Where once we had the capitalist efficiency of a hundred competing indoor virtual training options offering alternative visions that fit perfectly in the two buckets of ‘looks like Fortnite’ and ‘looks like Google Streetview,’ the indoor cycling ecosystem is collapsing into a single orange singularity.
Zwift has announced the acquisition of its reality-based rival, Rouvy. Rouvy itself had already acquired up FulGaz (Zwift gets that toy too) and acquired then killed off Bkool last summer, so this acquisition hands Zwift the keys to most of the virtual training kingdom. MyWhoosh might be sweating.
But we shouldn’t panic about a looming monopoly just yet. Both companies will continue to operate independently, with separate roadmaps, separate subscriptions, and no cross-pollination of user data.
The big change is hardware compatibility, which may be a welcome addition for Rouvy’s tens of global users.
New Zwift Protocol Hardware Compatibility in Rouvy
The most immediate change stemming from this acquisition is that Zwift’s proprietary hardware (Zwift Cog, Zwift Click, and the Zwift Ride platform) is now supported within Rouvy.
For the past year, Rouvy developers have been reverse-engineering Zwift’s closed-door “Zwift Protocol” so their users could enjoy virtual shifting. Instead of embracing the open, industry-wide Bluetooth/ANT+ standard for trainer communication, Zwift forced manufacturers to adopt its proprietary code, leaving third-party apps like Rouvy out in the cold.
Now that Zwift owns the competition, the gates have opened. A new software update for Rouvy brings full, official compatibility for Zwift’s virtual shifting and in-game navigation.
Rouvy users can now adjust their virtual gears with their Zwift Click buttons, drink from the Zwift Bidon, and crack the virtual toilet bowl after their pre-ride espresso with Zwift Loo.
Bad news for open protocols, good news for people who want to buy orange turbo trainers.
The Illusion of Independence
Outside of the hardware integration, Zwift is promising that nothing else will change for Rouvy users.
- Subscriptions: You still have to pay for both platforms separately if you want to ride in Watopia on Tuesday and the real-world French Alps on Wednesday. There is no bundled discount
- Training Data: Your completed Rouvy activities will not update your Zwift training load, and vice versa
- Leadership: Rouvy CEO Petr Samek is staying on board to lead the Rouvy side of the business
Zwift Alternatives
Because we own the website and the platform (a monopoly of our own, even if it’s an uneviable one), we’ll remind you of our own Zwift alternative for Linux, Gradient. It doesn’t have 3D virtual worlds, but you connect your trainer, add your .gpx file, and ride your route with all your data, for free. It’s that way because that’s what we wanted – a quick way to ride specific hills ahead of hill climbs.
There’s also MyWhoosh, which is really just Zwift-shaped sportswashing but it’s free.