The 7 Low Cost Cycling Upgrades That Will Make You Faster

Let’s be honest: cycling can get expensive fast. New wheels? A power meter? A new groupset? These purchases can cost thousands.

But some of the best cheap bike upgrades have nothing to do with carbon fibre or marginal gains, and everything to do with creating an environment where you can actually train consistently and effectively.

If you’re training indoors (and let’s face it, most of us are for at least part of the year), there are some transformative low cost cycling upgrades that will improve your performance without destroying your bank balance.

Here are 7 of the best cheap cycling upgrades that will make cycling indoors more effective and you faster as a result:

1. Headphones

According to an article and study by Cycling Weekly, ‘research has shown that music can reduce perceived effort and increase output, helping cyclists push harder and stay focused.’

This means headphones are one of the best bang for buck purchases you can make to improve your indoor cycling performance.

Wired headphones can be picked up cheaply, however wireless headphones are also now much more affordable. These come with the obvious benefit of not getting in the way when cycling.

These headphones from Sony can be purchased for just £40 and represent a great entry-level set of wireless earbuds that can withstand the demands of cycling indoors.

If you’re already committed to training with music then check out the sweatproof Zwift x RIPT Ultra headphones.

2. A Decent Fan

A good fan might be the most important upgrade you can make to your indoor training set up. 

Indoor training can get really hot. Without proper airflow, your body will start prioritising cooling over power output. This will cause your heart rate to spike, and will make completing that next interval much much harder.

The good news is you don’t need a top of the range fan that can cost as much as your trainer. A fan like this can be picked up for as little as £30 and is a simple solution to those super sweaty training sessions. Keep it close and point it at your chest and face to feel a big difference when riding indoors.

This is genuinely one of the best budget cycling upgrades you can make, because it directly impacts your ability to complete quality training sessions.

Although test out your needs first. For example if you train in a shed or garage, particularly during winter, you might be able to survive by just opening a window or door.

Looking for another fan? Take a look at Best Indoor Cycling Fans for Zwift.

3. A Proper Indoor Training Towel

In the same vein as a fan, a dedicated indoor training towel will help mop up sweat caused by training indoors.

A proper training or gym towel, ideally one that can sit on your bars or be easily accessible, will mean you can efficiently wipe your face without disrupting your session. 

It’ll also keep your setup clean and hygienic, helping to prevent sweat corrosion or any other sweat-based nastiness.

There are lots of options out there. Gym towels are readily available, along with microfibre towels. These have the benefit of being light and quick-drying. You can also opt for a stylish set of indoor training towels from the Zwift Shop.

4. Fitness Tracking with the Zwift Companion App

If you already have a Zwift subscription then did you know that you can track and measure your cycling fitness with the Zwift Companion App for free?

This is just one of the many added benefits of riding on Zwift.

In the Zwift Companion App you can track your fitness from indoor and outdoor rides, meaning all of your cycling data is in one place.

Tracking your fitness can make you faster by removing the guesswork from training, ensuring you’re sticking to your cycling goals, and prevent you from training too hard or too little.

In the Fitness Trends section of the Zwift Companion App you can access the following data:

• Training Score: A quick look at how much effective training you’ve completed over a period of time. Essentially telling you how fit or trained you currently are.
• Weekly Progress: This shows how you’re tracking against your goals, whether your goal is based on time, distance, calories, kilojoules, or stress points.
• Training Status: An indication of your readiness to train. This smartly tells you if you’re ready, fresh, productive, overreaching or detraining.

5. Zwift Cog and Click

Virtual shifting has the power to truly make you faster indoors and out. It gives you smooth, instant shifting every single time, meaning no efforts will be ruined by being in the wrong gear, or your chain slipping.

The Zwift Cog also means you can swap between bikes with ease. So you can train indoors on your road bike, gravel bike, or triathlon bike, without changing your cassette. This makes indoor training more simple and allows you to easily train for any cycling discipline.

The Zwift Click also will make you faster indoors too. Whether you need to quickly navigate menus to choose a workout, teleport to a friend, or drop a PowerUp in a race. The Zwift Click gives you a quick and effective way of controlling your workouts, without the need to use your phone or computer.

Read our full guide: What is Zwift Cog and Click: Setup, Compatibility, and Virtual Shifting Explained.

Virtual shifting via the Zwift Cog and Click is available for just £49.99, making it a cheap and accessible indoor cycling upgrade that will make riding indoors smoother and more responsive. If you’re also in need of a smart trainer, there are lots of options for indoor trainers that are Zwift Ready, meaning they come preinstalled with Zwift Cog and Click.

6. Get Your Position Right

Getting your position right won’t just make you faster, but being comfortable on the bike will help you ride further and more regularly.

When we talk about position in cycling we mean making sure your bike is set up properly for you to ride fast and comfortably. This can include making sure your saddle is at the right height and positioned properly. 

Riding on the trainer offers the perfect environment to test different cycling positions, as you can make small adjustments and test quickly. The Zwift Ride includes a free fit chart, and though a bike fit can be worth it, there are plenty of guides online (like this one) that can make a big difference for no cost.

7. Racing, Group Rides, and Clubs on Zwift

Perhaps the most effective way to get faster on Zwift is also the simplest: take part in what’s already included with your subscription. Racing, group rides, and clubs cost nothing extra, yet they deliver huge gains.

Racing taps into an intensity you rarely find alone, helping you dig deeper, sharpen tactics, and stay motivated on dark winter nights. Group rides provide accountability and variety, making it easier to build positive habits while exploring new routes with cyclists from around the world. And nothing fosters community quite like clubs. Zwift hosts everything from the 80,000-strong GCN Club to beginner-friendly groups, or you can start your own cycling club.

Outdoors, these things can often come with entry fees or memberships, but clubs and events on Zwift are all part of the package. That means more training, more consistency, and more fun, all without spending more.

Cycling Faster Doesn’t Need To Cost The Earth

Getting quicker on the bike doesn’t require carbon wheels or pricey gadgets, it comes from consistent, quality training. The best cheap cycling upgrades simply remove barriers that stop you riding effectively. A fan keeps you cool, a towel manages sweat, and a mat reduces noise and hassle. The Zwift Companion App tracks progress, racing pushes you harder, virtual shifting makes training smoother, and headphones keep motivation high.

Individually they’re small, but together they create the conditions for week-in, week-out consistency. That’s how to improve cycling speed cheaply, by making training sustainable, not by draining your bank account.

Join Zwift and get a 14-day free trial that will make you a faster cyclist. From fitness tracking in Zwift Companion, to racing, group rides and clubs – find what makes you faster.