Sufferfest vs Zwift vs Fulgaz

[Markellis]

+1 TrainerRoad for structured training.

zwift and Rouvy I use for long rides and for a change up.

[Marsh00]

Pitch forks out Zwift fans  . 

 

I've used Zwift before, I did not like it. Here's my opinion and this is just my opinion: 

 

• I ride solo for about 90% of my riding outdoors so I would not really be bothered to cycle in groups indoors either.
• I am not too phased as to what my avatar looks like and I will not be motivated by getting a new kit for the avatar by completing certain challenges
• I want to get on, do my business and get off. No mess no fuss. I am on the spinning bike because I'm pressed for time and or I don't want to ride outside. I am not interested in riding in Central Park or London under a "free ride" as this to me does not add value
• I have found that Zwift needs quite a good screen card and the ASUS Zenbook I have sounds like a boeing taking off when I open it up.
• Rouvy does the same with the laptop as mentioned above, and I have also found that it drops the route during online races. 
• Rouvy and Zwift has the competing factor which is nice, I mean I am very competitive and enjoy beating the rider that just came up from behind. What I don't like is the fact that some folks go and enter their weight as 23kg and pedal at 70km/h up an 15% incline. Yes one does not need to bother with such okes but still, the fact that one can alter the times and speeds by just changing your weight makes me wonder if the rest of the values are correct. 
• I did a Rouvy race the one day, I have a 48T in the front and I entered my FTP as 250 just to try it out. I would spin at a cadence of well over 90 on a 12% incline but my avatar would be travelling at 11km/h. The next day I changed the FTP to 390 and I found similar results. 

Now my choice (one which I've been using since 2013) is Sufferfest. All day long. Yes yo don't have an avatar and yes you cannot ride against other people all over the world but, here's the pro's of this platform: 

• You also get badges - heck I have them all (even the K.o.S)
• You get more than just spinning, you get strength and yoga. This is a major deal for you with your back, yoga will sort you out chop chop
• Neil Henderson is a world class coach I mean you can read up on his achievements here: https://thesufferfest.com/blogs/training-resources/meet-neal-henderson-coach-to-the-pros-scientists-behind-the-suffering
• You get training plans for free which also syncs with Training Peaks 
• The 4DP is way way more accurate and effective than any other ramp or FTP test out there.
• The videos are fun and engaging 
• You get way more structure and you see the results a lot faster

Anyone is welcome to send me a pm if you have any questions related to the Sufferfest app and or how to go about getting started. 

 

Aahh a fellow Sufferlandrian... Those are the reasons I use Sufferfest as well (did the Tour  https://thesufferfest.com/pages/community-tour-of-sufferlandria-2020# earlier this year in Feb, after a 12 week plan and it pushed me to the limit)... Sufferfest is more structured and the additional yoga is great for recovery, I swear by it. 4DP is the best (toughest) fitness test I've done to determine your 5sec, 1min, 5min, 20m power numbers... 

 

If you want to take a break from all the serious suffering and just be part of a community then Zwift is perfect. I really like the race options or climbing up Alpe du Zwift. It's great to compare your own performance / improvements over time. I really miss this when using Sufferfest, you can be stuck in an 8-12 week training plan but then have no in app way (like a race) to test your fitness level without outside competition. This can mess with your head, motivation, then you start doubting everything...

 

Anyway, use both, that's my suggestion... no reason not to.

[100Tours]

I have been very happy with Rouvy - 

 

1. Cheap! R120 a month for 3 riders / 5 devices. Myself and my wife have different accounts on the same subscription. Choose to pay in CZK for the best exchange rate.

2. Has both riding routes like Zwift (including riding with others) and workouts like Sufferfest.

3. You can ride any route in the world. The experience is better with video, and there are lots of routes with video to pick from, but basically you can ride anything you can draw on Google maps. If you're so inclined you can film your own local routes and put them on the app too.

4. You can design your own workouts.

5. The roads are quiet. Watopia is a bit overrun for my tastes.

 

Be warned though there's no Zwift default setting to '50% of reality'. Rouvy climbs are hard work.

 

My setup is a Kickr 1.0 an iPad and a TV. works perfectly.

Edited June 4, 2020 by 100Tours

[RocknRolla]

Another Zwift User *Sans Pitchfork

 

I really enjoy Zwift, it is a heluvalot more fun than trainer road.

The gamification with XP points, Drops to buy kit with (athough the only thing that really matters is getting on the Tron bike) and Chasing route badges is something I like a lot.

 

There are some challenging Badges to obtain, that will really test you. 

 

Zwift gets my vote from a usability out the box point of view, as it can run on your mobile device. 

