Indoor Cycling Rouvy Review

[@velo_murph]

I had Rouvy for a year, probably 2018-2019. Why I stopped using it after one year (tried it, thought it was okay, still rode zwift too) was they reset your career after a "season", as they call it. So my progression to "regional pro" was reset at my one year anniversary back to "rookie"!? Would you like Zwift to take badges away after every year or bikes you unlocked and bought with drops? Not me.

[@tofuhiker]

I did not know that, that sucks.. why would they do something like that? you work hard for a year only to start from scratch? Lucky I wasn't a fan of Rouvy =).. Thanks for the information.

[@laurenwolff67]

The Rouvy career underwent a new and better format transformation and that is why and now the career is ongoing with achievements ongoing.

[@Explorshon123]

@@laurenwolff67 Glad you said that, I just downloaded Rouvy today and I was feeling disappointed based on @velo's comment.

[@nerigarcia7116]

This is a user uploaded route so the video will not be as clear and steady as the ones provided by the app. The riders in the video were the actual riders doing the route, not the virtual ones to pace you, those are in the AR versions. I like having real scenery opposed to a digitally created environment but I'm not quite sure how Zwift and Rouvy stack up in use yet.

[@dimitriverbeke4758]

They added drafting now and the video plays faster as I speed up and slows down when I ride slower so those 2 things they fixed. I also see the virtual partners and my own avatar and all these things together make it alot better then it shows in this video. You can even ride against yourself if you ride a route for the 2nd time or find 1 of your friends who did it before. Also live riders join the map while you ride it. Just wanted to clear this abit out :)

[@tofuhiker]

Awesome thanks for the update..

[@dimitriverbeke4758]

@@tofuhiker Hey! I came back to this video to add something. A week after seeing this video I started Zwifting and well.. bye bye Rouvy 😄 It's not a bad platform, I liked it before I tried Zwift, but I'm really hooked on Zwift now so I understand your reaction 100%. Not going back to Rouvy anymore. Besides.. seeing real routes on your pc gets boring after 3 weeks. You better ride them outside anyway.

[@tofuhiker]

@@dimitriverbeke4758 😆 ... you must have the competitive blood in you hahaha I have to agree watching views (real routes) after few weeks will get boring you need someone to push you as no matter if it's a group ride or race there always someone stronger testing your limits. Welcome to the zwift family 👪.

[@Explorshon123]

​@@tofuhiker I like Zwift because I really push myself hard in races (even though I can't win any races yet) so if Rouvy isn't as motivating I'll probably stick with zwift.

[@tofuhiker]

@@Explorshon123 I agree with you, maybe that's why I mentioned Rouvy is for those who just want to enjoy a social ride. =)

[@ludmilasad9469]

I consider coming back to Rouvy to update the review and comparison, the app has recently improved so much.

[@JBuchmann]

Rouvy is awesome! I particularly like the gradient box in the top left. You get excellent insight of you our current gradient and exactly what's coming directly ahead. Also you may have some settings wrong, or your trainer isn't working right. The video speed should go up and down depending on how fast you're going in relation to the speed it was recorded. If it's not then it's not working for you.

[@pmeijler7875]

Last year I bought a Kickr V5 because it would work with Zwift. It did for about three weeks, then Zwift upgraded and the trainer did not synchronize with Zwift, so you could be riding uphill with no resistance and downhill with a 20% upgrade. Not good. So I found Rouvy and have gone back to Zwift occasionally. This video is not a good review of Rouvy. There are three types of rides in Rouvy. Some are just a map. There are some with a video and a map ( i.e. Mount Cootha, I lived in Brisbane for 20 years and am very familiar with the route), and third AR Video. There are probably now 10,000+ video routes and thousands or AR routes to choose from. You can easily find new routes. The only thing I can criticize about Rouvy is there is too much choice of what to ride and not enough time to ride them all. Unlike Zwift, there are choices of where to ride. You can join group rides and you can also race in Rouvy. I have created a route that I rode and compared the route created in Rouvy, and the real life is comparable. To me Zwift let me down, and I am glad for that, because I can now ride any where I want at any time with Rouvy.

