I switched to Rouvy from Zwift at the beginning of January and agree with all your points. I completed a streak of 25 daily Rouvy rides in a row (some days I did 2 or 3). I’d never come close to that on Zwift which I had been using for years. What motivated me was the anticipation of riding in a new part of the world every day, including some of the most iconic routes. Great app!
I’m gonna sign up when time changes and is dark more. I’m. I’m more an exercise enthusiast than a pro cycler. I love augmented reality over video games. It’s more stimulating to me.
Allot of people don't realize that if you are on a course (not a paced ride), with allot of people; you can go up to anyone you want to and ride their view by touching your icon on the screen and moving it on the course. This also works if you are the only person on a course. It takes it a very few minutes to get about 1/2 cm from the edge of the screen for Rouvy app to figure out what you are trying to do; but after that you can move anywhere on the course my pressing on your icon on the course and moving it. That is really good for all these people that have uploaded a mountain ride where they road from their house in the burbs lol. You spend your first half hour in their boring neighborhood. No need to do that. That is a real problem with Kinomap is cause folks don't get that if they want to video map a ride, start with the scenic point on the film when editing because Kino does not allow you to free move your icon on the course yet.
The biggest problem I have with all of these video-based cycling apps is that if you're not riding at the same speed as the rider who filmed it, the video will either slow down or speed up. This might not sound like a big deal, but for me it's really annoying when I'm climbing (obviously slower than the guy who filmed it), and the video becomes like a stop-motion animation plus have cars inch their way past me in slow-motion. Also, if you like a certain route and want to ride it many times, you'll have to make do with the same video, with the same traffic with the same cars, the same sheep, the same... you get the idea. Nothing beats a nice long Century ride outdoors, however for me, Zwift is still the only platform that satisfies my indoor cycling needs.
It feels like Rouvy has solved the stop-motion problem. But there is obvious distortion in the bottom corners when riding slowly. I actually had the opposite problem the other day. I was riding a user-submitted route and I was going much faster than them on the downhill. It was like watching a video on fast forward.
Great review! I don’t see the cadence glitch on my device. You definitely hit lots of the positives and negatives about the platform. One big positive you missed is that Rouvy offers real prizes. I won a ticket to Schleck Gran Fondo (cancelled due to covid) and also Whistler Gran Fondo (attended and rode to 7th in Forte class in my age group), 3 jerseys, a free year of Rouvy. A teammate of mine won a trip to Spain and rode parts of the last stage of La Vuelta with Rouvy.
After the Zwift HUD update with even more clutter on the screen I just changed to Rouvy. Way more landscape on the screen, HUD items are well placed and can be customized. Really great, I enjoyed the first two rides! Video quality could sometimes be better with some annoying distortion at the side of the screen but overall the experience is better if you just want to do some km per week to stay fit and not to be bothered.
I switched from Zwift to Rouvy a few months ago and I'll never go back. It's not even close. Now if you're the type of person who thrives in a group setting and you don't mind animated worlds, stick to Zwift. Me, I could care less about social interactions. I'm there to train, not talk. Plus, the real routes on Rouvy FAR surpass anything on Zwift. You can literally ride anywhere in the world, on the real roads, and really get the feeling that you're there. I actually feel myself getting the feeling of going over hills as if I were actually doing it, and I don't have one of those devices on the front wheel that raises and lowers, it's just that your brain really gets the feeling that you're riding these routes. As for the socialization and drafting? I have 10 ghost riders that do every ride with me. Anytime I want to train, there they are. Sometimes they take pulls, sometimes I do, just like a real group ride. My two favorite routes so far are Lake Tahoe and Pacific Coast Highway. Both have a decent amount of elevation but the scenery is breathtaking. There are also a few routes from right here where I live in Florida, so I get to ride the same roads that I ride when I'm outdoors. Really cool! And from what I've heard, I'll soon be able to video more routes myself and upload them to Rouvy, complete with all the banners and other stuff you can add. So yeah, Rouvy for me is 100 times better than Zwift, and it's only going to get better.
On the Paced Rides, shortly after you start pedaling the app will jump you up close to the pacer. And as to the hitch in the pedal stroke, when you get good at it, you can use that as a signal to someone you are riding with to take a pull. Enjoyed your video, hope to see you out there. I ride with Gem City ICC, GRC and Muckers. - username, SR-71
I've been on Rouvy in winters for about 5 years now and there have been some good changes and some bad. Before and during the pandemic there were always multiple events to join with more than just 1 or 2 riders. Now events are few and far between at the times I want to ride. Not being able to upload my own routes anymore is a step back. I do like being able to race my pr or add riders who have ridden the route before and race them if I can't find an event to join. I'm sticking with Rouvy bc I like the realistic road view and don't need the social component of zwift. I want to know what the roads and scenery are really like where I'm riding and this makes it all the more enjoyable.
@@TroyOnTrails They need to because people have gotten really good at uploading geolocated/GPS/gpx camera videos on Kinomap and it is getting to be the home for gravel routes. Rouvy is really just a roadie app and they have not really gotten a clue yet lol, how big gravel has gotten for roadies. Plus, with kino you can go on a hike on your bike. Of course it is not realistic so to speak. But it offers elevation changes on the trainer. Now if I had a smart elliptical or treadmill (with smart elevation control) that would be a blast.
I can't explain why, but riding on Rouvy gave me horrible motion sickness- I was only good for 15 min on the few rides I tried. This was years ago, maybe something has changed. I am glad you are enjoying this app.
I switched to Rouvy last year after a Zwift glitch that they refused to address promptly. I enjoy the solitude of Rouvy. I usually toggle off all the screen info and just enjoy the ride
I have ride many years with Zwift so i have start to feel that i’m bit of bored for the Zwift so i have start to ride more with Rouvy and also with Tacx Training app. I like both of them and start to feel more motivation about indoor cycling. Maybe they are not perfect but it doesn’t bother me. Feels more real, thanks for the video recorded routes.
@@lehtjug i am assuming you can't use zwift ride for normal workouts without the app right, like i just want to use the bike some days without the app itself, most likely just be able to shift gears.
I am very very slowly coming around to the idea of indoor riding. Rouvy does make it seem like it could be a bit more fun... or at least more realistic. Of course, before I know it, the seasons have shifted enough and outside riding is calling my name 😄
Indoor training isn't for everyone. But I find it super helpful when I'm short on time to be able to go into the garage and get in a workout. Plus, if the weather is horrific, I can still get some time pedaling. Consistent training is key for me to be able to do the rides I ultimately love to do..... Outside.
@@TroyOnTrails In my opinion, Zwift may not offer enough features to warrant its price, especially when compared to Rouvy, a platform that appears to be evolving and enhancing its offerings across the board.
I found Zwift too video gamy. I did RGT before Wahoo bought it but then they folded it without adding any value. So I use Rouvy and it's great. I rode Sun Moon lake in Taiwan in real life and the Rouvy version felt nearly the same.
I started my virtual indoor riding with Zwift and stuck with them for about 3 years. But I had a friend who was using Rouvy and noticed on his Strava posts that his virtual rides included real pictures and I decided to check it out. But, initially I found that Rouvy did not support MacOS, which was my platform. But, when I found that they came around and started supporting MacOS I decided to give Rouvy a try and immediately switched and I have never looked back. I love the actual video streams, often times with beautiful scenery. I have even gone to ride in person at some of the places that I first rode virtually, like Homer, Alaska, and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage. You can’t do that in a place like Watopia 😂. For me, personally, Rouvy suits my tastes much better than Zwift, which as other commentators have mentioned, seems much too ‘video gamey.’
