Which VR cycling app do you use?

[rafletcher]

Following on from the smart turbo thread, I was wondering about people’s experiences with the various VR apps for use with them. Like many I’ve a Zwift subscription, just because when I got my turbo (Elite Direto) 3 years ago that was what I’d heard of (along with Trainerroad, which was not for me). Now, thanks to the other thread, I’ve found out about Velo Reality, and today from a Twitter post, Rouvy (which sound similar). At the moment Rouvy appeals as it isn’t all iconic mountains to climb (which seem the staple of many of the apps), has RL video of many routes, plus you can create your own VR route using a google maps overlay, with or without GPS data.

So, what do you / have you used, and what would you recommend?

[Fennec]

I didn’t like Rouvy. The scenery was fine, but the avatar looked like it was being generated on a ZX Spectrum. It was also a lonely experience; I like Zwift because there are always plenty of people around you.

I’d like to try Bkool but I don’t think they have an Apple TV app.

[rafletcher]

I’m not bothered by the social side of the apps nor online racing, I’m just looking for something with a bit more variety than Zwift. I’d not heard of Bkool before (I’ve not researched the variety of these apps) so thanks, it look interesting.

[Pedal Castro]

I did 3 years of TrainerRoad which was very good at improving my TT times. That was after picking it from my shortlist of 3, TR, Zwift and Sufferfest.

After my big smash I used Veloreality for nice steady rides and Sufferfest was used to ease back into hard training. But SF was great fun and had enough video workouts that matched my needs so I never went back to TR. This year I also tried Rouvy and RGT for a few weeks each but they never quite did it for me.

Extra benefits of SF is their Strength & Conditioning videos which I also use, plus their Yoga videos which I have given up on!

[giropaul]

I’ve currently got Zwift and Rouvy. Zwift I find like I imagine a Grand Theft Auto  game would be. Maybe if I’d grown up with on- line gaming.
Rouvy I use mostly. I like the real scenery, and it’s especially nice when one actually knows the roads in reality. I use it mostly in training mode.
For both, my perception is that racing brings out the worst in people, with accusations of cheating and moaning about races in certain time zones etc.
I’m sure that, for some people, virtual racing promotes engagement and motivation. For me it’s about doing some SQT with a nice backdrop.

[L CC]

I train, race & socialise on Zwift. My team are also racing on RGT, having been invited to their women's league. The women racing there don't like it as much as zwift - but that could just be what we're used to.
I did a bit of trainer road and found it incredibly dull. I couldn't manage more than about 40 minutes, less than I managed with nothing but a list of intervals on a dumb trainer.

[Ham]

Socialise, eh? This Covid-19 probably came as a bit of a blow to you, then.

My favourite is Sufferfest, for the music, engaging in the "race" and the structure. On the down side, they are not kidding about the first part of the name if you run them at the levels you are supposed to.

[rafletcher]

Huddling about, I came across this

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/03/cycling-indoor-trainer-app-guide.html

Not a recommendation, but a pretty comprehensive guide. I shall have a good read through, but usefully there are free trial periods of some to play with one cold and wet day.

[Polar Bear]

One bonus with Rouvy is that you can have more than one user per account.  I like that.

I also like the idea of creating your own routes and even adding action cam footage.  A future potential project.

Huddling about, I came across this

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/03/cycling-indoor-trainer-app-guide.html

Not a recommendation, but a pretty comprehensive guide. I shall have a good read through, but usefully there are free trial periods of some to play with one cold and wet day.

DCRainmaker does a good review in my opinion.

[citoyen]

Zwift I find like I imagine a Grand Theft Auto  game would be.

Not quite as much gratuitous murder and hookers in Zwift.

I’ve tried Bkool (because I have a Bkool trainer) and Zwift. The problem with Bkool for me is too much choice - and no easy way of knowing which are the good “routes” to use. On the other hand, the lack of real variety is one of the shortcomings of Zwift... I think I prefer Zwift of the two, but I’ve never really taken to either. Thinking of making more of an effort to get into Zwift over winter/lockdown. Main advantage is not needing to clean the mud off the bike afterwards.

