Too Many Training Apps! Which do you like?
 

Winter is coming so I'm considering a somewhat serious indoor training plan. I'm bewildered by the number of apps/programs I can buy. I have a Kurt Kinetic Control unit for "on-wheel" training. It says it works with apps like Kinetic Fit, Zwift, TrainerRoad, Rouvy, Kinomap, The Sufferfest and FulGaz.

What pros and cons have you folks experienced using any of those programs (regardless of what trainer/flywheel you use)?

Or, is something else, like Wahoo's trainer & app/program, or other choices, better?

Zwift seems to be the dominant market leader, at least in advertising.

What do you folks use? Why?

I am on Zwift and TrainerRoad. I've been very impressed with TR’s adaptive training. I was in the Beta and now it's finally available to all. Even though the display is pretty barebones, it is very engaging in its own way. I have a dumb trainer, which makes some of the interval workouts pretty challenging, but I think that's to my benefit as well.

I still keep Zwift because it's fun to do group rides in the winter with teammates. Also, I'll often run it simultaneously with TR for visual stimulation/distraction on workouts, but if I just had to do one, I would keep TR, not Zwift.

I use Sufferfest (now rebranded as Wahoo SYSTM), Zwift and occasionally Rouvy.

SYSTM provides my structured training plan (TrainerRoad is their main competitor)
Zwift is great for social rides and online racing etc. They have structured training plans too, but they are not very well co-ordinated and a bit random. That side of it is getting better though and many of the online clubs organise their own regular training rides.
Rouvy is HD video based riding simulation. Really nice for simulating real world rides, major climbs etc. The AR available on selected routes is pretty cool too.

For reference I use an Elite Direto X direct drive smart trainer.

I use Zwift, but I load my training sessions from my coach into it. I usually do a few races on it over winter, and some meet-ups with friends when the weather is shocking. My coach will also set-up a meet-up weekly for his coached turbo sessions (held simultaneously on zoom) I like the social side of zwift. If you want a dedicated training program, zwift has some, but Wahoo SYSTM, Trainerroad, and other programs probably have better plans than zwift.

I use my fat bike and ride in the outdoors.

HAHAHAHA! Wisconsin; ice fishing and ice biking!

I'll keep doing my group rides during the winter on Sunny weekends but move the rest of my weekly milage indoors. Seems Trainerroad and SYSTM are good for that. Thanks.

I don't use apps and I don't use indoor trainers...I ride outdoors all year round.

But you do like to read threads about them

Both these are great for structured intervals. I chose SYSTM because it's more entertaining than TrainerRoad, but otherwise I don't think there's much in it. It comes down to personal preference.

I primarily use Wahoo SYSTM formerly known as The Sufferfest, but even so it can get boring after a while so I shake things up with Zwift. For the social aspect (group rides, events and stuff), Zwift has got it down.

I am on Rouvy, but use it for structured workouts 99% of the time. I believe I could use Trainerday for that, which would be considerably cheaper, but I just haven't made the switch.

I am also disappointed that I can't seem to find an app that doesn't require an ongoing subscription, which seems unnecessary for my purposes. If any of y'all know of one for iOS, I'm all ears.

I use Zwift. There are enough different things to do with it that I can largely say engaged. In fact, I like it far more than I expected as it sounded really stupid the first time I heard of it.

I don't envy you! :twitchy:
Between the fluctuating temperature, the slush/ice/snow on the road etc. you've got your work cut out just keeping the bike clean.

I got one of those, too.
What is the bare minimum of hardware required? I have a speed sensor, cadence sensor and HR sensor on the indoor set-up; is that enough for TrainerRoad?

intervals.icu and make your own rides.

Probably. It helps if your trainer is on their list of supported trainers. Even if it's not, you may still be able to if your trainer's power curve matches one in their library.

I use the power reading from the Stages power meter on my bike. I could also use the InRide sensor on my Kinetic trainer, which is surprisingly close (+/- 5%) to the Stages.

Rächt herzlichä Dank!

It isn't and neither is a power meter on my bike. The wind load trainer dates back to 1984.

Where you learn that?!

FulGaz - loads of visually stunning rides

Trainer Road - no frills get you fitter sessions and plans

Naturally while growing up in Switzerland,;) born 1945 emigrated to Canada in 1969. Mind you my Swiss relatives now tease me about my Canadian accent when speaking Züritdütsch, but that's OK. It can't be helped after more than 50 years.

Depends
 

Depends on what motivates you and what you are looking for. I tried almost all of them. I ended up with TrainerRoad as I figured out I just wanted to get faster and focus on building an effective training plan and having well designed workouts and didn’t care about social, gamification, immersive video, racing.

Most, if not all of them offer free trials. Try them all and see what suits YOUR needs.

That's amazing! And I bet, probably sounds hilarious. I am actually German so I try not to speak it at all because I think Germans speaking Schwiizerdütsch just sounds so awful, but sometimes it just comes out after by now over a decade here. How is it with a Canadian accent?