If you are looking for popular events - tuesday and thursday evenings at 7.05pm and sunday mornings at 9.15pm (UK time) host the Muckers league races. These tend to be hilly races such as Plateau de Beille, Mont Ventoux and I think it will be the Col du Telegraph next Sunday. There is also a very popular race hosted by the GRC race league on Sunday afternoons at 3.15pm - these tend to be flat routes so do have a few more riders (typically around 50 or so, compared to around 35 to 45 with the hilly races). Drafting works great when racing and can provide a huge tactical advantage on Rouvy. One small tip - when the countdown timer starts - begin pedalling as hard as you can and leave the start line with a sprint. Go as hard as you can for at least 30 seconds (that's what she said) because getting in to the lead group or as close to the front as possible is key to getting a good result. Being a lone rider and trying to catch up to a group of 3 riders can be futile. Rouvy is my addiction. Finally got to level 81 at around 11pm last night
@@TroyOnTrails I see. That might be because Rouvy has European origins. I expect other people around your time zone have similar issues. You can create your own races and group rides from the app and add the race link, time date etc on your YT channel and strava post etc. Regular times each week . just a thought
So having finally bought a smart trainer I just started using Rouvy, first ride today. I have never ridden Zwift, but thought the game like aspect of it really was a deterrent. I like to real world aspect of Rouvy. Great review. Put my self through the ringer with 15% grade at one point LOL
I tired pretty quickly of indoor cycling but especially Zwift and preferred Rouvy but I do a lot of solo rides so that aspect didn't bother me much. Great video!
I looked into changing but the video graphics are terrible upscaled 720p which causes deformation at the picture bounderies especially walls. I can run Zwift at 60f and 4k on a 75inch tv. It looks better on a small screen. But who wants to look at a tablet.
They have 2k videos which look pretty nice. But no 4k so yeah. On a 75 inch screen I can see your concern. I just have a lowly 32 inch screen in the garage so 720p is all I need.
Tried Rouvy today and made exactly the same observations. Route-graphics aside, the entire user interface makes Zwift look like a 3 generations older product. Haven't made the switch though yet. But I'm close 🙂
You just ride and effect the video speed. I coded this mySelf for a basic training. What i must say here is that rouvy do a good job, the settings are very configurable and with the high content of videos, it looks really good. people feel that the rouvy team works on it, and thats a great point. I dont need or use it but its good. If you are not a guy who can program it, i absolute recommend rouvy.
It's a bit more than that with the augmented reality. And having it control your trainer to simulate riding that road is key. But you could ride with just the video.
@@TroyOnTrails I control the ride with the GPX File of the video course. it is not so hard to do that. But the "allAround" multiplayer, draft, UI interface and and and, for me are the amount of details well placed are the key. And that its what rouvy do really good. :)
Duel membership at £175/yr (UK) was the main reason of choosing Rouvy over Zwift. Best decision I made, as not only good value for money but prefer the realism and able to download routes. Not a fan of the cartoon zwift world. Definitely picked up a few Rouvy tips from the comments that I never knew about
Yup. Though I did some speed comparisons on pancake flat courses and the speeds were comparable. Rouvy speeds overall are more realistic because most routes have constant grade changes. Even subtle changes make a difference.
Its all about the community on Zwift, huge racing or group ride events. I did 65 miles on Sunday with over 300 riders. The graphics don't matter so much when racing, just hang on to the avatars in front
100% agree. Its the community - ie other real people racing or riding thats the draws you in never the 'platform'. I find the fact that Whoosh is just 'free' concerning. It may destroy Zwift and we end up with nothing good at all.
I switched over from Zwift to Whoosh, as it was free, and then to Rouvy and out of the 3 Rouvy is definitely my preference. Biggest advantage over the others is the ability to download the ride, it puts an end to the internet drop outs and rides crashing mid ride. I’m not a super fit rider, and enjoy the more realistic views and empty roads to just ride without the cheesy ride-ons and rush hour cartoon feel of Zwift. So far it’s been brilliant, and a decent revue.
Yup I made exactly the same transitions… got the glow bike on Zwift, climbed Alpe de Zwift countless times, did a few races… got bored! Whoosh has potential but in its current state is no match, then tried Rouvy & haven’t looked back. It’s all I need when I can’t get out on the road 🤷🏻♂️
The thing with Zwift is for me there are too many races and not enough group rides . I’m old and can’t race against people who are years younger than me
@@mikebeattie976 Just choose races which are apropriate to your Level (D? E?) Doesn‘t matter how old you are, it’s watts/kilogramm. There are always riders 50+ or 60+ in the top of race results
I have stopped using rouvy. The reason for this is that it is very boring in my opinion. The idea of driving in a realistic environment certainly sounds good, but you quickly realize that it's not exciting to drive 20 km along the sea or through the forest. Zwift does this better by optimizing the routes for indoor cycling and providing variety. Indoor cycling is different from riding a road bike through the countryside.
Yeah. If you're into the social scene Zwift still wins. I have found if you do challenges there are always others. But nowhere near the level of Zwift.
Rouvy is fine with good tracks. But many tracks are recorded with cars. If you climb, the fps of the video drops. because it was recorded with a much higher speed. Cars, other bikes and persons on the road moving unnaturally slow. The immersion also breaks if the angle is wrong and you see the shadow of the car.
We really like Rouvy. Adding a ghost of your PR for a route is very motivating. The workouts are great. No shifting. It changes the resistance for you.
just started using Rouvy but for the life of me my set up doesn't seem to be working, wahoo kickr move with climb the gear ratio not working and climb doesn't work it's frustrating as I kind of had hight hopes for Rouvy support is frustrating as it takes days for a response and at that point you've sort of started looking else where or simply headed back to where ya came from...
I don't have a climb so can't speak to that. But my Kickr Move has worked well with it. Climbing in Rouvy is harder than Zwift because it defaults to 100% reality. My trainer bike isn't really geared for some of those climbs.
I've just started with Rouvy, used Zwift a little bit once the outdoor biking season ended (I'm in Wisconsin). Much prefer Rouvy, working out the details between what my Wahoo Kickr SNAP configuration needs to be set for so Rouvy gives me the best possible reporting of what it's getting out of me. Training vs Just Ride? Great option! If I just want to ride I don't have to push hard to enjoy my time on my bike. Training is more focused on improving my performance over time but in realistic settings! Awesome flexibility in this app. I'm close to 76 years old, just returned to bicycling in 2023 after a long hiatus. With this kind of support via digital 'simulation' I can ride year-round now where before I was limited by climate where I've lived.
@ indeed. Though indoor training has made me a bit soft. I used to ride outside year round. Now it's just so easy to ride indoors when the weather is bad.
I still love Zwift and like the part of the video game 😊. Prob also an age thing tbf. Rouvy seems also great. Prob gonna try it once I played Zwift "to the end" 😂
@@TroyOnTrails Tried Rouvy for 4 rides now after your video and I admit it is very cool. Not better or worse than Zwift, it is different:) I subscribed annually to Zwift, after the subscription ended I think I will switch montly between both :) Thx again for the nice vid! Made me try Rouvy.
great vid- right on the cusp of switching from Z to R as well. I am having trouble with just 1 small thing (not technical) about finding a route type I need- can I ask your advise please? thanks!
@@TroyOnTrails Thanks- this question is a bit unusual. On Zwift like many other probably do, I easily found a route I could use as a warmup before bouncing to the real ride of the day (i.e. climb portal, 50 mi route etc). The "warmup route" I chose after trying a few has some characteristics I want to explain. It is short (3 miles), but lets me just lap as you know so if I feel like warming up 3 miles that day or 6 or 10 it's easy. The other thing is it is mostly flat with just a few little hill parts that let me get out of the saddle for like 20 sec or so to stretch and be ready for later climbing. My question. I am having trouble finding such a route on ROUVY because of the main thing which is it does not allow a rider to lap on routes the same way and so if I did find a 3 mi similar route, it ends each time and I have to start over and it sends 3 things to strava etc. So the obvious would be to find a 10 mi route in ROuvy. but that is hard to find one where every 3 miles or so is mostly flat with just a little climbing to best replicate the Z route. Any suggestions???, I have tried about 15 rouvy routes and not getting close to finding what I need. thanks!
@@BarryJHoffman that's pretty specific. You're unlikely to find a route that has a small bill every three miles. I recommend just using a flat route and increasing effort as desired. You can produce the same wattage on a flat road. Just change into a harder gear and put out extra power. This allows you complete control over your warmup routine. It's what I did in Zwift and what I do in Rouvy.
@TroyOnTrails so I just found a pretty good route that checks most boxes. Think it's kinda close combined with your tips.. I'm ready now. Thanks. @@TroyOnTrails
Been using Rouvy for almost 4 years now. Really like it and as I am not a gamer, the Zwift gamer style did not appeal to me. I enjoy the actual road and have used it to try out a road in an area I knew I was going to be in, which I thought was pretty cool.
Also using rouvy, but didn't you have any problems with performance, lagging / stopping videos? These problems came up regulary for more than a year, a lot of frustrated users on the google playstore, including myself. Since 2 weeks it seems to get better, doesn't happen that often anymore, but before it was happening nearly every time and drove me absolutely insane, because the only way of fixing it was to stop the current session and start it again and then your official time was deleted and you never made it into the rankings, because you have "paused" your ride according to their regularities (and no, I am not cheating on an e-mtb, I am using it with my normal non-e gravel bike 😋)
I use a PC laptop. I stream the video and have had the video freeze for a few seconds 2 or 3 times. But that's it. No significant issues at all. But yeah. I've seen a lot of complaints lately.
You can certainly practice climbing on either platform. But I feel Rouvy's climbs are more realistic. The grades on Rouvy's climbs match the real world which will give you an accurate sense of your capabilities.
This is great. I like it! Its for people who don't want to race others all the time and just want to ride and jave nice scenery (more realistic). Most people don't have a group they ride with anyways lets be real
Indoor training from 1987 till 2023 on a old CATEYE 1987 CS-1000 , VHS TAPES, TDR , IRONMAN , MOVIES . Gave Zwift and a smart trainer a chance couple yrs ago, was not ready for it . What changed is a long list of pro cyclists and triathletes on Zwift . Especially Lionel Sanders who came to Florida back in 2018 we talked couple of times. So I have really followed his indoor riding . Long story short , got smart trainer on sale back in Dec 2023 , signed up to ZWIFT and my mind was ready before I turned the Smart trainer on . Now 4200 miles later level 56, TRON bike and texting many people around the world even pro triathletes . Plus I'm 67 and retired and not a fan of being in the Florida sun , so never had a problem riding indoors mentally or physically . Smart trainer + ZWIFT makes indoor riding easier and my racing in Duathlons , my bike is in the top 15% of every race, Duathlons and triathlons combined . Everyone is different , and we all can't be the same. TRAIN SAFE AND SMART .
Yeah. I had an old Cyclops trainer back in the day. Those VHS tapes barely helped. I bought the very first Wahoo smart trainer and hand-crafted workouts on some cryptic app before Zwift came along. I used to hate indoor training. It's so much better now.
@@TroyOnTrails Hey Troy , now went from IPAD AIR 10x6 , which now is used for ZC and I have a smart block steering to 40 inch smart tv with Apple TV , racing now daily , and my cycling in the local Duathlons has really gotten so much stronger and faster. Who says old people cant learn , 67 yrs young . Keep up the riding Troy
I recently upgraded to a Wahoo Kickr Move. I had the original Kickr. If you have a Zwift trainer with virtual shifting you can buy a cassette and use the trainer with Rouvy or any other app. I Tested the Wahoo Kickr Move and It CHANGED My Ride! ruclips.net/video/8QZbsNOaapQ/видео.html
Thank you for the video. Can someone tell me - I don’t suppose I can use my Zwift hub on Rouvy can I ? Does it have to be another watt meter? I’m thinking Zwift wouldn’t allow its equipment to work on anything else.
I replied, but I don't see it, maybe because I added a link?!? It is compatible. Search Rouvy supported trainers and you can see what you can use. There are a ton of smart trainers that are supported.
Not until they release the API and Rouvy then integrates that. Zwift hub virtual gears communicates with the app and not the hardware. It’s the reverse of the wahoo climb that communicates with the wahoo trainer and not the cycling app. Climb will work with Rouvy but virtual gears not yet and maybe not even in the plans.
A Zwift hub only works with Zwift. The virtual shifting is managed through the Zwift app itself. You can put a cassette on your Zwift Hub and then use traditional shifting which will allow the trainer to work with Rouvy or any other cycling app.
This whole video made me realise that I'm happy with zwift and probably wouldn't like rouvy at all. You can't beat signing up for a race with 60 to 70 other riders in your class then in the next few minutes getting into battles with strangers all around the world. The drama of it all is just great! Rouvy just looks so dull!
I paused Zwift for the summer and I’m not too happy about the price increase. But Zwift has the infrastructure and all of the key components that you need. It does need some tweaks and refreshes, but it’s the industry standard for general indoor riding next to peloton.
Yes. ERG mode works exactly the same as in Zwift and other platforms with a smart trainer. Surprisingly, there is no way to disable ERG mode in workouts in Rouvy.
I like the coins better than sweat drops. All the Zwift bike shops wanting to exchange gear for my sweat drops makes me feel like they're pervin on me.
Zwift is much better for racing, due to more riders and categories. Most of my indoor training is just putting on miles, though, and rouvy is gobs better. The zwift environments are trash and uninteresting. Rouvy’s telemetry is better represented and the fact I can see the profile of the entire map is so much better. I totally agree about drafting, too. It is super bad on zwift. Also zwift is $20/month vs $15 for rouvy
Oooh, so you try out actual routes and see if you’d like to ride them in reality? That’s not terrible, I do happen to own my own bike bag… thanks for the update 👍
Yeah. If there's an iconic route you want to ride in the real world, odds are it's also on Rouvy. I haven't had a chance to compare reality to Rouvy yet though.
Rouvy feels so Lonely. Feels like a dystopia future. The best part of Zwift is the social interaction and other real people. It's training a d a game. What Zwift needs is better graphics and I think in the next 5-10 years they'll have 4K. The real competitor with the worst name is Mywoosh. I think it will eventually rival Zwift and one will acquire the other and the platforms will merge
Agreed. I've started learning where to find people in Rouvy, but it is still nothing compared to Zwift. I have some ideas about how Rouvy could close the social gap that may show up in a future video. If they can do this, I feel they could be a real Zwift killer.
Rouvy is way better than Zwift. Now, they even started to add the social features that set Zwift apart. Soon, there's no reason to use Zwift any longer.
Absolutely nothing. I have never spoken to anyone at Rouvy. Though if folks sign up with my link I do get a discount on my monthly sub. I take it Rouvy is not for you. It's not for everyone.
I assume your talking about saving watts from drafting? Zwift does the same thing but they don't tell you the wattage savings like Rouvy does. All the same data is on both platforms. The difference is a video game experience vs a video experience. It's just a question of preference.
The need to shift is dependent upon the route. Just like the trail world, the grade changes often on some routes. It would be very inefficient to stay in one gear just like the same route in the real world. Other routes, like the real world, have more consistent grades and shifting is less frequent. And like Zwift, workouts in ERG mode have no need to shift at all.
Tried Rouvy for a 24 km ride in Lofoten Norway, the scenery was nice, but I did not like the dynamic, and also downhill I pedal like crasy to keep up the watt, set it to 30% realism, but that did not help, I missed the third person view from behind. I will stick with Zwift for now
In settings you can change the view. But if you stumble upon user-generated content then augmented reality isn't available and you only get 1st person. I have the same issue on downhills.
@@TroyOnTrails great to hear!! The indieVelo Grand Tour 5-day stage race is starting Sept 25th if you are interested There are GC (individual and team), Climb, and Sprint jerseys.
Rouvy is good ...However be aware that if you subscribe for more than a month at a time ( 6 / 12 Months subscriptions) , they do not notify you that they are about to renew it , then just come in and take it when its due . Perfectly legal ( But very impolite in my opinion). If you tell them that you didn't intend to renew they reply that your subscription will be cancelled on the next renew date ( Again very impolite ). So reasonable product delivered by an unreasonable company
No, Rouvy has other riders either live in races or you can add previous times as ghost riders to chase, including your own. Quite a few routes now without cars eg the gravel route shown in this video. It may not be perfect but it's a great improvement over Zwift esp for more experienced cyclists who've long wanted realism (as opposed to some newer people whose only experience of cycling is zwift!).
