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 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.

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.

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

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.

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 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 😄

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

No go for me: Cars! And massive pro for Zwift: "Real" people with you on the streets and RACES!

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.

hi, do you think rouvy is best to practice climbing? I have a plan to train my climbing skills between rouvy/zwift.

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.

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

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.

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" 😂

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

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.

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 👍

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.

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 😋)

Does ROYVY have the equivalent of ERG mode?

Tip: If you do the monthly challenges the routes are never lonely.

does Rouvy support road feel on Tacx Neo trainers?

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.

A few times I almost got a heart attack. when closely passed by a car on rouvy. So that's that :)

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.

Ha haa. I know the feeling 👍🏻

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 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.

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.

Maybe when and if it fills up a bit ill try it. Ill stick to Zwift for now, i love Zwift

I switched from Zwift to Rouvy after using Zwift for 3 years. I much prefer Rouvy.

Is this one free?

I find Rouvy to be super cool with the realism etc, but Zwift still has the best racing hands down. Pick your poison. :)

dont forget zwift made me nervous with the ant heap full of riders all the time 😅

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

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 .

What is the point of saving Watts on a trainer?! Try Trainer Road, no videos just data.

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!

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

Sad ----> no running !

Rouvy needs sound. Useless till then for people who still have their hearing

So, obviously Rouvy is nothing for me. Instead of switching gears constantly, I want to pedal constantly.

Thank you for making this video. I now know with confidence I will NEVER switch to Rouvy. It looks terrible.

Rouvy…. Camoon! It’s Indievelo time now.

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

Yeah no matter how good the apps are and if your friends not there?...it's not worth it.😅

Many thanks for Support Ukraine uniform

Prefer Fulgaz

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.

Zwift seems infinitely cooler than this IMO

more pricy then zwift sadly

If you installed rouvy. You wonder why it isnt free because its suuuuucks!😂

Looks 100 times worse then Zwift...

i have had both for many years. rouvy is the loser (by far)

nah

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.

That looks lame AF.