{"id":57867,"date":"2024-01-04T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/7b544b61-96cb-412e-a9ef-a9bcb04c3595"},"modified":"2024-01-04T14:00:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T13:00:50","slug":"best-indoor-cycling-apps-2024-which-training-app-should-you-use","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/best-indoor-cycling-apps-2024-which-training-app-should-you-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Best indoor cycling apps 2024: which training app should you use?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We compare the best indoor cycling apps, plus the gear you need to start riding indoors <\/p>

By Simon von Bromley\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 04 January 2024 at 12:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Yes, we would all rather ride outside. But the best indoor cycling apps can help you get fitter and faster when weather, work and the rest of your life stop you from getting out.<\/p>

What’s more, the best smart trainers<\/a> and training apps have made indoor cycling<\/a> more realistic and effective than ever.<\/p>

Here are our favourite indoor cycling apps, plus the best of the rest that are worth checking out. At the end of this article, we’ve included a brief guide to apps and indoor training<\/a>. <\/p>

Best indoor cycling apps in 2024<\/h2>

Zwift has established itself as the go-to training app, but there are plenty of alternatives if you want to mix up your indoor cycling experience.<\/p>

TrainerRoad is another app we have gravitated towards in the pain cave and is great for structured workouts and training plans.<\/p>

Wahoo announced the closure of Wahoo RGT from 1 November 2023, but its structured workout platform Wahoo SYSTM remains. <\/p>

For most of these apps, you\u2019ll want to know your Functional Threshold Power (FTP)<\/a> to get the most from the workouts.<\/p>

Don’t worry if you don’t know it because the apps will all be able to help you determine what your FTP is \u2013 and, in turn, establish your training zones<\/a>. Just be warned that finding your FTP generally involves a 20-minute all-out effort or a ramp test, so it’s no walk in the park. <\/p>

Many of the best indoor training apps use a subscription model, often costing between \u00a310 \/ $10 and \u00a320 \/ $20. But if you don’t want to part with your cash just yet, we have a separate guide to the best free indoor cycling apps<\/a>. <\/p>

Zwift<\/h3>
Zwift has been a game-changer for indoor cycling. – Zwift<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Founded by gamers with a love of cycling (and some good investment), Zwift<\/a> has undoubtedly transformed the indoor riding experience.<\/p>

Zwift didn\u2019t invent virtual riding. Bkool and Tour de Giro were among the first to offer online competition driven by rider output and physics-based algorithms. Computrainer had the smart trainer experience years ago, but within a closed system where you had to buy a Computrainer.<\/p>

Nor did Zwift invent power-based interval training. TrainerRoad had the early lead there.<\/p>

But what Zwift has excelled at is the social interaction and graphic elements of the game. <\/p>

\"Screengrab
Group rides bring a fresh dynamic to indoor training. – Zwift<\/figcaption><\/figure>

With virtual group rides<\/a> and races going on almost constantly, it\u2019s easy to jump in with a group for an easy spin or an all-out slugfest. You can also ride on your own, or tackle one of Zwift\u2019s many structured training plans and workouts<\/a> after taking a Zwift FTP test<\/a>. <\/p>

The platform\u2019s racing aspect has also taken off, with categorised Zwift races<\/a> to join based on your power-to-weight ratio if you want to stoke your competitive fire.<\/p>

Zwift is regularly adding gamified elements to bring further interactivity, including introducing steering to all courses within the game<\/a> (provided you have the right equipment<\/a>). There is also Discord integration, which allows you to speak to and message other riders.<\/p>

More recently, Zwift has produced hardware to improve your Zwift experience. It released the Zwift Hub<\/a> turbo trainer in 2022. That’s been followed by the Zwift Play<\/a> controllers and Zwift Cog<\/a> this year, which is said to widen compatibility with almost any 8- to 12-speed drivetrain.<\/p>

\"Zwift
RoboPacer uses your previous fastest times as benchmarks to chase. – Zwift<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Once you\u2019ve got your Zwift setup<\/a> sorted, you can also chat with friends and other cyclists as you ride through the app\u2019s virtual worlds.<\/p>

Routes include the fictional Watopia and Neokyo<\/a> worlds, and routes inspired by real-world courses.<\/p>

Zwift recently announced an expansion to Watopia with eight new routes based on a new Coastal Causeway<\/a>. The 19km of virtual will form the backbone for more roads in the future, according to Zwift.<\/p>

Zwift Climb Portals launched in July 2023 and they will take you up gamified real-world climbs. The feature has included climbs such as the Col du Tourmalet and Col d\u2019Aspin, which featured on the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.<\/p>

Zwift also has an Apple TV app, and you can connect your smart trainer or power meter via Bluetooth, which can make setting up your pain cave<\/a> a little easier.<\/p>