Indoor cycling is a great way to burn fat, build muscle, boost cardiac health, and enjoy the camaraderie of your co-cyclists. Indoor bikes can be used year-round in fitness classes or as an auxiliary training option for outdoor riders.
A new popular feature of riding is the use of apps. Technology has evolved leaps and bounds, and today's best cycle apps are “smart.” This means they can connect to smartphones, tablets, and computers via Bluetooth or ANT+.
Indoor cycling apps create immersive experiences that provide a multitude of training resources, including group rides, planned routes, training programs, races, and a record of personal data.
With so many app choices now available, it can be hard to know which app is the best one for you. You can spend hours, if not days, comparing and contrasting all the options.
Paseo Club recently updated all of our indoor bikes for cycle class to Stages SC3. We chose to pair the SC3s with the Spivi app.
Since we have done the research, we will save you time and energy learning about Spivi. In this article, we will tell you what the Spivi app is, what to expect when using it, and the benefits and drawbacks of Spivi.
Because we believe in transparency, we will also tell you about some of the other cycle apps available on the market.
What is the Spivi app?
Spivi is a cycling app that helps users gather relevant information about their bodies and their skills. It offers several components to support cyclists.
- Tracks and analyzes several performance features such as heart rate, power, cadence, calories, speed, distance, and energy
- Offers tests and challenges to determine personal fitness levels and to help riders train at home
- Interactive scenery is animated for both live and recorded classes
- Pre-made workouts are developed by bike pros for solo rides
- Stream rides virtually from your home gym
- Connect to your TV using an HDMI cable and your computer
- Compatible with Windows, Macs, iPads, and Android tablets
How to begin using Spivi in cycle class
To sign up for a Spivi class, users go to Spivi.com or download the Spivi app.
Then log in as a new customer and enter your personal information to set up your profile.
Users select the color of their outfit and upload a personal photo and a profile name. Once you are signed up, you can reserve a specific bike for each ride.
Your data will be shown on a leaderboard in real-time to help you track and review your data while you ride in your cycle class.
Grading criteria
There are a lot of apps for cycling available. When the Paseo cycling team assessed apps, we looked for a few different things.
- User friendly: For an app to be successful, it must be intuitive and easy to learn and use. Overly complicated features serve to dissuade riders as opposed to engage them.
- Diverse features: With so many apps on the market, there needs to be a comprehensive approach to app development. Riders are looking for several factors – tracking personal data, immersive rides, live and virtual classes, and smart technology that is easy to sync with personal devices.
- Great data tracking: Athletes of all levels want to track their metrics to better understand how their bodies functioning in class and how to reach their fitness goals. Data records allows users to compare and contrast earlier rides to assess progress.
- Facilitate an immersive experience: Apps are using games as inspiration to create an immersive and engaging experience. The imaging of various scenery and terrain help to add an element of fun to the cycling experience.
- Challenging pre-programmed tests and workouts: Rides designed by the app are an important option for home training. Tests and virtual races function to inspire riders and maintain peak fitness levels.
Pros of the Spivi app
Spivi offers varied, diverse features that appeal to a wide range of users.
- Virtual scenery makes rides appealing
- Tracks and evaluate personal metrics for every rider
- Hybrid class model for merging live and streamed instruction
- Records and re-plays classes
- Tests help riders get a great workout and compare progress
- Provides structured workouts
- Power cycling
- MaxHR cycling
- RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) cycling
- MaxHR cardio
- RPE cardio
Each category has numerous styles of rides available such as HIIT, turbo sets, endurance sets, and climb sets.
Cons of the Spivi app
We’ve seen there be five main cons with the Spivi app.
-
Minimum screen size requirements mean that it is not compatible with iPhones
-
Minimum 5 Mb/s download speed and 1 Mb/s upload speed limits users who have slow or unreliable internet
-
BLE USB stick is needed if you use Windows for the app and own a bike or gear that is compatible with BLE, such as the Keiser M3i bike, and Polar H7, H10, or 0H1 heart rate monitors
-
Need to purchase an ANT+ USB stick for Windows or Mac computer users and if your fitness equipment is compatible with ANT+
-
Some users have reported that the app is unable to locate the correct bike when it has been booked
Who is a good fit for Spivi?
Spivi is a good fit for avid cyclists who are looking for the technology to record and track their fitness and enjoy the planned routes, immersive virtual rides, and tests.
Spivi also works well for riders who train at home and want to stream live classes or use the pre-planned route options.
Who is a poor fit for Spivi?
You probably will not need Spivi (or any other cycling app) if you are a cyclist who primarily rides outside, for leisure, or for general fitness but is not interested in the metrics.
Spivi does not offer customized training plans, so if you want help getting ready for a race and need a plan based on details such as your current fitness level, planned training hours, and how many weeks it is until the race, Spivi cannot help you.
Cycle apps in comparison
There are many apps for cycling available. Some focus on the social aspect, others on providing multiple class options, while others are designed to be immersive and gamified. Some popular options are:
Zwift
- Many people find Zwift to be one of the best all-around options.
- They offer group rides, races, and multiple workout options daily.
- Zwift is designed for riders to enter an alternate reality and can travel through various landscapes.
- This app is so popular that it is used around the world, and there are always other riders available to ride with 24/7.
TrainerRoad
- TrainerRoad is a no-frills app that does not spend its time developing virtual experiences.
- This app is for people who are focused on technique and training.
- They have a huge index of pre-planned workouts that cyclists can access for at-home or gym training.
- What riders like about TrainerRoad is that it provides customized training plans based on your current fitness level, how frequently you ride, and what your goals are.
Wahoo Fitness
- Wahoo Fitness incorporates yoga and strength training in its programming.
- It emphasizes the steps to developing a strong mental game for competing (even if you are only competing against yourself).
- Triathletes use this app.
- They offer users customized training plans and workout calendars.
Expert testimonials for Spivi
Spivi has been adopted by many clubs and fitness centers around the world. Several case studies and video testimonials are able to be viewed to learn about instructor’s experiences with the app.
“They (studio members) absolutely love it! Let the instructors fall in love with it and your members will fall in love with it. I think what they like best about it is that they’re finding themselves working harder.”
– Josh Leve, Founder of Association of Fitness Studios
"Thank you, Spivi, for bringing our studio to the next level, not once but twice! Amazing partner to have in these unsettling times!"
– Lisa Greer, Ride! Studio UK
Customer testimonials for Spivi
“Being a member for a long time I have been a huge fan of cycle! But when the new cycles came… I was super happy. These bikes are amazing! Smooth, easy to navigate, comfortable seats, and very accurate in its calculations. This was a very smart upgrade for Paseo. Yay!”
– Trish Dunn, Paseo Club member
Final thoughts on Spivi’s cycle app
Spivi is a comprehensive cycling app that aids riders in their training and data tracking experiences. It is one of many cycling apps available to the general public.
Now that you have read this review, you have a clear understanding about how Spivi works, the pros and cons of Spivi, and what type of experience it offers users. You also know who are some of the top contending apps.
Paseo Club is a social club that has been at the forefront of sports and fitness trends for almost twenty years. We offer cycle classes using Spivi every day of the week. There is also yoga, Pilates, strength training, cardio fitness classes, and more.
Members also get access to the junior-Olympic pool, the tennis and pickleball courts, and a cafe where all three main meals of the day are served (snacks, drinks, and dessert too).
If you are not only interested in our favorite cycle app but want to know about our favorite indoor bike, read about the Stages SC3s.
Come to Paseo and get a tour of our 8-acre facility. Learn what you are signing up for by reading about what to expect on a tour of Paseo.
Topics: