당신은 주제를 찾고 있습니까 “my e training vs zwift – App My E-Training: compatible with all Elite hometrainers“? 다음 카테고리의 웹사이트 https://th.taphoamini.com 에서 귀하의 모든 질문에 답변해 드립니다: https://th.taphoamini.com/wiki/. 바로 아래에서 답을 찾을 수 있습니다. 작성자 Elite Cycling 이(가) 작성한 기사에는 조회수 106,521회 및 좋아요 62개 개의 좋아요가 있습니다.
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d여기에서 App My E-Training: compatible with all Elite hometrainers – my e training vs zwift 주제에 대한 세부정보를 참조하세요
http://goo.gl/ST7aVJ Manage power, pedal cadence, heart rate, speed, time and distance directly from your iPhone, iPad with the My E-Training App.
My E-Training includes:
– Base Training: Choose your own training mode — constant power*, training levels, pre-set programs
– Conconi Test: Establish your anaerobic threshold
– Training Test: Create personalized monthly indoor training programs based on the performance test results
– Maps Races: Create races from all over the world with Google Maps
All training data can be saved, shared and exported, to chart the course of your training and improvement. *available only on electronic rollers. The following are required: Ant+ Elite or Wahoo Dongle – Any Ant+ Speed/ Cadence Sensor (not required for Qubo Digital and Arion Digital). Optional for HR data: Any Ant+ Heart rate belt.
my e training vs zwift 주제에 대한 자세한 내용은 여기를 참조하세요.
The best indoor cycling apps: which training app should you …
Zwift has established itself as the go-to training app but there are plenty of alternatives if you want to mix-up your indoor cycling …
Source: www.bikeradar.com
Date Published: 10/30/2021
View: 7766
My E-Training – app software – Elite-it
My E-Training app&software helps you create stimulating training programs and workouts on your bike with your Elite home trainer. Real courses, GPS courses, …
Source: www.elite-it.com
Date Published: 9/30/2022
View: 2907
12 of the best indoor cycling apps – get the right turbo training …
Zwift, Sufferfest, Tacx… Rouvy – whether you want to re around virtual worlds or up legendary climbs there’s an indoor cycle training app …
Source: road.cc
Date Published: 10/10/2022
View: 6857
Elite MyETraining – any good online resources?
To be fair the Elite app is crap, Zwift on the other hand just works and it’s not exactly expensive. Posted 1 year ago. t3ap0t. Free Member.
Source: singletrackworld.com
Date Published: 1/29/2022
View: 4807
Best indoor training apps for cycling compared – Cycling Weekly
One of Zwift’s many unique features is that it makes indoor racing possible, with the likes of the National E-Racing Championships and …
Source: www.cyclingweekly.com
Date Published: 1/2/2022
View: 4294
Best cycling training apps to make you a better cyclist in 2022
1. Zwift. Like Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, the graphics of Zwift aren’t quite Hollywood CGI, but we found them so engaging …
Source: www.cyclist.co.uk
Date Published: 4/15/2022
View: 256
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주제와 관련된 더 많은 사진을 참조하십시오 App My E-Training: compatible with all Elite hometrainers. 댓글에서 더 많은 관련 이미지를 보거나 필요한 경우 더 많은 관련 기사를 볼 수 있습니다.
주제에 대한 기사 평가 my e training vs zwift
- Author: Elite Cycling
- Views: 조회수 106,521회
- Likes: 좋아요 62개
- Date Published: 2013. 10. 30.
- Video Url link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dW5xeA2RiQ
5 Best Zwift Alternative Apps in 2021 – Tried and Tested by a Pro Rider!
Indoor cycling apps that are not Zwift: an introduction
Zwift is probably the world’s biggest indoor cycling software at this moment in time, having the largest number of users. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any Zwift alternatives – there have long been various options for training indoors and defeating the boredom of a blank wall staring back at you as you monotonously pound your pedals while the weather outside is inclement. For example, I used to watch hours of recordings that I had made of the Tour de France and Spring classics. I know others who have committed to a Netflix series exclusively for the turbo, to combat the encroaching madness.
Zwift, for me, has been an ample replacement to these decent (but far from ideal) indoor cycling stimuli. With the array of options and the community that has built up around the software, I find myself feeling very much part of a global family. That said, Zwift is not for everyone and not everyone falls in love with the game as I have done. The great thing is that there are many, many alternatives! A smart trainer can communicate simply and easily with many apps, all designed to enhance your indoor cycling experience. Most (if not all) smart trainers come with a free trial of at least one app, but more commonly they feature multiple different training and cycling apps. These range from simple structured training plans and workouts to full virtual cycling worlds. So, if you’re unsure about getting into indoor training using a smart trainer, or unsure if Zwift is for you, read on to discover the plethora of other virtual worlds, augmented realities and training apps that could enhance your indoor training.
Smart trainer – jargon buster
Just like smart phones, smart trainers can be loaded with a variety of different apps, depending on the make and model you choose. Most, if not all, the apps mentioned in this article will work with smart trainers that are ANT+ or Bluetooth compatible – this is the standard communication used between apps and the smart trainer and is, in essence, what makes your trainer “smart”. Be aware, though, that some trainers that are ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible don’t have the variable resistance function, so you will be able to connect to the apps but your trainer will not adjust the resistance.
You can use simple turbo trainers with most apps too, if you are not willing to fork out the extra money for a smart trainer. A standard old-school turbo that doesn’t require plugging in can work well with most apps in two ways. First, you could use a bike based power meter (crank or pedal or rear wheel) to provide the power reading to the apps. This works with the same connection as a smart turbo (either ANT+ or Bluetooth), and while it gives you a slightly less immersive experience it still enables you to utilise the benefits of the virtual world riding experiences without the extra cost of a smart trainer. Alternatively, Zwift can be run using a cadence sensor connected to the game (there is an algorithm that calculates your power using the speed of your bicycle wheel and pedalling cadence). This may also exist in other apps, but apps that work on power readings will definitely require a power meter (either crank based or smart turbo). It’s important to note that some apps may require you to have a smart trainer, and cannot be used with traditional turbos. I know Zwift will work with both standard and smart trainers.
It’s also a good idea to use a Heart Rate (HR) monitor in tandem with your trainer, as it will give you extra information on your training and some platforms (like Zwift, for example) have competitive events that actually require you to use a HR monitor to verify your performances. You may also want to use a Smart TV or Apple TV. With an Apple TV you can run most cycling apps straight from the TV and connect via Bluetooth to your turbo trainer. If you are using a normal TV or smart TV you may also be able to do this, or you could link your computer that is running your training device to the TV via an HDMI cable. The benefits of having your cycling app up on a big screen are huge, both for your eyes and enjoyment of using the software – the bigger the screen, the better, because it gives you a more immersive, real-life experience as opposed to squinting at a small phone or tablet. From personal experience, Apple TV can be a little temperamental but I’ve found that a high quality HDMI cable from a reasonably high-spec laptop works brilliantly on a big screen!
So, you have your turbo set up, either a smart one or a traditional one augmented with power meters or cadence sensors, and you might even have your big screen up and ready to immerse you into a world of virtual cycling – but NOT Watopia! Without further ado, here are the top picks of indoor cycling apps that are the best alternative to Zwift, as tested by me and my pro-cycling compadres!
RGT Cycling (Road Grand Tours)
RGT Cycling are very much the new kids on the block. The platform is fast growing and even beginning to rival Zwift. I know many riders that have altered from being Zwifters to “RGT-ers”. The attraction of RGT is its real world symmetry – unlike Zwift, whose biggest attraction is probably the massive fictitious world of Watopia, all of RGTs routes and roads are based upon real roadways and routes from around the world.
RGT has a few options for virtual cycling: first of all, there are Real Roads. These are actual routes in real life, replicated with ultra-high detail. The list of these is currently quite small, but growing all the time, and today includes Mont Ventoux, the Paterberg, Pienza, the Stelvio and more. Secondly, RGT Cycling also has a range of different events – more event types than even Zwift. There is a normal race, time trials, an elimination style race, group rides and group training rides. More than enough to rival the Zwift experience! The structured training offered by RGT is also very similar to that of Zwift; RGT Cycling has worked with some of the world’s best coaches to provide sessions and training plans to help improve any athlete.
The really great feature of RGT Cycling is its Magic Roads feature – this is a step to revolutionise virtual riding. With Magic Roads you are not constrained by any pre-programmed routes or virtual worlds like Watopia, you choose the route you ride. Is it a real world road? Then you can create it in Magic Roads. The graphics are still perhaps a little behind those of the Real Roads, however all the elevation and inclines are correct to a tee. As soon as RGT Cycling can incorporate some form of features in a chosen Magic Road route to match those of the real world it will undoubtedly become the world’s biggest virtual riding software. My suggestion is to somehow extrapolate the data from maps to convert into like-for-like scenery – this will be the key to the Magic Roads being more realistic. At the moment, many users state the Magic Roads often feel a bit like being on a treadmill with the same scenery rolling past eternally.
To access RGT Cycling Magic Roads, to be able to organise events, and to connect your training plans to the software you need to be a premium member. This is however significantly less expensive than Zwift at only £6.99 per month. RGT also has a free subscription, where you have access to a limited number of the software’s features, but it still enables you to really find out if it is for you or not. If you decide you don’t need the full shebang, just stick with the free subscription and enjoy the real world virtual cycling!
RGT Cycling – Real Roads – Experience Iconic Cycling Roads
£6.99 per month for premium membership; free membership option with reduced features
Trainer Road
This is indoor cycling software for Mac, PC, and iOS. It works by picking up the data from your Bluetooth Smart or ANT+ wireless devices, and gives athletes structured, power-based interval workouts. Trainer Road is like a dedicated indoor version of Training Peaks, where you can track your training and workouts in high detail. In terms of virtual reality, Trainer Road doesn’t offer any virtual world riding experience. Its main focus is cycling training, in the form of interval training to power. The workouts and training will work around your FTP and build your training zones from there to focused interval sessions. Interval training is proven to be the most effective way to improve performance, so Trainer Road could be a fast track way to achieve your desired cycling ability in double-quick time. The absence of augmented reality is no real loss as the software gives you detailed feedback on your session and intervals you have completed. For those of you seeking high quality interval sessions designed by world class coaches, Trainer Road is for you. A great training technology, with AI and machine learning from each of your sessions, it gives you self-sufficiency in following a training plan and understanding your own progress.
