The latest indieVelo update, V0.2.50 released on May 20, introduces AppleTV and even more realistic ride physics.
It’s another big week for indieVelo. This week’s release (see below for full details) contains two HUGE updates to introduce – AppleTV version and Advanced Ride Physics.
AppleTV: indieVelo is now available as an AppleTV app (as well as via screen mirroring from an iPhone / iPad). This is easily the single most requested improvement to indieVelo and a giant step forward for accessibility to the platform. As mentioned previously, initially, it will only be available to members of the indieVelo Founders Club.
indieVelo now runs on all major platforms used by the online cycling community; Windows PC, Apple Mac, Android, ChromeOS, iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV. Over the coming weeks and months, the focus will return to the core of indieVelo’s purpose – innovating and transforming the new technology needed to define the future of virtual sport.
Here’s how to get indieVelo on your AppleTV!
1) Anyone with access to indieVelo on iOS (iPhone/iPad) should now automatically be able to access the AppleTV version too. Simply download TestFlight from the AppStore on your AppleTV, and indieVelo should be there waiting for you to run.
2) Anyone who is a member of the indieVelo Founders Club but doesn’t have access to the Apple versions of indieVelo can email: help@indievelo.com with the email address they use in the AppStore and will receive instructions.
3) Anyone not yet an indieVelo Founders Club member should click here to join, then email me as above.
Ride Physics: Riding on indieVelo now feels even more like riding a real bike. For indoor racing to succeed, it must be about more than just who can produce the most watts. The tactical choices available to and decision-making by athletes make any sport interesting and engaging to watch and participate in.
indieVelo’s world-leading physics engine, which already takes into account features such as wind, positioning, drafting, collisions, cornering, braking, and racing lines to provide genuine tactical interest in racing, has been extended further. indieVelo now also uses advanced bicycle physics, such as rotating wheel mass, gear ratios, momentum, and inertia.
As a natural consequence of the more advanced physics model, a wide range of the tactical choices we all make when riding outdoors also apply indoors. To take just one example, whether to mash the pedals in high gear or spin lightly at a high cadence now automatically has exactly the same consequences indoors as outdoors…for better or for worse. Choose wisely!
As usual, there is also a wide range of other additions, improvements, and fixes. These cover additional UI configuration options such as various new color schemes for color blind riders and other vision impairments (Deuteranopia, Protanopia, Tritanopia, etc.), graphics resolution improvements, performance verification, increased hardware compatibility, and much more.
Following the recent addition of an option for “passive bots” in custom unranked events for a more relaxed ride, this week also introduces an option for “aggressive bots” that attack harder and more frequently.
Please note, however, that with the network infrastructure changes, if you use a firewall or anti-virus scanner on your computer, you may need to add indieVelo as a permitted application and/or enable access to UDP Port 7777 and TCP Port 7777.
Note for Mac Bluetooth users: If you find that the Bluetooth icon on the pairing screen has turned red, please follow the instructions linked from https://wiki.indievelo.com/docs/apple-mac-ble-permissions/ to first completely remove, and then re-add, permission for indieVelo to use the Mac Bluetooth connection.
Do you want to steepen your indieVelo learning curve? Check out our How-to-Guides page for details!
If all has gone well, you shouldn’t have to do anything to get the new version, as indieVelo will 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
Please note that, depending on when you installed indieVelo, you may see a warning message recommending that you update the installer/launcher to the latest version. If you see this, download it again from https://indievelo.com/downloads, and the update will automatically apply. The entire process typically takes a minute or two, often much less.
The full patch notes are below!
“Thank you again for your continued support and encouragement. With 100% of indieVelo’s roadmap decided by what you want to see, please keep your suggestions coming. I can’t wait to see what we come up with together next!”
George Gilbert
Patch Notes – V0.2.50 – Key changes from the last version:
- Added AppleTV version of indieVelo.
- Added detailed physics model for bikes.
- Added new route profile color schemes for various vision impairments.
- Added UI highlighting for the active element.
- Added option for aggressive bots that attack harder and more frequently.
- Added support for Stages SB20 smart bike buttons.
- Added lots more teams & custom event brandings.
- Improved control of UI navigation when using a keyboard only.
- Improved control of UI navigation with 3rd party game controllers.
- Improved resolution of graphs on low-memory devices.
- Improved resolution of road textures on mobile devices.
- Improved bot AI when cresting hills.
- Improved performance verification checks in points/elimination races.
- Improved messages displayed for performance verification in events.
- Improved custom event creation menu to grey out incompatible options.
- Improved resilience to network failures preventing initial connection.
- Improved performance when in various menus.
- Improved internationalized bot names.
- Improved error handling throughout.
- Improved network bandwidth requirements.
- Improved server logging.
- Improved online documentation of controls.
- Fixed bug with gradient digits becoming transparent on very steep climbs.
- Fixed bug with network resilience reconnecting after deliberate disconnection.
- Fixed bug with speed and cadence sensors sometimes being miscategorized.
- Fixed bug with Tab / Shift-Tab not working as expected in menus.
- Fixed a bug with the application being shut down while it was starting up.
- Fixed bug with default UI selection sometimes not triggering.
- Fixed bug with memory leaking when taking a screenshot.
- Fixed bug with taking multiple screenshots.
- Fixed a bug with network messages arriving out of order, preventing some logins.
- Fixed bug with starting a ride after changing the logged-in account.
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.
