[Closed] Subscription training apps. Zwift, Sufferfest etc

I use Fulgaz as my Primary app on the Wattbike and compliment that with Zwift.

I don't follow programmes just prefer to ride around, be it group rides on Zwift or Solo on Fulgaz (though V4 will have some group elements) but both platforms offer plans.

https://fulgaz.com/fulgaz-training/
https://www.zwift.com/uk/training-plans

I'd probably benefit from a programme but not something that I find too motivational, we are all different and fortunately there is something for everyone.

Both Apps work well on the Atom.

I’ve tried RGT, Rouvy (not on Wattbike) and Wattbike app but keep going back to Zwift. You don’t have to look far to see the amount of STW social rides/races on Zwift. Personally I get bored of the training specific programmes no matter what platform, which is why Zwift gets the nod. It’s just better from a social point of view and really keeps the motivation going. Don’t need Strava Premium at all-I’ll not be worrying the top ten on Zwift/Strava segments!

I use zwift, currently half way through my first training programme and its easy to follow and do, particularly if you've got erg mode on your trainer.

I like sufferfest, but find that once you've seen a video once its a bit dull.

I use Zwift. Most apps give a free trial period so worth trying all of them and seeing which you prefer.

Zwift is good for racing but their training programmes weren’t great last time I looked

For structured training TrainerRoad is hard to beat. Some good podcasts too.

So I use Trainer road. It's painful but it clearly works at least for me.

Most have a free trial, usually a month or so, so you can play around and see what you like. Generally Zwift better for racing, TrainerRoad better for structured training. Not sure what Sufferfest's main focus is these days.

Personally the Zwift graphics do my head in, but then it's a "game". Zwift training workouts get a bit of a panning from many quarters being very much "kitchen sink" affairs, they may have changed recently, have a search for Dylan Johnson for a typical slating. TrainerRoad is very simple graphically but it's also very focussed on the training side.

Lots of people love Zwift, but personally I didn't get on with it. Like whitestone I found the graphics irritating, the routes were too fake, and the workouts weren't up to much.

I used Sufferfest all last winter (and including during lockdown). There are enough videos these days for it to not get too boring, although I'm not too bothered about repeating them and clearly have a fairly high boredom threshold 🙂 You do need to "get" their sense of humour, it can be a bit childish but it's rarely that intrusive.

This year I'm using BKool, as I got a decent deal on a yearly subscription. The routes are clearly its strong point (using videos), but like Zwift the workouts aren't great. I'm undecided as to whether or not I'll sign up to Sufferfest again for a couple of months to make up for this.

OK, so don't "train"

I've only used Zwift and I think I know what people mean about the workouts, though if you're knowledgeable to know they're shit, surely you can adapt or create a new one on there (I have, attempting to replicate a cross race)

For a scientifically rigorous planned , err, plan I suppose stuff like TR is more established but unless you're spending quite a lot of cash you're still only getting a generic fits-all scheme aren't you ?

Zwift does have those sort of plans too; no idea how scientifically bad they are - they do seem pretty intense and I bet the majority of their demographic are like me & don't do every session just because they're busy doing other stuff. Apart from the people trying to get pro contracts from the academy plans, that is

Something that I've heard about the Zwift plans is that if you miss a workout, that's it, no chance to go back and do it.

The TR plans: up-front they are a one size fits all but things are actually a bit more flexible, they are scheduled on a calendar so you can move them forward or backward a day or two, you can also move whole weeks and plans forward or back to allow for holidays, illness that sort of thing. Before you load a workout to do you have the option of choosing easier or harder versions of it. So not quite a one size fits all but you have to poke around to figure things out. As far as I'm aware TR just have one pricing structure, a monthly price and a yearly price. To get something more bespoke you need to be going to a personal trainer and that will be much more expensive.

I've tried TrainerRoad, Sufferfest and Zwift. They all have their pro's and con's but it depends what you're after.
If you're 'training' for a specific event or series of races etc then TrainerRoad is probably your best bet. They market their training with a 'Base', 'Build' and 'Peak' structure which you do in the run up to your big day/A-race which can span months of riding. Herein lies the issue. I found that the visual format is soul-destroyingly dull, especially after months of staring at what is essentially a couple of lines tracing a blocky shape across the screen.

Sufferfest is OK but I found the workouts to be quite limited in number. The videos that accompany the workouts are looking dated but they get the job done. They have training plans but they're intense.

I use Zwift now and again but mainly just for something to occupy my mind while I'm on the turbo trainer. The plans and workouts struck me as quite generic and tame (a one size fits all approach), I've tried a couple of the individual workouts but not finished a full plan. The Zwift races are interesting, but not necessarily in a good way...

From what I recall the zwift stuff was too intense so missing workouts not a problem in the real world.