Cycling Planning, Training, & Analytics – TrainerRoad
$19.95 per month, 30 day money back guarantee (free trial with selected smart trainers)
Sufferfest
Put simply, this is horrendously hard. It’s called Sufferfest for a reason. Having done a number of Sufferfest sessions, I can also say it is probably the most exciting way to do indoor interval training! The training videos will guide you through your efforts, with sound effects and corresponding video footage of pro races and various riding to inspire you to bludgeon those pedals. These high quality training videos are combined with additional yoga and strength resources to make you into a complete athlete. All your data is stored in your passport so you can analyse it in detail. With a 14 day free trial, it is definitely worth a test if you’re looking for those high quality intervals with a bit of spice and excitement as well as a full off bike routine too. Intervals in Zwift and RGT can often just feel the same as intervals out on the road; with Sufferfest you feel like you’re taking part in something more bonkers! The app also utilises what is known as ‘four dimensional power’ to build your workouts. This is to give you a full power profile rather than simply using FTP. Sufferfest believe this enables them to give you a better, more precise form of training session which takes into account you as an athlete, rather than using a generic FTP formula for sessions. It makes sense when you think about it; every athlete is different!
The strength training videos that the platform offers are a great tool. The best athletes and the best cyclists are not just made on the bike, but in the gym too! It’s a very good way to give your intervals that X-factor to make you go harder. I love Sufferfest for high intensity workouts that are soul destroying without any kind of stimulus.
The Sufferfest: Complete Training App for Cyclists and Triathletes
Cost $14.99 per month; 14 day free trial
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Ful Gaz
Less of the virtual, these training rides will have you following actual real-time footage of riding on the road. I actually feature in one of these videos, in the foothills of Calpe with Vitus Pro Cycling! Enjoy a library of different video routes from around the world. Ride your turbo trainer at home but experience the roads of a far-flung country, whether that be Tour de France routes or the climbs of Italy, all in stunning definition. Your turbo trainer will vary with the gradient of the road you are following, and video speed changes as you speed up and slow down. You also pass riders in the footage, which is always a good morale boost for your riding! Personally, I never quite got on with Ful Gaz; however it is very different to many of the other platforms out there, so if you want something else entirely against the trend of indoor software then this is one to try for certain. The routes were brilliant, but I never felt like I was connecting with anything in any way, you’re just watching the video routes go by.
FulGaz | High quality virtual rides with video
Cost £9.99 per month; 14 day free trial
Rouvy
Another strong competitor to Zwift, Rouvy uses real-time footage and real images (like Ful Gaz), but superimposes avatars into these to give you the ability to ride with other users and race, creating the ultimate real world virtual indoor trainer experience. This joining of video footage with avatars is really cool! Okay, the avatars aren’t as detailed as the Zwift equivalents but the group rides and true-to-life routes you can experience more than make up for it. It is almost parallel to Zwift, yet at the same time it is the opposite. Zwift being for the fun-loving gamers, and Rouvy for those that don’t wish to stoop to the levels of gaming but want to keep a semblance of sensibleness to their indoor cycling. A pretty cool mix of virtual avatars in real life footage of fairly stunning routes. Also check out Bike Radar’s buyer’s guide: Rouvy: everything you need to know – BikeRadar
Rouvy: #1 Indoor Cycling Workout App [All Platforms]
$12 per month; 14 day free trial
So, virtual cycling is not just about Zwift – there are others being produced all the time. Veloton is one I recently saw which uses the graphics from the pro cycling computer game; Tacx has its own software; and Bkool has one too. Almost all cycling apps come with free trial periods so don’t fear if you find you don’t get on with Zwift. Try many, many more for FREE!
Bkool Vs Zwift
Bkool Vs Zwift
Overview
Bkool and Zwift, they both have different things that make them better and worse than each other. Bkool and other competitors like Rouvy are definitely more realistic, while Zwift is more for riders who are looking for gamifications, racing, and socialization. Rouvy and Bkool both have live events that riders can participate in and other competitors similar to Bkool and Rouvy have only 1-2 events a day. However, Zwift has hundreds to choose from. Zwift has a lot of routes, events, races, challenges, and customization for your avatar, but they do not have things like changing weather, custom routes, headwind and tailwinds, and even has night mode, which competitors like Bkool have. In Bkool, there are hundreds of routes, you can create your own routes, and create your own meetups. If I were to choose one platform right now, I would have to choose Zwift. Your choice will ultimately depend on whether you prefer a more game-like/social platform or a more realistic/training platform.
Features/Details; Scored out of 5 Bkool Zwift Realism 5 2 Live rides 3 5 Workouts 2 4 Data Displayed 5 4 Data Accuracy(Speed, Distance, etc) 4 4 Number of Courses 5 3 Course Design Quality 3 5 Gamification 2 5 Bugs/issues 4 3 Socialism 3 5 Avatar Customization 2 5 Cost:Features 5 4 Graphics 3 4 Device Compatibility 5 4 Equipment Compatibility 5 5 What type of rider would want it? Someone who is looking for a reliable training platform that is realistic and gets the job done; Someone who does not really care for the social, live events, and racing aspect of indoor training. Someone who is looking for a training platform that has a lot of social features, live events, and racing; Someone who does not really care much for realism. Final Score: 75 83
Bkool
Bkool is a much smaller platform than other training platforms such as Rouvy, RGT, and Zwift. Bkool features video instruction workouts that are similar to Peloton workouts, custom route creation, ride videos, and hundreds of different routes from all around the world that are available whenever you want. The routes include parts of the Paris Roubaix, Vuelta, Giro d’Italia, Velodromes, Tour of California, and UCI World Championships. The downside to Bkool is that there are not many riders on each route consistently – this is partly because it isn’t as large of a platform, but also because of how many routes there are. Zwift limits riders to only 3 different worlds a day, and it rotates daily. Bkool, like RGT, also has wind, so some days the wind will be strong, and other days it may not. Bkool does not have many workouts that you can do on demand, there are currently around 20 in the workout section, while Zwift has hundreds. Bkool offers a 30 day free trial, then the price goes back to $9.99/month. This is the same price as RGT. Zwift charges $5 more a month.
In Bkool you can also accumulate points and level up. This is similar to Zwift, but in Bkool you can only buy kits. The kits available for purchase are mainly pro team kits (ex, Bora, Canyon, Quickstep). Bkool is definitely more realistic than Zwift in many ways such as the draft, avatars, sprinting positions, wind, and routes/courses, so if you are looking for a realistic platform, then Bkool is a great option.
Zwift
In Zwift, there are thousands of riders on the platform at every hour of the day, making it very social and engaging. Another plus side is that there is always someone you can draft behind ;). There are group rides and races every hour, different worlds for every day, and if a group ride doesn’t work for your time, just hop on with a Pace Partner! There is almost always a huge group riding with the bots. Zwift is by far the best out of the three of these gamification-wise – you can buy bikes, wheels, unlock new kits, helmets, gloves, socks, shoes, and even glasses! You could sport your dream bike, or pick up the bike you ride IRL in the drop shop!
Zwift has 9 worlds. That may not seem like a lot, but the worlds are very well designed, and have lots of hidden things in them. Zwift supports a ton of smart trainers, power meters, and speed/cadence sensors, which makes it pretty easy to get started on the platform. In Zwift, you can chat to all the Zwifters around you in the virtual world, create meetups with your friends, and give riders a Ride On to keep them going! Furthermore, you can level up, accumulate drops (Zwift’s in-game currency that you can spend on upgrading your ride), participate in races, earn route achievements, and complete challenges. When you go under each banner/arch in Zwift, you will get a power-up, which can help you in various ways. You could get some extra XP or go invisible! This adds to the gamification and strategicness of Zwift racing, which some appreciate and some dislike. Zwift also has over 1000 workouts that are available for you whenever you’d like. Zwift costs $14.99/month and offers a 7-day free trial.
myETraining
Turn your smartphone or tablet into a personal trainer: ELITE’s myETraining App is a new and exciting way to manage ELITE hometrainers and structure training sessions.
Free Level Training Option. A 1 year subscription for € 19.99 (prices may vary by country) activates all myETraining options.
myETraining Features:
– RealVideo and myRealVideo training: Chose from among the many RealVideo available for purchase or download some of the many user-created myRealVideos. The video of the course adjusts to match your speed* to create an immersive cycling experience.
Use with Interactive Hometrainers: myETraining automatically adjusts the resistance for an even more realistic cycling simulation. You’re free to choose how and where to start on-video training; pick any location on the map to begin.
– Compatible with Smart Bluetooth sensors. (if it’s supported by the hometrainer you’re using)
– Compatible with the ELITE Misuro Blu and ELITE Misuro B+ sensors. These ELITE sensors are not directly applied on the bicycle but on the trainer, so assembling hometrainers is even faster. (if it’s supported by the hometrainer you’re using)
– ANT FE-C and Bluetooth Support for ELITE Hometrainers.
– Compatible with ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart power measuring sensors (ergometers) (compatibility may depend on the device used).
– Cloud-based Data: Your training data can be directly stored by your cloud account and shared between your personal devices.
– New, simple procedure to create training programs.
– Video or audio playlist creation.
– Road race GPS course recording to later relive your training sessions with myETraining maps.
– Data export to Strava and MapMyRide.
You’ll be able to display power, cadence, heart rate, speed, time and distance data directly on your smartphone or tablet iOS. myETraining is compatible with the following ELITE hometrainers and rollers: Real Turbo Muin, Turbo Muin, Digital, Hydromag, Fluid and Magnetic technology-compatible hometrainers and many more. Please check the configuro.elite-it.com site to verify compatibility.
AVAILABLE OPTIONS
Basic Training: choose from constant power, levels or preset programs as your training mode.
Training Test: create a monthly program based on your previous test results.
Map races: create tracks anywhere in the world on Maps and simulate them with your hometrainer.
Track recording with Maps: take your smartphone with your and record the GPS track, you’ll then be able to simulate it with your hometrainer any time you want even when it rains or snows outside **
History: save your training data to analyse your progress later on. Save, share and export all your training data to evaluate your performance and improvements.
