{"id":55798,"date":"2023-10-23T19:00:34","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=750937"},"modified":"2023-10-23T20:35:34","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T18:35:34","slug":"simon-says-give-indoor-cycling-the-power-up-it-desperately-needs-gamification","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/simon-says-give-indoor-cycling-the-power-up-it-desperately-needs-gamification\/","title":{"rendered":"Simon says: Give indoor cycling the power-up it desperately needs \u2013 gamification"},"content":{"rendered":"

How many of us would really choose boredom over fun? <\/p>

By Simon von Bromley\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 23 October 2023 at 17:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Once the reserve of only the most dedicated training fanatics, indoor cycling has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years.<\/p>\n

While progress in hardware such as smart trainers has focused on improving realism, there have been multiple approaches to indoor cycling software.<\/p>\n

Some have centred on making realistic cycling simulators, while others have built virtual worlds with gamified features such as social interactions, fictional virtual worlds, power-ups, levelling up and unlockable upgrades.<\/p>\n

For me, a greater focus on the latter is what indoor cycling needs if it wants to keep growing and help a wider audience enjoy the benefits<\/a>, rather solely those simply obsessed with their fitness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Riding a stationary bike indoors will never replicate the experience of riding one outside, but by borrowing features from video games, it can be fun in different ways.<\/p>\n

Make it fun<\/h2>\n
\"Zwift\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
For the most part, Zwift puts fun ahead of realism.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While there are many indoor cycling apps<\/a> and even a few free indoor cycling apps available, Zwift has emerged as a clear market leader because it\u2019s the most fun.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the recent demise of Wahoo RGT<\/a> \u2013 which focused on \u2018realistic\u2019 physics, virtual courses that attempted to replicate real-world locations and an in-depth library of workouts<\/a> \u2013 may be partly attributable to the fact it simply wasn\u2019t as fun or as social as Zwift.<\/p>\n

Likewise, Rouvy\u2019s<\/a> implementation of placing augmented reality avatars into videos of real-world courses looks awkward. The contrast between the real video \u2018world\u2019 and digital avatars is too obvious.<\/p>\n

\"Rouvy\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Rouvy\u2019s combination of digital avatars and real-world footage doesn\u2019t hit the mark for me.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

There\u2019s a reason Mario Kart<\/em> (a go-kart racing game featuring fictional courses and power-ups), for example, is more popular than iRacing<\/em> (a motorsports racing simulation).<\/p>\n

That Mario Kart<\/em> focuses on fun and accessibility over realism, is one of its greatest strengths.<\/p>\n

Of course, many people do prefer simulator games, but as things stand there are no cycling simulators anywhere near as realistic or polished as iRacing<\/em> or Microsoft Flight Simulator<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In any case, no matter how realistic a virtual cycling simulation could be, if it isn\u2019t fun I\u2019m not interested.<\/p>\n

After all, if realism is what you want, it\u2019s nearly always possible to take your bike off the trainer and go for a ride outside<\/a> instead \u2013 something that isn\u2019t possible for most people aspiring to drive a racing car or fly an aeroplane.<\/p>\n

Indoor and outdoor cycling are not the same, and that\u2019s fine<\/h2>\n
\"Simon\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
If realism is what you want, it\u2019s usually possible to ride outside instead.<\/span><\/figcaption> Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Though using a smart trainer paired with any kind of indoor cycling app can be fun to a degree, there\u2019s no way it will ever completely replicate riding outdoors.<\/p>\n

Smart trainer hardware has improved massively in just a few short years, but it feels as if we\u2019re reaching something of a technological plateau there now.<\/p>\n

All of the best smart trainers<\/a> now have high enough maximum powers, can simulate steep enough gradients, and have good enough power accuracy and ride feel to satisfy all but the most demanding riders.<\/p>\n

There are also accessories<\/a> such as rocker plates (platforms to which you can mount your smart trainer and bike for increased movement) and gadgets such as the Wahoo Kickr Climb<\/a> and Elite Rizer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wahoo promised a \u201cgiant leap\u201d for comfort and realism with its recently launched Kickr Move smart trainer<\/a>, but having tested it (look out for my in-depth review coming soon), I\u2019m not convinced its added movement mechanics move the needle much.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, it\u2019s impossible to forget you\u2019re still riding a stationary bike indoors.<\/p>\n