[@tofuhiker]

NO doubt this is pretty bad review of rouvy =).. it's just my first impression of it, but just with every product it good for some and not for others, thank you for your feedback.

[@Explorshon123]

I wonder if that downhill glitch still happens 1 year on? Anyone? 3:35

[@yarecki2000]

I'm sorry mate but you completely don't understand how Rouvy works... Just think for a second, how do you expect to chase someone who has been recorded previously in the video??? Their speed is completely irrelevant to what you are doing on your ride. You can really only race someone else who is riding the same route at the same time as you do... Your "review" is hilarious...

[@tofuhiker]

Yep! I figured that out hahaha, as I mentioned during the video this is my only my second ride on Rouvy, it was just my thoughts on it, clearly I haven't grasp how the whole app works, this video is more of my first impressions than a full review on the app itself.

[@freespeechisdead202]

I know right. One of those ppl that does a review without even properly using the software. Typical of how game reviews are made. Use it for an hr and think you are an expert on how it all works. Rouvy is much better than zwift as zwift is merely a game where rouvy is being developed to be a realistic riding sim. Some ppl dont get it and just like the gaming aspect. Rouvy has been tried and tested by proper cyclists and the results are very close to real life, when you take into account elevation, wind, temperature, obstacles and so forth you encounter in the real world that you dont on the apps. This guy dont know what hes talking about.

[@DDGB08]

Thx for the review

[@edwiser]

You are riding a user uploaded route. This one is really old. Try the challenge routes. Those riders are on the video. The new AR Routes are better exited than this one.

[@tofuhiker]

Thanks for the tip =), I will give those a try.

[@RoyImahara]

Seems like the riders in the video are from the actual ride. The virtual riders are invisible.

[@tofuhiker]

I figured that out when I was editing hahaha made good content me embarrassing myself lol

[@MrEDET]

Hope you can do a new review after reading all the advice below - you really have a wrong impression of Rouvy now.

[@tofuhiker]

:), it’s was my first impression of this riding app. I’ve been told by many I’ve got it all wrong :). I won’t be using ROUVY again as it’s not to my liking.

[@MrEDET]

@@tofuhiker Yes I understand it was your first impression :) But it's really much better than your impression was. They also added 360 videos now so you can look backwards to see the riders behind you. I used zwift for a while but much prefer rouvy.

[@tofuhiker]

@@MrEDET I appreciate the update, I guess it will depend on the user, I understand the more you use a product and understand how it works the more you'll like it. I wasn't really a fan of the graphics and the lag, I guess I was just used to zwift all these years and was a bit bias =).

[@freespeechisdead202]

The guy likes disney graphics like zwift not proper riding.

[@tofuhiker]

@@freespeechisdead202 I bet you are sick of coming last in zwift that's why you enjoy rouvy so much. 😉... take a chill pill and keep on riding mate.

[@ThomasNorthener]

Sweat'en are we? 😂👍 Well thanks for a great video. Doesn't seem to be a good platform, sort of nice with the "real video graphics" though. Keeping zwift here.

[@benoitarteau2078]

This is so difficlute to chose between Fulgaz and Rouvy with on is the best?

[@tofuhiker]

They both offer 14 days free trail, maybe try them both and see which in you like more.

[@janineleveque6451]

Have you experienced Rouvy app crashing? I did a few rides and app shutdown. I deleted the app and reinstalled. It was fine for a few days but it’s crashing again. It’s very frustrating. Today it shut down 2 minutes left of ride. I guess I should be thankful that only 2 minutes left of ride. I never experienced this issue until recently. Do u have any idea why this is happening? Thank you for your assistance.

[@tofuhiker]

No sorry, I've only used Rouvy for a short period of time. Maybe if you send an email to their support team.

