{"id":165835,"date":"2021-01-12T13:47:13","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T21:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=165835"},"modified":"2021-04-06T14:16:15","modified_gmt":"2021-04-06T21:16:15","slug":"best-indoor-cycling-apps-for-all-riders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/best-indoor-cycling-apps-for-all-riders","title":{"rendered":"The Best Indoor Cycling Apps for All Riders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mental toughness used to be a key component to indoor cycling. (Well, that or a Netflix subscription.) Now, there are training apps aplenty to keep the boredom at bay and motivation strong when you need to ride indoors. And there\u2019s a good option for all cyclists, whether you\u2019re into virtual competitions, structured training regimens or quick solo sweat sessions. (Before you get started, you\u2019ll want breathable apparel and perhaps clip-in shoes<\/a>, and of course you\u2019ll need some kind of indoor trainer<\/a>\u2014you\u2019ll be able to take advantage of more app features if you have a smart trainer or power meter).<\/p>\n

Read on for our selection of the top indoor cycling apps to help you stay in the saddle all winter long.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Zwift<\/a><\/h2>\n
\"Cyclist

Courtesy: Zwift<\/p><\/div>\n

Inspiration through gamification? That\u2019s Zwift in a nutshell. With 10 virtual worlds to explore and more than 130 routes to enjoy, users can sprint through the French countryside in peak wildflower season or tackle the \u201cVolcano Climb,\u201d a signature course through lava caves in the fictional Watopia. You can even choose routes designed for mountain and gravel bikes, which are made even more realistic when you add in-game steering (extra gear necessary).<\/p>\n

With a global userbase\u00a02.5 million riders <\/a>strong, the community is another of Zwift\u2019s stand-out elements. Saddle up for a daily group ride or race to join stationary cyclists from across the world, and be sure to dole out a \u201cRide On\u201d (thumbs-up) kudos when you see fellow riders crushing it in an all-out effort.<\/p>\n

Cost: $14.99\/month<\/p>\n

Download from the App Store<\/a> or Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

TrainerRoad<\/a><\/h2>\n
\"Cyclist

Courtesy: TrainerRoad<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re committed to becoming a faster and stronger rider, then you\u2019ll want to check out the planning, training and analysis tools available through TrainerRoad. The app helps you create a customized plan based on your goals and schedule. Plus, you can key in your preferred racing style, whether that\u2019s going big with a gran fondo program, practicing your attack with criterium workouts or preparing yourself for the repeated all-out efforts of cyclocross. Nice feature: You can share video, audio and stats with up to 10 of your friends in a group workout\u2014it\u2019s basically a Zoom call but with more sweat and heavy breathing.<\/p>\n

Not sold? Try before you buy with the free podcast and 30-day, money-back guarantee.<\/p>\n

Cost: $19.95\/month; $189\/year<\/p>\n

Download from the App Store <\/a>or Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Peloton<\/a><\/h2>\n

Miss your weekly spin classes with that favorite instructor and that wicked song line-up? Then the Peloton app is for you. Two-thousand-dollar bike not required, the app gives you access to live and on-demand classes, including numerous non-cycling workouts (30-minute hip-hop HIIT\u00a0or 60-minute yoga flow, to name just a couple) for days you\u2019re feeling saddle sore. Many of the classes are livestreamed, so you can work out with others virtually.<\/p>\n

As for the cycling-specific workouts, you do not need a Peloton-brand bike. Though you won\u2019t be visible on the leaderboard that ranks riders, you\u2019ll have access to the same community and virtual high fives as you spin a 10-minute climb or 60-minute endurance ride.<\/p>\n

Cost: $12.99\/month<\/p>\n

Download from the App Store <\/a>or Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Sufferfest<\/a><\/h2>\n
\"Screenshot

Courtesy: The Sufferfest<\/p><\/div>\n

Performance-driven riders will appreciate The Sufferfest\u2019s multifaceted approach to fitness. The app features 11 categories of personalized cycling workouts (climbing, speed building, racing simulation and more), as well as yoga, mental toughness exercises and strength training. Power targets in each of your cycling efforts are specific to your individual \u201cfull power profile,\u201d as measured by a proprietary metric that gauges your neuromuscular power, anaerobic power, maximal aerobic power and functional threshold. Other nice touches: Video workouts include footage from professional races (take a tour of the Tour de France) and playful commentary (\u201cGet so ugly you break this screen,\u201d they encourage). Choose a different app if you want to ride with others\u2014no virtual pelotons here.<\/p>\n

Cost: $14.99\/month; $129\/year<\/p>\n

Download from the App Store<\/a>. Not available in Android.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TrainingPeaks<\/a><\/h2>\n

Looking to handpick a fitness plan from a top-level cycling coach or a cycling champion? You\u2019ll want to check out TrainingPeaks, a virtual library of hundreds of indoor-cycling-specific training plans (and thousands of plans for other disciplines, too). Select a track workout, FTP booster and more, then get spinning. Note: TrainingPeaks isn\u2019t an activity tracker, so you\u2019ll want to pair it with a fitness watch or app to see your stats. Its plans generally span from four to 40 weeks long, and most can be automatically uploaded into a separate app like Zwift.<\/p>\n

Cost: Free for basic; rates vary for premium subscriptions<\/p>\n

Download from the App Store<\/a> or Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CycleGo<\/a><\/h2>\n
\"Screenshot

Courtesy: CycleGo<\/p><\/div>\n

Get motivated with this easy-to-follow app that lets you spin without fear of losing internet connectivity (since workouts are available offline). This is a great option if you only use your trainer occasionally or if you\u2019re on a tight budget. The free version offers four workouts (one beginner and three intermediate levels) that mimic a spin class, featuring a warm-up, training session and cool-down. The app, which isn\u2019t smart-trainer compatible, instructs you when to manually change your resistance level, cadence and position. You can watch your avatar cycle through a virtual world, which helps to gamify the experience. Fair warning: The free version has ads.<\/p>\n

Cost: Free with in-app purchase; $2.99\/1 month or $23.95\/year<\/p>\n

Download from the App Store<\/a> or Google Play<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mental toughness used to be a key component to indoor cycling. (Well, that or a Netflix subscription.) Now, there are training apps aplenty to keep the boredom at bay and motivation strong when you need to ride indoors. And there\u2019s a good option for all cyclists, whether you\u2019re into virtual competitions, structured training regimens or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9145,"featured_media":165848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[32,1982,66],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-165835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycle","tag-fitness","tag-indoor-cycling","tag-tips"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/best-indoor-cycling-apps-for-all-riders","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The Best Indoor Cycling Apps for All Riders","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/best-indoor-cycling-apps-for-all-riders","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/best-indoor-cycling-apps-for-all-riders"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/03\/trainer2.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/03\/trainer2.jpg?fit=1024%2C682"},"articleSection":"Cycle","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Phuong Le"}],"creator":["Phuong Le"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["fitness","indoor cycling","tips"],"dateCreated":"2021-01-12T21:47:13Z","datePublished":"2021-01-12T21:47:13Z","dateModified":"2021-04-06T21:16:15Z"},"rendered":"