@MatzeMumpitz official races at more popular (European) times eg weekend, early evening weekdays, can often have 50+. Others are less well attended and you might get only a handful, which is a shame.
Rouvy all the way! Zwift is cool if your ego needs a reach around. Wait dont they give that badge out after you climbed Mount switchback for the 100th tomb.
One doesn’t need ride ons in ROUVY because there’s usually no one else around. Riding in ROUVY is a lonely experience….if one likes that. The avatar looks and moves unnaturally and appears pasted on a real world background. If one wants great scenery, 4K FulGaz easily wins, hand down.
@@TroyOnTrails I looked at the app and didn't see any trails etc, unless I missed it . Where are you looking on the app that shows anything related to running?
@@DanVanDamme rouvy and zwift you ride a bike frame/wheels with no other items on it, like water bottles, saddle bag, etc. I find I can ride better, climb faster. Fulgaz you enter your weight, your bike's weight. Doing rides that I have done in the real world are very close. Hope this makes sense.
The key for better video is to either do flat routes or routes that were filmed on a bike. The video can be pretty bad on big climbs when filmed by a car.
I like Rouvy. Zwift is full of cheaters when it comes to racing. Getting dropped by a 70 year old doing 500 watts is no fun especially when in real life I can go toe to toe w/ some of the conti pros (the shitty ones) in my area.
It just looks like shit. Sure, if you're cars salesmen or a project manager that know nothing or don't care about graphics, good UI design and great gamification - this app might be awesome. My standards are a bit higher.
rouvy; no one there mate, ... its deserted, zwift has such a great social aspect, big group rides for motivation - tour de zwift had 300-500 riders all levels belting along you could go 3 w/kg, 4 w/kg, just pick your group so much fun and banter. rouvy who would design a cycling platform with cars, don't they get it they are the anti-bike, good luck to rouvy if they think that's a desirable ride feature 😆 think you may not be backing a winner here buddy - they won't exist in 12 months.
Sadly, yes the social side is lacking but its gathering more traction with more known riders making the switch. Its got heavy investment so I doubt it will be going anywhere short term. Rouvy multi user membership is a massive game changer and never understand why Zwift don't offer this. Expecting everyone to pay for an individual membership, even if a household share the one trainer..
I was told you can use rouvy to practice the fondo routes in real life, which got me interested. But you're right, one look at the cars in the routes and I'm instantly turned off.
I switched to Rouvy from Zwift at the beginning of January and agree with all your points. I completed a streak of 25 daily Rouvy rides in a row (some days I did 2 or 3). I’d never come close to that on Zwift which I had been using for years. What motivated me was the anticipation of riding in a new part of the world every day, including some of the most iconic routes. Great app!
Great story. It is definitely helpful riding someplace new each time. Keep it up.
Take a look at routes in new Zealand. I was quite impressed by the scenery there.
Same for me
Me too!
I’m gonna sign up when time changes and is dark more. I’m. I’m more an exercise enthusiast than a pro cycler. I love augmented reality over video games. It’s more stimulating to me.
Allot of people don't realize that if you are on a course (not a paced ride), with allot of people; you can go up to anyone you want to and ride their view by touching your icon on the screen and moving it on the course. This also works if you are the only person on a course. It takes it a very few minutes to get about 1/2 cm from the edge of the screen for Rouvy app to figure out what you are trying to do; but after that you can move anywhere on the course my pressing on your icon on the course and moving it. That is really good for all these people that have uploaded a mountain ride where they road from their house in the burbs lol. You spend your first half hour in their boring neighborhood. No need to do that. That is a real problem with Kinomap is cause folks don't get that if they want to video map a ride, start with the scenic point on the film when editing because Kino does not allow you to free move your icon on the course yet.
Agreed. A nice feature. Though I wish Rouvy would show you your actual mileage and elevation gain when you do this.
The biggest problem I have with all of these video-based cycling apps is that if you're not riding at the same speed as the rider who filmed it, the video will either slow down or speed up. This might not sound like a big deal, but for me it's really annoying when I'm climbing (obviously slower than the guy who filmed it), and the video becomes like a stop-motion animation plus have cars inch their way past me in slow-motion. Also, if you like a certain route and want to ride it many times, you'll have to make do with the same video, with the same traffic with the same cars, the same sheep, the same... you get the idea. Nothing beats a nice long Century ride outdoors, however for me, Zwift is still the only platform that satisfies my indoor cycling needs.
It feels like Rouvy has solved the stop-motion problem. But there is obvious distortion in the bottom corners when riding slowly. I actually had the opposite problem the other day. I was riding a user-submitted route and I was going much faster than them on the downhill. It was like watching a video on fast forward.
Thats my issue also with Rouvy, the slow motion thing.
As per other messages, this isn't really any issue any longer. They've improved the app over the nearly 2 years I've been using it
I don’t find that issue with OpenRoad bike the world. I think they are filmed at speed close to rider pace
Try FulGaz
Great review! I don’t see the cadence glitch on my device. You definitely hit lots of the positives and negatives about the platform. One big positive you missed is that Rouvy offers real prizes. I won a ticket to Schleck Gran Fondo (cancelled due to covid) and also Whistler Gran Fondo (attended and rode to 7th in Forte class in my age group), 3 jerseys, a free year of Rouvy. A teammate of mine won a trip to Spain and rode parts of the last stage of La Vuelta with Rouvy.
This was definitely a first impressions video. I haven't seen the chance to win prizes yet.
After the Zwift HUD update with even more clutter on the screen I just changed to Rouvy. Way more landscape on the screen, HUD items are well placed and can be customized. Really great, I enjoyed the first two rides! Video quality could sometimes be better with some annoying distortion at the side of the screen but overall the experience is better if you just want to do some km per week to stay fit and not to be bothered.
And you save money too. Win, win, win.
You can customize what data fields you want on your Swift HUD.
I switched from Zwift to Rouvy a few months ago and I'll never go back. It's not even close. Now if you're the type of person who thrives in a group setting and you don't mind animated worlds, stick to Zwift. Me, I could care less about social interactions. I'm there to train, not talk. Plus, the real routes on Rouvy FAR surpass anything on Zwift. You can literally ride anywhere in the world, on the real roads, and really get the feeling that you're there. I actually feel myself getting the feeling of going over hills as if I were actually doing it, and I don't have one of those devices on the front wheel that raises and lowers, it's just that your brain really gets the feeling that you're riding these routes. As for the socialization and drafting? I have 10 ghost riders that do every ride with me. Anytime I want to train, there they are. Sometimes they take pulls, sometimes I do, just like a real group ride. My two favorite routes so far are Lake Tahoe and Pacific Coast Highway. Both have a decent amount of elevation but the scenery is breathtaking. There are also a few routes from right here where I live in Florida, so I get to ride the same roads that I ride when I'm outdoors. Really cool! And from what I've heard, I'll soon be able to video more routes myself and upload them to Rouvy, complete with all the banners and other stuff you can add. So yeah, Rouvy for me is 100 times better than Zwift, and it's only going to get better.
That is exactly what drew me to Rouvy as well.
Exactly - I'm riding to train, not talk. Great review and insights, thanks very much for sharing your thoughts.
@@davidpancerz5820 Very kind of you to say, and you’re welcome!
On the Paced Rides, shortly after you start pedaling the app will jump you up close to the pacer. And as to the hitch in the pedal stroke, when you get good at it, you can use that as a signal to someone you are riding with to take a pull. Enjoyed your video, hope to see you out there. I ride with Gem City ICC, GRC and Muckers. - username, SR-71
Thanks for the tips! I'll keep an eye out for you.