[@janineleveque6451]

@@tofuhiker I sent an email to support team. Thank you

[@janineleveque6451]

Which do you prefer structured workouts or virtual rides?

[@tofuhiker]

I do both, if I'm trying to improve my fitness I do the workouts and races, but if I'm not training then I enjoy some easy rides with groups or the virtual rides.

[@janineleveque6451]

@@tofuhiker haven’t done any races on rouvy. I should check it out. I definitely felt the virtual ride was too easy but I gave it a try.

[@yardeetee1795]

A biased review. It’s not helpful for people like me who are just about to start especially because you haven’t put in the work to truly understand the differences between the two platforms.

[@janineleveque6451]

Do you have to shift gears or does smart trainer change resistance?

[@tofuhiker]

The smart trainer will change the resistance for you, however if you are in the wrong gear you will also need to shift gear accordingly.

[@janineleveque6451]

@@tofuhiker today I did a virtual ride on rouvy. The climbs were challenging and I held on but the descends I was spinning like crazy. I guess I need to shift to higher gear to avoid that but then would need to shift down for next climb. The structured workouts I don’t have to change gears and is controlled by the +\~

[@tofuhiker]

@@janineleveque6451 yes, if you are in a structured workout your trainer will be in ERG mode which means you only need to focus on spinning the pedal, in a non workout it's simulate s riding outdoors so if you reach a hill you will need to shift gears to get up and the trailer will change the resistances and if you are going down hill the gradient will be negative so you will need to change to a harder gear to prevent spinning out.

[@janineleveque6451]

@@tofuhiker it was my first virtual ride. I normally do structured workouts so I thought I didn’t have to shift gears. It was a nice change but my wattage was so off then what I normally do. I thought the smart trainer would change resistance based on the grade. It did change resistance. Thank you so much!

[@tofuhiker]

@@janineleveque6451 no problem at all.

[@johnkirk3808]

This is not a AR ride. Try a true AR Rouvy ride :)

[@RoyImahara]

There are KZbin ride along videos that do a much better job then this simulation. The videos are a ride along with another rider and they ride together. I’m going to look at rouvey a bit. I’m not sure how they could use real footage along with digital riders.

[@tofuhiker]

There another app I used a while back called Kimat or something that did a much better job, but was limited to a few route in the free trail period. Idk just stick to Zwift, I have no time for enjoyment when most the time I just suffering and trying to hang onto stronger riders wheel. I guess depending on your objective Rouvy could be better, so those casual riders.

[@hawkdl2]

"current riders 0" Pretty much sums it up.

[@tofuhiker]

lol

[@paginini]

Hi if u stop will it stop or keeps going like fullgazz??

[@tofuhiker]

It will stop if you stop pedaling.

[@RoyImahara]

The quality of the video is also lacking smoothing from the camera. Not a real pleasant view.

[@tofuhiker]

yeah, basically anyone can record and upload to rouvy and they will use it for the AR so other riders around the world can ride it.

[@Jeff.Slavich]

You sounded like you didn't want to like it from jump and you didn't even understand how to use the app, yet you called it in the title a "review." You're not doing justice to those who are truly looking for a review. You'll probably be happier in the Zwift environment.

[@Jesus_s_Real]

Nonsense, no one trains in zone5 or zone 6, bro read some articles

[@tofuhiker]

What are on you about? don't skip bits and pieces of my video and comment as if you watched it.

[@RealMTBAddict]

I ride in zone 5 for 30 minutes or more at a time. Calm down.

[@davecasey4341]

Yeah, I'm not impressed either. If I want to ride and look at scenery, I'll ride with a KZbin video of a group ride.

[@tofuhiker]

100% agree =)..

[@MrEDET]

The whole point is that you get the same resistance as in real life - you have to pedal harder when going uphill. That's the difference between a training program like Rouvy and just playing a KZbin video.