CHOOSING YOUR CONNECTED TRAINER APPLICATION
It's over. The long sunny rides with friends, the plate of pasta before the morning workout, the beautiful autumn colors – all of it is behind us. The wind is blowing, the clouds are crying, winter is coming! But that doesn't mean we have to stop everything. It's time to bring out our indoor trainer, which will proudly sit in the middle of the living room for some, and in the garage for others. The most important thing is to stay in shape at all costs!
How? You don't have a connected indoor trainer yet? Psst, it's over here!
Let's get back to it. This is the big moment. Your indoor trainer is set up on its mat, sweat-resistant towel in place, fan plugged in—are you ready to pedal? In theory, I'd say yes. In reality, I have a strong feeling that the most important thing is missing: your connected application! But which one? There are so many!
Don't panic, we're here to help! We've put together a comparison of all the players in the connected application world for indoor trainers. After this, you'll be able to choose the one that suits you best. Let's go!
Discover all connected apps for your smart trainer.
This name is surely not unfamiliar to you. Zwift is the undisputed leader in 3D training simulation! It's true that this application, highlighted by the first lockdown in 2020, has everything to please. By visiting their website, you can imagine riding alongside professional cyclists like Mathieu Van der Poel, and that's priceless!
Download the app, pair your indoor trainer, and you're off! Enter a virtual world, embody a personalized avatar, and experience a truly interactive journey! During your experience, you'll have the chance to discover 11 maps, each as unique as the next. Zwift offers a multitude of activities. You can choose between:
- Go for a free ride : Train alone and autonomously in an open world
- Join a friend for a group ride : Train with your friends
- Join a group ride : Train with a group of people at your level. Some professional teams organize virtual rides from time to time, don't miss your chance to train with them!
- Follow a training program : Take the test to know your Zwift level (FTP Test), and find personalized training plans!
- Participate in a race : Compete against cyclists from all over the world in thrilling races and prove to everyone who's the best!
If you enjoy social interaction, Zwift also offers the option to use the Companion app on your smartphone. One of its main functions is to serve as a remote control during your training.
Indeed, it will allow you to chat with other participants, offer encouragement, and, if needed, give instructions to your avatar to change direction.
If you are a keen analyst, it will also allow you to view your training and race summaries, as well as those of your friends. Among the other features offered, you can also find information about upcoming events and sign up for them!
Trial period: 7 days
Compatibility: All brands of connected indoor trainers - See compatible trainers
Price: $18.99 CAD per month
Positioned as a serious competitor, Bkool is a virtual cycling specialist. The company decided to involve its users, as they upload their own videos, which are then modeled in 3D, thus offering hundreds of thousands of routes combining video and 3D across the globe. Traveling from your living room, pretty cool, right?
Once the application is installed, you will have the choice between hundreds of thousands of routes imported by the application's users. Do you miss the mountains? Opt for the ascent of the legendary Alpe d'Huez, or the roads of the Tour de France. Want to rediscover the streets of Montreal? Choose the formidable climb of Camilien Houde!
A notable feature of this application is the ability to enjoy the 3 proposed views:
- The 3D view: reconstructed from videos
- The video view: to travel throughout your workout
- The map view: to see where your friends or opponents are in races
Every day, the app will suggest a different workout. If you're looking for a challenge, compete against other users in organized events.
Trial period: 30 days
Compatibility: All brands of connected indoor trainers - See compatible trainers
Price : Approximately $15 CAD per month
The trainer manufacturer also launched its own app, compatible with its trainers.
Tacx takes a different approach than its competitors. The company only offers video workouts. Here, no virtual simulation, no 3D, just landscapes that transport you wherever you want!
By choosing the Tacx solution, you will have a choice of several subscription formulas:
Free plan:
- Workout creation
- Data analysis
- Dashboard statistics
- Data export
- Friend tracking
- Cross-platform compatibility
- 10-day free trial of premium features
Premium Plan: Approximately $15 CAD per month
- All free features
- Realistic videos
- Up to 30 downloads per month
- GPS import
- 3D GPS workouts
- Workout programs
- Workout library
Premium HD: Approximately $20 CAD per month
- All Premium features
- High-quality films
Wahoo SYSTM , formerly The Sufferfest , stands out in many ways. Here, no virtual events, only video, and the application is very focused on detailed, demanding, but above all, personalized training programs! These are known to be very difficult and widely used by many athletes in professional circles.
On Wahoo SYSTM , you'll find more than just cycling; you'll have the chance to find:
- Physical preparation courses
- Running
- Swimming
- Mental strengthening
- And even yoga!
SYSTM guides you in depth through your physical preparation. It offers to build your personalized training program day by day, based on your available training time each week. You can also choose training plans already created by coaches. As you progress through your program, the application will be able to determine what type of rider you are. So, are you a puncher, sprinter, climber, or roller?
A battery of tests has been developed by top coaches to help you progress as optimally as possible. During these tests (4DP), you will learn a lot about yourself. To do this, you will perform a series of efforts over 20 minutes (FTP), 5 minutes (VO2MAX), 1 minute (anaerobic capacity), and also assess your muscles' ability to react to short efforts like sprints (neuromuscular power).
Once on your bike, take part in a real-life video-guided training session. Dive into the heart of a cycling race and await instructions. Follow attacks, sprint; each movement will be always accompanied by sarcastic comments , or videos of small cats appearing out of nowhere. There's everything you need to suffer , with a smile!
Trial period: 30 days
Compatibility: All trainer brands - See compatible trainers
Price: $14.99 USD per month
Rouvy is an independent application, and therefore, it supports almost all training bases. On this application, you will have the opportunity to ride on augmented reality videos, either in first-person view or by observing your avatar.
Once again, discover or rediscover mythical cycling locations around the world. Do you have a video of one of your training sessions? You can send it to the Rouvy team so that it has the chance to be imported and shared with all users.
Participate in events such as elevation challenges, or complete all routes in a given region within a defined time frame.
Also take part in numerous races and constantly compete against new people. A small particularity, the Tour de Suisse 2020 was run online during lockdown on this application, making it the first to have hosted an online World Tour stage race broadcast on television.
Trial period: 30 days
Compatibility: All brands of connected training bases - See compatible bases
Price: $12 USD per month
Now that you have all the information to make your choice, we hope to see you on the different platforms, to train with our team members.