It is a common myth that you cannot use the Zwift Cog and Zwift Click/Play with Open Road. Thanks to the QZ app (available for both Apple iOS and Android), you can use your Zwift Cog and Click with Open Road—including full virtual gear control.
QZ bridges your trainer, Zwift Click/Play, and Open Road and enables real-time virtual shifting during your rides.
What You Can Do with This Setup #
With QZ and Open Road, you can:
- Shift gears using the Zwift Click
- See your current gear in real time
- Use virtual gearing with any compatible trainer (Zwift Cog optional — a fixed gear from your cassette works too)
- Complete rides and workouts that require manual shifting
Which Trainers Are Supported? #
QZ works with virtually all Bluetooth trainers, but the setup differs depending on whether your trainer supports the Zwift virtual shifting protocol.
Zwift virtual shifting compatible trainers — these can use the Wahoo Options for full virtual gear control. Check if your trainer is listed on Zwift’s compatibility list as “Zwift Ready” or “Zwift Cog Compatible.”
Other trainers — if your trainer is not on Zwift’s compatibility list, use the Gear Gain setting to adjust gear feel instead (see section below).
Making It Work with Zwift Virtual Shifting Compatible Trainers #
Check if your trainer supports Zwift virtual shifting on Zwift’s compatibility list. If your trainer is listed as “Zwift Ready” or “Zwift Cog Compatible,” follow these steps.
Important: Zwift virtual shifting support is often not included in the original firmware. Make sure your trainer’s firmware is updated to the latest version using the manufacturer’s app (e.g., Wahoo app, Elite Upgrado app).
Prerequisites #
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
- QZ app installed on your mobile device (iOS / Android)
- Zwift Click or Zwift Play controllers (optional — you can also shift gears from the QZ app)
- Zwift Cog (optional — you can also use a fixed gear from your cassette)
- A Zwift virtual shifting compatible trainer
Step 1: Setting Up the Devices with the QZ Wizard #
Go through the wizard and make sure to pick ‘Bike’ as fitness device. Pick your trainer. Fill out the rest of the wizard with your personal data. For preferred app, pick ‘Other app’.
Step 2: Configure Virtual Gears #
Go to:
Settings > Bike Options > Wahoo Options (towards the bottom)
Here, configure QZ with the actual chainring/cog size on the trainer, then select a gear profile. Users familiar with Zwift/Rouvy often prefer to use the “Reality Bender” profile with 24 speeds, but there are a few other presets. You can also create your own, picking any chainring/cog size combinations you want.
Note: If you’re using the actual Zwift Cog, the default chainring and cog values should work fine. Only adjust these settings if you’re using a fixed gear from your own cassette.
Swiping down…
Step 3: Configure the QZ User Interface #
- Have a feedback mechanism to know which gear is currently selected.
- Optionally, you can switch gears directly from the QZ app if you don’t have another device like the Zwift Click.
The result in the main user interface is this, assuming Gear 6 is selected. (in this example, we left the Resistance and Wattage tiles). Clicking – or + will switch gears.
Step 4: Configure the Zwift Click #
Enable Click support here:
Making It Work with Other Trainers #
If your trainer is not on Zwift’s compatibility list, QZ will not use the Wahoo Options. Instead, you can adjust how hard or soft the gears feel using the Gear Gain setting.
Prerequisites #
Setup #
- Complete the QZ wizard as normal, selecting your trainer
- Go to: Settings > Bike Options > Gear Gain
- Adjust the value — higher = harder gears, lower = softer gears
A gear gain of 1 works well for most trainers. This setting is subjective, so experiment to find what feels right for you.
You can still use the Gears tile in the QZ interface and connect a Zwift Click or Bluetooth volume remote to shift — the shifting will adjust resistance based on your gear gain setting rather than simulating specific chainring/cog combinations.
Workflow After Setup #
This workflow applies to all trainers:
- Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone
- Wake up the Zwift Click by pressing its buttons
- Immediately open QZ on the phone, wait for it to pair to the trainer and to the Zwift Click (all via Bluetooth). Main screen with the tiles should automatically appear after trainer pairing is successful
- Put your phone down somewhere you can see during your ride, so you can see the current gear.
- Start Open Road and go to Set up Devices. Here you pick QZ for ‘Speed’ and ‘Grade’. Make sure not to pick your trainer directly. Once you have paired with QZ, it is business as usual:
No Cog? No Click? No Problem! #
This section applies to Zwift virtual shifting compatible trainers only.
You don’t need Zwift hardware to use virtual gearing with QZ.
No Cog: Pick a gear on your cassette that you want to use as your base gear (many people choose a middle cog). Count the teeth — the number is usually printed on the cog itself — and enter this value in the Wahoo Options under “Cog Size”. Enter your chainring size as well. Now QZ will simulate virtual gears based on your actual setup.
No Click: You can use adjust the gearing directly from QZ. But if you prefer a remote control, QZ offers the option to connect a Bluetooth volume control instead. Any Bluetooth device with volume buttons can be used to shift gears in QZ — including inexpensive waterproof remotes designed for motorcycles or sports.
To enable this:
- Go to: Settings > Advanced Settings > enable “Volume on gears”
- Pair your Bluetooth remote with your phone
- Use the volume up/down buttons to shift gears during your ride
If you encounter any issues, Roberto Viola (QZ creator) is happy to help. You can reach him via the QZ GitHub page or email him directly.
