Rouvy is an indoor cycling training app that offers real world routes, structured workouts and training plans. What differentiates Rouvy from the likes of its competitors (Zwift, Wahoo X, BKool, VirtuPro etc) is that the app combines the real and the virtual world.
Routes and workouts feature videos of roads around the world – think cycling over San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, through Hạ Long Bay in Vietnam or taking in the rolling Lavender fields of Provence. Rouvy augments this footage by adding a user’s avatar so that it feels like you are really riding these roads.
The platform currently features more than 300 augmented reality routes.
Recent updates to Rouvy’s platform include an augmented reality route creator, social interaction and a pause subscription function. I tested Rouvy on a Wattbike Atom.
WorldTour cycling team Visma-Lease a Bike will be using Rouvy for the 2025 season, and Lidl-Trek is already partnered with the app, which means the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and Elisa Balsamo could be riding against you.
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Rouvy key features
- Famous real-world cycling routes
- Ghost riders (robot riders for company)
- Create your own route with the Rouvy route creator
- Strava Live segments
- Customisable training plans
- 360-degree range of views
Rouvy is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, iPad and Apple TV devices. It integrates with Strava, Garmin Connect, TrainingPeaks and many others, and supports a wide range of smart trainer brands including TacX, Wahoo and Elite.
- iOS, 12.0 or later
- Android, Android 10+
- Mac, High Sierra 10.13
- Windows, Windows 10 with Creators update, Windows 11
Rouvy setup
Setup is straightforward – connect your trainer and sensors and pick a route or workout to start with. Rouvy works with different kinds of trainers: smart bikes, smart trainers, grade simulators and more, including Stages, Tacx, Technogym, Truekinetix, Wahoo, Wattbike and others. For a full list of compatible trainers, check the Rouvy website.
Rouvy is a very clean and smooth app. Everything loads very quickly, and when you’re riding in the application, it’s silky smooth and a lot of fun.
The wattage and stats are in the corner and are easily seen, and it even offers a climbing profile where you can see the incline you're riding and what’s coming up.
The home screen a bit lacklustre by contrast as it doesn’t showcase the options the app offers.
The app gives you recommendations (week 1 training plan, routes to follow etc) but it’s only by clicking through to other screens that you discover the true wealth that the app offers.
It’s not obvious that the platform is filled with workouts, routes and training plans, as you have to put in a bit of work to search for them. I would have liked to have more options on my home screen, not just four rectangles showing what’s on offer.
Rouvy cycling workouts
To ease you into the app, Rouvy offers a 4-week structured workout plan which is what users will see initially on the home screen. This involves two workouts a week, with high-intensity efforts, FTP and cadence drills. It’s a good way for newcomers to get comfortable with those sorts of workouts.
There are also all the usual workouts like tempo, sprint, threshold, pyramid, HIIT, plus ramp tests so pretty much whatever you desire, the app will supply.
The workouts are neatly organised into headings, ranging from just riding, to time-trial, climbing, race, endurance as well as some from TrainingPeaks and ‘workouts of the week’, which is one of my favourite sections to explore.
Workouts of the week changes weekly (surprise, surprise) and is a great option if you are looking for something spicy.
The Rouvy FTP test is offered with either a two, five or ten minute integrated warm-up.
As is standard with all Rouvy workouts, the app suggests a route to follow. Mine was called Lavender Fields in Provence which offered a nice distraction from the reality of the workout.
Once the FTP test is done, Rouvy will base all its workouts on your FTP test. This is a great way to ensure the app and resistance is set to the right level so you will get the most out of it.
You can tailor workouts to your own training plan with the workout creator or upload your own workouts into the app which are helpful features when you have a specific goal or race you want to train for.
Rouvy cycling routes
Where Rouvy really excels are the real-world cycling routes on offer.
There are plenty of heart-pumping climbs including the Passo Sella, Alpe d’Huez, the Tourmalet, the Passo Gavia – the list is rather extensive. You can do the Alpine climbs at home to get a bit of a feel for it before doing it in the real world.
All of Rouvy’s routes and cycling workouts can be filtered by distance, duration and maximum gradient to help you choose the right one. I really like this feature – it’s easy to squeeze in a decent 30-minute workout without having to think too much. There are also near-15-minute ‘lunchtime break’ routes as well as a few gravel and off-road routes.
Riding with Rouvy can take you all around the world without having to get on a single plane.
There is everything from famous courses like Paris-Roubaix, stunning routes in Japan, climbing the devilish Col du Granon, and exploring the beauty of South Africa.
