Winter is coming for many of us, and that leads us to indoor training. We are planning a series of Slowtwitch articles on training software, hardware, and accessories leading to ideal pain caves. The field of training software is rapidly changing, and the products are starting to align around a few styles and approaches.
There are more than a dozen mainstream bike training software solutions, and we cannot look at them all. So, we are curious what one or two indoor bike trainer software features are most important to you in picking the best software for you. This will help guide which training software we review and how we compare them.
This is the initial list of features or attributes we brainstormed that might turn your cranks. Which of these (or something else) are the most important to you?
Group Rides
Virtual Races
Structured Workouts & Plans
Actual Course Simulations
Entertaining or Motivational Content
Well PopulatedPrice
Gamification
Workout builder
Platform compatibility (iOS, Android, Windows, Apple TV, etc.)
Hardware compatibility (KICKR Climb, Neo terrain, steering, etc.)
Multi discipline plans (cycling-only vs. cycling, running, & swimming)
Ease of use. Step minimization. Intuitiveness. A platform that just works and does it all, but that my grandmother could figure out, and that I could use with virtually zero user time-cost.
Have been surprised, but well populated is the most important to me. After using Zwift, Rouvy, etc., I’m always surprised with how much less I enjoy the course if there is nobody else on it, or very few.
Zwift almost has too many on the flat routes, but it’s perfect on the hill climbs, which thins the herd to just the right level that I can find people to pace with or pick off.
Interestingly, I never ride with groups outdoors, I’d love to but scheduling issues.
Ease of use. Step minimization. Intuitiveness. A platform that just works and does it all, but that my grandmother could figure out, and that I could use with virtually zero user time-cost.
This ^^^
Gamification is another big one for me. I really like the look of that Zwift /PCM potential alternative (Veloton I think, or maybe VirtuPro now?), but I know this would actually hurt my training. Maybe a fun game for the off season and use something like Zwift in season and when I need to take it easy.
I think most triathletes use these platforms with a training first mentality, whereas those who take the racing more seriously, tend to be cyclists (generalization).
I wish I could make choices. Currently I have Zwift, TrainerRoad, Suff…er SYSTM, Golden Cheetah, and the Garmin/Tacx apps in use. That’s cut down from also Xert and RGT.
But one thing missing from you list is analysis capability. That’s something missing entirely from Zwift, pretty weak in SYSTM (though Wahoo says this will change), and strong in TrainerRoad and really strong in Golden Cheetah/WKO.
Another thing is an “ecosystem” that works both indoors and outdoors. I don’t think anyone’s completely nailed this yet, but TrainerRoad is way ahead so far.
I wish I could make choices. Currently I have Zwift, TrainerRoad, Suff…er SYSTM, Golden Cheetah, and the Garmin/Tacx apps in use. That’s cut down from also Xert and RGT.Nice, you could be the resident expert. Great point about analysis… I never really looked at that in TrainerRoad, so I will go poking around. I generally use Garmin Connect & Strava for analysis, but only light weight.
Since I ride on an indoor velodrome and not on Zwift anymore I want software that gives me workouts when I’m not training with my team.
Right now I’m using Training Peaks and Xert.
I keep Training Peaks because it is very easy to make a workout and transfer it to my Garmin. I’ve bought plans and I’ve made my own workouts. All I have to do is drop them in the calendar and it syncs with my Garmin 830. The graphic on the 830 is easy to follow.
I like Xert for a few reasons. It calculates my training levels automatically and keeps everything realistic. I never have to do a test, my racing is my maximal efforts and it figures out how hard I can go in training and racing. It predicts my performance very well.
Xert also feeds me workouts when I need them, there may be a group of 5 or so that I can choose from or I can override with what I think I need. I can also plan workouts with their planner and know how hard I can go.
What I don’t like about Xert is their Garmin workout player. I’m sorry…it’s garbage. The info is so small I can’t see it with readers on and every time I use it, it disables all of my sensors from other bikes. I don’t even try it anymore and just build the workout in Training Peaks or Garmin Connect.
Just a perspective from someone that’s not riding on a trainer all winter. I will ride on Zwift again, I like the platform, I just don’t need it right now. If I need to ride on a trainer a few times this winter I’ll probably take one of my Zwift files and convert it to my older Computrainer program and just ride loops.
Admittedly, I don’t have a lot of experience with many platforms. I’ve stuck with TrainerRoad over the years because
it is easy to use, has lots of structured workouts to choose from
it is easy for me to build my own workouts (even if Adobe Air is kind of a pita; they can do much better)PowerMatch means I never need to think twice about power meter/trainer offsets
gamification doesn’t really do anything for me emotionally.
I would be willing to change platforms for a system that maintains the above and actually gives me decent analytic capability. In particular I’ve always wanted control charts to measure the impact of this or that adjustment. Short of writing it myself, I doubt anybody will ever make it.
Also a Xert user - the jump on and go aspect was the main draw (pandemic + young kid meant that the structure of my training has been lacking). In some ways, it’s meant that I’ve been less nudged to stick with a plan, but the flip side is that the workouts are reasonable even if I’ve been a bit sporadic. I also like that it “allows” for getting non-structured rides in and figuring out how they fit into your overall fitness. Pricing is also one of the lower ones ($99/year). Overall it has worked well for me. I did Zwift early on, but haven’t felt super compelled to go back to it - I usually toss Netflix on or do some email/doc catch up if it’s a light workout.
