Over the years, since 2016, I’ve written about my experience with indoor training tools, most of which I have used or at least tried to use.
My earlier posts are from December 2017, January 2019 and January 2022.
This “2024 update” is more about two platforms that have my interest right now.
I’ll briefly get into previously covered ones too, though…
Disclaimer: this “Indoor Training” post may, like the previous ones, get reviewed or updated every now and then.
The reviewed tools / platforms also frequently get updates or added features.
As a result, I cannot guarantee that features or prices mentioned here are still accurate at the time you read this or any of my previous posts.
After my last post, a few things have changed:
- RGT was acquired by Wahoo (integrated into SYSTM) and killed within a year
- VeloReality did fall behind, but the SW is free, the movie quality top notch
- I enjoyed BigRingVR but I have abandoned it
- Bkool seems to have evolved into something I might like
- New kids on the block: indieVelo and MyWoosh.
Garmin – Tacx
Unlike VeloReality, Garmin – Tacx is releasing new videos (very) frequently.
Garmin’s support still sucks, but I stick to their products anyway, as the quality of those is not in question.
Although I’m passing on the new Neo 3M, the Neo 2T successor – priced at 2,000 EUR, it’s way over my red line1.
This winter I’ve spent more hours so far on Tacx than in previous years.
Also because if you want to score Garmin (challenge) badges, many require that you use only their software…
Wahoo SYSTM
Other than mentioning – again – that Wahoo managed to kill RGT within a year, I’m not spending more words on them.
You can find more about the demise of RGT on DC Rainmaker’s blog.
(The irony of offering a “free” Zwift month is probably lost on them)
BigRingVR
I traded BigRingVR at the time of my last post for…
…RGT
I rest my case…
Zwift
No seriously, after RGT’s take-over, I briefly switched to Zwift for more cartoons 🤦♂️
However, despite my initial enthusiasm, I got bored quickly and quit.
I don’t think I will ever try again…
indieVelo TrainingPeaks Virtual
Which only goes to show that “stupid is as stupid does” is quite literally how I roll.
I was so intrigued by this new kid on the block, that I immediately joined the ranks of indieVelo Founders.
Not that I regret doing so, as they definitely deserve to get the support in cash, rather than in raving reviews.
However, looking at the latest developments, I’m a little less enthusiastic.
If you consider indieVelo a branch off of Zwift – the developers come from it – it’s an understandable course, though.
After all, now that there are, I kid you not, indoor cycling world championships, the call for harsh measures to fend off the cheaters, is ever louder.
Personally, I couldn’t care less anymore these days.
I mean, there should be checks in place to prevent cheating and thanks to Strava this is now a monumental effort.
Strava basically encouraged cheating and cried wolf when it was too late.
I ranted about that before.
But although there are people my age – yes, you John – that participate in online cartoon races, I don’t.
Let alone that I will have a shot at a Master 60+ world championship…
At any rate, other than the efforts that are lost on me regarding cheating, I have – since my original post on indieVelo – only noticed a new 1,000 m climb.
Zwift ain’t got nuttin’ on indieVelo 🤪
And it was reaffirmed that I don’t like cartoons, although indieVelo is (way) ahead of Zwift in many other aspects too.
Bkool
Believe it or not, but I actually got on Bkool.
This despite my noticing Bkool-ers always beating anyone not on Bkool, or at least a Bkool device, I guess, by half an hour on a 20-minute climb.
But I accidentally signed up for a Strava challenge and figured that meant I had to complete it.
(More irony: the main prize is a Tacx Neo 2T but as they have discontinued their trainer line, I’ll allow it 😂)
As I hadn’t been looking at it since forever, I expected that the “on-board video footage” was still their main game, but apparently, it no longer is.
I’m not even going to try and find those videos, so I’ll just assume they’re still there…
But the current mix of good quality videos, many coupled with 3D animations definitely has a good Rouvy vibe to it 😎
And you can also exhaust yourself in cartoon rides, which are at least based on real roads and have some added cartoon animations to spice them up.
Which is bearable, if you don’t look too close and hence do not notice the endless repeats.
Bkool offers three subscriptions:
- Monthly at €11/month
- Yearly for €110/year
- Family for €129/year
The Family option allows for five devices maximum and three connected devices simultaneously, provided they share the same IP address, officially labeled “the same address”.