Export your data directly to Strava and MapMyRide with just one click.
Check configuro.elite-it.com to see if you need additional hardware to use myETraining.
* only on hometrainers and electronic rollers
** continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Best smart trainers 2022 | 11 top-rated turbo trainers for every budget
Indoor cycling used to have a fearsome reputation for being excruciatingly boring. The idea of spending time on a turbo trainer, self-flagellating to heavy music while you stared numbingly at a wall, all in pursuit of some intangible fitness gains, seemed like a kind of madness.
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However, thanks to the advent of smart turbo trainers and third-party interactive apps, realising the benefits of indoor cycling has never been easier or, crucially, more fun.
If you’re looking to invest in an indoor training setup, then you’re in the right place. We’ve put the latest smart trainers through their paces to find out what’s really worth spending your money on.
What is a smart trainer?
Smart trainers are interactive turbo trainers that connect with indoor cycling apps such as Zwift, TrainerRoad, Wahoo SYSTM and RGT Cycling, to control the trainer’s resistance and replicate hills, headwinds and drafting effects inside virtual worlds.
These apps can also guide you through power-based interval workouts, with the resistance automatically adjusting to keep you in the required training zones (this is known as ERG mode).
Today’s smart turbo trainers work by communicating with third-party apps on smartphones, tablets and computers using wireless ANT+ frequencies or Bluetooth.
It sounds complicated, but most of these trainers and apps will automatically search for and connect to each other with the click of a button, so in practice, it’s usually very simple.
Wheel-on or direct drive?
There are two main types of smart trainer: wheel-on and direct drive.
Wheel-on smart trainers
Wheel-on smart trainers function like classic, ‘dumb’ turbo trainers – you clamp the rear axle into a support while your rear wheel rests on a roller drum. This drum is connected to a resistance unit that communicates with your chosen hardware and app to control the resistance you feel through the wheel.
These are typically the cheapest and lightest types of smart trainers, but they can cause wear on your tyres (though specific trainer tyres are available to mitigate this issue), their power measurement is generally less accurate and the ride feel often isn’t as good as direct-drive trainers.
This is most often the noisiest type of indoor trainer, too.
Direct drive trainers
Direct drive trainers require you to remove the rear wheel and connect your bike to the trainer via a standard cassette. These are heavier and more expensive than wheel-on trainers, but prices are getting more competitive and they have a number of advantages.
Outside of the obvious one – a lack of wear on your lovely rear tyre – they also tend to be quieter and offer a more realistic, road-like ride feel. They are also usually much more feature-rich and accurate – in terms of power measurement – than wheel-on trainers.
Of course, price is always going to be a major consideration. So we’ve tested a range of options to suit as many budgets as possible, but there’s no denying these trainers aren’t cheap.
However, compared to a road bike groupset upgrade, or even a new winter road bike, they can offer good value if you want to be able to consistently and enjoyably train indoors.
Let’s move on to our pick of the best smart trainers out there right now. For more information on how to choose the right indoor trainer for your needs, read our full buyer’s guide at the end of the article.
Best smart trainers in 2022, as rated by our expert testers Elite Suito : £649.99/ €669 / $799 / AU$999
: £649.99/ €669 / $799 / AU$999 Saris H3 : £749.99 / $1,099.99
: £749.99 / $1,099.99 Tacx Neo 2T : £1,199.99 / $1,399.99 / AU$1,899.99
: £1,199.99 / $1,399.99 / AU$1,899.99 Wahoo Kickr : £999.99 / €1,199.99 / $1,199.99
: £999.99 / €1,199.99 / $1,199.99 Wahoo Kickr Core : £699.99 / €799.99 / $899.99 / AU$1,199.99
: £699.99 / €799.99 / $899.99 / AU$1,199.99 Zwift Hub: £449 / $499 / €499
£449 / $499 / €499 Elite Direto XR: £824.99 / €849.99 / $949.99
£824.99 / €849.99 / $949.99 Elite Zumo: £449
£449 Saris M2 : £430 / $500
: £430 / $500 Tacx Flow Smart: £269.99
£269.99 Tacx Flux S: £550 / €599 / $749 / AU$1,000
Elite Suito
4.5 out of 5 star rating
Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 1,900 watts
1,900 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 15%
15% Weight: 14.5kg
14.5kg Flywheel: 3.5kg
3.5kg Cassette included: Yes
Yes Noise: 73dB
73dB Price: £649.99 / €669 $799 / AU$999 as tested
The Suito sits between the top-end Direto XR and budget Zumo in Elite’s range of direct drive smart trainers.
It comes ready to use straight out of the box, so there’s minimal fuss involved in setting it up and getting riding. It’s a great plug-and-play solution.
It comes with an 11-speed Shimano 105 cassette installed, and there are adaptors for 142mm thru-axles and a front wheel riser block included in the box, all of which is especially noteworthy at this price point.
Ride quality is very good, especially considering it doesn’t have the largest flywheel out there, and we were impressed by its stability when really cranking things up.
It can simulate gradients of up to 15 per cent and has a maximum power of 1,900 watts, so the very strongest riders might find this unit a little under-specced, but for most people, this will be more than they’ll ever need.
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Saris H3
4.5 out of 5 star rating
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 2,000 watts
2,000 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 20%
20% Weight: 21.3kg
21.3kg Flywheel: 9kg
9kg Cassette included: No
No Noise: 61dB
61dB Price: £749.99 / $1,099.99 as tested
The H3 sits at the top of Saris’s smart trainer range and builds on the popular H2. Reducing the noise levels was one of Saris’s top priorities and it’s certainly achieved good things with the H3 – at just 61dB at 20mph (measured on an iPhone app), it’s very quiet indeed.
Ride feel is good, with the stout 9kg flywheel contributing to a very realistic experience. At 21.3kg, it’s also a very solid platform, and while this does make it quite hard to move around, Saris has at least included a handle in the design, which makes things considerably easier.
The H3 is capable of 2,000 watts of power and 20 per cent gradients. Power figures were within the claimed +/- 2 per cent accuracy, which should be more than enough for most riders. At £749.99, it’s also competitively priced, so there’s a lot to like.
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Tacx Neo 2T
4.5 out of 5 star rating
Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 2,200 watts
2,200 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 25%
25% Weight: 21.5kg
21.5kg Flywheel weight: Virtual
Virtual Cassette included: No
No Noise: 61dB
61dB Price: £1,199.99 / $1,399.99 / AU$1,899.99 as tested
The Neo 2T is Tacx’s top-of-the-range smart trainer, and it’s priced accordingly. It looks like a spaceship and its spec and performance are among the best out there.
The Neo 2T uses an arrangement of magnets to create a virtual flywheel, and this offers fantastic ride feel, along with the ability to change the level of inertia depending on the virtual terrain. Tacx also claims the Neo 2T power measurement is accurate to +/- 1 per cent, which is up there with the best.
At this price, it’s a little disappointing that a cassette isn’t included and, at 21.5kg with no carry handle, it’s not the easiest thing to move about. Overall, however, the Neo 2T is about as good as it gets in terms of performance.
When you consider that it can be used without a power source (making it useful for pre-race warm-ups) and that it’s also one of the quietest trainers available, you have a very compelling package. The only real problem is whether or not you can afford it.
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Wahoo Kickr V5 (2020)
4.5 out of 5 star rating
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 2,200 watts
2,200 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 20%
20% Weight: 21.5kg
21.5kg Flywheel: 7.25kg
7.25kg Cassette included: Yes
Yes Noise: 61dB
61dB Price: £999.99 / €1,199.99 / $1,199.99 / AU$1,699.99 as tested
The Kickr is Wahoo’s top-of-the-range model. It offers a fantastic ride feel, thanks to its relatively large 7.25kg flywheel, and it’s also wonderfully quiet.
Setting the unit up is very easy, with Wahoo including a cassette and a generously sized power cable, so you shouldn’t need an extension lead. Once the bike’s installed, it offers a very solid platform for sprints up to 2,200 watts and gradients up to 20 per cent – these aren’t the highest maximums, but they should be plenty for the vast majority of riders.
Power accuracy has increased over the 2019 Wahoo Kickr, up from +/- 2 per cent for the previous model to +/- 1 per cent, and the trainer is now able to automatically calibrate itself without a traditional spin down.
Wahoo also amended the trainer’s supporting feet over the previous design too, to allow for five degrees of lateral tilt and help give a more realistic ride feel.
The Kickr doesn’t have any absurd headline features or specs, and it doesn’t come cheap, but it does everything you need brilliantly and without fuss. Our tester called it “the gold standard of smart trainers”.
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Wahoo Kickr Core
4.5 out of 5 star rating
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 1,800 watts
1,800 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 16%
16% Weight: 18kg
18kg Flywheel: 5.4kg
5.4kg Cassette included: No
No Noise: 70dB
70dB Price: £699.99 / €799.99 / $899.99 / AU$1,199.99 as tested
Though it sits in the middle of Wahoo’s Kickr range, the Kickr Core is its cheapest direct-drive trainer. The budget Kickr Snap is a wheel-on trainer.
Claimed power accuracy is +/- 2 per cent and our tester was very impressed by its ride feel, despite having a smaller flywheel than the more expensive Kickr.
Setup is also easy, with the unit’s legs simply needing to be bolted on. There’s no cassette included though, so you’ll have to remember to factor that in.
You also can’t easily fold the legs away for storage – something to consider if you’re not able to leave your indoor trainer setup at home.
If you’re happy with the maximum power and gradient figures of 1,800 watts and 16 per cent, then the Kickr Core is a great option at a competitive price.
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Zwift Hub
4.5 out of 5 star rating
Simon von Bromley / Our Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 1,800 watts
1,800 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 16%
16% Weight: 14.8kg
14.8kg Flywheel: 4.7kg
4.7kg Cassette included: Yes
Yes Noise: 60dB
60dB Price: £449 / $499 /€499 as tested
The Zwift Hub is a competitively-priced direct-drive smart trainer from the virtual cycling and running platform, Zwift.
The Zwift Hub spec is impressive given it costs just half as much as some of its rivals.
Set up is simple and the smart trainer connects to Bluetooth or ANT+ heart rate monitors.
