VirtualRide
Pedal — ride real roads
VirtualRide turns your indoor trainer into a virtual ride. Connect it over Bluetooth, pick a route — video of a real road moves at the speed of your pedaling while trainer resistance follows the terrain. Free, in your browser — no account.
How it works
Connect your devices
The trainer over Bluetooth Fitness Machine (FTMS), plus an optional cadence sensor and heart-rate monitor.
Pick a route
Rides with real video on YouTube and an elevation profile computed from a GPX track.
Pedal — everything is in sync
A physics model turns your power into speed: climbs slow you down, descents speed you up, and video plus resistance ride right along.
What's inside
Realistic physics
Speed is computed from power, rider weight and the route profile — not made up.
SIM & ERG resistance
Climbs load up and descents ease off in SIM mode — or hold your target watts in ERG workouts.
Synced video
A YouTube video of a real road moves at your speed: stop — pause, ride — it moves.
Local records
History and personal bests live on your device — no accounts, no fees.
Ride on the big screen
Open VirtualRide on your TV or laptop and pair it with your phone using a short code — the video and live stats move to the big screen while the sensors stay on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Which devices work?
Any trainer with Bluetooth FTMS, plus cadence (CSC) and heart-rate (BLE) sensors. On iPhone you'll need the Bluefy browser.
Do I need to sign up?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser — no accounts, no fees, no data sent to a server.
How is this different from just watching video?
The video's speed matches your tempo, not the other way round. That turns watching into a workout with honest distance and time.
Is there a free alternative to Zwift?
Yes — VirtualRide is free, runs in your browser and needs no account. There's no virtual world or racing: real-road video plays at your pedaling speed while the trainer follows the terrain. If you don't need a subscription platform and just want to ride, this is it.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes — through the free Bluefy browser; Safari and other iOS browsers don't expose Web Bluetooth to websites.
Can I ride on a TV or big screen?
Yes — open VirtualRide on a TV or laptop and pair it with your phone using a short code. Video and live stats move to the big screen while sensors stay on your phone.
Where is my data stored?
On your device — rides and settings live in the browser's local storage. Only anonymous ride statistics and feedback you send yourself leave it; no accounts, no tracking.
Ready to ride?
Connect your trainer and take your first ride right away.
Start a ride