I've been on Rouvy in winters for about 5 years now and there have been some good changes and some bad. Before and during the pandemic there were always multiple events to join with more than just 1 or 2 riders. Now events are few and far between at the times I want to ride. Not being able to upload my own routes anymore is a step back. I do like being able to race my pr or add riders who have ridden the route before and race them if I can't find an event to join. I'm sticking with Rouvy bc I like the realistic road view and don't need the social component of zwift. I want to know what the roads and scenery are really like where I'm riding and this makes it all the more enjoyable.
I heard they're working on adding back support for uploading your own routes. I haven't heard an ETA though.
@@TroyOnTrails They need to because people have gotten really good at uploading geolocated/GPS/gpx camera videos on Kinomap and it is getting to be the home for gravel routes. Rouvy is really just a roadie app and they have not really gotten a clue yet lol, how big gravel has gotten for roadies. Plus, with kino you can go on a hike on your bike. Of course it is not realistic so to speak. But it offers elevation changes on the trainer. Now if I had a smart elliptical or treadmill (with smart elevation control) that would be a blast.
I can't explain why, but riding on Rouvy gave me horrible motion sickness- I was only good for 15 min on the few rides I tried. This was years ago, maybe something has changed. I am glad you are enjoying this app.
Yeah. Some people do have issues watching first person video. I'm sure my wife would have issues too.
Same , The footage can be very wavy on the sides , That messed me up , Some of the newer video's are better ,,..
I switched to Rouvy last year after a Zwift glitch that they refused to address promptly. I enjoy the solitude of Rouvy. I usually toggle off all the screen info and just enjoy the ride
The solitude can certainly be peaceful.
Starting my 5 th year, upgrades are continuously working on the product. You did a great job!
Thanks man. I started Rouvy after their big UI overhaul. And have seen constant updates which is awesome.
I have ride many years with Zwift so i have start to feel that i’m bit of bored for the Zwift so i have start to ride more with Rouvy and also with Tacx Training app. I like both of them and start to feel more motivation about indoor cycling. Maybe they are not perfect but it doesn’t bother me. Feels more real, thanks for the video recorded routes.
Totally agree
have a question can you use zwift ride with these other apps?
@@a11j Yes sure you can. You can use many training apps as you like and synch them all to Strava if you use that.
@@lehtjug i am assuming you can't use zwift ride for normal workouts without the app right, like i just want to use the bike some days without the app itself, most likely just be able to shift gears.
@@a11j yup, that’s right.
I am very very slowly coming around to the idea of indoor riding. Rouvy does make it seem like it could be a bit more fun... or at least more realistic. Of course, before I know it, the seasons have shifted enough and outside riding is calling my name 😄
Indoor training isn't for everyone. But I find it super helpful when I'm short on time to be able to go into the garage and get in a workout. Plus, if the weather is horrific, I can still get some time pedaling. Consistent training is key for me to be able to do the rides I ultimately love to do..... Outside.
After 3 years riding Zwift, I switched to Rouvy. I still love Rouvy after 1.5 years. Never felt the urge to try Zwift again.
I actually tried Zwift again last night. I was not impressed.
@@TroyOnTrails In my opinion, Zwift may not offer enough features to warrant its price, especially when compared to Rouvy, a platform that appears to be evolving and enhancing its offerings across the board.
I found Zwift too video gamy. I did RGT before Wahoo bought it but then they folded it without adding any value. So I use Rouvy and it's great. I rode Sun Moon lake in Taiwan in real life and the Rouvy version felt nearly the same.
Exactly. That lever of reality is impressive.
Exactly the route I took. I am amazed at the realism of Rouvy (and I HATE indoor workouts).
I started my virtual indoor riding with Zwift and stuck with them for about 3 years. But I had a friend who was using Rouvy and noticed on his Strava posts that his virtual rides included real pictures and I decided to check it out. But, initially I found that Rouvy did not support MacOS, which was my platform. But, when I found that they came around and started supporting MacOS I decided to give Rouvy a try and immediately switched and I have never looked back. I love the actual video streams, often times with beautiful scenery. I have even gone to ride in person at some of the places that I first rode virtually, like Homer, Alaska, and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage. You can’t do that in a place like Watopia 😂. For me, personally, Rouvy suits my tastes much better than Zwift, which as other commentators have mentioned, seems much too ‘video gamey.’
If you are looking for popular events - tuesday and thursday evenings at 7.05pm and sunday mornings at 9.15pm (UK time) host the Muckers league races. These tend to be hilly races such as Plateau de Beille, Mont Ventoux and I think it will be the Col du Telegraph next Sunday. There is also a very popular race hosted by the GRC race league on Sunday afternoons at 3.15pm - these tend to be flat routes so do have a few more riders (typically around 50 or so, compared to around 35 to 45 with the hilly races).
Drafting works great when racing and can provide a huge tactical advantage on Rouvy.
One small tip - when the countdown timer starts - begin pedalling as hard as you can and leave the start line with a sprint. Go as hard as you can for at least 30 seconds (that's what she said) because getting in to the lead group or as close to the front as possible is key to getting a good result. Being a lone rider and trying to catch up to a group of 3 riders can be futile.
Rouvy is my addiction. Finally got to level 81 at around 11pm last night
Sadly, there's nothing in the evenings on the the Pacific coast (GMT-7)
@@TroyOnTrails I see. That might be because Rouvy has European origins. I expect other people around your time zone have similar issues.
You can create your own races and group rides from the app and add the race link, time date etc on your YT channel and strava post etc. Regular times each week . just a thought
So having finally bought a smart trainer I just started using Rouvy, first ride today. I have never ridden Zwift, but thought the game like aspect of it really was a deterrent.
I like to real world aspect of Rouvy. Great review.
Put my self through the ringer with 15% grade at one point LOL
I think you'll love Rouvy! I'm happy you're enjoying it.
I tired pretty quickly of indoor cycling but especially Zwift and preferred Rouvy but I do a lot of solo rides so that aspect didn't bother me much. Great video!
Indoor training can get pretty boring for sure. I'm glad Rouvy is working for you.
I looked into changing but the video graphics are terrible upscaled 720p which causes deformation at the picture bounderies especially walls.
I can run Zwift at 60f and 4k on a 75inch tv.
It looks better on a small screen.
But who wants to look at a tablet.
They have 2k videos which look pretty nice. But no 4k so yeah. On a 75 inch screen I can see your concern. I just have a lowly 32 inch screen in the garage so 720p is all I need.
Tip: If you do the monthly challenges the routes are never lonely.
It depends pretty heavily on time zone. On the west coast of the U.S. I find 2-5 others on challenge routes.
Tried Rouvy today and made exactly the same observations. Route-graphics aside, the entire user interface makes Zwift look like a 3 generations older product. Haven't made the switch though yet. But I'm close 🙂
When you do, there's a link in the description for 50% off your first two months.
You just ride and effect the video speed. I coded this mySelf for a basic training. What i must say here is that rouvy do a good job, the settings are very configurable and with the high content of videos, it looks really good. people feel that the rouvy team works on it, and thats a great point. I dont need or use it but its good. If you are not a guy who can program it, i absolute recommend rouvy.
It's a bit more than that with the augmented reality. And having it control your trainer to simulate riding that road is key. But you could ride with just the video.
@@TroyOnTrails I control the ride with the GPX File of the video course. it is not so hard to do that. But the "allAround" multiplayer, draft, UI interface and and and, for me are the amount of details well placed are the key. And that its what rouvy do really good. :)
Duel membership at £175/yr (UK) was the main reason of choosing Rouvy over Zwift. Best decision I made, as not only good value for money but prefer the realism and able to download routes. Not a fan of the cartoon zwift world. Definitely picked up a few Rouvy tips from the comments that I never knew about
Dual membership is pretty awesome for sure.
I tried Zwift but I don't like the Super Mario Kart style and the speed is not realistic.
Changed to Rouvy and it was the best decision.
Yup. Though I did some speed comparisons on pancake flat courses and the speeds were comparable. Rouvy speeds overall are more realistic because most routes have constant grade changes. Even subtle changes make a difference.