Zwift includes a cassette of your choosing – an essential you often need to buy separately for other smart trainers.
Although the Zwift Hub runs quietly, the accuracy of cadence and power data isn’t spot on when the flywheel is spinning fast.
The Zwift Hub doesn’t have an integrated handle to move it or folding legs to stow it away. However, it’s still one of the best-value smart trainers you can buy.
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Elite Direto XR
4.0 out of 5 star rating
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 2,300 watts
2,300 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 24%
24% Weight: 15.8kg
15.8kg Flywheel: 5.1kg
5.1kg Cassette included: Yes
Yes Price: £824.99 / €849.99 /$949.99 / AU$TBC as tested
Priced between the cheaper Suito and top-of-the-range Drivo II, the Direto XR is an update to Elite’s Direto X direct-drive smart trainer, getting a heavier flywheel (5.1kg), an increase to the maximum simulated gradient (24%) and a higher maximum power (2,300 watts).
The trainer comes with absolutely everything you need out of the box, including an 11-speed cassette. We wish the legs had a quick-release mechanism for folding them away, but the unit’s (relatively) light 15.8kg weight makes it less of a chore to move around than others.
In testing, we found the trainer to be pleasingly quiet, with excellent ride quality and accurate power numbers to boot.
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Elite Zumo
4.0 out of 5 star rating
Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 1,350 watts
1,350 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 12%
12% Weight: 13.08kg
13.08kg Flywheel: 4.2kg
4.2kg Cassette included: No
No Noise: 69dB
69dB Price: £449 as tested
With an RRP of just £449, the Elite Zumo is one of the cheapest direct-drive smart trainers available.
It does an impressive job of replicating the premium user experience you get with pricier direct-drive trainers, and marks a genuine step up from wheel-on options, as long as you don’t mind the relatively low maximum resistance figures.
Serious esports racers may want to use an on-bike power meter to drive their avatar, though, as the Zumo’s internal power meter consistently read a few per cent lower than expected.
For general indoor riding though, the Elite Zumo is a great-value package.
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Saris M2
4.0 out of 5 star rating
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Wheel-on
Wheel-on Maximum power: 1,500 watts
1,500 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 15%
15% Weight: 9kg
9kg Flywheel: 1.2kg
1.2kg Cassette included: Not needed
Not needed Noise: 75dB
75dB Price: £430 / $500 as tested
The Saris M2 is a relatively affordable, wheel-on smart turbo trainer. Using a classic A-frame design, it weighs only 9kg, making it easy to move around, and it folds up neatly for convenient storage.
For a wheel-on trainer, the Saris M2 is noticeably quiet. It can’t quite compete with the better direct-drive trainers, but it’s not far off (tyre choice will affect this, though).
Ride feel is good, if not spectacular – largely due to the fact that it only has a 1.2kg flywheel, meaning it struggles to compete against more expensive units – and we also found the power accuracy to be better than the claimed +/- 5 per cent, once properly calibrated.
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Tacx Flow Smart
4.0 out of 5 star rating
Simon von Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Wheel-on
Wheel-on Maximum power: 800 watts
800 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 6%
6% Weight: 8.49kg
8.49kg Flywheel: 1.6kg
1.6kg Cassette included: Not needed
Not needed Noise: 68dB
68dB Price: £269.99 as tested
The Tacx Flow Smart is one of the cheapest entry points into interactive indoor cycling. While it doesn’t compete with pricier options on paper, in practice it offers an enjoyable and immersive indoor cycling experience for an attractive price.
As with other wheel-on smart trainers, the Flow Smart is louder and does report power with less accuracy than direct-drive models. But if you’re on a limited budget, it will still do a respectable job.
It’s also beginner-friendly – it’s quick and easy to assemble – and is very compact when folded away for storage. Tacx is even generous enough to include a good-quality front wheel riser block too, which is great to see at this price point.
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Tacx Flux S
4.0 out of 5 star rating
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
Type: Direct drive
Direct drive Maximum power: 1,500 watts
1,500 watts Maximum simulated gradient: 10%
10% Weight: 23.6kg
23.6kg Flywheel: 7kg
7kg Cassette included: No
No Noise: 60dB
60dB Price: £549 /€599 / $749 / AU$1,000 as tested
If you’re looking for a direct-drive smart trainer, but can’t quite stomach the prices of some of the high-end models, the Tacx Flux S might be the one you’ve been looking for.
It’s easy enough to set up, simply requiring you to attach the legs to the resistance unit with the supplied Allen key. There’s no cassette in the box though, so you’ll have to get one of those before you can start riding.
With its 6.7kg flywheel, it has a good ride feel, but there is a ceiling of 1,500 watts power and just 10 per cent simulated gradients, which might occasionally be limiting for stronger riders in comparison to other trainers.
The only other niggle is that the trainer doesn’t fold up for easy storage – the legs are simply fixed in place with bolts. This won’t be a problem if you have a dedicated pain cave, but if you need to be able to easily stow it away, this might be a dealbreaker.
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How did we test the latest smart trainers? When testing a smart trainer, we consider its price point, how easy it is to set up and what accessories are (or aren’t) included in the box. Once a trainer is ready to ride, we put it through a series of tests to assess ride feel, power accuracy and how quickly it responds to virtual gradient changes and ERG mode power shifts. With ride testing complete, we then compare the trainer’s power data to an on-bike power meter, to check whether or not the trainer gives accurate readings on a consistent basis.
What to look for when buying a smart trainer
Price
Simon von Bromley / Our Media
How much you have to spend will ultimately dictate what kind of smart trainer you get, but it’s certainly possible to put together a good indoor cycling setup on a tight budget.
Smart trainers at the lower end of the price scale tend to compromise on things such as power accuracy and noise levels, but should still offer an immersive experience. High maximum power outputs or leg-breakingly steep gradients are nice to have, but far from essential, so don’t be swayed by on-paper spec alone. Do you really need a trainer capable of handling a 2,000-watt sprint?
If you’ve got lots of money to spend, then, as usual, you’ll have far more options to choose from.
In our experience, the biggest leap in performance comes around the £500 mark, where direct-drive models start to appear. The ride feel, noise levels and power accuracy all typically take a big step up at this point, and beyond that it’s all marginal gains.
Flywheel
Simon Bromley / Immediate Media
A flywheel helps to create a road-like feel due to the kinetic energy they’re able to store, and the resultant inertia they give – essentially, when you stop pedalling it should feel like you’re coasting on a real road.
It’s generally considered that the heavier the flywheel, the better the ride feel ought to be, but this isn’t always the case. Construction, materials and design all play a role, and some brands are in fact now using virtual flywheels with magnets.
Though more expensive, virtual flywheels have the advantage of being able to change the level of inertia depending on the virtual terrain – so climbing should feel different to riding on the flat, just like in the real world.
Weight and packability
Simon Bromley/Immediate Media
Trainers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Wheel-on trainers are, more often than not, the lightest and most packable kind of trainer.
Direct-drive trainers tend to be much bulkier. Though size and shape can vary wildly – with some models folding up to a very slim form – they tend to all be pretty heavy regardless.
If you’ve got a dedicated pain cave, it may not matter at all how big and heavy your trainer is. But if you have to set it up and pack it down before and after every session, then you’ll need to take this into consideration, especially if you can’t fold down the supporting legs of a trainer or it lacks a carry handle.
Power and gradient
David Caudery / Immediate Media
Trainers have different maximum power figures that correspond to the amount of resistance they’re able to generate. They typically range from around 1,500 watts to over 3,500 watts.
1,500 watts should be plenty for most people, and 2,000-watt models ought to be enough for practically everyone except professional sprinters.
The gradient figures relate to the maximum incline a trainer can simulate – given in per cent, like on the road. Again, a lower figure isn’t going to hinder your training, it simply means those trainers won’t be able to simulate the virtual world perfectly whenever the gradients go beyond what the trainer is capable of.
However, many indoor cycling apps, including Zwift, automatically set the difficulty level to 50 per cent, so a 10 per cent ‘real life’ gradient will feel like five per cent on a smart trainer.
Unless you’re planning to change the app’s difficulty setting, this may mean you don’t need as high a spec as you think.
Noise
Allen Krughoff / Immediate Media
Indoor trainers used to be notoriously noisy, but there have been vast improvements made over the past few years. Wheel-on trainers are still typically louder than direct-drive trainers, but the gap has narrowed somewhat.
Direct-drive smart trainers are typically the quietest, with some models being so quiet that the sound from your drivetrain becomes the main source of noise.
For both types of trainer, though, the noise levels tend to increase as your power output and the flywheel speed go up.
If you want to be able to do interval training sessions inside your house or flat early in the morning, perhaps before your partner/family/housemates wake up, or after work when they’re trying to watch their favourite series in the next room, a quiet trainer is a must.
If you have your trainer set up in a garage, on the other hand, it’s less of an issue.
Useful accessories
Jack Luke / Immediate Media
Once you’ve got all of the essential items, there are still a few extra turbo trainer accessories that can make your indoor cycling sessions even more enjoyable.
First of all, most smart trainers need to be plugged into the mains electricity supply in order to function properly. A good-quality extension lead might therefore be necessary, depending on where you’re going to set up the trainer, because the supplied plugs don’t always have super-long wires.
We recommend using Bluetooth to connect all of your hardware together, but if you have ANT+ accessories (such as an older power meter or a heart rate monitor) that you also want to connect, then you’ll need an ANT+ dongle for your laptop or tablet.
You might need a riser block for your front wheel. Whether you do depends on the model of trainer, but it’s worth checking – those trainers that need a riser block to level you out don’t always come with one included.
Even if your trainer doesn’t technically need one to level the bike out, using a front wheel riser block can also increase stability, as it helps to stop your front wheel from moving underneath you. They’re not that expensive, either (unless you want it to be, in which case Wahoo will sell you its Kickr Climb gradient simulator).
A trainer mat of some sort – preferably one that’s rubberised underneath to help it stay in place – will help catch your sweat, and will also help dampen vibrations and keep noise levels down, especially if you’re using your trainer on a wooden floor (which tends to amplify the sounds).
Sweat nets that cover your top tube, steerer tube and stem might also be a good investment to protect them from perspiration and corrosion (also, read our advice on using a carbon bike on the turbo trainer).
However, what you really want is a big, powerful fan. Something around 20 inches will do, or if you’re really flash you can get a ‘smart’ fan such as the Wahoo Kickr Headwind.
If you’re using a laptop or a tablet, a specific stand or table to hold it in front of you is very useful as well, or if you want to use a TV, the Apple TV box is able to use the Zwift app.
What about smart bikes?
Tom Marvin / Immediate Media
If you’re really dedicated to indoor cycling, there is another tier of smart cycling device available; the smart bike.
The best smart bikes offer all of the features a top-end smart trainer does, plus more, making them a perfect fit in the best Zwift setup. Once assembled, they’ll always be ready and waiting for you to jump on and start pedalling, and they’re essentially maintenance-free too.
The downsides? First of all, they’re typically very expensive. You’ll also need a dedicated space to use it in, as they’re far too big and heavy to put away for storage when not in use.
Why should you train indoors rather than just ride outside?
This is a fair question and one that really has a very personal answer.
However, most of us will probably admit that we don’t enjoy getting wet, cold or dirty.
Furthermore, if you live in a particularly busy part of the world, training indoors can be much safer. If you’re doing hard intervals to exhaustion or training in a time-trial position out on the open roads, you really need to be careful of traffic.
Training indoors can save you from all of that, and in a more positive light, training indoors can be extremely time-efficient if you’re following a Zwift training plan, or something similar on another platform.
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Virtual riding is now so popular that there are organised online group rides and Zwift races, so you can indulge your competitive urges at all hours to make it more fun.
The best indoor cycling apps compared: which training app should you use?
Yes, we would all rather ride outside. But the best indoor cycling apps can help you get fitter and faster when weather, work and the rest of your life stop you from getting out.
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What’s more, the best smart trainers and training apps have made indoor cycling more realistic and effective than ever.
Here are our favourite indoor cycling apps, plus the best of the rest that are worth checking out. We’ve also included a round-up of the kit you’ll need to get started.
Racing, training or touring?
While most indoor cycling apps serve a similar purpose – to make indoor training more enjoyable and effective – they can broadly be split into a few categories depending on what you want from the experience, including intervals, racing and interactive tourism.
Some apps, such as TrainerRoad, are straight-up training tools – think personalised workouts based on power output with a specific training goal in mind.
The newly-released Wahoo SYSTM allows you to build and follow a dedicated training plan from a large workout catalogue, and also incorporates many of the features previously found on The Sufferfest, including pro race footage to train alongside.
Wahoo’s purchase of RGT Cycling means subscribers to the brand’s new training platform, Wahoo X, can use Wahoo SYSTM and RGT Cycling’s riding content.
Others, such as Rouvy, use on-bike video from around the world, with your pedal power driving the scenic view – and, if you have a smart trainer or smart bike, the route driving the resistance.
And then there’s Zwift, where you can do interactive rides, workouts and races on gamified virtual courses, with your speed based on your power-to-weight ratio in real-time.
The best app for you depends on what you want to do and, ultimately, what you want to achieve. Are you laser-focussed on interval sessions and personalised training plans or do you want an app that incorporates training features in an experience similar to a video game?
The best indoor cycling apps
Zwift has established itself as the go-to training app but there are plenty of alternatives if you want to mix-up your indoor cycling experience.
TrainerRoad is another app we have gravitated towards in the pain cave and is great for structured workouts and training plans.
The most significant launch this year was the Wahoo X training app, which amalgamates Wahoo SYSTM and RGT Cycling apps into one bundle.
For most of these apps, you’ll want to know your Functional Threshold Power (FTP) to get the most from the workouts.
Don’t worry if you don’t know it because the apps will all be able to help you determine what your FTP is – and, in turn, establish your training zones. Just be warned that finding your FTP generally involves a 20-minute all-out effort or a ramp test, so it’s no walk in the park.
Zwift
Zwift
Founded by gamers with a love of cycling (and some good investment), Zwift has undoubtedly transformed the indoor riding experience.
No, Zwift didn’t invent virtual riding – Bkool and Tour de Giro were among the first to offer online competition driven by rider output and physics-based algorithms. And Computrainer had the smart trainer experience years ago – but within a closed system where you had to buy a Computrainer.
Nor did Zwift invent power-based interval training. TrainerRoad had the early lead there.
But what Zwift has absolutely crushed is the social interaction and graphic elements of the game.
Zwift
With virtual group rides and races going on almost constantly, it’s easy to jump in with a group for an easy spin or an all-out slugfest. You can also ride on your own, or tackle one of Zwift’s many structured training plans and workouts after taking a Zwift FTP test.
The platform’s racing aspect has also taken off, with categorised Zwift races to join based on your power-to-weight ratio if you want to stoke your competitive fire.
Zwift is regularly adding gamified elements to bring further interactivity, including introducing steering to all courses within the game (provided you have the right equipment).
Zwift
Once you’ve got your Zwift setup sorted, you can also chat with friends and other cyclists as you ride through the app’s virtual worlds.
The winter 2022 Zwift update includes more routes, ways to race and PacePartners, which allows you to race against yourself.
Routes include the fictional Watopia and Neokyo worlds, and routes inspired by real-world courses such as RideLondon, the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Virginia, and the 2018 UCI Road World Championships course in Innsbruck-Tirol.
Zwift also has an Apple TV app, and you can connect your smart trainer or power meter via Bluetooth.
For more, read our complete guide to Zwift.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Apple TV
Cost: £12.99 / $14.99 per month
Free trial period: 7 days
Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
Primary features: Solo and social riding, virtual racing, training and structured workouts
Website: Zwift.com
Wahoo SYSTM
Wahoo
Wahoo SYSTM is a new online training platform from the fitness technology brand and was packaged into Wahoo X along with Wahoo RGT following Wahoo’s acquisition of RGT Cycling.
Wahoo SYSTM and Wahoo RGT stand alone, but a Wahoo X subscription gives access to both.
Wahoo also previously bought The Sufferfest, so Wahoo SYSTM contains workouts from that app and a wide range of additional training content in its new app.
Rather than going down the virtual world route, and competing with the likes of Zwift, Wahoo SYSTM focuses on helping you to build and follow a training plan, alongside a large library of workouts and content.
Aimed at time-crunched athletes, Wahoo SYSTM uses Wahoo’s proprietary Four Dimensional Power (4DP) profile (a kind of advanced FTP profile, more akin to Critical Power) to help tailor training plans and workouts to your individual fitness, strengths and weaknesses.
Wahoo SYSTM also has an ‘intuitive training plan builder’, which enables users to customise training plans to suit their own goals and fitness level. It also takes into account both your indoor and outdoor riding, as well as any off-bike cross-training you may do.
Wahoo says every workout and training plan has been designed by its Wahoo Sports Science Division, led by professional coach Neal Henderson.
Wahoo SYSTM has also imported content from The Sufferfest. Race simulations combine first-person camera footage and race data from elite riders, scaled to your fitness level, while there are also sessions set to videos of iconic cycling routes.
Wahoo
In the ‘A Week With’ category, users follow a Wahoo-sponsored professional athlete for a week, copying their turbo trainer workouts and seeing how they live and train.
Wahoo SYSTM also includes classic cycling films and documentaries, such as A Sunday In Hell and Outskirts, to help you through longer base training and recovery workouts.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Cost: £12.99 / $14.99 per month (included in Wahoo X subscription)
Free trial period: 14 days
14 days Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
ANT+, Bluetooth Primary features: Comprehensive workout library, customisable training plan, incorporates Wahoo RGT, The Sufferfest and additional content
Comprehensive workout library, customisable training plan, incorporates Wahoo RGT, The Sufferfest and additional content Website: wahoofitness.com/systm
TrainerRoad
TrainerRoad
Riding a trainer aimlessly, staring at the wall is about as much fun as sitting in a waiting room at the dentist with no WiFi. On top of that, riding with little regard for your goals and training zones isn’t really doing anything for your fitness, if you really want to make the most of your time on the turbo.
TrainerRoad takes a less-is-more approach to the indoor training app, focusing heavily on relatively short, measured interval training sessions. The aim is to make you fitter and faster without the bells and whistles other apps may offer.
While some folks may have the discipline to guide themselves through workouts in their basements, most people (including the majority of the BikeRadar staff) aren’t that mentally tough. But if a coach or an app is there walking you through that sweetspot or VO2 max session and all you have to do is pedal? That, we can do.
The app’s new adaptive training feature acts like an AI coach by tailoring sessions to your current condition. The software interprets your data and makes the training schedule easier if you’re fatigued, or harder if you’re fresher or getting stronger.
TrainerRoad
In testing, TrainerRoad claims the technology halved the number of aborted workouts and increased the likelihood of users improving their FTP by 20 per cent.
In short, TrainerRoad is streamlined fitness on your mobile phone, tablet or computer. You can drop in and do workouts à la carte, subscribe to a training plan tailored to your target event, or, if you’re already plugged into a plan on TrainingPeaks or Today’s Plan, it will import those workouts and keep you on track.
The interface is clean and simple: just follow the targets for power (and sometimes cadence) for the prescribed duration. The bar graphs show what is coming up, and the text explains the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’.
No fluff, just fitness.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Cost: $19.95 per month or $189 per year
Free trial period: 30-day money-back guarantee
Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
Primary features: Laser-focus on interval training and training plans
Website: Trainerroad.com
Wahoo RGT
Wahoo
RGT Cycling (which stands for Road Grand Tours Cycling) has been bought by Wahoo and renamed Wahoo RGT. It’s is a competitor to Zwift, except it offers virtual riding on real roads.
There is still a free version of Wahoo RGT. Access to the premium version comes through a Wahoo X subscription, which lets you use Wahoo SYSTM content too.
Wahoo
On Wahoo RGT, you can do individual or group rides, plus structured training and races on virtual reconstructions of iconic roads such as Mont Ventoux, the Paterberg in Flanders and the Passo dello Stelvio.
Premium users can also upload their own GPX files and the app will create a virtual course for you to ride in-game.
RGT previously merged its two apps into one (there used to be individual apps for running RGT on mobile and then playing it on a screen).
As a result, you can now directly connect a Mac, PC or tablet running RGT Cycling to your smart trainer or smart bike.
