The latest indieVelo update, v0.3.9, released September 2nd, 2024, adds new roads, including a long, steady climb (6 km @ 3-4%) perfect for training.
This week’s release of indieVelo (see below for full details) focuses on adding one of the most frequently requested features: more roads.
In particular, indieVelo now includes a long, steady, gentle climb – approximately 6 km at an average gradient of 3%, maximum gradient of 4%.
The developer deliberately designed it to be perfect for longer training intervals and will make for an exciting race finish that’s more balanced between a broader range of riders than the traditional steeper mountain top finishes.
Currently, just one test route uses the new climb, but the intention is to add many more that incorporate it into next week’s release. Once you’ve had a chance to ride it, please let me know your suggestions for other interesting new routes, and I’ll add them for you.
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.
As usual, there is also a wide range of other additions, improvements, and fixes to keep everything running smoothly as indieVelo continues to scale up rapidly. There’s also the new set of monthly challenges for September to try out, and significantly improved support for Chinese (and a new Japanese) translations.
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, 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!
“Thank you all once again for your ideas, suggestions and feedback. Every comment is hugely appreciated and makes a real difference to what happens in each release to keep defining the future of virtual sport.“
George Gilbert
Patch Notes – v0.3.9 – Key changes from the last version:
- Added new roads.
- Added new routes.
- Added new monthly challenges for September.
- Added change in All-Rounder Ranking to end-event menu.
- Added Japanese translation.
- Added lots more custom team kits and event banners.
- Improved performance of trees / grass rendering.
- Improved clarity of Chinese font rendering.
- Improved bandwidth usage.
- Improved log spam.
- Fixed bug with account recovery email provider.
- Fixed bug with pens not always being fully populated.
- Fixed bug with unrecognized Chinese / Japanese characters.
- Fixed bug with other riders bodies sometimes being invisible.
- Fixed bug with generation of new rider account IDs.
- Fixed various typos throughout.
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.