Up to three members are included: the owner and two others.
You can change devices up to three times a year, as do the members (weird or large families exist) and I’m not going to do the math on the total number of possibilities…
I’ve done the Strava challenge, a few Giro d’Italia 2023 rides and one cartoon Giro (spicy, I might add) ride, Val di Zoldo.
Other than indieVelo, Bkool might be for me the rest of the indoor season.
There was one other new (?) kid on the block I tried: MyWoosh.
That didn’t go well on my Windows PC, but I know a guy that’s apparently happy with it off his phone or tablet, so maybe I’ll get back on that.
It’s free for now too…
So far for this 2024 update on indoor training tools!
1 Yes, I’m aware I just bought a 15,000 EUR bike, but it came with a 3,300 EUR discount 🤪
Thanks Cyclopaat 🙂
My Rouvy subscription just ended, Spring is coming 🙂 ; I hope to be able to ride outdoor in the next few weeks, so I’m looking for an alternative to spend those weeks on the HT with something different (the last updates to Rouvy have annoying glitches). I was searching for “BigRingVr alternatives” (yeah, I miss it a bit) and your article popped in the first ranks. Gonna try BKool, as it should work on my tablet.
I’ve been outdoors for only four times so far this year. Rain, rain, rain – flushing all the fun out of it…
Bkool is actually better that I expected. It takes a little getting used to the interface, but the “Rouvy” feel is certainly there, without the bots.
I find the 3D-video – that is a RLV with riders as cartoons projected in it – very good to ride, as the video quality is fine. If you have a home-made video with the 3D overlay, it might be better to just ride the cartoon version, as the video quality can be bad. You can switch between modes on the fly…
Have fun and let me know what you think 🙂
I bought myself a new bike last December (well, not a new one, a second hand in fact), and still haven’t had the opportunity to try it, as the weather is too bad here. And I’m too sensitive to the cold and humidity. I tried several times last year, to ride during the Winter. Couldn’t. Frozen hands and feet, runny nose, and then you still need to wash the bike afterward !
I only tried BKool 3 times until now; not really convinced. Sure, the startup of the app is much faster on my tablet than Rouvy (a handful of seconds vs. numerous minutes with Rouvy latest updates). But, it’s so painful to find a good road that in the end, you spend as much time as you would, waiting for Rouvy to start ! The image quality is… meh. And I don’t like the changes in slope, it seems that there is no smoothing: you’re on a 0.9% slope, then you reach a 1.2% segment and, bam!, you feel a brutal change. With Rouvy, the change is gradual, more like IRL. Haven’t tried a 3D video.
So… I’m very annoyed. I feel that I may come back to BigRingVR ! BTW, I checked their website: they haven’t made any change to their app, it’s still the same version number than 3 years ago. So I guess that they don’t have a programmer anymore. Too bad, there was place to improve things. Yet they are still pulling new videos. And the way the app was running back then, was really satisfying for me. By the quality of the routes, and the management of workouts. I don’t understand why they do not promote their app, or if they do, why it’s so badly done. Except for their FB page (who is still using FB nowadays ?), no forum, no place to discuss it anywhere. Unless you’re in the known, you can’t find them. It’s like they are hiding in their niche.
I’m sorry that your experience with Bkool is not good.
I don’t run it off a tablet, but on my W11 PC with a big TV attached.
I never have a problem finding a road, but to be honest, I usually take something from the “home” screen to run.
Currently, that is the Giro from last year, Strade Bianchi, the Deutschland Tour and video workout of the day – stuff like that and they are all very good videos.
I agree that there is no smoothing, but in the bottom right of the screen, there’s an indicator running that shows current and next grade, with the distance remaining / between them.
Like I said: it takes a bit getting used to it, but – at least for me – it beats Rouvy and BigRingVR.
For really excellent video quality, you should switch to Garmin / Tacx. But that also has sudden changes in grades, which are – according to the guy making the videos – as accurate as it is in real life.
What you are missing indoors, though, is that in real life, you often don’t feel / notice those, whereas your trainer will respond immediately to every change.
This is why I often – almost always – use ERG mode for my Tacx and transmit power from my pedals to the app. That gives a more real life feeling.