Its all about the community on Zwift, huge racing or group ride events. I did 65 miles on Sunday with over 300 riders.
The graphics don't matter so much when racing, just hang on to the avatars in front
Yeah. Large group events are something I do miss. There are some on Rouvy, but timing is always tough.
100% agree. Its the community - ie other real people racing or riding thats the draws you in never the 'platform'. I find the fact that Whoosh is just 'free' concerning. It may destroy Zwift and we end up with nothing good at all.
I switched over from Zwift to Whoosh, as it was free, and then to Rouvy and out of the 3 Rouvy is definitely my preference. Biggest advantage over the others is the ability to download the ride, it puts an end to the internet drop outs and rides crashing mid ride. I’m not a super fit rider, and enjoy the more realistic views and empty roads to just ride without the cheesy ride-ons and rush hour cartoon feel of Zwift. So far it’s been brilliant, and a decent revue.
Yeah pretty cool that you can work with a poor connection. A definite benefit.
did you try indievelo too?
Yup I made exactly the same transitions… got the glow bike on Zwift, climbed Alpe de Zwift countless times, did a few races… got bored! Whoosh has potential but in its current state is no match, then tried Rouvy & haven’t looked back. It’s all I need when I can’t get out on the road 🤷🏻♂️
The thing with Zwift is for me there are too many races and not enough group rides . I’m old and can’t race against people who are years younger than me
I found group rides turned into races anyway. Though a few are well managed keeping everyone together.
@@mikebeattie976 Just choose races which are apropriate to your Level (D? E?) Doesn‘t matter how old you are, it’s watts/kilogramm. There are always riders 50+ or 60+ in the top of race results
I have stopped using rouvy.
The reason for this is that it is very boring in my opinion.
The idea of driving in a realistic environment certainly sounds good, but you quickly realize that it's not exciting to drive 20 km along the sea or through the forest.
Zwift does this better by optimizing the routes for indoor cycling and providing variety.
Indoor cycling is different from riding a road bike through the countryside.
I can see that. I think having lots of others around helps keep it more engaging.
Maybe when and if it fills up a bit ill try it.
Ill stick to Zwift for now, i love Zwift
Yeah. If you're into the social scene Zwift still wins. I have found if you do challenges there are always others. But nowhere near the level of Zwift.
I love riding with the robopacers!
My only negative feedback it's the absence of any sound. Aldo there are a setting for sound but even if "On" nothing comes out!?
Yeah. I don't get what that setting is for. I listen to music so don't miss sound. But it could be nice.
Rouvy is fine with good tracks. But many tracks are recorded with cars. If you climb, the fps of the video drops. because it was recorded with a much higher speed.
Cars, other bikes and persons on the road moving unnaturally slow. The immersion also breaks if the angle is wrong and you see the shadow of the car.
Very true. I tend to avoid the big climbs because they don't align with my indoor workouts. But some of those do make a poor experience.
We really like Rouvy. Adding a ghost of your PR for a route is very motivating. The workouts are great. No shifting. It changes the resistance for you.
Love it!
Zwift does the exact same thing.
@@E_Don Yes. it's similar but different.
Does Rouvey still require the power meter? Or, can I use it with just my Wahoo speed and cadence sensor?
I've never tried it without a power meter. I'm not sure.
just started using Rouvy but for the life of me my set up doesn't seem to be working, wahoo kickr move with climb the gear ratio not working and climb doesn't work it's frustrating as I kind of had hight hopes for Rouvy support is frustrating as it takes days for a response and at that point you've sort of started looking else where or simply headed back to where ya came from...
I don't have a climb so can't speak to that. But my Kickr Move has worked well with it. Climbing in Rouvy is harder than Zwift because it defaults to 100% reality. My trainer bike isn't really geared for some of those climbs.
I've just started with Rouvy, used Zwift a little bit once the outdoor biking season ended (I'm in Wisconsin). Much prefer Rouvy, working out the details between what my Wahoo Kickr SNAP configuration needs to be set for so Rouvy gives me the best possible reporting of what it's getting out of me. Training vs Just Ride? Great option! If I just want to ride I don't have to push hard to enjoy my time on my bike. Training is more focused on improving my performance over time but in realistic settings! Awesome flexibility in this app.
I'm close to 76 years old, just returned to bicycling in 2023 after a long hiatus. With this kind of support via digital 'simulation' I can ride year-round now where before I was limited by climate where I've lived.
@ indeed. Though indoor training has made me a bit soft. I used to ride outside year round. Now it's just so easy to ride indoors when the weather is bad.
Great review, thank you
You're welcome. And thanks for watching.
I still love Zwift and like the part of the video game 😊. Prob also an age thing tbf.
Rouvy seems also great. Prob gonna try it once I played Zwift "to the end" 😂
Yeah. I finished Zwift too. I like the game aspect, but just needed more variety. Rouvy has that in spades.
@@TroyOnTrails Tried Rouvy for 4 rides now after your video and I admit it is very cool. Not better or worse than Zwift, it is different:)
I subscribed annually to Zwift, after the subscription ended I think I will switch montly between both :)
Thx again for the nice vid! Made me try Rouvy.
great vid- right on the cusp of switching from Z to R as well. I am having trouble with just 1 small thing (not technical) about finding a route type I need- can I ask your advise please? thanks!
Sure. What are you looking for? Rouvy seems to have almost any route type and is rumored to allow for creating your own routes soon too.
@@TroyOnTrails Thanks- this question is a bit unusual. On Zwift like many other probably do, I easily found a route I could use as a warmup before bouncing to the real ride of the day (i.e. climb portal, 50 mi route etc). The "warmup route" I chose after trying a few has some characteristics I want to explain. It is short (3 miles), but lets me just lap as you know so if I feel like warming up 3 miles that day or 6 or 10 it's easy. The other thing is it is mostly flat with just a few little hill parts that let me get out of the saddle for like 20 sec or so to stretch and be ready for later climbing. My question. I am having trouble finding such a route on ROUVY because of the main thing which is it does not allow a rider to lap on routes the same way and so if I did find a 3 mi similar route, it ends each time and I have to start over and it sends 3 things to strava etc. So the obvious would be to find a 10 mi route in ROuvy. but that is hard to find one where every 3 miles or so is mostly flat with just a little climbing to best replicate the Z route. Any suggestions???, I have tried about 15 rouvy routes and not getting close to finding what I need. thanks!
@@BarryJHoffman that's pretty specific. You're unlikely to find a route that has a small bill every three miles. I recommend just using a flat route and increasing effort as desired. You can produce the same wattage on a flat road. Just change into a harder gear and put out extra power. This allows you complete control over your warmup routine. It's what I did in Zwift and what I do in Rouvy.
@TroyOnTrails so I just found a pretty good route that checks most boxes. Think it's kinda close combined with your tips.. I'm ready now. Thanks. @@TroyOnTrails
Been using Rouvy for almost 4 years now. Really like it and as I am not a gamer, the Zwift gamer style did not appeal to me. I enjoy the actual road and have used it to try out a road in an area I knew I was going to be in, which I thought was pretty cool.
I haven't had the chance to "pre ride" something I'm planning in real life yet. Though it seems it would be pretty good prep.
Also using rouvy, but didn't you have any problems with performance, lagging / stopping videos? These problems came up regulary for more than a year, a lot of frustrated users on the google playstore, including myself. Since 2 weeks it seems to get better, doesn't happen that often anymore, but before it was happening nearly every time and drove me absolutely insane, because the only way of fixing it was to stop the current session and start it again and then your official time was deleted and you never made it into the rankings, because you have "paused" your ride according to their regularities (and no, I am not cheating on an e-mtb, I am using it with my normal non-e gravel bike 😋)
I use a PC laptop. I stream the video and have had the video freeze for a few seconds 2 or 3 times. But that's it. No significant issues at all. But yeah. I've seen a lot of complaints lately.
hi,
do you think rouvy is best to practice climbing? I have a plan to train my climbing skills between rouvy/zwift.