[Zawillow]

 

you'll get a lot of opinions on which app to use.

 

I use zwift for the following reasons

 

1. my training program automatically pulls into zwift from trainingpeaks
2. the challenges/badges are a good motivator
3. zwift racing is fun, if you manage to ignore the cheaters
4. it's social (or not if you choose to)

 

^^^^ what he said

[Gr3mlin131]

Also be sure to check on what platforms these are available. Zwift is nice just on my android phone, but have to hold off on testing Sufferfest until I get a ANT+ dongle to connect the PC, no android app available. 

[sirmoun10goat]

• I did a Rouvy race the one day, I have a 48T in the front and I entered my FTP as 250 just to try it out. I would spin at a cadence of well over 90 on a 12% incline but my avatar would be travelling at 11km/h. The next day I changed the FTP to 390 and I found similar results. 

 

I don't think FTP matters in a race - FTP is essential in structured workouts, as these work on a % of FTP. In a race/free ride, it's all about weight and actual power being put out. This is why changing your FTP had no impact in the race

[Duane_Bosch]

I don't think FTP matters in a race - FTP is essential in structured workouts, as these work on a % of FTP. In a race/free ride, it's all about weight and actual power being put out. This is why changing your FTP had no impact in the race

 

Yes. Telling the thing your FTP number in a race doesn't matter. Watts per kilo do. So if you lie about your weight then suddenly you have a better power to weight ratio in the game.

 

I don't really get the point of that tho. You're still in your study going nowhere. You still sweat like a motherf*&!@#. It's kind of like winning an argument on facebook.

Edited June 5, 2020 by Duane_Bosch

[100Tours]

• Rouvy does the same with the laptop as mentioned above, and I have also found that it drops the route during online races.

 

yah I don't have the bandwidth to stream HD - use the 'download' feature to download the route beforehand and this is solved.

 

• I did a Rouvy race the one day, I have a 48T in the front and I entered my FTP as 250 just to try it out. I would spin at a cadence of well over 90 on a 12% incline but my avatar would be travelling at 11km/h. The next day I changed the FTP to 390 and I found similar results.

 

It is using your actual gearing. shift up out of Granny gear?

[arendoog]

I have used Kinomap .Good videos and interesting locations .You can race somebody else,s time .

Rouvy was complicated and never really worked well for me .RCG works well ,costs nothing ,but requires more input and patience when loading videos .Zwift works well and the racing is fun .The structured training events on Zwift are fun and brilliant for getting fit ,Epic rides ext .ZWIFT is expensive but worthwhile and the only software i am currently using .I will use kinomap if i get bored with zwift

[Veebee]

Zwift !!

 

OP mentions he wants to get going again...

The boredom of Trainerroad will get him off his bike in no time. TR is great for when you looking to improve those numbers and sharpen up.

 

Sufferfest, great app but I no longer use it as it doesnt support my old cycleops trainer.

 

Zwift is great to start with, the group rides and races really help to keep you going. There are loads of group events that are 60 mins at below 2-2.5 w/kg. No better way to pass an hour.

[DR ◣◢]

Thanks for all the feedback. 

 

Used Zwift for two short sessions (all I can really do right now) and i'm happy. 

 

Using it on my phone for now so I can use my Apple watch for HR. 

[Ben Daniel]

Have tried out the sufferfest and rouvy although i keep comparing them to Zwift as it is ultimately my favourite. 

 

I like it for the ability to do both fun rides with friends, and be able to train or race.

The softwares such as rouvy or tacx don't have realistic enough graphics to make that a viable option unless you are happy to watch something else while knowing that you are emulating an outdoor route.

[Ngamla]

Grant Theft Auto V is also the new available option and it is free. I like its graphics and almost close to real life characters along the routes.

[WrightJnr]

Grant Theft Auto V is also the new available option and it is free. I like its graphics and almost close to real life characters along the routes.

Not close to being ready for mainstream use unfortunately. But they have certainly opened up what could be possible. I’m hoping some of the other platforms and stopped to take notice!!

 

Keeping in mind that for GTA to work you need 80-110 GB download and currently only on PC I believe. So the complications will come to demand vs. platforms supported etc. Currently, not much more than a smartphone and a speed/cadence sensor needed for Zwift etc. So they addressing a much bigger market.

 

But yes, the possibilities of tapping into such a week developed game platform is quite exciting!! I’m watching closely.

[DR ◣◢]

Final update. 

 

Ended up paying for the Zwift sub. It offers everything I want and works incredibly well with the Kickr. I just use my phone with a bike mount and mirror to a TV if needed. 

Thanks again for all the input.