We couldn't have scripted a better opening week. Just as Wattage Cottage launches, the indoor cycling world got rocked by one of the biggest business moves in the history of the sport — and we're breaking it down on day one.

Episode one of Wattage Cottage sets the tone for everything this show is going to be — honest, informed, and genuinely enthusiastic about the world of indoor cycling. Host Dave Towle is joined by Eric Schlange, founder of Zwift Insider, and Shane Miller — GP Lama — Australia's premier cycling tech reviewer. Together, the three tackle the Zwift-Rouvy bombshell and dig into two of the biggest ongoing conversations in indoor cycling right now.

What We Cover

🚨 BREAKING — Zwift Acquires Rouvy This just landed and it changes everything. Zwift — the dominant force in virtual cycling — has acquired Rouvy, the leading real-world video-based training platform. These are two very different products with two very different philosophies. So what does this mean? Is this about eliminating competition? Expanding the tent? Building something new? Dave, Eric, and Shane dig into the implications for subscribers of both platforms, what happens to Rouvy's identity, and whether this is good or bad news for the indoor cycling community as a whole.

Zwift Levels Beyond 100 & the Drop Shop Zwift is finally expanding its level cap — and updating the Drop Shop alongside it. For years, the level ceiling left some of the platform's most dedicated riders with nowhere to go. Dave, Eric, and Shane break down what this means, whether it's genuine progress or long-overdue housekeeping, and what it tells us about how Zwift thinks about rider motivation and retention.

Gravel on Zwift — Does It Actually Work? Gravel has become one of the most culturally vital formats in cycling. So what happens when you bring it indoors? Shane breaks down the physics and resistance modeling. Eric reports from the community side. And Dave asks the harder question — can virtual gravel ever really capture what makes gravel gravel?

Meet the Team

Dave Towle — The voice of American cycling, having called some of the biggest races in the country for decades. Now bringing that same sharp eye to the indoor cycling world.

Eric Schlange — Founder of Zwift Insider, the internet's most comprehensive and reliable resource for Zwift routes, updates, and platform intelligence. The guy who actually reads every release note.

Shane Miller (GP Lama) — Based in Australia, Shane is one of the most followed and trusted cycling tech reviewers in the world. If it connects to a trainer or measures a watt, Shane has tested it.

Find Us

New episodes monthly Find Zwift Insider at zwiftinsider.com Find GP Lama on YouTube Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts