Zwift Vs Road Grand Tours Vs VIRTU GO
Let’s Face it. Zwift is the king right now of the Virtual Training World. They have incorporated a huge social component through their races and training rides that puts Zwift at the top for virtual training software.
To give you an idea of how popular Zwift is, Zwifters logged a total of 122,140,586 miles (196,582,313 kilometers) in 2017 and around 6 billion feet or 1.8 billion meters.
Zwift users log enough miles to get to Mars and back twice in 2017 https://t.co/XF6yCJd0AN pic.twitter.com/t0iB4sqYgT
— Cyclist (@cyclist) January 2, 2018
Yet even with all their success, Zwift is often slow to react to customer requests. This of course gives competitors an in to create something that answers these requests or even possibly provides a better overall experience through graphics or functionality.
Zwift’s Interface is something that is really lacking. While it can get the job done, it has the feel of something made in the 90’s. Heck my Atari 800 had software that had a better interface and graphics (Sort of joking, but not really). Considering all the advancements in technology and software it is rather a let down to see how Zwift’s interface is currently structured.
Coming from a computer programmer’s background I can sort of understand why Zwift had to dumb down the graphics and interface. In essence it is to allow the software to work with more systems and to provide a speedier interface experience. That said, I bet most Zwifters probably have relatively good computers and/or graphics at their disposal.
Road Grand Tours Cycling Software
Road Grand Tours is currently in Beta, but the software promises to provide a better graphical experience.
Currently one limitation to Road Grand Tours is that it requires an ANT+ connection. That said I have found the ANT+ protocol to be superior to Bluetooth when using trainers. Bluetooth has a tendency to not connect as well and also have more dropouts.
The software works with both Widows and the Mac, so no issues there.
I currently don’t have access yet, but I have read that users are experiencing freezes and timeout issues. I am sure these will be workout since it is in Beta right now.
VIRTU GO Training Software
Virtu Go software looks REALLY promising. The interface makes much more sense and is dramatically more user friendly than Zwifts.
Currently there is a waiting list to get into the Beta (Even I am on it). You can sign up for the Beta HERE.
Like Road Grand Tours, Virtu Go requires an ANT+ connection and doesn’t have any Bluetooth compatibility.
Zwift Vs Road Grand Tours Vs VIRTU GO
While Road Grand Tours and Virtu Go have very promising graphics, they are still in beta with all the bugs and issues that go along with being beta software. It will be interesting to see if they can make it out of Beta and start attracting an audience.
For now Zwift doesn’t have to worry about these small time competitors, but should they make it out of beta, they could give Zwift notice. Hopefully either becoming better than Zwift or making Zwift become better. Either way it should be a win for cyclists.
BKool is so inaccurate and riders on the BKool Trainer kill everyone in sight as they are able to somehow ride at supersonic speeds. A total joke. I have now been a Zwift subscriber and it just ticks all the boxes. Races, workouts, train in a group, ride solo, follow a training plan. Its all there and my vo2max has increased as well as w/kg. I have tried so many of the others and all too boring or focused on one area. I hope the other 2 mentioned get off the ground properly as they look promising
Hey Andrew,
I agree. Right now the others just aren’t in the same category as Zwift.
Unfortunately too many Zwifters approach it from a game perspective vs a training perspective and Zwift as a company seems to be where the confusion originates. They market it as a game, it’s clearly run as a game with varying levels, gear and routes that a player must reach goals to achieve. it is here that Zwift actually penalizes you if you happen to live in a climate that allows for more outdoor rides, even though you still pay the same amount as all the others. Add to that the fact that there’s too many ways to fudge the numbers ie cheat, serious cyclists looking to improve should look elsewhere. It’s training software, it should not account for drafting and then let you take turns at a speed that would be physically impossible in real life. You should get out what you put in. Also their software is too slow and drops out too often on many setups. I tried it for a year and left unimpressed with the software and soured on the company, though I am not a gamer thus I am not their target demographic.
RoadGrandTours seems to have died a death. Months since there has been any update and whenever I log on (admittedly not very often) there’s rarely anyone using it.
At the moment the best alternative to Zwift seems to be OneLap. Just need to learn Chinese…..
Hey Geoffrey,
I will have to give OneLap a go sometime.
I’d say that the best cycling simulator today is BKOOL.
Every route you want, ERG mode, Velodrome games, workouts… even fitness classes!!!
Both Ant+ and Bluetooth connection.
In my opinion, the best choice without a doubt.
agreed overall
imo, the Velodrome is all it’s got going for it. With so many varied self led workouts available without time/power/cadence restrictions, I don’t see why more do not incorporate a velodrome. It’s no more boring than riding a “scenic” course solo and in theory, it should be infinitely easier to create.