[Chris S]

I’ve currently got Zwift and Rouvy. Zwift I find like I imagine a Grand Theft Auto  game would be.

Funny you should mention that...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl17P_mpHI0

[rafletcher]

Thinking of making more of an effort to get into Zwift over winter/lockdown. Main advantage is not needing to clean the mud off the bike afterwards.

Does not compute - surely there's more than one bike to choose from? 

[Kim]

I’ve currently got Zwift and Rouvy. Zwift I find like I imagine a Grand Theft Auto  game would be.

Funny you should mention that...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl17P_mpHI0

I'm waiting for the Potholeman 3000 mod.

[citoyen]

Thinking of making more of an effort to get into Zwift over winter/lockdown. Main advantage is not needing to clean the mud off the bike afterwards.

Does not compute - surely there's more than one bike to choose from? 

Not sure what you mean. Outdoor rides entail post-ride cleaning at this time of year, but indoor rides don’t. This is true however many bikes I have at my disposal.

[drossall]

Surely the mod we really want is for Cycling Manager?

[citoyen]

Funny you should mention that...

That looks fun! Bit too easy to get wiped out though.

[Pedal Castro]

Surely the mod we really want is for Cycling Manager?

I've not played Cycling Manager on my PlayStation for years.

[rafletcher]

Thinking of making more of an effort to get into Zwift over winter/lockdown. Main advantage is not needing to clean the mud off the bike afterwards.

Does not compute - surely there's more than one bike to choose from? 

Not sure what you mean. Outdoor rides entail post-ride cleaning at this time of year, but indoor rides don’t. This is true however many bikes I have at my disposal.

It must be a lot dirtier where you are than here in mid-Bucks, which is mostly rinsed clean atm!

[giropaul]

Zwift I find like I imagine a Grand Theft Auto  game would be.

Not quite as much gratuitous murder and hookers in Zwift.

That was my greatest disappointment

[PaulF]

Zwift I find like I imagine a Grand Theft Auto  game would be.

Not quite as much gratuitous murder and hookers in Zwift.

You haven't been looking in the right places then

[fimm]

I don't think FulGaz has been mentioned yet? Mr fimm has had a go in their free trial. So far he's cycled to an Austrian mountain hut, past the Golden Gate Bridge, somewhere near Lake Garda, and this morning he rode to Cape Formentor. Video looks good and the climbing seems realistic. I think he's had one or two hiccups with it but has sorted them. I then signed up for a free trial too and rode round Albert Park (the Australian F1 circuit) which wasn't that exciting (but would make a good warm-up).
https://fulgaz.com/

[chrisbainbridge]

 Bigringvr is the other option. A bit smaller in capitalisation I suspect but turning out new rides at a rate of knots including U.K. rides (hardknott)

[ElyDave]

+1 for BigRingVR, I've even managed virtual rides where I'd have been going on my cancelled holiday.

[Lightning Phil]

Zwift I find like I imagine a Grand Theft Auto  game would be.

Not quite as much gratuitous murder and hookers in Zwift.

You ought to be able to push other riders off on hairpins and put sticks in spokes as you pass. Plus pubs where you can get drunk and have fights with other riders.

[citoyen]

Those of you who use Zwift, what do you recommend workout-wise?

I dug the Bkool out of the garage this afternoon, set it up and had a little test ride on Zwift. It was fine, but it all felt a bit aimless and lacking in structure... I think I need well defined start and end points, and probably a planned route with a bit of variety of terrain (even if the gradients are only virtual). Feels like I could get into it though, and hopefully it will be useful for maintaining fitness over winter when I can't be bothered to go outside.

Can you plan your own routes in advance like you do for real life rides?

There was a 20-second sprint section on the bit I rode today. That was quite fun. Are there lots of those?