Rollwiderstand (Crr)

Zwift calculates speed based on a Crr (Coefficient of Rolling Resistance) value assigned to every surface. Unlike the real world, where you can “muscle through” a bad road, Zwift applies a mathematical penalty that can drop your speed by up to 30% if you are on the wrong equipment.

The Objective: Understanding how the virtual “road surface” dictates your speed—and why your high-end road bike is a liability on the dirt.

Physik & Dynamik

Rennstrategie

Essential Tips

Der Sticky Draft

Pack Dynamics 4.1

Weight vs. Aero

The HUD

Surface Type	Optimal Equipment	Speed Penalty (Road Bike)
Tarmac / Wood	Road Bike	0% (The Baseline)
Gravel / Dirt	Gravel / MTB	~10% – 15%
Jungle Mud	Mountain Bike	~25% – 30%
Sand	Gravel / MTB	~10%

Surface Considerations

The “Jungle Tax”

The Jungle Circuit in Watopia is the most extreme example of Crr. A top-tier road bike (like the Specialized Venge) is roughly 2 minutes slower over the loop compared to a dedicated Mountain Bike. If a race route includes more than 5km of “Jungle Mud,” the bike swap at the trailhead is essential for a podium finish.

The Gravel “Grey Zone”

Courses like Handful of Gravel or Spirit Forest use a “light dirt” surface. A Gravel bike is faster on the dirt, but the Road bike is much faster on the tarmac sections. The Solution? Look at the Route Recon map. If the course is more than 60% dirt, go Gravel. If it’s less than 40% dirt, stay on the Road bike and use the “Sticky Draft” to survive the dirt sectors.

The “Virtual” Friction

Zwift simulates different friction for wood (piers/bridges) and bricks. Wood and bricks are technically “faster” than tarmac in the game engine. When sprinting, hitting the wooden boards of a pier can give you a fractional speed boost over someone on the parallel pavement.

Mastery Protocols

The “Automatic” Swap

In many events, Zwift will automatically swap your bike (e.g., to a Mountain Bike for a specific dirt race). However, in “Open World” or Custom Events, you must manually manage this. How? Always check the Recon Intel for surface icons before selecting your final setup.

Rolling over Transitions

The Crr penalty doesn’t hit the instant your tire touches dirt; there is a 1–2 second “buffer. Use a high-power surge (the Slingshot) right before a surface transition. This “momentum carry” can help you maintain road-bike speeds for the first few meters of a dirt sector.

Pro Tip

If you are chasing a breakaway onto a dirt section, do not chase on the road bike if they are on gravel bikes. You will burn 50% more matches just to hold their wheel. Let them go, save your energy, and solve the gap once you both return to the tarmac.