Zwift Alternatives?
05-05-18, 09:37 PM
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Zwift Alternatives?
Just asking out of curiosity, (wasn't getting any help from other forum thread) but is there a cheaper version than zwift? I'm looking for ideally a one time payment kind of thing, or a max of $5/month which nobody seems to be doing anymore.
05-06-18, 03:55 AM
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It depends on what you are looking for. If you want to have the 'virtual' cycling experience than I don't think so. If all you want is numbers for training than there are many free options. I have tried others but they did not appeal to me as much as Zwift. If you want to do Zwift on the cheap, create a couple accounts and you will get 25 free KM per month. Just choose the hilly routes and you can easily get 2-3 rides in before that 25 km is up.
Sometimes getting outside is not an option. For instance, during the winter or for me any time it is raining.
Sometimes getting outside is not an option. For instance, during the winter or for me any time it is raining.
05-06-18, 11:02 AM
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Trainer road on android gives you ride videos and a virtual coach. you can stream ride videos on you tube and try to match the numbers...
05-06-18, 04:30 PM
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05-06-18, 05:18 PM
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Yes you could ride your bike on a trainer indoors when it's -10F, for free. But it's mind-numbingly boring. I mean, indoor trainers have been ruled as "inhumane torture" by most civilized countries.
05-06-18, 07:37 PM
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Kinomap is nice. It's nice having actual video of real rides.
BKool is nice too and only $10 a month Also a 7 day free trail so nothing to lose.
FulGaz is cool. Like Kinomap, real world videos. I tried their trial and enjoyed it, but stayed with Zwift. It's only available to iPhone/iPad...so if you're on Android this isn't an option atm.
Ive heard good things about The Sufferfest, though I haven't tried in on my own. It's also $10 and has a free 7 day trial, I think.
Nothing in the $5 range you wanted though. $10/month seems to be the low point with these apps.
BKool is nice too and only $10 a month Also a 7 day free trail so nothing to lose.
FulGaz is cool. Like Kinomap, real world videos. I tried their trial and enjoyed it, but stayed with Zwift. It's only available to iPhone/iPad...so if you're on Android this isn't an option atm.
Ive heard good things about The Sufferfest, though I haven't tried in on my own. It's also $10 and has a free 7 day trial, I think.
Nothing in the $5 range you wanted though. $10/month seems to be the low point with these apps.
05-06-18, 08:11 PM
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I agree with you, but the reason that I have to resort to indoors is because going outside sometimes during the week takes too long and when i just want to go for a quick ride, it's much more tedious getting ready and replenishing afterwards. I also need something for the winter anyways, because literally even with garments on, when I'm home for the winter, I have to be putting out around 500 watts in order to just keep my legs warm.
Last edited by torero310; 05-06-18 at 08:15 PM.
05-06-18, 08:13 PM
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It depends on what you are looking for. If you want to have the 'virtual' cycling experience than I don't think so. If all you want is numbers for training than there are many free options. I have tried others but they did not appeal to me as much as Zwift. If you want to do Zwift on the cheap, create a couple accounts and you will get 25 free KM per month. Just choose the hilly routes and you can easily get 2-3 rides in before that 25 km is up.
Sometimes getting outside is not an option. For instance, during the winter or for me any time it is raining.
Sometimes getting outside is not an option. For instance, during the winter or for me any time it is raining.
05-07-18, 04:46 AM
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May I ask, what part of the country are you in?
No it is not. Maybe for you, but that is just opinion and like a a$$ everyone has one.
05-07-18, 04:50 AM
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No this is on a computer. Someone mentioned Golden cheetah. I have used GC for the metrics but was never able to get the video aspect working, it is still a great training aide. For IOS there are still free options but I am not familiar with them.
05-07-18, 11:53 PM
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@Everyone: Thanks for all the comments so far! I'll be sure to be checking all of these websites/apps and I'll give a full update (might be a while) when I figure out a setup that works). Thanks again! Also if anyone posts afterwards, feel free to comment, I'll continue to check!
05-08-18, 07:54 AM
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It's off topic. I live in utah. We get our fair share of snow during the winter months.
I get less where I currently live then in Northern Utah where I grew up.
Conquering the elements is invigorating. You need to make time for yourself. If you enjoy cycling, make time for it. I have a stationary bike, I tried it a few times, didn't like it. Maybe you guys genuinely enjoy indoor cycling, more power to you.
I get less where I currently live then in Northern Utah where I grew up.
Conquering the elements is invigorating. You need to make time for yourself. If you enjoy cycling, make time for it. I have a stationary bike, I tried it a few times, didn't like it. Maybe you guys genuinely enjoy indoor cycling, more power to you.
05-08-18, 12:18 PM
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Skip buying one Organic Chocolate Brownie Vanilla Double-Shot Gingerbread Latte a month and there's your $5 plus some. Or keeping wasting time trying to find an alternative even though you want to use Zwift.
05-08-18, 02:36 PM
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05-08-18, 08:27 PM
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lol there us always a group of people that will scoff at others and new ideas . indoor training is one of rhe greatest tools a real cyclist can have . i cant even describe how great it is and when paired with outdoor sessions you can progress so fast . you can practice postion and pain thresh holds riding in hard winter is just stupid . i ride everyday in every condition . people call me crazy . its so nice to be able to hit a intense ride while feet of snow is falling . i cant understand how some people can hate on a technologica advancement even if you have the ability to ride year round it still is great to be able to throw some tights on and get on the trainer for a few hours . keeping you muscles active and calories burning . dont hate on indoor trainers get one use it as the tool it is and when you start to improve on the road you will understand why being able to have rapid access to training time numbers data is so important to some ..
05-13-18, 10:15 PM
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Believe it or not... I don't even spend money on drinks... like ever... not for coffee not for snacks.... not even really for gels... like I do no carbs training just because it's cheaper
05-13-18, 10:17 PM
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??? We are really talking about a $5 a month thing?
@OP You already used more than $5 of my time. How do you even maintain your bicycles if you cannot afford $5 a month? I had to sink ~$200 into one of my bikes this month to get it summer ready. I live on the lower end stuff too, most people would've spent much more. Bike maintenance defiantly costs me more than $5 a month, except it's in lump sums not as small as $5.
@OP You already used more than $5 of my time. How do you even maintain your bicycles if you cannot afford $5 a month? I had to sink ~$200 into one of my bikes this month to get it summer ready. I live on the lower end stuff too, most people would've spent much more. Bike maintenance defiantly costs me more than $5 a month, except it's in lump sums not as small as $5.
