Correction: I previously stated that RGT Cycling had lost its free tier, but Wahoo have informed me otherwise (though I am not convinced this will last forever).
Three weeks after I wrote a post about the top free indoor cycling apps, highlighting RGT as the best option, Wahoo buys them up. For the time being there is still a free version.
It is promising that Wahoo is aggressively expanding its virtual cycling platform. However, Wahoo seems undecided about its branding.
Wahoo previously bought out the popular Sufferfest and rolled it into Wahoo SYSTM.
Now, with the acquisition of RGT, they are launching a new Wahoo X service. Technically SYSTM still exists, it’s just Wahoo X is the umbrella service for both Wahoo SYSTM and Wahoo RGT.
If you are on SYSTM or RGT, you will be migrated to Wahoo X at no additional cost. For RGT premium users, I hope this means you will retain the $10/month fee. Alternatively, the price is being jacked up to $14.99 + tax PCM.
To be fair, $15 seems quite reasonable to have full access to both SYSTM and RGT.
At the time of writing, both Wahoo SYSTM and Wahoo RGT are two separate apps; it appears Wahoo X is just the billing and account management. I’d assume at some point they may try and merge everything into one.
Zwift is by far the most dominant indoor cycling app, but a lot of people seem disappointed at the lack of development and various glitches within the game. They instead seem focussed on developing hardware, including an indoor smart bike. Having a well-established company like Wahoo acquiring multiple competing services is surely going to put some pressure on Zwift.
I recently tried out RGT under its free plan, and it was a fun experience but the majority of riders were bots and had nowhere near the sort of user interaction as Zwift. I hope this acquisition sees a large influx of new riders.