Virtual Shifting & Steering in MyWhoosh: The Complete Guide
By Jonas Bark · 2026-07-10
MyWhoosh doesn't read controllers on its own — no shifters, no steering hardware, nothing. Every controller that works in MyWhoosh works through the official BikeControl integration, built on the OpenBikeControl protocol that MyWhoosh implemented natively in version 5.7.0.
That makes the answer to "how do I get virtual shifting in MyWhoosh?" refreshingly short: BikeControl, plus any of nearly twenty supported controllers — or no controller at all, if your smart trainer and keyboard are enough. This guide covers all of it: shifting, steering, gear customization, and the setup for each option.
How the Official Integration Works
BikeControl and MyWhoosh are official partners. MyWhoosh speaks the OpenBikeControl protocol — an open standard for connecting controllers to trainer apps — so BikeControl connects over your local network, on every platform. If you used the old "Link" method: it's gone, replaced entirely by this connection. The new one is faster to set up, more stable, and works the same on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and even MyWhoosh on Apple TV.
Setup takes about a minute:
- Open BikeControl and power on your controller — it's detected automatically, no pairing screen needed.
- In BikeControl's trainer connection setting, select MyWhoosh and enable the Network connection.
- In MyWhoosh, open the Connection Screen and tap the OpenBikeControl icon in the top right.
- Tap Yes in the popup, and ride.
BikeControl and MyWhoosh can run on the same device or different ones — BikeControl on your phone, MyWhoosh on a PC, tablet, or Apple TV on the same WiFi.
Every Controller That Works with MyWhoosh
All of these shift and steer in MyWhoosh through BikeControl. Full setup guide linked for each.
| Controller | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Zwift Cog & Click | The most common setup. Click V2 needs a daily unlock; Click V1 doesn't. |
| Zwift Ride | Integrated drop-bar buttons, no unlock needed. |
| Zwift Play | 7 buttons per controller, all remappable. |
| Shimano Di2 | Shift with your real levers; long press steers. Up to 12 actions. |
| SRAM AXS / eTap | Every paddle, Bonus button, and Blip individually assignable since BikeControl 6.3. |
| CycPlus BC2 | Best budget pick (~$25). See the full BC2 guide. |
| Thinkrider VS200 | Works, but no long-press support. |
| Wahoo KICKR Bike | Hood buttons work across Shift, Pro, V1, and V2. |
| Gamepads | PlayStation, Xbox, 8BitDo — joystick steering feels natural. |
| Bluetooth buttons | Sub-$10 camera remotes as minimal shifters. |
| Keyboard | No hardware at all — map keys to shifts and steering. |
Steering in MyWhoosh
Virtual steering doesn't require dedicated steering hardware:
- Any button, long press. The most popular option: single click shifts, long press steers. Works on the Zwift Cog & Click, Di2, the BC2, and most other controllers.
- Phone steering. Mount your phone on the handlebars and steer by tilting — BikeControl turns the phone itself into the steering controller. No extra hardware.
- Elite Sterzo Smart (or the Square Smart Frame). Real steering-plate feel, connected through BikeControl.
- Gamepad joystick. The most game-like option.
Your Gears, Your Ratios
Since BikeControl 5.4, you can pair your smart trainer directly to BikeControl instead of the app. BikeControl re-publishes it to MyWhoosh — over WiFi, which works beautifully with MyWhoosh — with virtual shifting built in. Any FTMS trainer works (FTMS is the standard Bluetooth protocol modern trainers speak); no CYCPLUS or Zwift-branded trainer required.
What that unlocks:
- MyWhoosh gets a 30-gear virtual drivetrain by default — and every ratio is editable, from 1 to 30 steps, with a live curve preview.
- Named configs. "Climb day," "Sprint workout," "Easy spin" — saved per trainer, one tap to switch.
- A virtual front derailleur. Two chainrings with the exact resistance jump of a real ring swap — press shift up + down together, SRAM-style, to switch.
- ERG-aware buttons. In a workout, "shift up" automatically becomes "increase watts." One mapping, the right behavior in both modes.
Virtual shifting runs 20 minutes per day on the free and Base tiers; BikeControl Pro removes the limit.
MyWhoosh on Apple TV
Yes, this works — it's one of the most common setups we see. Run BikeControl on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC on the same WiFi as the Apple TV. MyWhoosh discovers BikeControl over the network, and your controller shifts and steers on the big screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MyWhoosh support virtual shifting?
Yes — through BikeControl, the official controller integration for MyWhoosh. Pair a controller for shift buttons, or pair your FTMS smart trainer directly to BikeControl for a fully customizable virtual drivetrain in MyWhoosh.
Does the Zwift Cog work with MyWhoosh?
Yes. The Zwift Cog's Click remote is the most common MyWhoosh controller among BikeControl riders. The Click V2 needs a quick daily unlock — here's how.
Does MyWhoosh have virtual steering?
Yes, through the same integration: steer with a long press on any button, a tilting phone on your handlebars, a gamepad joystick, or an Elite Sterzo Smart plate.
Which controller should I buy for MyWhoosh?
Already own Di2 or SRAM AXS? Use those. Buying new: Zwift Play (second-hand) for the most buttons, CycPlus BC2 for the budget pick. Avoid the Zwift Click V2 if you don't also ride Zwift — the daily unlock is a nuisance. Full rundown in the controller comparison.
How many gears does virtual shifting give me in MyWhoosh?
30 by default, and you can set anywhere from 1 to 30 steps with custom ratios — plus a second chainring via the virtual front derailleur.
My controller connects but gears don't shift in MyWhoosh. What now?
Open BikeControl's Activity tab and press a button. If nothing appears there, the controller isn't delivering events — on a Zwift Click V2, run the Unlock again. If events appear in BikeControl but not in MyWhoosh, reconnect via the OpenBikeControl icon on MyWhoosh's connection screen.
Is this official, or a third-party trick?
Official. MyWhoosh implemented the OpenBikeControl protocol natively in 5.7.0 and lists BikeControl as its controller solution. Read the partnership announcement.
New to BikeControl? Download it here — free to try, and your MyWhoosh setup takes about a minute.