You can certainly practice climbing on either platform. But I feel Rouvy's climbs are more realistic. The grades on Rouvy's climbs match the real world which will give you an accurate sense of your capabilities.
This is great. I like it! Its for people who don't want to race others all the time and just want to ride and jave nice scenery (more realistic). Most people don't have a group they ride with anyways lets be real
Exactly. Rouvy's value is the scenery. There are some gorgeous routes for sure.
Indoor training from 1987 till 2023 on a old CATEYE 1987 CS-1000 , VHS TAPES, TDR , IRONMAN , MOVIES . Gave Zwift and a smart trainer a chance couple yrs ago, was not ready for it . What changed is a long list of pro cyclists and triathletes on Zwift . Especially Lionel Sanders who came to Florida back in 2018 we talked couple of times. So I have really followed his indoor riding .
Long story short , got smart trainer on sale back in Dec 2023 , signed up to ZWIFT and my mind was ready before I turned the Smart trainer on . Now 4200 miles later level 56, TRON bike and texting many people around the world even pro triathletes .
Plus I'm 67 and retired and not a fan of being in the Florida sun , so never had a problem riding indoors mentally or physically .
Smart trainer + ZWIFT makes indoor riding easier and my racing in Duathlons , my bike is in the top 15% of every race, Duathlons and triathlons combined . Everyone is different , and we all can't be the same. TRAIN SAFE AND SMART .
Yeah. I had an old Cyclops trainer back in the day. Those VHS tapes barely helped. I bought the very first Wahoo smart trainer and hand-crafted workouts on some cryptic app before Zwift came along. I used to hate indoor training. It's so much better now.
@@TroyOnTrails Hey Troy , now went from IPAD AIR 10x6 , which now is used for ZC and I have a smart block steering to 40 inch smart tv with Apple TV , racing now daily , and my cycling in the local Duathlons has really gotten so much stronger and faster. Who says old people cant learn , 67 yrs young . Keep up the riding Troy
Thank you for sharing!
What smart trainer are you riding? I understand the Zwift won't accept 3rd party apps like Rouvy?
I recently upgraded to a Wahoo Kickr Move. I had the original Kickr. If you have a Zwift trainer with virtual shifting you can buy a cassette and use the trainer with Rouvy or any other app. I Tested the Wahoo Kickr Move and It CHANGED My Ride!
ruclips.net/video/8QZbsNOaapQ/видео.html
Thank you for the video. Can someone tell me - I don’t suppose I can use my Zwift hub on Rouvy can I ? Does it have to be another watt meter? I’m thinking Zwift wouldn’t allow its equipment to work on anything else.
I replied, but I don't see it, maybe because I added a link?!? It is compatible. Search Rouvy supported trainers and you can see what you can use. There are a ton of smart trainers that are supported.
Not until they release the API and Rouvy then integrates that. Zwift hub virtual gears communicates with the app and not the hardware. It’s the reverse of the wahoo climb that communicates with the wahoo trainer and not the cycling app. Climb will work with Rouvy but virtual gears not yet and maybe not even in the plans.
A Zwift hub only works with Zwift. The virtual shifting is managed through the Zwift app itself. You can put a cassette on your Zwift Hub and then use traditional shifting which will allow the trainer to work with Rouvy or any other cycling app.
@@blairdrader5490 Okay thank you Blair
@@TroyOnTrails Okay Troy - Thank you
does Rouvy support road feel on Tacx Neo trainers?
I don’t know. I don’t have a Tacx to try.
Tacx owner here, it doesnt
@@daviddanser8011 thanks!
A few times I almost got a heart attack. when closely passed by a car on rouvy. So that's that :)
Rouvy seems to like including close encounters. I think they deliberately try to remind people riding outside is dangerous.
im not a veteran on zwift so its still interesting to me. just did a 100k group ride with 60 people. the graphics are the least important bit in that.
I am starting to miss that. Some time zones have good events and attendance. But west coast U.S. is not one of them.
I love zwift but hate now how they made the xp so much needed to level up. This rouvy looks great is there levels?
Yes. Rouvy has levels too. I've moved up to level 32 pretty quickly having just started Rouvy in January.
@@TroyOnTrails Thanks for the info
This whole video made me realise that I'm happy with zwift and probably wouldn't like rouvy at all. You can't beat signing up for a race with 60 to 70 other riders in your class then in the next few minutes getting into battles with strangers all around the world. The drama of it all is just great! Rouvy just looks so dull!
I hear of you live in Europe the races are quite full. But in my time zone crickets for sure.
I paused Zwift for the summer and I’m not too happy about the price increase. But Zwift has the infrastructure and all of the key components that you need. It does need some tweaks and refreshes, but it’s the industry standard for general indoor riding next to peloton.
Not sure I'd call it the industry standard. But it is certainly the most popular. I just got bored with it.
Does ROYVY have the equivalent of ERG mode?
Yes. ERG mode works exactly the same as in Zwift and other platforms with a smart trainer. Surprisingly, there is no way to disable ERG mode in workouts in Rouvy.
Cartoons were fine back in the 60s not now
Long live reality. 😜
I find Rouvy to be super cool with the realism etc, but Zwift still has the best racing hands down. Pick your poison. :)
Agreed. Rouvy has fewer racers and no categories. :(
Nice video but 720p?
Ha. Yeah. I had some issues with screen recording early on so I ended up with a bunch of 720p clips. It won't happen again. (HOPEFULLY)
@ I’ve been there before with after effects
I like the coins better than sweat drops. All the Zwift bike shops wanting to exchange gear for my sweat drops makes me feel like they're pervin on me.
LOL.
Zwift is much better for racing, due to more riders and categories.
Most of my indoor training is just putting on miles, though, and rouvy is gobs better. The zwift environments are trash and uninteresting.
Rouvy’s telemetry is better represented and the fact I can see the profile of the entire map is so much better. I totally agree about drafting, too. It is super bad on zwift.
Also zwift is $20/month vs $15 for rouvy
All very good points. Yes.
And then switched back ?
Honestly, I've been riding both lately. It depends on my mood. But sometimes I want a race or group ride for which I need Zwift.
I switched from Zwift to Rouvy after using Zwift for 3 years. I much prefer Rouvy.
Awesome. I couldn't agree more.
Oooh, so you try out actual routes and see if you’d like to ride them in reality? That’s not terrible, I do happen to own my own bike bag… thanks for the update 👍
Yeah. If there's an iconic route you want to ride in the real world, odds are it's also on Rouvy. I haven't had a chance to compare reality to Rouvy yet though.
Switched from Zwift to Rouvy and never looked back.
Nice. Happy pedaling!
Rouvy feels so Lonely. Feels like a dystopia future. The best part of Zwift is the social interaction and other real people. It's training a d a game.
What Zwift needs is better graphics and I think in the next 5-10 years they'll have 4K.
The real competitor with the worst name is Mywoosh. I think it will eventually rival Zwift and one will acquire the other and the platforms will merge
Agreed. I've started learning where to find people in Rouvy, but it is still nothing compared to Zwift. I have some ideas about how Rouvy could close the social gap that may show up in a future video. If they can do this, I feel they could be a real Zwift killer.
Rouvy is way better than Zwift. Now, they even started to add the social features that set Zwift apart. Soon, there's no reason to use Zwift any longer.
I definitely like the additions.
How much are you getting paid by Rouvy for this video?
Absolutely nothing. I have never spoken to anyone at Rouvy. Though if folks sign up with my link I do get a discount on my monthly sub. I take it Rouvy is not for you. It's not for everyone.
What is the point of saving Watts on a trainer?! Try Trainer Road, no videos just data.
OK, I see you have mentioned it.
I assume your talking about saving watts from drafting? Zwift does the same thing but they don't tell you the wattage savings like Rouvy does. All the same data is on both platforms. The difference is a video game experience vs a video experience. It's just a question of preference.
Ukraine jersey, ty for support!
I wish it went needed. 😢
Even not counting the visuals, the coasting, the drafting is much more really more realistic, and third Rouvy is much cheaper
I do like the drafting. And the price for sure.