Likewise, Zwift racing<\/a> can be engaging, tactical and an amazing workout, but Zwift time trials<\/a> or mass-start races nevertheless have none of the adrenaline-inducing speed, bike handling or jostling for position in a bunch.<\/p>\n

\"Simon\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
For better or worse, Zwift racing isn\u2019t the same as real-world bike racing.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Of course, it\u2019s also true that no one screams \u201cHold your line!\u201d every few minutes in a virtual race, and there\u2019s no risk of being taken out by a competitor dive-bombing the bunch into a corner and losing their front wheel.<\/p>\n

For many, this relative lack of risk is what makes platforms such as Zwift so appealing \u2013 without doubt, they offer a more accessible entry point to group riding and racing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whatever your stance on it, though, we can all agree virtual indoor cycling and riding in the real world are not equivalent.<\/p>\n

Indoor cycling should stop chasing realism and focus on fun<\/h2>\n
\"Zwift\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Virtual worlds are only limited by the imagination of the designers.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On the other hand, virtual indoor cycling can do things you can\u2019t do in the real world.<\/p>\n

In the real world, you\u2019re generally limited to riding courses and terrain in your local area (unless you\u2019re able and willing to travel frequently).<\/p>\n

Living in the South West of England, I have essentially no access to long mountain climbs, for example.<\/p>\n

Indoors, I can ride Alpe du Zwift<\/a> whenever I like, or I can access a group ride, event, race or workout whenever it\u2019s convenient for me.<\/p>\n

Hardware limitations aside, indoor cycling platforms can build virtual worlds only restricted by their imaginations, rather than the geography of the real world.<\/p>\n

\"Zwift\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
There are no hour-long climbs in my local area, but I can ride Alpe du Zwift at any time.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

There are also no power-ups in the real world, and getting access to a new bike requires a significant cash investment rather than simply unlocking it by riding more and levelling up.<\/p>\n

Other indoor cycling apps should learn from the popularity of Zwift and implement more of these gamified features.<\/p>\n

With the launch of its Play controllers<\/a>, which enable steering, braking and virtual gear changes<\/a> with your fingertips, Zwift is clearly taking tentative steps to give riders a greater degree of control over their virtual avatar.<\/p>\n

Indeed, Zwift announced gamified test events and races<\/a>, which take advantage of steering and braking, would be coming to the platform this season.<\/p>\n

As things stand, the physics of riding in a bunch and the resulting tactical aspects of Zwift both work well.<\/p>\n

Needing to steer or brake to take corners effectively \u2013 as in almost every other racing game \u2013 feels like an obvious next step in improving how engaging the game is, however.<\/p>\n

\"Zwift\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Zwift\u2019s Play controllers are one of the first attempts at real video-game style controllers for an indoor cycling game.<\/span><\/figcaption> Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Perhaps Zwift could even go further and implement other common video game features such as \u2018Dynamic game difficulty balancing<\/a>\u2019. As happens in Mario Kart<\/em>, for example, chasing riders could be given stronger power-ups to help them back from being dropped by the main bunch.<\/p>\n

As things stand, with how hard most Zwift races are during the opening minutes, it\u2019s fairly easy to get dropped from the main bunch within the first few virtual kilometres. If this happens, you\u2019re effectively out of the race with no chance of getting back into the main group (due to how the virtual drafting effect increases the speed of the main group so substantially compared to riding solo).<\/p>\n

While that may be \u2018fair\u2019 or \u2018realistic\u2019 in an athletic sense, it\u2019s not much fun for those who get dropped and it doesn\u2019t encourage them to come back for more.<\/p>\n

\"Simon\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Riding and racing on virtual indoor cycling apps needn\u2019t follow the same rules as the real world.<\/span><\/figcaption> Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Or perhaps riders could be given more options for optimising their virtual bike setup than simply choosing a frameset and wheels.<\/p>\n

Riders could opt for a set of fast time trial tyres with a higher risk of a virtual puncture, or a more hardy set to play it safe at the expense of some speed. Or tyre choice could affect grip on off-road sections, for example. There are many possibilities.<\/p>\n

Naturally, all of these things would need to be effectively balanced so as to not \u2018break\u2019 the game, but that\u2019s a dilemma facing all video game developers.<\/p>\n

It needs to be social<\/h2>\n
\"Zwift\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Group rides on Zwift became a lifeline during the global pandemic, and it remains one of the best aspects of indoor cycling.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Another key reason Zwift is succeeding where others have failed is in the social side of cycling.<\/p>\n