The platform says this should resolve connectivity issues some users were experiencing and make it easier for any bugs to be fixed.
For more, read our complete guide to RGT Cycling.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Apple TV
iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Apple TV Cost: Free or premium version (included in Wahoo X subscription)
Free or premium version (included in Wahoo X subscription) Free trial period: 14 days
14 days Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
ANT+, Bluetooth Primary features: Virtual reconstructions of real roads, training and racing
Virtual reconstructions of real roads, training and racing Website: RGTCycling.com
More indoor cycling training apps
There are scores of indoor training apps out there, including quite a few produced by brands to accompany smart trainers.
For the most part, we have found the branded apps to be less polished and user-friendly. However, there are a couple of exceptions, which have made the list below.
Rouvy
Rouvy
Rouvy contains a mix of virtual riding and interval training.
The company offers augmented-reality riding that allows you to race your friends, similar to Zwift, but instead of a fully animated world, the app adds avatars, road signs and finish banners to real-life footage.
For example, you can specifically train for UK sportives on simulations of Yorkshire hills the pros rode in the 2014 Tour de France.
For more, read our complete guide to Rouvy.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Apple TV
Cost: $12 / €12 per month
Free trial period: 14 days
Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
Primary features: Video routes, augmented reality routes, training
Website: Rouvy.com
Bkool
Bkool previously made indoor trainers, alongside offering an app, but the Spanish company is now focused exclusively on software.
Its virtual world comprises thousands of courses and offers similar social and racing features to Zwift.
There are also outdoor courses with real-world footage, as well as the option for targeted interval training.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Cost: €9.99 per month / €96 per year
Free trial period: 30 days
Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
Primary features: Virtual racing, virtual routes and video routes, training
Website: bkool.com
Kinomap
Kinomap
With more than 425,000km of video courses from around the world, Kinomap changes the resistance on your smart trainer based on the terrain in the video.
Kinomap also offers interval training, with two modes either based around training with a power meter or fixed resistance on a smart trainer. You can train solo or join sessions with users anywhere in the world.
Platform: iOS, Android
Cost: Free / €11.99 per month / €89.99 annually / €269.99 lifetime access
Free trial period: 14 days
Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
Primary Features: Video routes, training, multisport functionality
Website: Kinomap.com
FulGaz
Courtesy
FulGaz offers more than 1,200 high-definition POV videos from around the world, with everything from famous climbs such as the Tourmalet to popular group ride routes like Akuna Bay in Sydney, Australia.
The app uses your weight and power output to adjust the speed of the video and the resistance on your smart trainer.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, Apple TV
Cost: £9.99 per month / £85.99 annually
Free trial period: 14 days
Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
Primary features: Video routes, training
Website: fulgaz.com
Kinetic Fit
Kinetic Fit
Mixing the approach of quite a few of the apps above, Kinetic Fit combines interval training (using bright and blocky bar graphs) with video integration.
It allows you to watch pre-selected YouTube playlists as you ride, or even movies downloaded to your device without the need for a second screen or to navigate away from the workout.
The free ‘core’ membership allows access to one introductory training plan and a range of workouts. The premium ‘smart’ membership opens up an additional 27 training plans, video features and third-party smart-trainer support.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Cost: Free / $9.99 per month
Free trial period: N/A
Device compatibility: ANT+, Bluetooth
Primary features: Training
Website: kinetic.fit
Tacx Training
Tacx
If you own a Tacx smart trainer, such as the Neo 2T or Flux S, then the Dutch brand offers its own training software.
The Tacx Training app features films of real-life roads such as Mont Ventoux and the Paterberg, as well as training plans, customisable workouts and the ability to replicate your own routes from GPS data.
The free service allows users to create custom workouts, analyse training data and ride to two demo films. You’ll need to sign up for a Premium or Premium HD subscription in order to access the full library of videos and training plans or to import your own GPS data.
Unfortunately, it’s only compatible with Tacx smart trainers, so if you don’t have one you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Cost: Free / €9.99 monthly or €99.99 annually (Premium) / €13.99 monthly or €139.99 annually (Premium HD)
Free trial period: N/A
Device compatibility: Tacx smart trainers only
Primary features: Training, real-life videos
Website: Tacx.com
Indoor training: what you need to get started
Immediate Media
Here’s an overview of the basic equipment required to use an indoor training app.
One of these three devices:
Smartphone
Tablet
Computer
One of these three tools:
Smart trainer (best for a realistic ride quality and automatic resistance control for intervals and road gradient, but pricey)
Power meter (great for accurate data that transfers to outside workouts, but no automatic resistance control unless paired with a smart trainer)
Classic trainer with speed/cadence sensor (more affordable, but virtual power is calculated, so it’s not as realistic and there’s no automatic resistance control)
One of these two wireless connections:
ANT+
Bluetooth
And both of these:
Your bike
A big fan to keep you cool!
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That’s the basics covered but our guide to turbo trainer accessories covers everything else you may need to make the experience more immersive or pleasurable.
12 of the best indoor cycling apps – get the right turbo training experience for you
Updated March 15, 2021
If you want to make indoor training less boring than looking at a wall, there are loads of apps that give you something to look at and add competive, social and targeted training elements as well. Let’s take a look and see what options you have beyond the ones you’ve almost certainly heard of.
Nothing really beats riding your bike on the open road, but for various reasons from time to weather riding indoors has always been a useful alternative. We’ve come a long way from basic turbo trainers and watching the clock though, with a whole world of interactive and immersive indoor cycling apps that take indoor cycling to another level.
The development of smart trainers with integrated power meters and Bluetooth/ANT+ control has led to a whole swathe of training apps designed to make the most of these new trainers.
As a result, riding indoors is now much more realistic and compelling than ever before. You can do everything from riding with your mates, virtual or real, take part in racing leagues, follow structured training programmes or ride famous roads and climbs from the world’s biggest races.
Turbo trainers of the pros – What trainers do pro teams use for indoor training?
It all helps to pass the time much more quickly and rather than dread the indoor trainer, you can now embrace it and keep the miles ticking over and hit your training goals ready for the summer.
There are now many apps available to suit all needs, whether you’re simply training, want to get into racing or just need a suitable alternative to dark, cold and wet weather. In this article we’ve rounded up some of the most popular – if there are any we’ve missed do add them in the comments section below.
Most of these apps require a subscription. Many do provide a free trial so if you’re not sure which one is right for you, our best advice is to simply try a few out before you commit to one.
– 6 reasons why using a home trainer is the best way to get fit — and how to make it fun too
What is it? An immersive and realistic virtual world where you can ride with friends on a recreation of famous roads from Box Hill to Alpe d’Huez
An immersive and realistic virtual world where you can ride with friends on a recreation of famous roads from Box Hill to Alpe d’Huez How much is it? £12.99/month with no contract
Tell me more: Zwift’s biggest feature and its unique selling point is the ability to ride in a virtual world against or alongside other people from across the world. It’s totally immersive. It makes indoor cycling a game and the result is that it makes turbo training fun and engaging. If you use Zwift with a smart trainer, the level of resistance adjusts to match the terrain so when you’re going up a climb, it really does feel like it.
It’s a massive multiplayer game in essence, and you can race people from all over the world. There are many organised events, from training rides to races, so you can ride with people of similar fitness and get a really good workout. The races are particularly realistic and can push you really hard, because it’s always motivating to chase someone, even in the virtual world.
If you want more structured training, Zwift also offers a wide range of workout modes and there’s everything from sprint intervals to sweet spot sessions. You can conduct an FTP test and follow one of the 12-week plans if you want to enjoy the benefits of a virtual coach to get you fit for a big sportive or race. You can also customise the workouts and make your own, too.
Zwift has moved heavily into e-racing as well. The KISS Super League series of exhibition events brought professional cyclists on line to race; Zwift hosted the first British Cycling eracing championships; and the now provides the venue for WRTL (World Tactical Racing Leagues) competitions — their third season of Zwift Racing Leagues starts April 21.
Zwift might be getting all the attention at the moment, but there are many other options, as we demonstrate below.
What is it? Extensive training plans and workouts for the cyclist that needs structured training goals
Extensive training plans and workouts for the cyclist that needs structured training goals How much is it? $19.95/month or $189/year (if you’re not 100% satisfied, get a full refund within the first 30 days)
Tell me more: TrainerRoad uses a simple and clean graphical interface that provides all the metrics you need to track your efforts, from speed, any connected sensors like heart rate, cadence and power. A workout is displayed as a simple graph representing your intervals and a line moves across this graph identifying your progress. Motivational and instructional text is provided on-screen to help you stay focused and provide useful tips. Immersive it’s not, but structured and detailed it certainly is.
But by far TrainerRoad’s biggest appeal is the vast number of workouts and training plans it provides. There are a staggering 1,000+ workouts so there’ll be something for all tastes and requirements. You can also follow a training plan (there are 100+) with plans for every type of cyclist, covering early season base work to race preparation. Following a plan is the optimum way of improving your fitness, and it removes the guesswork so all you have to do is concentrate on following the plan. If getting fit is your goal, TrainerRoad is a seriously compelling choice.
TrainerRoad also has a calendar functionality that logs all your outdoor rides too and keeps track of your overall Training Stress Score. If you don’t have power data for an outside ride you can get an estimated TSS based on your level of effort.
What is it? Training with race footage and motivational instructions and messages
Training with race footage and motivational instructions and messages How much is it? US$14.99/month or US$129 USD/year. Free trial available
Tell me more: Sufferfest is one of the original training services that made riding indoors more appealing than staring at a wall or watching reruns of the 1988 Tour de France. It combined actual real pro cycling racing footage with instructions telling you when to ride easy and when to attack!
It’s all based on the solid theory of interval training, not just pedalling around in circles, so you maximise the time you spend on the trainer. There are more than 50 structured interval workouts to choose from, designed by world-class coaches, and tailored to help you meet whatever goals you’re working towards.
It might not provide a virtual world to cycle around, but the real pro race footage, music and storylines are very compelling and provide a great distraction and keep you pedalling hard. The company has also developed what it calls Four-Dimensional Power, or 4DP for short, which it reckons goes beyond FTP in using four metrics to help personalise the workouts to your exact needs.