So, obviously Rouvy is nothing for me. Instead of switching gears constantly, I want to pedal constantly.
The need to shift is dependent upon the route. Just like the trail world, the grade changes often on some routes. It would be very inefficient to stay in one gear just like the same route in the real world. Other routes, like the real world, have more consistent grades and shifting is less frequent. And like Zwift, workouts in ERG mode have no need to shift at all.
Tried Rouvy for a 24 km ride in Lofoten Norway, the scenery was nice, but I did not like the dynamic, and also downhill I pedal like crasy to keep up the watt, set it to 30% realism, but that did not help, I missed the third person view from behind. I will stick with Zwift for now
In settings you can change the view. But if you stumble upon user-generated content then augmented reality isn't available and you only get 1st person. I have the same issue on downhills.
Agreed, love Rouvy as well but the downhills are not realistic and way to fast...hope they fix that.
Rouvy is sweet, but if you want racing - there is only one good option. indieVelo! 🎉🙌🏻
I’m planning to try interval this fall. Thanks.
@@TroyOnTrails great to hear!! The indieVelo Grand Tour 5-day stage race is starting Sept 25th if you are interested
There are GC (individual and team), Climb, and Sprint jerseys.
dont forget zwift made me nervous with the ant heap full of riders all the time 😅
You can certainly end up in some big crowds. Fortunately no crashes. (Other than your computer)
Rouvy is good ...However be aware that if you subscribe for more than a month at a time ( 6 / 12 Months subscriptions) , they do not notify you that they are about to renew it , then just come in and take it when its due . Perfectly legal ( But very impolite in my opinion). If you tell them that you didn't intend to renew they reply that your subscription will be cancelled on the next renew date ( Again very impolite ). So reasonable product delivered by an unreasonable company
Hopefully this practice will improve as they mature as a company.
No go for me: Cars! And massive pro for Zwift: "Real" people with you on the streets and RACES!
Yup. No beating Zwift for the social scene. Cars help keep it real. But haven't been hit by one yet. 🤪
Rouvy has races as well with drafting, they are actually really fun
No, Rouvy has other riders either live in races or you can add previous times as ghost riders to chase, including your own. Quite a few routes now without cars eg the gravel route shown in this video. It may not be perfect but it's a great improvement over Zwift esp for more experienced cyclists who've long wanted realism (as opposed to some newer people whose only experience of cycling is zwift!).
@@GS-pk9rd How many riders are competing in these races?
@MatzeMumpitz official races at more popular (European) times eg weekend, early evening weekdays, can often have 50+. Others are less well attended and you might get only a handful, which is a shame.
Is this one free?
No. It’s cheaper than Zwift but not free.
@@TroyOnTrails how much is it? Free trial?
Great video BUT the backround music is extremely annoying! Get rid of it 😔
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve learned a lot since that video. Better every day. 😀
Thank you for making this video. I now know with confidence I will NEVER switch to Rouvy. It looks terrible.
Fascinating. Proof were all different.
Rouvy all the way!
Zwift is cool if your ego needs a reach around. Wait dont they give that badge out after you climbed Mount switchback for the 100th tomb.
Zwift never boosted my ego. I must have done it wrong. 🤪
One doesn’t need ride ons in ROUVY because there’s usually no one else around. Riding in ROUVY is a lonely experience….if one likes that. The avatar looks and moves unnaturally and appears pasted on a real world background. If one wants great scenery, 4K FulGaz easily wins, hand down.
It's less isolated when riding the featured routes. Also other time zones tend to be more populated.
Ha haa. I know the feeling 👍🏻
Gotta keep it fresh.
Sad ----> no running !
I think it does actually have running. But only a few routes. I'm not a runner so I haven't really looked into it
@@TroyOnTrails I looked at the app and didn't see any trails etc, unless I missed it . Where are you looking on the app that shows anything related to running?
There was running, but nobody used it. Zwift is free or Kinomap also has running and rowing. Rouvy is the king of quality for its routes though.
Rouvy needs sound. Useless till then for people who still have their hearing
I'm always listening to music so never had a need.
The contrast in video with the very awkwardly moving avatars makes me feel like watching a marionette. Something about the combination is off putting.
A few people have had that reaction. I only notice it on gravel routes. You can always turn off the avatars.
Rouvy…. Camoon! It’s Indievelo time now.
I plan to give indieVelo a try later this year as indoor training season ramps back up.
I started to HATE Zwift deeply after their obsession with their pathetic ‘gamification’…
You won't find much of that on Rouvy.
Zwift seems infinitely cooler than this IMO
They both definitely have their place.
It´s like warping into spacetime, no thanks.
You just need to ride faster. 😜 it can definitely get distracting.
Yeah no matter how good the apps are and if your friends not there?...it's not worth it.😅
I never rode with friends on Zwift.
@TroyOnTrails Well it's no fun 😕
👍🏻
Indeed. Thanks for watching.
This really sounded more like a scripted informercial instead of an honest review.
Interesting. I'm still using it and have zero relationship with Rouvy beyond being a paying customer if that helps.
@@TroyOnTrails yes thanks for the clarification. I needed that.
Prefer Fulgaz
I'll have to give it a try.
As long as it’s stable.
For what reasons? Please share. I’m evaluating Rouvy and Fulgaz.
@@DanVanDamme rouvy and zwift you ride a bike frame/wheels with no other items on it, like water bottles, saddle bag, etc. I find I can ride better, climb faster. Fulgaz you enter your weight, your bike's weight. Doing rides that I have done in the real world are very close. Hope this makes sense.
I personally find the platform less engaging than Zwift. In addition, the video is often juddery and unnatural.
The key for better video is to either do flat routes or routes that were filmed on a bike. The video can be pretty bad on big climbs when filmed by a car.
I like Rouvy. Zwift is full of cheaters when it comes to racing. Getting dropped by a 70 year old doing 500 watts is no fun especially when in real life I can go toe to toe w/ some of the conti pros (the shitty ones) in my area.
I'm glad you're enjoying Rouvy. Sadly, cheaters will cheat and that's our reality these days.
Many thanks for Support Ukraine uniform
Absolutely. It’s the least I can do.
If you installed rouvy. You wonder why it isnt free because its suuuuucks!😂
I'm curious what you don't like. But it's definitely not for everyone.
Looks 100 times worse then Zwift...
It definitely looks different. But yeah some don't care for it.
more pricy then zwift sadly
I'm not sure where you live, but in the U.S. they are both $14.99 a month.
It just looks like shit.
Sure, if you're cars salesmen or a project manager that know nothing or don't care about graphics, good UI design and great gamification - this app might be awesome. My standards are a bit higher.
It's not for everyone. And certainly anyone looking for gamification should look elsewhere.
i have had both for many years. rouvy is the loser (by far)
Apparently Rouvy was updated significantly in December. I didn't use it before this so I can't speak to the changes.
rouvy looks awful
You're not alone. Some people have similar reactions. While others have opposite reactions.
nah
Not for everyone.
rouvy; no one there mate, ... its deserted, zwift has such a great social aspect, big group rides for motivation - tour de zwift had 300-500 riders all levels belting along you could go 3 w/kg, 4 w/kg, just pick your group so much fun and banter. rouvy who would design a cycling platform with cars, don't they get it they are the anti-bike, good luck to rouvy if they think that's a desirable ride feature 😆 think you may not be backing a winner here buddy - they won't exist in 12 months.
Yeah. If you're into the social scene, Rouvy is not for you. We need competition in the indoor cycling space so I want to support alternatives.
Sadly, yes the social side is lacking but its gathering more traction with more known riders making the switch. Its got heavy investment so I doubt it will be going anywhere short term. Rouvy multi user membership is a massive game changer and never understand why Zwift don't offer this. Expecting everyone to pay for an individual membership, even if a household share the one trainer..
I was told you can use rouvy to practice the fondo routes in real life, which got me interested. But you're right, one look at the cars in the routes and I'm instantly turned off.
@@buttlesschap Just give it a try. I'm super satisfied and its getting better and better.