Zwift saw enormous growth during the global COVID-19 pandemic<\/a> because it made it easy to ride with your friends<\/a> in a virtual setting.<\/p>\n

While some other apps make a big deal of having many thousands of kilometres of virtual roads to ride, Zwift only ever has three relatively small virtual worlds live at any one time.<\/p>\n

As a result, Zwift\u2019s worlds are always populated with other cyclists, making them feel more alive.<\/p>\n

\"Zwift\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
It\u2019s always possible to find a group ride on Zwift, and I\u2019ll rarely just log on for a \u2018free ride\u2019 anymore.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Successful mainstream video games, such as Fortnite<\/em> and Call of Duty Warzone<\/em> (both free-to-play battle royale games) have shown that creating a well-populated, social-friendly virtual world is of critical importance to modern online games.<\/p>\n

One thing I would like to see Zwift implement, though, is voice chat.<\/p>\n

It would need to be optional, of course, and would preferably have basic options such as \u2018push to talk\u2019 (so it only picks up your voice when you want it to) and \u2018bunch\u2019 or \u2018party-only\u2019 chat (so you\u2019re only talking to people in your group \u2013 pre-arranged or otherwise \u2013 and not every rider online at that time).<\/p>\n

However, as things stand, riders resort to using third-party platforms such as Discord to talk to other riders.<\/p>\n

\"Mpow\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Most riders likely already have access to the kit (headphones and a microphone) to make in-game voice chat work.<\/span><\/figcaption> Simon Bromley \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Of course, there are hardware issues to overcome, such as ensuring that riders have access to a microphone and headphones or speakers.<\/p>\n

These aren\u2019t insurmountable issues for most video games, however, and it\u2019s easy to envisage how voice chat could be implemented through the Zwift Companion iOS and Android app, or via the Zwift Play controllers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Should indoor cycling apps copy video game business models?<\/h2>\n
\"Zwift\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Customising your virtual avatar is big business for many video games.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Aside from making things more fun, there may be lessons indoor cycling apps can learn from the business models of highly profitable video games.<\/p>\n

Games such as Fortnite<\/em> and Call of Duty<\/em> make enormous amounts of money<\/a>\u00a0through selling digital character models and weapon \u2018skins\u2019 to use in-game.<\/p>\n

To be clear, these digital items typically confer next to no performance advantages in competitive modes (they\u2019re not \u2018pay-to-win\u2019, for the most part) \u2013 they\u2019re simply about looking cool or enabling players to skip the levelling-up \u2018grind\u2019.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Zwift<\/a> allows users to unlock new bikes, kits and accessories only via levelling up and by spending accumulated \u2018Drops\u2019 (Zwift\u2019s virtual in-game currency), or through participating in in-game events.<\/p>\n

Zwift also seems to have slowed on adding new bikes and equipment to its \u2018Drop Shop\u2019, with new road bikes such as the latest Giant Propel<\/a> or Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8<\/a> not yet available.<\/p>\n

\"Zwift\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Zwift\u2019s Drop Shop doesn\u2019t have many of the latest bikes, and new kit can only be unlocked by grinding for Drops and experience points.<\/span><\/figcaption> Zwift<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Of course, Zwift operates on a subscription-based business model as opposed to the free-to-play models Fortnite<\/em> and Call of Duty: Warzone<\/em> use. Perhaps Zwift\u2019s audience therefore isn\u2019t directly comparable.<\/p>\n

However, given my experience with other video games, I wouldn\u2019t be at all surprised if Zwift users were willing to part with real cash to unlock their favourite bikes and kit without needing to grind for XP (experience points) or drops.<\/p>\n

This would also open up commercial opportunities for Zwift to partner with major brands in the cycling industry, to get their bikes and kit in the game.<\/p>\n

Looking into the crystal ball<\/h2>\n

During the global pandemic, when people were confined to riding indoors for many months, indoor cycling<\/a> understandably had a moment.<\/p>\n

To capture people\u2019s attention now, in direct competition with riding in the \u2018real world\u2019, it needs to be something riders make an active choice to use.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, in order for these platforms to survive and flourish in the long term, there may also be lessons to learn from the business models of video games in other spaces.<\/p>\n

But having reached a point where the hardware is now largely \u2018good enough\u2019, indoor cycling will have a wider appeal if brands focus on the things that make it fun and social, rather than looking for ways to simply make it more realistic.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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