Rouvy Indoor Cycling App Review

In contrast to most other training apps like Zwift & Co., which simulate virtual worlds in a video game style, Rouvy exclusively uses video recordings of real roads and combines them with equally real elevation data. Overall, four different types of routes can be distinguished, which are marked as such in the route directory.

1. Non-video: Training routes without video material, instead with 3D map view and real elevation data
2. Non-AR: Real-Life Videos from the EGO perspective
3. AR: Augmented Reality routes are Real-Life Videos with virtual avatars
4. OmniMode: Enhanced AR routes with additional rear and static panoramic cameras

In the Rouvy route overview, thousands of real routes with elevation data and augmented reality (AR, OmniMode) are waiting to be discovered by you. The easiest way to find your favorites is by using the search or filter function - both on the homepage and in the Companion app as well as in the Rouvy Cycling app.

The representation of most AR tracks is absolutely impressive and reaches - depending on the set image quality - almost photorealistic level. Since real elevation data is behind the Real-Life Video, the traversed terrain presents itself even more realistically than on most other virtual cycling platforms. However, the speed at which the video runs depends on the virtually ridden speed. Although most videos were recorded in such a way that they appear fluid for the average user, this does not always work optimally at particularly low or high speeds. These discrepancies can be deduced, for example, from the speed of oncoming vehicles or when one's own avatar throws itself into 180° turns at top speed. Overall, however, these phenomena can be tolerated.

How fast you are traveling, especially uphill, primarily depends on the power-to-weight ratio (watts pedaled per kilogram of the rider/bike). However, the absolute watts pedaled, which have an additional influence on flat terrain, should not be underestimated. For example, a rider with 400 watts at a weight of 100 kg (4 W/kg) on flat terrain is significantly faster than one with 200 watts at a weight of 50 kg (also 4 W/kg).
But the slipstream from the rider in front, the momentum carried into immediate climbs, and the chosen bike also affect speed.

Performance Tip: In the settings, you can choose between various fast road bikes and a time trial bike. It is not always explicitly mentioned, but the choice significantly affects your pace. The time trial bike is faster on flat and slightly hilly routes, while you are better off with the road bike on routes with many elevation gains.

We noticed positively that the simulation of climbing performance (at 100% reality level) felt extremely realistic, but negatively, that the speeds achieved on flat terrain were unrealistically high.

What also bothered us somewhat was the lack of any background noises. Personally, we would have no problem cycling without "elevator music" and using our own playlist for hard intervals. However, it would at least be desirable to include artificially generated wind or rolling noises. Rouvy states that it does not provide sound because it wants to replicate outdoor cycling as realistically as possible. It is logical that the recorded video sound does not help here, but in our opinion, "no sound at all" is not yet the ultimate wisdom.

On the screen display, you see all relevant data of your current performance (top left: watts pedaled, target zone, W/kg, cadence, and speed), the ride time (top center), the currently collected Experience Points (top right), a meaningful elevation profile (left), a list of all riders nearby (left: real riders, virtual riders, your avatar, your ghosts including their performance values) as well as a distance/elevation diagram at the bottom (distance covered, distance remaining, graphical representation of the incline, icons for all real and virtual riders).

Additionally, you can switch to the map view at any time, change the camera and other app settings, and - depending on the mode - pause the training.

Apart from the Non-AR routes, i.e., the pure real-life videos, which can only be sped up or slowed down based on the performance driven and reflect the inclines the worst, Rouvy particularly focuses on the AR routes with avatars and other virtual overlays. Before and during the training, you can set the camera distance to medium, close, or far, thus changing the visual perspective according to preference. Alternatively, you can also ride all AR routes in first-person perspective. If there are other real or virtual riders on the route, they are visible depending on the camera setting, as long as they are in your vicinity.

Additionally, the OmniMode has recently been added on selected routes, which, with an improved 360° perspective, rear and static panoramic cameras, allows for better visibility of other riders, a more accurate elevation profile, and more realistic behavior of your avatar. This mode is available in the Rouvy-Cycling App version 2.15.0 or newer.

After completing your ride, you will receive a summary of your TSS (Training Stress Score), newly acquired career points, your average performance data, as well as the KJ expended and much more. Additionally, you are free to save your activities and records on Strava and rate the route for future route recommendations and other riders.

Apart from the normal training rides or time trials that you can do at any time, there is also the possibility to participate in planned group rides with friends or other athletes from around the world. For these rides, you can either sign up to 6 days in advance, start on time after the optional warm-up, or jump directly into the action if the event hasn't been running for too long. Any type of trainer and set reality level is allowed.

You will also be able to fully enjoy riding in the group, no matter how fit you are or how you're feeling on the day. Just pedal as hard as you can, and Rouvy's magnet function takes care of the rest. Because as soon as you deliver less power than the group leader, the "magnet" activates and helps you stay in the group. Of course, you can also adjust the reality level, as these non-competitive events are just for fun. All athletes are welcome, there are no official result lists and the times are not stored as PR or in the public rankings. Naturally, you do not lose your personal actual performance values (incl. FTP, improvements in performance areas, etc.) and TSS points.
Conversely, the magnet works the other way too. If you want to challenge the group leader or the group, the magnet keeps pulling you back to the group, so you can exert yourself additionally but still stay with the group.