On the cons side
I haven’t tried using it for multi-sport, supposedly it’s possible if you have a running power device, set up two accounts, and do some manual work to sync your fitness signature between them. It seems like a hot mess and I only have the Garmin power measurements which sound like some people in their forums have issues with.
The apps are a bit funky from a consistency perspective. I’m running the trainer connected to an old iPhone because it seems to connect better with my trainer than the new EBC one on Android. Neither app really has much of the analytics or status details from the desktop website and a lot of the details also aren’t available on their mobile web either. It’s not terrible, but it does mean there’s no all-in-one spot to do the workouts + look at the analytics/training plans/status.
Neutral - I think there is more that I can do to get value out of it and really understand the automation/analysis components. Some of this might happen more naturally during a racing season (e.g., having tough “workouts” to ensure your fitness signature is correct) but it’d be helpful to have some temporal based nudges that it slotted into your regular workouts (e.g., it’s been 4 weeks since your last breakthrough, suggest one of their “test” workouts and run it in the correct mode on your trainer)
I have a stryd PM and have set up two accounts. Xert was very helpful setting up the second one. The numbers for running are drastically different from cycling and should not be mixed together. The MPA for running is so much lower than cycling and FTP is higher.
Personally i think running with power is useless but then i haven’t put much effort into figuring it out either. Using speed as a proxy for effort is easy and HR for the hills works well too.
I never got into the zwift workouts. I just used my own for running and cycling. I think Xert exports to zwift but i don’t run much any more.
I use trainer road. I tried zwift but I don’t really care about the game aspect. I thought about sufferfest for a while because of the yoga and things built into the platform. Trainer road is where it’s at for me. Ive become such a a better cyclist. Here’s what I love
Numbers - the whole thing is very scientific and easily trackable
Group workout - this changed my life during covid. We kept each other sane and accountable. It’s fun to do an ftp test and watch your friends suffer.
Outdoor workouts - the ability to stay structured and get out when the weather is nice is a big plus
Plan builder - seriously I’m not getting a coach and I’m not sure why you pay for zwift and training peaks together. The plan builder and calendar together are all you need.
Supplemental support - the TR podcast while free keeps me motivated and is a super positive influence on my life.
Cons
I think I peaked to early last year. I still exceeded my race expectations but I think I was at peak about 7 weeks prior to my race.
I’ll be using planbuilder a bit differently this year and the new machine learning will help with this also.
Tri plans are a bit lack luster. I modified when needed but it was nice to have the general structure and progression.
Swim and run need to be manually entered. If they put just a bit of effort into this I think they would put training peaks out of business but again it’s only slightly annoying to me.
Have been surprised, but well populated is the most important to me. After using Zwift, Rouvy, etc., I’m always surprised with how much less I enjoy the course if there is nobody else on it, or very few.
Zwift almost has too many on the flat routes, but it’s perfect on the hill climbs, which thins the herd to just the right level that I can find people to pace with or pick off.
Interestingly, I never ride with groups outdoors, I’d love to but scheduling issues.
you can put whomever you want on your course that you are riding in Rouvy. Just select a bunch of historical rides with different people in your performance range (watts per kilo or if you did the course previously and know your time then add in a bunch of people within a minute of your previous ride) and you have well populated tuned to your ability!!!
my only variable is real routes/courses.
i’ve been using fulgaz - bc yes i like the variety of real routes
and
i film a bunch as well - so i can ride those.
i also use the euro climbs as a wish list for if/when i ever take a euro trip to do a few of them IRL.
not a big competition fan - i go too hard for me to recover already, but… if/when the urge arises - it has group rides and you can always compete against previous fast times. there is a collection of swiss climbs on there filmed around this year’s tour du suisse that i can’t stop riding.
Biggest one for me is ability to pull structured workouts from TrainingPeaks of Today’s Plan. When I have a coach, I expect them to build the workouts that transfer seamlessly to Zwift (or other platform) seamlessly for BOTH cycling and running.
I am a multisport athlete, and my software needs to accommodate that.
Hey, I really like your rides! Just did Blue Grass Valley on Tuesday, great for an endurance spin. Have done some other road rides too (forget the names, Catoctin Ridge maybe?) and plan to do the gravel routes too.
I have done Zwift/TrainerRoad/Rouvy/FulGaz and the best for my preferences is FulGaz. Important stuff to me:
How a ride “feels†- I hate erg mode, I like the terrain dictating the effort, I like hills however I don’t need easy peasy downhills/coasting. Fulgaz can scale uphill and downhill slopes independently which is super in my experience.
Sense of accomplishment. Finishing a route I know like Chapman in Boulder feels like I did something, even if it only takes 30-35 minutes.
Map and segments for virtual rides, and on screen segments! I like to track these over time and having these to look back on is good.
Platform compatibility is a huge one for me. I have a PC and an Android. So none of that iOS only ish thanks! lol.
This !!
For YEARS Sufferfest dragged it’s heels on Android doing anything thst worked on Android. I’m not buying any always-overpriced Apple product so they just ruled themselves out of consideration right from the off.
These features are key for me:
Structured training planMulti discipline supportData analysis
Bonus feature: smooth integration with training watch and bike computer.
This is why, after having tried many options (i.e., Zwift, TrainerRoad, SUF/SYSTM), in the end the only subscription I can’t do without is TrainingPeaks
I am curious about SYSTM developments, while I gave up any hopes on TrainerRoad swim/run support (based on the publicly discussed roadmap).