Introducing the training camp every triathlete can join
Don't have the time or money to go overseas for a training camp? Here's how you can get involved in one from the comfort of your own home...
If we had all the money and time in the world, I’m sure many of us would use a large chunk of it to go on an extended training camp somewhere sunny.
Unfortunately, money and time is an object, for a lot of us at least. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of a training camp while based in your own town.
How, you ask? Enter Rouvy…
What is Rouvy?
Rouvy is an online cycling platform that “brings the real world into your living rooms and pain caves”.
Simply connect your smart turbo trainer (or turbo trainer and power meter/speed sensors), switch the app on with your computer, phone or tablet, and then you can ride a huge range (over 10,000!) of real-life routes and augmented reality courses.
The routes are filmed on video from around the world, including some truly iconic and popular rides, and some are then enhanced with augmented reality to allow you to race as an avatar.
As with other platforms, when used with a smart trainer Rouvy will control the resistance to match the profile of the course or the intensity of your session.
The app allows you to compete against your own previous records, as well as other athletes that also use Rouvy, so there should be no shortage of motivation.
As you’d expect from an online cycling platform, you can also upload your own GPX file to create a custom route, join group rides, or even race others in a live environment.
Aside from the courses themselves, there’s also a huge range of workouts to choose from, allowing you to add some structure to your training and achieve your session goals in a controlled environment.
But how can it help triathletes specifically? Well, there are currently 17 Challenge Family routes available for you to ride (with more being added at a later date), plus four triathlon-specific workouts to choose from if you’re looking for specific sessions.
Sign up to a free trial of Rouvy here.
So what about this training camp?
Between 1-19 March Rouvy is running a Triathlon Training Camp to help you gain some focus and fitness ahead of the new season.
As part of it, you can pick the workouts, challenges and rides you want to use for your training, before embarking on a group ride around the Challenge Wales course on 16 March with pro triathlete Frederic Funk, fifth-place finisher at the 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
To finish off the three-week event, on 19 March there’ll be a race on the bike course from Challenge Geraadsbergen in Belgium. As well as other Rouvy users, you’ll be racing against Funk and fellow pro triathletes Petr Vabrousek and Christina Ekonomi.
This represents a great opportunity for an early season test, allowing you to see where your performance level is at and highlighting any areas you may need to work on.
Get involved for free
The good news is that you can get involved in all of this for free with Rouvy’s 14-day free trial.
What’s more, when signing up for that trial to take part in this event, you’ll also get a 30-day membership to TrainingPeaks, which works in conjunction with Rouvy to help you reach your training targets.
Sign up to your free trial of Rouvy here.
Win epic prizes
And in even more good news, by taking part you’ll also be entered into a prize draw. Prizes include:
- 2 x entry to a Challenge Family event of your choice (excluding Samorin and Roth)
- 2 x Abus GameChanger TT Helmets
- 2 x Wahoo Elemnt Rival Watch
- 10 x Rouvy annual subscriptions
Rob Slade