For the triathletes among us, Rouvy also features plenty of tri-specific routes to scratch that itch. Ironman anyone?
For those of us searching for Strava KOMs and QOMs, Rouvy can display Strava live segments. This is both good and bad, as you can see exactly how far ahead the record holder is in real time.
A recent update is the Rouvy route creator which adds augmented reality and multi-rider functionality to user-generated video footage. Riders can upload a video of a route and ride it virtually alongside others, also adding the benefit of being able to interact with them and add customisation by dropping other objects on the route video. Is it essential? I'm not so sure, but it is a nice touch for keeping the virtual riding community connected.
Rouvy visuals
In terms of graphics, Rouvy offers a crisp and clear picture which was seamless and made the whole experience very enjoyable. I didn’t experience any lag or disjointedness.
I really like the addition of an avatar, which can be personalised, however I was disappointed that although I signed up as a woman, my avatar was by default a man.
Rouvy also features routes with ‘OmniMode’ which is designed to offer a 360-degree range of views to give an even more immersive AR experience.
This includes a rear-camera view, which allows you to turn and look over your shoulder, and a better altitude profile which the platform says makes the mapping of a change in gradient more granular, thus the ride is smoother when going over hills and rolling terrain.
This feature is similar to the augmented reality route creator, cool but for my training purposes not entirely necessary.
What else does Rouvy offer?
Rouvy has an extensive number of features outside of routes and workouts which is another area where the platform shines. The app recently introduced corner braking whereby speed will automatically be adjusted when entering and exiting corners, making downhill more realistic. Users can create their own events from the rider portal and invite people to join, plus ghost riders (robot riders for company) mean you don’t ever have to ride alone.
You can add up to 10 ghost riders and also see other Rouvy users who are on the same course which provides some good motivation.
You can download videos for working out offline and Rouvy has some gamified elements. Riders can collect virtual coins, upgrade equipment and compete for Strava Live segments. There are racing series and time-trials, and in principle prize money could be on offer. Currently Rouvy does not have any races with prize money but in some races or challenges, when participants finish, they are automatically included in a draw for Rouvy kit, or prizes from partner brands including the likes of Santini, Zycle and others.
As far as music goes, there isn’t any. This means you can play your own music over the top of the platform or have none at all. Rouvy says it doesn’t supply sound because it wants to replicate outdoor riding as much as possible.
For me, I would like the option to have music that is integrated into the workouts – this would be particularly useful for the interval sessions.
Rouvy has a social feature that allows riders to add each other as friends and interact on the platform. Users can interact through comments and reactions such as 'Kudos,' 'Take a Pull,' or 'Follow Me', and you can turn this off if you don't want it. This direct engagement is a bonus for feeling part of the virtual riding community but it doesn't have the same depth as the likes of Zwift.
Rouvy pricing
Rouvy offers several subscription plans: monthly and annual options for solo users (Single), you and a friend (Duo), or a group of up to five members (Group). Single costs €12.42 per month (approx £10.30), Duo costs €16.58 per month (approx £13.72) and Group costs €27.42 per month (approx £22.70).
Users can also pause their subscription for 180 days, during which they can then ride 20km free per month whilst their subscription remains paused. Rouvy says this is aimed at giving riders flexibility over the summer months. Plus, Rouvy also has a daily pass option for riders with paused subscriptions who can pay for 24, 48 or 72 hours of use.
There is also the option to have a free subscription which permits 20km of riding per month, workouts and trainings and challenges. The app also offers a 7-day free trial which I used for this review. It’s a good amount of time to get to know the app and it’s easy to cancel if it turns out not be to your taste.
Rouvy indoor training app verdict
Rouvy is an excellent cycling training platform that boasts great visuals, engaging real-world routes and attempts to make indoor riding as realistic as possible. There are an abundance of workouts available, plus events and races for every level. I really like how customisable the platform is, both with workouts and adding your own routes.
Cost-wise, Rouvy is one of the pricier training apps, but the addition of the flexible subscription plans makes the app more affordable. While the community aspect might leave some wanting, this isn't an app for chatting and interaction. With its breadth of features, Rouvy is worth the money for a serious cyclist who wants to enjoy indoor training, year-round.
Sign up at Rouvy.com.
This app sounds like much of fun!
Just out of curiosity, if you can compete in Rouvy on integrated Strava KOMs, does it mean a virtual rider can acutally become a KOM of Strava segment? This would be a bit unfair given that riding conditions on a trainer are much different from those on the real road.