Training platform recommendations- Getting fed up with Fulgaz

[Robbos]

First part of this is more of a bitching/diagnostics rant, advice sought further down.
I've been on Fulgaz for two years, and while there have been glitches, it suddenly seems to have gone downhill since the last upgrade. on my Macbook Pro running Catalina, I spent an hour two days ago mucking around to get the bluetooth to sync, with weird randomness- sometimes it sees the trainer but not the heart rate monitor, sometimes vice versa, never the two. I've rebooted the computer countless times, reinstalled the app, upgraded the firmware on my Elite Suuito, but still it keeps bugging. Today: the horizontal scroll bars don't work (just the lower ones) so I cannot access the different training programs. This already was the case for accessing saved rides, and I had a lovely back and forth with a smug tech 'explaining' how to scroll with a mac (I've been using mac's since 87...).

So why have I stuck with Fulgaz? I love riding to real videos, it's inspiring and motivating. I have zero interest in riding in a virtual mega blocks style platform. I'm competitive enough that I push myself, but don't feel the need to compete against others. Any recommendations for a platform other than Fulgaz? It has to work with osx 10.15. Yup, that old operating system from 2018(!) that pairs well with my non-electric, non-hydraulic bikes
Thanks in advance for the feedback!

EDIT: I should probably mention that what I appreciate besides the real videos are the training programs on Fulgaz, so, I'd want something similar-training programs adapted to my fitness.

[Alistair]

I've used TrainerRoad on/off over the last few years. For "real" training, I prefer it to Zwift. But, if you need to be entertained, you'll want to pick a movie to watch in parallel, as the TR UI is just the power graph/dashboard.

It has some "AI" plan building tools, which I find useful. Also has pre-baked plans which are decent. The main catch seems to be monitoring your training volume/fatigue, as some of the plans are a bit on the "too much" side. They added "Masters" plans last year to address this (while labelled Masters, they're open to all and drop some intensity and duration to aid with recovery).

[mass_biker]

Loved FulGaz when it came out.
But it has gotten increasingly dodgy to use.
My use case for FulGaz is long climbs.
No interest in gamification of indoor cycling - I just want a simulator for long climbs.
But like Robbos, I am finding that Fulgaz

- freezes
- has bizarre watt readings
- randomly stops
- drops the connection to the SB20 etc.

Are there other “ride sim” apps that folks like that play well with SB20?

While I love TrainerRoad, sometimes I want to do a steady 45 minute climb….that’s the niche that Fulgaz filled for me.

[Robbos]

Wow, glad to hear I'm not alone. Felt like it was maybe my older computer and software, but I don't think so. What are you running the platform on?

Originally Posted by mass_biker

Loved FulGaz when it came out.
But it has gotten increasingly dodgy to use.
My use case for FulGaz is long climbs.
No interest in gamification of indoor cycling - I just want a simulator for long climbs.
But like Robbos, I am finding that Fulgaz

- freezes
- has bizarre watt readings
- randomly stops
- drops the connection to the SB20 etc.

Are there other “ride sim” apps that folks like that play well with SB20?

While I love TrainerRoad, sometimes I want to do a steady 45 minute climb….that’s the niche that Fulgaz filled for me.

[trener1]

Have a look at Rouvy and Bkool, though I am not sure what their raining plans are like.

[mass_biker]

Originally Posted by Robbos

Wow, glad to hear I'm not alone. Felt like it was maybe my older computer and software, but I don't think so. What are you running the platform on?

- running on iPad - need to check what version of iOS
- connected to SB20

Some rides it works ok. Some (most) rides it does not.

I’ve heard Rouvy is similar - maybe worth a shot.

MB

[rccardr]

TACX Trainer. Real videos of real rides, some with pro teams.
Seems like they constantly increase their inventory of rides.
Some nice training assists including left/right pedal differentiation to develop a smoother stroke. I’ve used it since 2020 when the weather’s too ugly to ride outdoors.

[Ewiser]

Rouvy is what you want. Tons of workouts with video routes and tons of pro cycling routes.

[caneye]

As much as i love the in-real-life Fulgaz videos, I also encountered similar issues.
- screen buffers/freezes
- power signal is frozen

I first installed it during the Tokyo Olympics and did a few Tokyo routes (to get in the spirit of the Olympics). But the video kept hanging, and when it did not hang, the power signal was frozen - i.e. it would stop reading the power from my smart-trainer all of a sudden, and regardless of what I did, the power did not update. The ride continued at 180W all the way to the end although I had stopped riding it!
The same trainer partnered with Zwift, Systm and TrainerRoad had no issues.

Recently, I tried installing Fulgaz again on another notebook and had similar video buffering issue. Such a shame.

[mass_biker]

Just downloaded.
What is the best way to do a solo climb ride - no social, no avatars etc.? On this platform? FWIW, I used to love during Gibraltar Road on Fulgaz as a good 1 hour workout. No distractions. Just a Fugazi playlist.
Of course this is RIGHT AFTER I renewed with Fulgaz.
Oh well.
MB

[old fat man]

Big fan of trainer road and their training plans. I run it on an ipad or my iphone with wahoo kickr. I watch shows, movies, youtube, or live TV via apple TV connected to a 42 inch tv. You could certainly watch recorded races from youtube or similar.

[htwoopup]

Wow, this just proves the phrase YMMV.

I run Fulgaz on an ipad (like an old one but running what ever the next to latest OS is. It won’t upgrade to the latest).

Use it with a Tacx Neo2 at one home and an old Tacx Genius Smart wheel on in the other. Both of them are then streamed to an apple tv connected to a Samsung televison.

Absolutley zero problems except very infrequent where the video hangs but every thing works until the video catches up in my home in the mountains of Canada. Never a problem in NYC. Think the problems may be related to the internet in the mountains.

Conversely, have kept paying for the Tacx premium since I got the trainers and I had uploaded routes that I ride to the GPS functionality of the program. That said, I just cancelled the premium because I didn’t find the GPS of my routes got much use in the winter from me and I HATE their videos which are almost always hanging not only on the Canadian internet but also the one in NYC. I also find them not as real feeling as the Fulgaz. And I feel like FG always has something new whereas Tacx is not as frequent/extensive on new stuff in my opinion (and it is only an feeling/opinion not necessarily fact).

I had tried Trainer Road but it was too “training the way we want it to be” as opposed to feeling like it was what I wanted it to be…it just seemed to much work to find something I liked on it.
So, my experience is the exact opposite of the rest of y’all. Weird but really YMMV.

[DfCas]

I’ve read good things sbout BigRingVR. They only have pc or Mac versions, So I am unable to use it since i use an ipad. They have a 14 day free trial.

I wish DC Rainmaker would do a new review of the platforms out now.

[eri]

My setup uses an original Microsoft surface pro (from 2013) - it’s an x64 windows tablet that was $50 at a pc recycler. I put all my videos and workouts on a 128gb microsd card and it drives my kickr trainer with golden cheetah.

Certainly not the convenience of fulgaz but no subscription once it’s dialed.

Main thing: no need to be precious about your obsolete device you can get an adequate used tablet pc for super cheap or free. Most difficult part is getting the right ble dongle and a usb extension cable.