Rouvy indoor cycling app explained and all you need to know to get started

Rouvy is an indoor cycling app which overlays GPS data with real-life video footage to create a mix of augmented reality of animated 3D riders with real life videos. 

This recreation of the outdoor environment now boasts a library containing over 10,000 videos, 10,000 workouts and 70,000 GPS routes. 

If that's not enough, it also gives away $20k in prizes and giveaways every year to riders using the app. 

If you're wondering what 'augmented reality' looks like, it's effectively takes real world routes, and projects animated 3D images of riders on to them. It's a bit like riding through Google street view.

If you've landed on this page as a newbie to indoor cycling, you might find yourself needing to start at the start with your home riding set up. The good news is that Rouvy is very similar to the other popular indoor riding platform Zwift, so our page dedicated to helping you find answers to  Where can I get the cheapest Zwift set up really helpful in saving you some cash on the initial outlay. 

Rouvy features

The great thing about Rouvy is that you can choose been tackling a famous col, ride a stage of a Grand Tour, or even upload your own regular circuit and ride it from the comfort of your own home.  

Rouvy has grown massively over the past couple of years and according to the brand now has a community of over 1 million unique web visitors each year, with hundreds of thousands of registered uses. 

It's currently global reach is 238 counties, with riders choosing one of the multiple riding options. 

Iconic climbs like the Stelvio Pass and Alpe d'Huez. It also has a partnership with the the UCI allowing users to ride events, to complete stages of the race from home - so of course it was the logical choice for organisers planning to recreate a virtual version of the UCI stage race.

Rouvy X Strava Live Segments

New for 2022 is the Rouvy collaboration with Strava, on Strava Live Segments. 

This integration allows riders, who are both Rouvy and Strava users, to enjoy the added element of competition. Virtual riders will represent the Strava leader board, allowing you to judge your effort against the leading athletes on that segment.   

While you can compare your performance on the Strava Live Segment to the QOM/ KOM leader board, you can motivate yourself further by racing against your previous best time in a head to head challenge, like some athletic ghost of your past achievements.   

It's a new feature that is only available on Rouvy, and could be a great motivational or pre-event practice when getting out in winter months or or geographically unable to get to ride the actual route in person.  

Edit your own videos

If that's not enough, since it's an open platform, riders are able to download an additional 'Virtual Training Route Editor' app. You can then ride (or even drive) your own route with one of the best bike and helmet cameras and upload it to Rouvy so that you and others can then ride route using footage alongside real life elevation changes at home. 

Competitions on Rouvy 

As per other industry leading apps, Rouvy eRaces, offers group rides and time trials, as well as saved 'personal bests' in order to challenge and motivate yourself. 

Rouvy also offers you the opportunity to work through the 'Career' ranks. All riders begin as a 'Starter', with the final rung on the ladder being a 'Rouvy Legend'.

You gain 'points' - based upon Training Stress Score (TSS) for time spent training, and there are tasks that must be performed to reach the higher levels such as ascending 15,000 feet or completing five online races, with healthy cash prizes, of up to $10,000 to win along the way.

There are also 'Challenges' on offer, some of which are sponsored by brands, with more prizes available.

Rouvy workouts

For those using the app to complete structured intervals, there are 10,000 saved workouts plus a custom workout builder, FTP and ramp tests as well as compatibility with Training Peaks, Strava and social media platforms.

If you ever find yourself unsure of what session to do, the app can provide you with the 'Training Peaks Workout of the Day', which will lay out set intervals for you without any pre planning on your part.