While viewing some blogs about Zwift, I discovered that one of Zwift’s rivals, Rouvy, had been acquired by Zwift. One article mentioned that some of the Zwift hardware would now work with other platforms including Rouvy.
I had played with Rouvy, a little, in the past so thought this would be a good time to revisit.
I downloaded the Rouvy app. from the App Store onto an iPad. I also downloaded the accompanying Companion app to an old iPhone that I have strapped to my handlebars. I created an account, signed up for the year then immediately cancelled the subscription. This will give me seven days to try it out without the risk of forgetting to cancel the sub at the end of the trial.
I did misread that the Zwift Play controllers would now work with Rouvy to enable virtual shifting. What I actually read was that Zwift Ride (the whole bike thing) and Zwift Click (the two button controller) work with Rouvy.
Luckily, I still had my Click so (easily) paired that up with the Rouvy app running on an iPad.
Firing up the companion app. also gives the option of changing gears from most of the screens displayed during a ride.
The main difference between Zwift and Rouvy is the graphics.
Whereas Zwift rides take place in a virtual world (although with some representations of real places) Rouvy rides are shown on actual video shot at the locations. The riders’ avatars are superimposed on top of the video making it look more lifelike as opposed to Zwift’s gamified graphics.
Rouvy does a good job of adding the riders giving a realistic impression even down to the shadows lying in the right direction.
On the ride, there are differences such as, because it’s a video with start and finish, there is no warm up and you can’t just keep pedalling at the end as there’s no more road to cycle on. There is an option to add a warm up and cool down but there is no scenery.
Also, should you come to a stop, the screen changes to one asking if you want to quit or continue. Luckily, if you start pedalling this goes away and you’re back on the ride.
A couple of weeks later and I have ridden a few routes in Rouvy – last week I cycled one hundred and twenty five kilometres on the platform.
As well as simple rides, I have also started on a training plan and have completed a couple of workouts.
I have tried a couple of group rides. I believe that ALL group rides are banded meaning that if you fall behind the imaginary rubber band pulls you back to the leader. Conversely, should you get in front, you will be pulled back.
Unfortunately, on the first group ride I attempted, the leader became disconnected so there was no rubber band effect. The next one was more successful.
As well as an indicator showing the drafting effect, when on a group ride a second indicator show your position relative to the leader and the amount of banding applied.
Although you still have to put in the watts it still enables you to keep up with stronger leaders.
Some Zwift group rides do the same but there is no indication as to the effect of the banding.
My Zwift subscription is due to expire next week but as I’m liking Rouvy so much, I have cancelled Zwift and gone for a year’s subscription on Rouvy which works out at £13.99 per month.
For old times sake, I did switch back to Zwift for my regular Sunday Brunch ride with the Wobble Cycle Club (WCC). This is an easy ride of around 1.3 to 1.5 Wkg but today’s did have a few nasty lumps requiring a bit more umph to get over.
During the ride, we were informed that as from next week the brunch would be moving from 11:15 to 9:15 and would share a course with the faster Breakfast ride (around 2 Wkg) but with different starting pens. The power required for the brunch will also be going up to 1.5 – 1.8.
No big shakes as this was to be my final brunch.
A little later, after my WCC ride, I dropped a post onto the club’s facebook page just to say thanks for all the rides I had done.
I received some very nice replies.
I will miss the team spirit and dad jokes.
kevbaldry