IndieVelo is a community-supported indoor biking app launched by Dr. George Gilbert, the previous chairman of the Zwift Esports Fee. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless in beta and never actively pushed to the general public.
I’ve already examined most of its options, each free and paid. So, how does IndieVelo evaluate to Zwift or ROUVY? Does it have an opportunity to achieve this aggressive market?
KEY TAKEAWAY
IndieVelo gives essentially the most real looking experience really feel of all indoor biking apps I’ve examined. Aside from drafting, it additionally slows you down earlier than corners and counts with wind. So, technique is extra necessary when racing than simply uncooked energy. Alternatively, the variety of routes is proscribed, the graphics are outdated, and the app isn’t as intuitive as competing apps. Nonetheless, we are able to’t neglect it’s at present free, in beta, and possibly developed by one particular person or a really small workforce of individuals.
My indieVelo ranking at a look:Ease of Setup 5/5 | Engagement 3/5 | Neighborhood 3/5 | Routes 2/5 | Coaching 4/5 | UX 2/5 | Platforms Availability 5/5 | Worth 5/5 | OVERALL 3.6/5More about this indoor biking apps scoring.
NOTE: I examined indieVelo 0.3.11 on a MacBook Professional with macOS Sonoma 14.5.
IndieVelo Abstract
indieVelo Execs
Free to make use of
Lifelike experience really feel (counts with drafting, cornering, wind…)
Tons of settings starting from avatar, graphics, HUD
Contains structured exercises and permits importing customized ones
Permits in-app communication
Permits customizing your “avatar”
Twin energy recording
indieVelo Cons
A restricted variety of routes
Outdated graphics
No subtle motivational system
Exhausting to navigate person interface
What’s indieVelo?IndieVelo is a free indoor biking app that includes a digital world with extra real looking graphics than Zwift. It lets you talk with others, race, experience in teams, or do structured coaching.
Who’s indieVelo for?IndieVelo is right for individuals who need extra real looking avatar habits and the chance to tweak the app settings. It’s additionally ultimate for racing as a result of real looking physics calls for making a racing technique.
Who’s indieVelo not for?IndieVelo isn’t for individuals searching for an easy-to-use and easy app. On account of its low reputation, it gives fewer alternatives to socialize. It’s additionally unavailable for iOS and Android, and also you most likely received’t prefer it in the event you favor real-world footage.
My Expertise with indieVelo
Right here is my expertise with the preliminary setup, routes, person expertise, and extra in indieVelo.
Preliminary Setup: Kinda Irritating
Pairing gadgets earlier than the primary experience went easily:
Nonetheless, my preliminary expertise with the setup was not good. I perceive the app continues to be in growth, however customizing the avatar was tedious and unintuitive. I’m referring, for instance, to the truth that you’ll be able to’t rotate the avatar by dragging the mouse, so you’ll be able to’t see what modifications you’ve made till the avatar rotates by itself.
The colour choice can also be odd. I wished to set the colours I take advantage of right here on Cyclists Hub. Nonetheless, the editor solely permits RGB code (not HEX), permitting you to kind 3 digits. It could be good if the app saved the customized colours immediately so the person doesn’t need to kind them repeatedly.
In-App Expertise: Concentrate on Realism
Earlier than my first experience, I explored all of the potential settings. There are many them, and that is an space the place indieVelo excels. For instance, it’s also possible to regulate the graphical parts (HUD). Then, I browsed the opposite choices, just like the occasions, exercises, plans, and so forth., however extra about them later.
The graphics are frankly outdated. You may set a better decision, however it should turn out to be uneven until you’ve a robust pc. I’ve a MacBook Professional M1 Max with 64GB RAM, which might deal with 4K, however my older (Intel MBP 2020) couldn’t. Total, IndieVelo looks like a barely worse Wahoo RGT. The graphics remind me of video games from 10-15 years in the past.
Nonetheless, it deserves credit score for its give attention to realism. It may simulate climate (e.g., wind), drafting, braking, and cornering. I haven’t encountered something like this in different apps but. Wahoo RGT most likely had essentially the most real looking physics so far, however that was a shutdown just a few weeks in the past.
IndieVelo takes the physics to a brand new stage. You may truly really feel that you simply’re driving into the headwind, which might considerably have an effect on your technique in a race. It’s a disgrace it might’t regulate rolling resistance based mostly on whether or not it’s raining or snowing. These solely have an aesthetic impact.
One other distinctive characteristic is cornering. If you happen to take a nook too quick, the app penalizes you. Riders behind you who regulate their pace upfront will achieve a bonus. By default, the app can even gradual you down earlier than corners, so it received’t assist in case you are pushing excessive watts. This characteristic requires you to pay extra consideration and assume extra about the way you strategy pedaling.
Lastly, I need to point out the pacebots. As in Zwift, you’ll be able to be part of them and experience at a given energy vary.
Racing: Meet ELO Ranking System
Many individuals like indieVelo due to its racing. It makes use of an ELO-like ranking system, which ensures you’ll compete in opposition to individuals of comparable stage. It really works as follows:
If you happen to beat riders who’re rated increased than you, you progress up in ranking.
