I used to be more adventurous during the winter months — braving the cold and riding outside. I often said if it was above freezing and sunny, I’ll ride. With the advent of smart trainers and smart bikes, that threshold has moved up to 45-degrees and sunny and I no longer feel compelled to suit up and brave the cold anymore. Kudos to you if you’re still riding in the dark or cold, but I’m perfectly fine riding indoors. This winter, my training was primarily on Rouvy, but a close second has been on MyWhoosh. Both have been great in different ways and here are my highlights.
Rouvy: Realistic riding anywhere
My platform is the now-discontinued Stages SB20 Smart Bike. At some point I’ll upgrade to something else, but it still works just fine. I’m lucky enough to have a solid home office space and I place my bike directly behind my standing desk (which is always in the standing position. My MacBook Pro powers two large monitors so I can center Rouvy on the main screen and watch videos or listen to podcasts on the other screen at the same time. The Rouvy team was kind enough to give me a 90-day trial this year, so I hopped in with gusto.
Rouvy’s realistic platform has improved more and more since I originally tested it. So much that Zwift has now acquired them — reinforcing their stronghold on their position as the best augmented reality training platform because nobody else even comes close. If you can’t beat them, buy them.
Throughout the winter, I was able to find and ride routes all over the world. I discovered the beautiful Atlantic Road in Norway, the rolling hills of the Strade Bianche in Italy, routes of La Vuelta in Spain and the gravel of the Big Sugar Classic in Arkansas. That’s just the beginning. With several days on the bike per week and thousands of miles, I really love how immersive the platform is and how it makes indoor training more engaging and interesting.
Some things I’ve noticed:
- At times, it feels so realistic that busy routes can feel a little unnerving — especially those with high amounts of vehicle traffic
- I get immersed in the platform and find every ride truly enjoyable
- When riding new routes, I’m excited to see the terrain and feel like I’m actually there — Norwegian fishing villages are particularly charming to ride through
- I also love riding local routes that I’m familiar with to keep myself grounded
Why you should choose Rouvy:
- They give you 20km free every month to try it out (great for occasional indoor riding in the summer)
- I’d recommend the monthly plan if you really only ride indoors 3-4 months out of the year ($19.99/mo)
- You want to explore the real world on your rides and enjoy a realistic experience
- Wide platform availability – view requirements
MyWhoosh: The economical choice
Since its inception, MyWhoosh has continually improved their platform reliability and functionality. When I first started using it, it was a dumpster fire. Over time, the platform has improved and is robust enough to host the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. Founded in the UAE, this platform is part of the technology group that is investing heavily in cycling. Due to those deep pockets, MyWhoosh is largely free to use (at least for what I do), but does offer upgraded training and season passes for additional perks (largely cosmetic).
Using MyWhoosh on my setup is now largely reliable, robust and easy. It pairs readily with the SB20 and any other accessories (Coros Apex 4 for heart rate). I find the routes entertaining and the viewable data to be excellent. You’ll find similar experiences to Zwift, though it’s not quite as robust and doesn’t have quite the user base. Still, for free… it’s a no-brainer.
Some things I’ve noticed:
- At times, I do get a little lost with the on-screen display, but the data is all there
- The routes are more limited, but robust enough for any serious training regimen
- The ride profile and climb resistance don’t always seem to match well — it looks like I’m over the climb on the profile, but I’m still climbing
- At times, there are lengthy download periods that brick the app — sometimes at the most inopportune times when I’m in a hurry to just get riding
- It connects quickly to my devices and makes it easy to get started
- More routes have been introduced that offer fun, engaging experiences
- At some point, it lost my connection with Strava and I had to re-connect — I couldn’t figure out how to re-upload the lost rides
- In-ride leaderboards are funky sometimes — my segment times don’t always appear for some reason
Why you should choose MyWhoosh:
- It’s largely free to use
- It’s awesome for both regular winter use and occasional summer use
- You don’t need to be riding with millions of others to feel accomplished
- Once you learn some of the quirks, it’s solid and has improved significantly over time
- It is widely supported across just about every platform – view requirements
The Bottom Line
If you value an immersive, realistic experience, Rouvy is a killer option. You can ride anywhere in the world and feel like you’re not playing a video game. The routes are engaging and fun. If you want the most economical choice without a commitment, MyWhoosh is very robust and reliable these days and I find it to be an outstanding choice for my winter or occasional summer indoor training needs.
Learn More: Rouvy.com // MyWhoosh.com
