Free apps for smart trainer ?

sibike
sibike Posts: 257
Im probably going to buy a tacx vortex but not sure what apps you can use with it . Im new to smart trainers so don't know much about them . Do free apps even exist that I can run on my tablet , something like zwift but without the expense . Can you also get an app that simulates a road ride that you you see on your tablet screen ?
Thanks in advance .

Comments

  • All you need is whatever comes with your trainer. Just do interval repeats. Forget the software. It's all just hype.
  • EBEB
    EBEB Posts: 98
    You can get an app that simulates a cycle ride on a tablet. I did it using a free trial period. None free though.

    Best free option I’m aware of is to use the free open source software on a laptop (Golden Cheetah). I haven’t tried it for a while and they improve it mostly. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could import rides and recreate them. It used to use google street view, but I think they removed that feature when the person coding it left. Don’t know if it has returned yet.

    If you get a Tacx the free part of the Tacx software is okay and allows control of gradient or power. The videos cost money though. I personally only buy ones rarely before they appear in a grand tour. It adds to the enjoyment of the stages knowing how hard they are. The Zoncolan stage in the Giro was brutal and I didn’t realise how flat the tunnels bit was before.
  • I finally got around to trying Road Grand Tours yesterday afternoon with my Direto turbo, tackling the full Stelvio Pass climb in ~1hr10mins using one gear (34/18). I didn't change the default settings for the turbo it gave me after sensing the Direto, whatever they may do, but the gradient changes on the climb up to and beyond 14% used the full range of my Direto's slope resistance.

    I signed up for the beta back in April, I don't know if it's still open to newcomers.

    Between RGT, Virtugo and OneLap, I have no intention currently of returning to a paid Zwift subscription this winter.
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    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,802
    You can get through a few months just on free trials of the various apps.
  • singleton
    singleton Posts: 2,523
    A friend uses some GCN stuff on youtube while on his turbo.
    I just stump up and pay the £75 annual fee for Sufferfest.
  • @sibike - you need to find the software that works for you...sitting on a trainer is quite dull. Zwift / trainer road / suffer fest do free trials.

    @nitrousoxide - an hour and ten up the stelvio - you should go pro now!
  • @sibike - you need to find the software that works for you...sitting on a trainer is quite dull. Zwift / trainer road / suffer fest do free trials.

    @nitrousoxide - an hour and ten up the stelvio - you should go pro now!

    It was my first effort up there, staying in 34/18 gear all ride, was pacing my power and I hope to improve the time. Lol at turning pro, I'm nearly 45 and only been fitness cycling for ~22 months, I like pushing myself up hill climbs but there are far more talented riders than me around!

    https://www.strava.com/activities/1939939001

    Did Cap Formentor before dinner last night, ~45mins from route start including losing a minute or so trying to turn around after descending the cat3, before then continuing to the route end, again sticking in 34/18 until the warm down in 34/32.
    https://www.strava.com/activities/1941741668
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    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • @nitrousoxide...don’t give up the day job just yet you started a third of the way up :D

    I have used veloviewer in the past...quite good fun to train for trips to the mountains. It’s a lot easier on a turbo though, I guess as you have the option to get off and make yourself a cup of tea if it gets too much. You can never replicate the lack air as you cycle up through the clouds.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,135
    Try a Zwift trial period. I got one months ago.
    Every time I log on I have another 25km allowance. That is sufficient for a quick blast. :wink:
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • @nitrousoxide...don’t give up the day job just yet you started a third of the way up :D

    I can only ride the whole route that is in the app, Road Grand Tours have replicated ~8.7 miles and ~3651 feet of climbing. ;)

    But RGT gives you several preset starting point options for the big climbing routes, plus it looks like you can continue a ride from where you finished last time, I must remember to try this feature next time as I did 2.84 miles of Stelvio yesterday afternoon after doing 13.8 miles around the Tuscany undulating lap https://www.strava.com/activities/1943714023

    I've yet to climb anything bigger than a cat3 in the real world, so these virtual HC monsters feel very alien, not only from their climb length but also from the energy zapping effect of a static, rather warm ambient room temperature of ~24C these last few days. When you have a modest 20min 95% FTP of ~271W (my best full 60mins of power on undulating terrain is ~255W), pacing these big virtual climbs is a whole different ball game to my best real world categorised climb power of 344W https://www.strava.com/activities/17589 ... /4583/4865 for a whole 4mins42secs... Not quite pro level yet! :lol:
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    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo