The latest indieVelo update V0.2.7 released July 24, 2023, introduces two highly sought platform enhancements-Training Peaks integration and User Interface "modding" customization. The update has far-reaching implications and sets the stage for further cycling esports innovation!
With 100% of indieVelo’s roadmap determined by Beta-tester suggestions, this week’s release (see below for full details) brings the two most requested features by far. With the July 24, 2023 game update, indieVelo users can automatically upload rides to TrainingPeaks and unlock the power of “modding” to create customized User-Interface enhancements.
With so many racing cyclists using indieVelo, the desire for integration with TrainingPeaks is evident. It’s worth looking deeper at why a fully custom UI is such a critical game-changer for online cycling, whether you are an individual, National Governing Body, Race Promoter, Organiser, Streamer, or another platform.
What are the implications for the future of cycling esports?
Individuals: You can now “mod” indieVelo, using the raw data that goes into the UI display (e.g. the numbers in your HUD, rider lists, event results etc) to create overlays, dashboards or applications to display whatever you want, wherever and however you want it – all live and in real-time as you ride.
NGBs / Organisers / Streamers: You can now present and broadcast your own races using your own branding, not anyone elses. With seamless integration of the raw UI data into streaming software such as vMix or Singular.live, you can now create professional quality branded broadcasts. Use your own logos, graphics, fonts and colour schemes to display all the information from your own events your own way.
Other Platforms: You can now benefit from all the back-end data processing that indieVelo provides, but skinned to look like your own brand. Part of indieVelo’s mission is to be a “service-provider” to other platforms to raise the standard of online cycling everywhere. This means that your platform can now have engaging tactics where riders skills and judgement matter, unparalleled accuracy and precision of results, and world class credibility from in-built performance verification, but all using your own brand image for commercial broadcast, or integration with your own game-engine.
Custom UIs are initially being rolled out in Early Access to members of the indieVelo Founders Club and will continue to be worked on and improved based on your feedback. Find out more about how you can get involved and help shape the future of online cycling by clicking here.
If all has gone well, then you shouldn’t have to do anything to get the new version, as indieVelo will just self-update the next time you start it up.
If you find any problems however, instructions on how to manually update are on the website:
https://wiki.indievelo.com/docs/updates
The full patch notes are below!
“Please do keep your ideas and suggestions coming – every shared thought you have on how to make indieVelo better, really does help make it better! It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in just a few weeks, and I can’t wait to see how it continues to develop in the future. Thank you again for all your support.”
indieVelo founder Dr. George Gilbert
Patch Notes – V0.2.7 – Key changes from last version
Added support for automatic upload of rides to TrainingPeaks.
Added support for custom UIs via JSON API.
Added ability to select junction direction with Wahoo Kickr Bike buttons.
Added unique ID to event results CSV export to help collate series results.
Added ability to search for players by their unique ID.
Added German keyboard shortcuts.
Improved bot AI to add more variability to how they launch attacks.
Improved bot AI when accelerating at start of short distance events.
Improved trainer update frequency to reduce lag in ERG mode.
Improved parsing of ZWO workout files.
Improved resilience of Bluetooth connections.
Improved cleanup processing when exiting indieVelo.
Improved logging when entering / exiting world.
Improved performance of background tasks.
Fixed bug with bot AI sometimes simultaneously attacking and giving up.
Fixed bug with broadcasting an event when also being a team manager.
Fixed bug with distance ridden sometimes showing as negative numbers.
Fixed bug with log files sometimes including duplicate logs.
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
