n. – A device that plugs into a computer’s USB port to allow it to receive signals that it normally can’t, such as ANT+.
DoubleDraft - n - A mode that can be enabled for events or group rides that increases the standard draft in Zwift by double. It is essentially turning on a draft powerup for everyone during the entire ride.
Draft – 1. n. – The slipstream created by a rider or riders that can reduce aerodynamic drag behind them. When you’re “in the draft,” you can go faster for less effort; 2. v. – To benefit from the draft effect behind someone breaking the wind.
Drop – v. – To ride away from someone who is falling behind. The rider left behind has been “dropped.”
Drops -n - The virtual currency used in Zwift earned by distance ridden. Derived from 'drops of sweat' while working out.
Dropout – n. – A momentary loss of ANT+ or Bluetooth signal to Zwift.
Dumb Trainer - n - A name for a stationary trainer that is resistance-based, where effort is controlled via a knob that applies more pressure to the rear wheel, or a lever mounted on the handlebars that applies increased pressure to the rear wheel mounted against a roller.
E[]
ERG - n - Ergometer (linked to the latin word “erg”, which means work) ERG mode is a setting on your trainer that will make the trainer adjust the resistance (how hard it is to pedal) in order to hit certain targets.
F[]
Fence - n - A barrier set up by the group ride leader to discourage fliers and keep the group together. The ride leader has the option to remove riders who go beyond the fence for a given period of time.
Flier – n. – 1. Someone going ridiculously fast who may earn the Cone of Shame; 2. During a group ride, a person who “flies” off the front ahead of pace; 3. An attack off the front of a race.
FTP – n. – Functional Threshold Power. Roughly, the maximum power in watts that you can hold for 20, 40 or 60 minutes.
G[]
Group Ride – n. – A ride with a group of other cyclists on Zwift.
H[]
HUD - n - Heads Up Display. The display screen you see when actively riding or running in Zwift.
I[]
IRL - adj - In Real Life
J[]
Jarvis Island - n - During the early beta phase of Zwift in 2014/2015, the first and only course available was "Jarvis Island".
Jersey Hunter - n - A Zwifter who collects as many virtual jerseys as they possibly can.
K[]
KOM - n - King of the Mountain. A title for the rider (male) who has made it to the top of the measured climb with the shortest time on the clock.
L[]
Lactate - n - Another fuel source for your muscles. It is created when your body breaks down glycogen (stored carbohydrate).
Lactate Threshold - n - The max effort you can maintain for an extended period of time without generating more lactate than your body can utilize.
M[]
N[]
O[]
Over/Unders -n - A technique where you perform intervals alternating between slightly above and below your anaerobic threshold.
P[]
PR - n - Personal Record. Personal Records are your achievements that have bested your last time through a loop or segment.
Q[]
QOM - n - Queen of the Mountain. A title for the rider (female) who has made it to the top of the measured climb with the shortest time on the clock.
R[]
RideOn - n - They're the virtual and Zwift equivalent of a Facebook "Like" or an Instagram "double-tap". You pass them out to fellow friends and riders you want to say "Great job!" to while they're riding.
Rubberbanding - n - An option in group rides and workouts that keep the entire group together regardless of individual power output.
S[]
Sandbagger - n - A rider who deliberately underperforms in a ride or race event so they can surge ahead at the end to win.
Scotty – n. – Zwift’s squirrel mascot.
Smart Trainer - n - A smart trainer is one that is controlled by the PC, IOS or an app running on your mobile device. This means that resistance is applied based on buttons you press on the app (mobile) or by an FE-C profile that the computer controls.
Sticky Draft – n – The effect of getting “stuck” behind or next to a rider on Zwift while in the draft or latching onto the wheel of a slower rider while passing.
Supertuck - n - This very aero tuck involves sitting on the top tube and lowering your shoulders/chest onto the bars (or close to it) by bending your arms as far as they will go while holding onto the drops. In Zwift, you will be placed in a Supertuck if the following criteria are met: 1) You must be traveling at least ~58km/hr (~36MPH) 2) The gradient’s decline must be at least -3% 3) Your power output must be below 11 watts 4) You must be out of the draft and not riding in a pack
Sweeper – n. – A rider, usually highlighted with a red beacon, who has volunteered to help “sweep” dropped riders back to the main group if they are able.
T[]
Tron Bike – n. – The Zwift Concept Z1 bike. Awarded for climbing 50,000 meters towards the Everest Challenge in Zwift.
TSS - n - Training Stress Score is a single, numerical value for the effective load of your training session. You earn 100 TSS for an all out, 100 percent, 60-minute workout. Since your FTP value is the wattage you can hold for 1 hour, holding that value for 1 hour equates to 100 TSS points.
U[]
V[]
vEveresting - n - Virtually climbing the height of Mt Everest (8848m or 29,029ft) in a single session. There are specific rules found at everesting.cc.
VO2 Max - n - The maximum Volume (V) of oxygen (O2) that your body can use during exercise. Typically VO2 Max pace/power can be sustained for 3-8 minutes.
W[]
w/kg – n. – Watts per kilogram. The amount of power you expend per kilogram of weight
X[]
XP - n - Experience Points. Points earned while riding in Zwift that go towards your level.
Y[]
Z[]
Zwifter – n. – A person who cycles or runs using Zwift.