Indoor Cycling - Zwift or Rouvy

[JJHeyneke]

Good evening all not sure, couldn't find anything related to my question.

I am new to indoor trainers.

I have been cycling on and off for a few years now. Mostly Off.

I bought the Wahoo Kicker Core to use this coming winter.

Now my question is which is the better option, Zwift or Rouvy?

Question two is, what will the monthly subscription on these two platforms be in South African Rand?

 

[JJHeyneke]

Sorry I found my answer in a older forum topic. Not sure how to delete this topic.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

8 hours ago, JJHeyneke said:

Sorry I found my answer in an older forum topic. Not sure how to delete this topic.

Look at TrainerRoad as well

[JacquesJ]

MyWhoosh also a good option for free

[NC_lurker]

If you're looking at Rouvy you can get a discount code via the Geraint Thomas podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5qKyQ1PXthfY49tTAHJtMu

['Kaze Pete]

I'm using TrainingPeaks Virtual for days I do not want to venture outside. It is included in a TrainingPeaks premium sub, but that is included in how I use the platform

[Jimmy 2.0]

MyWhoosh for the win. Free to use all the exact same features as Zwift 

[ChrisF]

2 hours ago, Jimmy 2.0 said:

MyWhoosh for the win. Free to use all the exact same features as Zwift 

Is it still as resource heavy ?

[JacquesJ]

Probably still more than Zwift, but not as bad as it was. They also now release two versions. the standard one has less roadside eyecandy, so  use less resources.

[NotSoBigBen]

3 hours ago, ChrisF said:

Is it still as resource heavy ?

I find it not too bad but I do use the standard (not HD) version as well .... I'm not there for the view 🤪

[Duane_Bosch]

*Monolog alert!

Of the 2 I'd go for option 3 which is Mywoosh. It is a bit resource intensive so you do need a bit of a good device to run it off. It's best feature is that it's free.

IMO Of the 2 Zwift is better as a training tool whereas Rouvy is cool if you want to "ride" some routes you've ridden before or plan to ride in the future. 

As an overall experience Zwift is better. You have to bear the following in mind tho.

1. Mywoosh is free so I'd go for that over Rouvy or Zwift

2. Most of them have a free week or 2 so you can sample before committing
3. You aren't married to any of them so you can bounce between them if you get bored with whichever.

However!
Nothing is going to change the fact that you are pushing pedals and going nowhere so maybe do the following. Assuming you're running it on a laptop.
1. Get a semi dedicated training space going
2. Get a good fan. Preferably one with a remote so you can warm up a bit and then switch it on. Or put the fan on up front but wear a t shirt while you warm up and shed that. You don't need to spend 6k on the Wahoo one
3. Get a 2nd monitor and play youtubes or netflix or whatever on there to make the misery bearable.
4. Get onto a training program and just bash that out. 
5. Get some sort of desk to hold your displays at eye level. There are many cheap options you don't have to spend thousands on the wahoo one
6. Get some earbud headphones so your family doesn't have to hear your youtubes while you are sweating
7. If you can get a cheapie training bike that lives on the trainer permanently.
8. Get a cheap yoga mat to collect the sweat.
9. You'll need a heart rate monitor.
 

Edited Tuesday at 06:28 AM by Duane_Bosch

[ChrisF]

23 minutes ago, Duane_Bosch said:

*Monolog alert!

Of the 2 I'd go for option 3 which is Mywoosh. It is a bit resource intensive so you do need a bit of a good device to run it off. It's best feature is that it's free.

IMO Of the 2 Zwift is better as a training tool whereas Rouvy is cool if you want to "ride" some routes you've ridden before or plan to ride in the future. 

As an overall experience Zwift is better. You have to bear the following in mind tho.

1. Mywoosh is free so I'd go for that over Rouvy or Zwift

2. Most of them have a free week or 2 so you can sample before committing
3. You aren't married to any of them so you can bounce between them if you get bored with whichever.

However!
Nothing is going to change the fact that you are pushing pedals and going nowhere so maybe do the following. Assuming you're running it on a laptop.
1. Get a semi dedicated training space going
2. Get a good fan. Preferably one with a remote so you can warm up a bit and then switch it on. Or put the fan on up front but wear a t shirt while you warm up and shed that. You don't need to spend 6k on the Wahoo one
3. Get a 2nd monitor and play youtubes or netflix or whatever on there to make the misery bearable.
4. Get onto a training program and just bash that out. 
5. Get some sort of desk to hold your displays at eye level. There are many cheap options you don't have to spend thousands on the wahoo one
6. Get some earbud headphones so your family doesn't have to hear your youtubes while you are sweating
7. If you can get a cheapie training bike that lives on the trainer permanently.
8. Get a cheap yoga mat to collect the sweat.
9. You'll need a heart rate monitor.
 

 

I use a SONOF wifi plug for the fan.

 

Perfect for the warmup, then easy to switch on the fan when you want it.

[cadenceblur]

2 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

I use a SONOF wifi plug for the fan.

 

Perfect for the warmup, then easy to switch on the fan when you want it.

Where does one get these plugs? I have a monster fan that is quite chilly as our temps are now dropping so also wanting to  avoid having to jump off bike to switch it on once I’ve warmed up. 
I generally don’t use any training platform as I run my own workouts but when I do use one it’s TP virtual as I have premium account BUT I need a better FTP test option though, always used the Kinglake test on Fulgaz but it’s such a waste to pay just for one workout 

[ChrisF]

I have the 3-pin version of this -

https://sonoffafrica.co.za/product/sonoff-s60-smart-plug/?srsltid=AfmBOopSa_9VcoaxMLIXy1Sf1DxjD-gRn-JkLgTPsi7E_dHQWaf_Al_F

 

They have a WIDE range of goods .... welcome to one deeeeep rabit hole  

 

EDIT - I see Communica also stock some of their range.

 

I have a couple of these.  One is used for the ebike batteries .... I can set it up to charge during sun-times, maximising solar.  Also I can set a timer to only charge it to about 70%, to optimise the battery life, then a top-up charge the night before a ride.  Similarly, one on the pool pump allows me to control it remotely depending on weather and solar .....

Edited Tuesday at 10:23 AM by ChrisF

[WR 1.0]

On 4/21/2025 at 8:01 AM, JacquesJ said:

MyWhoosh also a good option for free

If you can live with the odd 2 gig download ( mine is showing I need to download 6 gig's of content) This just after I installed the app again on my new phone

[Duane_Bosch]

5 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

Where does one get these plugs? I have a monster fan that is quite chilly as our temps are now dropping so also wanting to  avoid having to jump off bike to switch it on once I’ve warmed up. 
I generally don’t use any training platform as I run my own workouts but when I do use one it’s TP virtual as I have premium account BUT I need a better FTP test option though, always used the Kinglake test on Fulgaz but it’s such a waste to pay just for one workout 

Zwift allows you 25km free a month so you can smash out test there once a month?