The workout builder in zwift is really good so if you know what you need then easy enough to sort out

If you are not sure the Chris Hoy book gives an accessible guide to training and the workouts can be inputted into Zwift

If you have specific targets then TR is well considered

Wasn't aware that you can't miss a day - had a feeling that I'd done so but maybe not
I've only done one 6 week plan and ended midway through wk6 due to having a (planned) operation

On zwift you can amend any single workout by just fiddling your FTP, since all the plans and their segments are based on %ges of that. I imagine that may be too simplistic for some but it works OK for me (I don't really know my true FTP so I use the one it gives me after races)

TBH, the way I "train" is fairly gentle 45 minute each way commutes 4x a week (or an hour or so bimbing on zwift, watching something on the interntet if I drive on any day) and then a couple of races on zwift each week for the full-on aspect. I stopped that when COVID kicked off and just kept ticking over but I'm a bit more back on it now

If you don't have a specific target in mind other than 'get fitter' then pretty much any plan that motivates you to keep putting the work in will achieve that.

People seem to love zwift for this (doesn't do it for me) so if you're happy with the inflexibility of their plans then it might work out for you.

Sufferfest & TrainerRoad both have well functioning calendars that let you play around to make the plan fit your schedule. Sufferfest tends to be more hard workouts whereas TR plans are a bit more progressive. TR has a really cool plan builder that lets you determine how much time you have and when you want the plan to end - I think this is the closest you'll get to an actual coach-led plan. I think you can try it out on their website to see what it would build for you.

Either way, it's important to figure out what works for you and will keep you motivated.

I used to like zwift....till the price hike from £8 to £12 odd....so i started using RGT....whoa what difference.
RGT is more like your real road riding, great graphics , I like all the courses especially the mountain ones and its hard like it should be....did ventoux today on it..it was great
2 weeks ago I did ventoux on zwift(using my free 25km)...i was bored to tears zwift effort of this great mountain is absolutely diabolical.

I find zwift too much like Disney land...too cartoon/mario kart and I swear they make it easy...as i could comfortably push 2.9w/kg on zwift going up ventoux.....but on RGT I was working hard to keep 2.5w/kg (I used a wahoo kickr)
So zwift definitely dumbs things up

But saying that I do miss the racing on zwift...but they charge way too much for to join again

If you bought Atom recently you should have received free trials or codes several online services including Zwift and Sufferfest.

Plans in Wattbike app are ok, no videos but I anyway rather watch something else. I don’t recall any problems skipping workouts as I will rather xc ski if conditions permit.

Thanks all for the input, I'll need to have a look for those Wattbike codes. A spanner in the works for Sufferfest is that it doesn't seem to have an android option. I'm now erring towards Zwift. No particular event goals at the moment, just wanted to possibly identify limiters in my pedalling and work towards fixing them. If I'm honest I don't really need an app to tell me I'm a dawdler and power, power/kg is probably what I should be targeting. TrainerRoad looks like it might be dmtoo specific for what I'm after at the moment, and looks fairly uninspiring as someone mentioned. I'll give the others a look over, BKool, Rouey, RGT and Fulgaz, any others? As I said going from some of the posts above I'm thinking Zwift and using the Wattbike hub as well might be the best fit.

I've had a great experience with trainer road this year and really recommend it. You can either set up for particular events or dates, as well as choosing what kind of riding you want to be for for (there's even and enduro option now!) Or just go for general bike fitness. Once you've been through a training cycle you get to know the different types of workouts quite well so makes it easier to mix and match thereafter. Plenty of online support and guides too. Personally I quite like the basic visuals as I prefer to listen to music or watch something whilst I'm training.

and I swear they make it easy…as i could comfortably push 2.9w/kg on zwift going up ventoux…..but on RGT I was working hard to keep 2.5w/kg (I used a wahoo kickr)

How would this be though? Surely power is power... and if the weight you've input is the same on each format, 2,5w/KG is 2.5w/Kg?!

DrP

I would agree with pretty much all of the above. The basic concepts of training are the same whatever medium you use so it is pretty much a case of choosing the format/medium that best suits you individually.

I've been using Trainerroad for the last 3 months and find it works well for me. It definitely seems to go for a more slow+progressive approach to building FTP compared to other platforms I've used but I think its about as close as you could get to having a coach without actually having to pay for a coach.

As someone said up there^^ it is very basic in terms of presentation though. This works fine for me though as I love listening to techno and acid house music and so just treat training sessions as a chance to blast it out on my earphones but there is not much to distract you on the screen if that is what you prefer.

I wasn't keen on Zwift when I tried it but I might sign-up again over winter to try some races as the racing seems to be what has hooked a lot of people on there. That means 2 x subscriptions if I also stick with Trainerroad but I just view it as cheap life-insurance.