If you happen to lose to riders rated decrease than you, you progress down in ranking.
Due to this technique, it mustn’t occur, for instance, that you simply experience in opposition to riders who’re orders of magnitude stronger.
As described earlier, you additionally need to be rather more targeted and take into consideration your technique. Driving right into a breakaway might not repay when there’s a robust headwind. The alternative can occur if no person within the bunch decides to experience; it may be your benefit. So it at all times relies upon.
Moreover, varied codecs of races can be found in indieVelo, so you’ll be able to experience time trials, factors races, elimination races, and so forth. Additionally, you will encounter AI-driven bots, who function filler but additionally as motivation. In contrast to common bots that at all times experience the identical watts, these change their efficiency and even expertise fatigue.
Routes: Numerous however Restricted
The variety of routes and worlds is kind of restricted. IndieVelo begins with one thing that may very well be referred to as Watopia. Since 2023, after I first used indieVelo, they’ve expanded the world, and I’m certain they may do their greatest to increase it even additional.
Nonetheless, the variety of routes continues to be fairly low, and they’re going to get repetitive. This has its benefits, although. Customers will not be so fragmented, and the routes will really feel extra alive (not like in ROUVY).
Coaching: May Be Higher
The database of structured exercises is proscribed. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to add your individual exercises or synchronize them through apps like TrainingPeaks.
It’s a disgrace IndieVelo doesn’t provide structured coaching plans. Nonetheless, it appears they aim superior riders, not newcomers, so this isn’t such an enormous deal.
Consumer Friendliness and Connectivity
Essentially the most annoying factor about indieVelo for me is its person interface. It’s laborious to learn and sluggish. It could deserve a redesign or a contact from a UX designer. Alternatively, it lets you regulate many settings, offering flexibility like no different app.
Fortunately, I didn’t expertise any app crashes or dropouts, so I fee it positively when it comes to reliability.
Platforms Availability
IndieVelo is obtainable on all main platforms, together with Home windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Apple TV. Nonetheless, the Apple TV is obtainable to members of the indieVelo Founders Membership.
IndieVelo Alternate options
There are many indoor biking apps on the market. The closest indieVelo options are MyWhoosh and Zwift.
AppPriceFree TrialWorldMultiplayerConnectivityPlatform AvailabilityEase ofSetupEngagementCommunityRange ofRoutesTrainingUXPlatform AvailabilityPriceOverall Rating
Zwift19.99 USD / month199.99 USD / year14 daysVirtualYesANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth, BLE FTMSAndroid, iOS, Home windows, macOS, Apple TV555343534.1
ROUVY14.99 USD / month144 USD / year14 daysReal²YesANT+ FE-C, BluetoothAndroid, iOS, Home windows, macOS, Apple TV543543544.1
TrainerRoad21.99 USD / month209.99 USD / yearn/a¹n/aNoANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth, BLE FTMSAndroid, iOS, Home windows, macOS52355423.7
Wahoo SYSTM (previously The Sufferfest)14.99 USD / month149 USD / year14 daysRealNoANT+ FE-C, BLE FTMSAndroid, iOS, Home windows, macOS542355444.0
MyWhooshFreen/aVirtualYesANT+ FE-C, BLE FTMSAndroid, iOS, Home windows, macOS, Apple TV543334554.0
Kinomap11.99 EUR / month 89.99 EUR / 12 months 429 EUR / lifetime14 daysRealNoANT+ FE-C, BLE FTMSAndroid, iOS (display mirroring out there)432545243.6
FulGaz12.99 USD / month108.99 USD / year14 daysRealYesANT+ FE-C, BLE FTMSAndroid, iOS, Home windows, macOS, Apple TV531532543.5
indieVeloFreen/aVirtualYesANT+ FE-C, BLE FTMSAndroid, iOS, Home windows, macOS, Apple TV533242553.6
Record of the very best indoor biking apps with the data about their value, free trial interval, kind of the world, multiplayer choice, connectivity, and platform availability. The apps are scored based mostly on this indoor biking apps scoring system.¹30-day money-back guarantee²Real world with digital objects (avatars, gates, and so forth.)Up to date on the September 23, 2024.
The next desk exhibits my rankings of particular areas on a scale of 1–5 (5 is the very best).
My indoor biking apps scoring on a scale of 1–5 (5 is the very best). ¹TrainerRoad is completely different from different apps and doesn’t provide any routes. ²Shut down in 2023Updated on September 11, 2024.
My Verdict
Do I like to recommend indieVelo? I like to recommend indieVelo to those that recognize real looking physics and wish to race, strategize, or practice (without cost).
Do I like to recommend it to everyone? I don’t as a result of IndieVelo isn’t very entertaining for informal driving as a consequence of its lack of a person base and complicated motivation system. You additionally received’t prefer it if you wish to go to lovely locations worldwide.
IndieVelo FAQ
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