And now, beside actual training, Sufferest is branching out by offering yoga, mental toughness and strength training programmes aimed at the needs of cyclists.
What is it? Real-world simulated riding or 3D simulator with thousands of famous roads and climbs to experience
Real-world simulated riding or 3D simulator with thousands of famous roads and climbs to experience How much is it? €9.99/month or €96/year and there’s a 30-day free trial
Tell me more: The Bkool Simulator software provides real-life footage shot from a cyclists point of view (or, more likely, a camera mounted on a car) with a variety, of course, to choose from. The harder you pedal, the faster the footage plays, and if you have a smart turbo, the resistance will vary with the gradient of the hill. It does provide an immersive experience and if you’d rather watch real-world footage than a pretend world, this could be the training package for you. It looks best if you’ve got a nice big telly set up in front of you, and a decent internet connection is also needed.
The appeal of Bkool Simulator isn’t in the social angle, it’s in the appeal of riding up an actual hill and measuring your effort and time, with actual real weather and headwind. And there are thousands of real-world routes and climbs to choose from, including Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier, even the Isle of Wight if you ride to ride somewhere closer to home. So it’s a good way to prepare for riding those climbs in real life or just a better distraction than a virtual world.
If you have a video camera you can create your own video sessions to ride, but unless you’re going to film your cycling holiday I’m not sure there’s much interest in riding your local rides indoors. You also have the choice of riding in a 3D world where you can race against rivals from around the world, and this appears to be the new focus for the Bkool Simulator, moving away from video to providing virtual options of all major climbs.
And just in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to have a Bkool smart trainer to use the Bkool Simulator.
What is it? Real-world video with augmented reality development
Real-world video with augmented reality development How much is it? US$144/year and two week free trial
Tell me more: If you want to ride real roads then Rouvy focuses on reality, providing a staggering 125,000 miles of video routes from around the world. But it’s USP is augmented reality, with 3D avatars appearing over the real video footage. It’s currently still in public beta phase, they plan to roll out 2,000 real-life geo-synced video routes with augmented reality, but it’s an exciting development and if you want realism this could be the app for you.
There’s a lot more on offer too, including structured workouts, training diary, pedalling technique analysis, fun challenges, races and leaderboards so you can see how you compare to friends.
What is it? Ride real worlds from around the world
Ride real worlds from around the world How much is it? £9.99/month or £85.99/year and 14 day free trial
FulGaz is another new kid on the block that lets you ride real roads indoors.
Tell me more: This training app combines real video footage from road races, so if you want to ride Alpe d’Huez from the comfort of your home, FulGaz lets you do just that. The videos have been filmed in 4K from a camera mounted to a bike and the footage is sped up or slowed down to match your actual performance. It’s as close to riding the real thing as it gets.
It’s currently offering 832 routes covering over 18,000km, so there’s plenty of exploring to be done.
What is it? Detailed simulation of real-world iconic climbs plus roll-your-own routes
Detailed simulation of real-world iconic climbs plus roll-your-own routes How much is it? Free; £6.99 for premium
Tell me more: Clearly inspired by the success and popularity of Zwift, RGT (formerly Road Grand Tours) is another online training platform that provides a 3D simulation of the real-world to cycle around. It provides amazingly detailed, with crisp, clear graphics that add to the realism, and you can tailor every aspect of your avatar and bike.
No make-believe worlds here, instead you have accurate recreations of some of the most iconic climbs in the world, dubbed Real Roads. There’s Ventoux, the Stelvio and Cap de Formentor and the realism of riding up this famous climbs from the comfort of your own home is incredibly appealing.
RGT’s USP is Magic Roads. Send RGT a GPX of a route up to 100km long and they’ll add it to their route library.
RGT is intended to be a social platform providing multiplayer races and rides, allowing you to interact with other users via the mobile app. Racing is intended to be accurate, the simulator also takes drafting and peloton dynamics into consideration, so when you hit the front of the peloton you’ll need to put out considerably more power than if you were in the pack.
The premium level gets you access to more Real Roads and RGT’s full library of workouts, plus the ability to upload your own workouts and to create races and group rides.
Check out our first look at Road Grand Tours and our report on the release of RGT
What is it? High-quality films and structured training plans
High-quality films and structured training plans How much is it? Free for the basic level; €9.99/month or €99.99/year for premium (includes films and training plans); €13.99/month or €139.99/year for premium HD with films in 1080p
If you’ve bought a Tacx trainer this winter then it could be worth trying the company’s own training software. Like some other apps here, it provides high-quality films so you could ride anywhere from the Alps to the spring classics. The library is growing all the time with more videos being added. You can also upload your own routes by linking your Strava account or uploading GPS data, and follow a 3D map view. There’s also the options to ride with live opponents or enlist virtual training partners, and there’s also structured training plans with a calendar function.
What is it? A virtual coach with real videos
A virtual coach with real videos How much is it? €19.99/year
Tell me more: Designed to work with Elite’s wide range of trainers, this app provides a virtual coach by giving you training programs to suit all levels of fitness and ability. It also provides real videos with a growing library. However, the app lets you record your own routes so you could film a route and then play it back on the indoor trainer. Or you can ride routes that other users have shared. You can also create your own 3D course by using Google Maps to ride anywhere in the world.
What is it? Huge library of user-uploaded ride videos
Huge library of user-uploaded ride videos How much is it? €9.99/month, €79.99/year, €229/lifetime
Tell me more: Kinomap lets you ride real roads that its users have shared in its growing library. This takes the emphasis away from the company providing videos and encourages users to upload videos. And there’s a lot to choose from, with 320,000km of routes to choose from. The quality does vary quite a bit. Still, if you want to ride real places that you’ve never been before it’s a good choice. You can also participate in group rides with a ride taking place every hour. There are multiplayer sessions, interval training sessions and races available on the platform too.
What is it? Virtual rides
Virtual rides How much is it? Free
Tell me more: Here’s another app that offers virtual rides from around the world, including the Alps and Pyrenees, so if you want stunning landscapes to ride through when it’s cold and wet outside, this could be for you. It’s not the biggest catalogue but there are some interesting choices, such as the Quebrantahuesos gran fondo. When you ride you can see upcoming hills and all the data you need such as speed, power, distance and time.
What is it? A Zwift copy
A Zwift copy How much is it? TBC
Tell me more: China’s answer to Zwift, One Lap appears to offer a similar virtual world to cycle around in with your own avatar. It offers a physical model that simulates the gradient, wind and drag resistance. We’d love to tell you more but the English (or US) version of the website is a bit rubbish.
It’s currently only available as a PC download, there’s no Mac or smartphone support at the moment. That’s why we’ve yet to try this app, but if you have let us know what it’s like, please.
Elite MyETraining – any good online resources?
I’ve set up and Elite Direto trainer with an old Inbred of mine, primarily for cardiac rehab. and it comes with a 1 year subscription to Elite’s own “MyETraining” (although you still have to pay on top for some features). Since the trainer itself was costly I thought that it would make sense to give it a go but it’s fairly bewildering (poor built in help and some Italian text associated with built in training programmes).
I’ve done a Fitness Test which, despite sweating like a pig, sadly puts me very solidly in the Sedentary category (although after 3 heart attacks and a resulting 14+ months of associated relative inactivity probably shouldn’t surprise me).
It looks like I also need to do something called an FTP Test but after that I’m rather flummoxed. Are there any good online resources that will give me a good grounding in using the App and creating fun training programmes?
My main purpose is to get me through the Winter (I’m now painfully susceptible to the cold & have Reynaud’s Syndrome on top of the heart disease) and to give me confidence to get out on my bike.
Best cycling training apps to make you a better cyclist in 2022
In the past, the closest thing to an interactive element during home training sessions was to plug in a VHS and listen to Phil Liggett on full blast, barely audible over the whirring of your turbo trainer as you try to ‘keep up’ on a mountain stage while forgetting about the discomfort of sitting still.
Thankfully, though, that’s all changed. The latest generation of training apps works across multiple platforms from PCs to smartphones and tablets. They offer hundreds of virtual places to ride with or against other riders, with realistic, real-time graphics or video.
They can also connect to the latest generation of smart trainers to vary the resistance automatically, making the experience more authentic than ever.
Here we look at seven training apps to see how they stack up. It’s quite an investment in time and potentially cost to try them out, and not all will suit your needs or tastes.
So plug into our guide to discover which one can provide the kind of indoor-training environment you’re looking for.
7 of the best cycling training apps
1. Zwift
Like Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, the graphics of Zwift aren’t quite Hollywood CGI, but we found them so engaging that we soon forgot we weren’t actually riding.
Saddle time is rewarded with XP points, which allow you to upgrade kit and equipment and adds an extra level of interest and possibly motivation.
In the ‘Just Ride’ mode, the resistance responds to the gradient and the Zwift programmers must be commended for providing a fantastically smooth and realistic feeling.
If you want something more structured, you can enter one of the many group rides scheduled daily, or follow your own workout programme.
In these cases, the resistance responds to the particular training block and the groups are held together regardless of how much power an individual rider is producing.
With thousands of riders Zwifting at any one time, we were never on our own for a ride, further increasing engagement with the app.
Apart from a small number of connection issues, everything worked as it should making for a seamless experience. And for anyone with a place in this year’s RideLondon, you can train on the slopes of a virtual Box Hill and hone your sprint finish down the Mall too!
Platforms: iOS/Mac/Windows
iOS/Mac/Windows Summary: Lacks serious in-depth data but turns tedious turbo sessions into a fun, sociable experience
Lacks serious in-depth data but turns tedious turbo sessions into a fun, sociable experience Cost: £12.99/month
£12.99/month Find out more: zwift.com
2. BKool Simulator
You’ve got to be cool and patient to make the perfect attacking move on a ride, or so they say, and BKool’s expansive offering will help you build the legs needed to execute it.
We found the real-world rides challenging and engaging, particularly in the 3D virtual renderings with fellow competitors to keep you company and crowds to cheer you on.
Getting through the complicated interface and scheduling tried our patience a tad, and we also found that the resistance changes were a little too sharp for our liking.
But on the plus side, any ride can be turned into a BKool session (by linking to your own GPS tracks) and enjoyed in an aerial map mode.
The velodrome sessions add another extra element of fun, allowing you to compete against other riders in a pursuit or kilo time-trial, with the only limitation being the number of other users online when you want to ride.