There are regular official Rouvy group rides as well as individually created rides by users. Via the my.rouvy.com homepage (Explore > Create group ride), you can create a group ride at any time.

On the other hand, the Rouvy Races are all about everything and more, which is why you can only participate with a smart trainer and a reality level of 100%. Also, your ghost riders and virtual partners won't give you any additional drafting, and the Rouvy magnet shows no function. So, you are solely reliant on yourself, your watts/kg, your equipment, and your ability to endure.

Integrated Strava Segments from Real Life
In collaboration with Strava, relevant Strava Live segments are displayed on the course. As soon as you pass the starting point, the clock starts and the Strava KOM avatar rushes up from behind, whose speed you can use as a guide.
According to Rouvy, its respective performance matches the stored data of the actual KOM - which is why probably only very few amateur cyclists can keep up. But as the saying goes - hope dies last.

Life Hacks for important Rouvy races: Keep the app up to date, download the video of the route before the race, close all other apps or restart the device and Rouvy completely. Prepare yourself 15 minutes before the start of the race (Warm-Up, drinks, towel, tech check, etc.) and make sure that all devices are sufficiently charged or connected to the power supply.

According to Rouvy, you have access to a collection of about 300 official workouts in the app. Some of these were created by professional providers like Hunter Allen, TrainingPeaks, or CycleOps, but there are also many from private Rouvy users. Of course, you are also free to compile your own interval-based workouts.

The individual workouts are categorized in the "Workout Dashboard" (Getting started, FTP, 30 Min, 30-60 Min, 60+ Min, VO2 Max, Climbing, Sprinting, Cadence, Threshold, Recovery, Anaerobic, Strength, Race, Sweet Spot, Time Trial, Bike Fitness Coach, Workouts of the Week, Endurance, and TrainingPeaks) and have also been compiled into complete training plans.

For each training session, you will find a brief explanation, the exact duration, your set FTP, the pre-programmed intervals, and a route suggestion. However, it is always possible to choose a different route from the AR route directory. Just make sure that this route is long enough so that you are not riding in a loop. Once the trainer and sensors are paired, you can get started.

During the workout, you can use your smart trainer in ERG mode. Thus, the resistance is completely controlled regardless of the gear you're in. You don't need to shift gears and can fully concentrate on your performance. Moreover, you can ride with a bike or a gear system that is only partially compatible with the trainer's cassette, as you will always find a middle gear that works smoothly.

On the left side of the screen, an arrow will show you how well you are adhering to the prescribed power. At the top left, you see your earned coins, in the middle your average and maximum values for cadence, power, and heart rate (provided these sensors are connected), as well as more information about the current and the next segment.

With the player on the right side of the screen, you can adjust the resistance, skip broken or complete intervals, and pause the workout.
On the bottom left, you see your current heart rate, power, and cadence. In the middle, all workout intervals are displayed, overlaid with your current power, and on the bottom right, the time that has passed since you started the workout, as well as the remaining time in the workout.

After completing the training, you will receive a summary and can save or discard the training as usual. Additionally, you can track how well you maintained the performance compared to the prescribed intervals.

If you have done an FTP test or were able to exceed your previous performance, you will also immediately receive your new FTP value.

Rouvy is an excellent platform for ambitious indoor training with impressive visual representations, realistic simulations, and attractive real-world routes. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive selection of workouts, training plans, group rides, races, and challenges tailored to every performance level and particularly enables beginners to get started easily. However, the focus is not as much on making you a faster cyclist through intense intervals (HIIT) as it is with some other apps.

We can recommend Rouvy to anyone who wants to not only train effectively indoors but also have a good time doing it – whether it's exploring new places or revitalizing old memories of already visited areas.

Those who are primarily looking for social interaction and like to be on the move with a large number of fellow riders will probably be better off on other platforms. The number of participants on the thousands of photorealistic routes is limited and the events are not exactly overcrowded.

The premium subscription of the Rouvy Cycling App costs 14.99 Euros per month for a user, or 149 Euros per year, which is about 12.50 Euros per month. Although Rouvy is among the more expensive training apps, we think it is definitely worth the price. To avoid buying a pig in a poke, the creators also offer a 14-day free trial that can be booked on the Rouvy homepage, in the App Store, or on Google Play.

The Rouvy Cycling App worked almost flawlessly in our test, was intuitive to use, and did not have any major errors either on the MacBook or on the iPod or iPhone. It was a shame that not all administrative settings could be made through the app, but only through the Rouvy homepage. In contrast to the modern app, the website feels like a relic from the past, struggles with redundancies, and is somewhat cluttered.