We also really enjoyed the structured sessions offered by the video workout classes with the instructors keeping us motivated and offering insights into the benefits of particular workouts; just watch out for the classes held in Spanish. ¡Hola!
Platform: iOS/Android/Mac/Windows
iOS/Android/Mac/Windows Summary: With such a wealth of content, BKool is one of the most engaging and best value apps out there
With such a wealth of content, BKool is one of the most engaging and best value apps out there Cost: £7.99/month
£7.99/month Find out more: bkool.com
3. Wahoo SYSTM
Wahoo SYSTM is a cycling-centric, performance driven fitness app which has an impressive choice of cycling workouts, as well as swimming, running, strength, yoga, and mental training sessions.
Released in September 2021, one of the most notable features of the app is SYSTM’s unique fitness test, called the 4DP which really makes this training app stand out.
The 4DP (Four-dimensional power) test uses four key performance metrics, Neuromuscular Power (NM), Maximal Aerobic Power (MAP), Functional Threshold Power (FTP), and Anaerobic Capacity (AC).
Users are encouraged to do this test from the get-go. You can’t define progress until you know where you are starting from, and that is exactly what the 4DP test does.
It sets the benchmarks for your workouts which are personalised to your own 4DP profile, so you can properly follow a training plan, address strengths and weaknesses, and admire your progress in all its glory.
The training plans are easy to follow, customisable and cover all key areas. For example, you can choose which surface you usually ride, train for a specific challenge, choose your volume, and work to rest ratio.
In the cycling section, workouts are split into channels, ranging from indoor sessions with GCN, workouts from The Sufferfest which Wahoo incorporated in 2019, and Pro Rides to name but a few.
You can ‘spend a week with’ the legendary Ian Boswell (there is also the option to hang out with Wahoo’s Neal Henderson) and learn more than just grit and determination, but also what he has for breakfast.
Every workout is littered with encouraging words, whether that be from the instructor willing you to push harder or words popping up on the screen telling you how great you are.
What we particularly liked was the inspirational aspect to this app. Unlike other apps on this list like Zwift and RGT Cycling, there isn’t any virtual reality riding, or interactive group cycling, and there certainly aren’t any avatars.
But it doesn’t matter as the way the training sessions are so effective in motivating and inspiring users, you never feel alone.
SYSTM is also not just for cycling. It features running, yoga, strength, swimming and mindfulness sessions, that you can get an all-round workout.
As long as Wahoo keep updating the workouts on offer, SYSTM is a great training tool and you certainly won’t get bored.
Platforms: iOS/Mac/Windows
iOS/Mac/Windows Summary: A cycling training app packed full of inspiration for people who want to see progress
A cycling training app packed full of inspiration for people who want to see progress Cost: Available as a free 14-day trial for new users and then is £11.00 / $14.99 per month or £94 / $129 a year.
Available as a free 14-day trial for new users and then is £11.00 / $14.99 per month or £94 / $129 a year. Find out more: Wahoo
4. TrainerRoad
If you want a no-nonsense app that’ll make you a faster cyclist, this is the one for you. Don’t get us wrong, no-nonsense is not a euphemism for poor quality or lacking in features – quite the opposite.
TrainerRoad is a well thought-out and easy-to-use app with industry-leading features.
It focusses on delivering high-quality training sessions and doesn’t require you to have a degree in sports science to use it – simply choose your discipline, development area and volume to arrive at your multi-week training plan.
Following the Winter Base plan, we knew exactly what we had in-store each day, so there was no wasted time before each session deciding what to do.
The PowerMatch feature does an excellent job of working with your bike’s power meter to control the resistance of your smart trainer, making indoor sessions comparable with those completed outdoors.
Built-in trainer and power meter calibration is another feature that shows the developers at TrainerRoad are serious about accuracy.
We loved the workout explanations and apart from some minor setup issues, the only thing we reckon you need worry about is when pals complain they can’t keep up.
Platforms: iOS/Android/Mac/Windows
iOS/Android/Mac/Windows Summary: With loads of data, training sessions and plans, it’s ideal for those who take their indoor training seriously
With loads of data, training sessions and plans, it’s ideal for those who take their indoor training seriously Cost: £15/month
£15/month Find out more: trainerroad.com
5. FulGaz
If you’ve ever heard the Classics racers give a post-race interview you’ll probably have heard the term ‘full gas’. It’s when you’re going as hard as you can and there is nothing left. Which provides a helpful clue as to what this video-based simulator is all about!
Using physics modelling to reflect the ride sensations by altering resistance on your smart turbo trainer, along with high-definition videos of real races, it really pulled us in, to the point where we naturally chased the wheels in front of us and even leant into corners.
On occasion the turbo resistance felt lumpy and out of sync on the steeper gradients, but adjusting the settings of rider weight, aerodynamic resistance and gear ratios certainly improved things.
FulGaz has a vast library with over 250 global videos that cover from 1-100 miles, and offers three ride modes: ‘Steady’ plays the video back at the speed it was recorded, making it ideal for fixed-duration workouts, whereas the ‘Reactive’ and ‘Challenge’ modes respond to how hard you’re working.
For an added incentive, you can use Challenge mode to race against a ghost of yourself or an online rival.
Platforms: iOS only
iOS only Summary: Great for anyone who wants to turn watching pro races on the TV into a more interactive experience
Great for anyone who wants to turn watching pro races on the TV into a more interactive experience Cost: £9.99/month
£9.99/month Find out more: fulgaz.com
6. Rouvy
According to the developers behind Rouvy, the name is enshrined in cycling legend, being the nickname of a wild sheep-like animal ridden by a court jester up the steep hills of Central Europe that was supposedly the inspiration for the first bicycle. Or something.
Legends aside, this app is based on years of development with a mixed offering of real-world video rides, interval training sessions and a selection of competitive modes that are sure to see you outpacing the local wildlife.
With routes from a variety of worldwide locations, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. The user-submitted videos are a real highlight and of excellent quality.
We did find the technical side of the ride experience was lacking, however, with brutal resistance changes and the video going slowly out of sync with the resistance.
If you’re using TrainingPeaks, you can pull your workouts from there, which is a nice touch; it’s also compatible with Sufferfest workout videos.
The option to join scheduled races is good, although we struggled to find enough ride companions. In theory, there should have been enough content to keep us entertained but in reality we were left a bit underwhelmed.
Platforms: iOS/Android/Windows
iOS/Android/Windows Summary: Suffers from a few technical glitches and lack of users, but still a worthwhile indoor companion
Suffers from a few technical glitches and lack of users, but still a worthwhile indoor companion Cost: £9/month
£9/month Find out more: rouvy.com
7. GoldenCheetah
The fastest land-based animal may not be a realistic target, but GoldenCheetah should help you become a faster cyclist without costing a penny.
A pioneer of open source ride data analysis, GoldenCheetah’s freely available, and we were keen to explore its built-in training mode to see if it could provide a viable alternative to paid-for apps.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, GoldenCheetah isn’t as polished as others, but looks can be deceiving and below the surface you’ll find analysis tools to satisfy even the geekiest rider.
However, we found this complexity made the app and specifically the training mode, difficult to use – especially figuring out how to set up our trainer with the software.
Another issue was finding a workout: thousands of user-made workouts are available through the online ERG database tool, but with searching almost impossible, it’s like looking for the proverbial needle in haystack.
It is, however, a doddle to make your own workouts, so if you have a selection of your own pre-made workouts these can be input and used in ERG mode with your smart trainer.
Not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re used to following paper training plans and already make use of the analysis tools, GoldenCheetah, could prove a very cost-effective solution.
Platforms: Mac/Windows/Linux
Mac/Windows/Linux Summary: Great in-depth stats make it a good choice for geeks, but the complex interface is not for the casual user
Great in-depth stats make it a good choice for geeks, but the complex interface is not for the casual user Cost: £free
£free Find out more: goldencheetah.org
How to choose a smart trainer
Many turbo trainers offer the option for the user to vary resistance via a remote switch mounted on the handlebars. This works by adjusting the level of magnetic resistance in the flywheel, enabling riders to recreate the effect of, for example, riding up steep gradients.
Smart trainers do away with this manual resistance control, instead linking up with computers, smartphones and compatible bike computers which can control the resistance level for you.
This has created a whole market of interactive training apps and simulators that have two benefits.
The first is the ability to follow preset workouts, with resistance changes coming at set points without you needing to intervene. It’s almost like having your own coach.
The other benefit is being able to link your turbo sessions to realistic online worlds – either computer-generated or linked to real-world videos – where you can ride with/against others, with the resistance of your turbo trainer increasing every time you hit a virtual hill.
Entry-level models such as the BKool Smart Go cost around £360 and include everything needed to get started, but for a more realistic experience check out the Tacx Neo 2T, which among its many features is able to simulate road vibration and has a bone-shaking price tag to match – £1,199.
Just make sure any prospective purchase includes both ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth Smart, the two most widely used wireless protocols, maximising app compatibility including all those featured in this guide.
This guide includes contributions from the wider Cyclist team. Products appearing in Cyclist buyer’s guides are independently selected by our editorial team. Cyclist may earn an affiliate commission if you make a purchase through a retailer link. Read our reviews policy here.
키워드에 대한 정보 my e training vs zwift
다음은 Bing에서 my e training vs zwift 주제에 대한 검색 결과입니다. 필요한 경우 더 읽을 수 있습니다.
이 기사는 인터넷의 다양한 출처에서 편집되었습니다. 이 기사가 유용했기를 바랍니다. 이 기사가 유용하다고 생각되면 공유하십시오. 매우 감사합니다!
사람들이 주제에 대해 자주 검색하는 키워드 App My E-Training: compatible with all Elite hometrainers
- elite
- bike training
- my e-training
- training app
- elite hometrainers
- trainer elite
- rulli elite
- app allenamento
- ciclismo
- cycling
- training
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YouTube에서 my e training vs zwift 주제의 다른 동영상 보기
주제에 대한 기사를 시청해 주셔서 감사합니다 App My E-Training: compatible with all Elite hometrainers | my e training vs zwift, 이 기사가 유용하다고 생각되면 공유하십시오, 매우 감사합니다.