The latest Training Peaks Virtual update, v0.4.1, released November 4th, 2024, welcomes new users to the community and encourages feedback.
Editor’s note: Since early June 2023, we’ve highlighted the rapid evolution of indieVelo with weekly update posts. Not everyone receives the emails or is a member of the various social media groups, and the more searchable mentions available, the better to promote the indieVelo, err, Training Peaks Virtual vision. The name is different, and the once-a-week cadence might change, but the commitment to promoting the platform hasn’t wavered.
Firstly, and most importantly, the developer, Dr. George Gilbert, wants to extend a huge welcome to all the new riders on TrainingPeaks Virtual and those who have joined from indieVelo. It is the beginning of a really exciting new chapter for online training and racing, and he and his new Training Peaks team are delighted that we can enjoy the ride together.
This week’s release of TrainingPeaks Virtual (see below for full details) focuses on new monthly challenges for November. TrainingPeaks Virtual hosts two major challenges each month to help you with your training and racing. You can track your progress on the “Challenges” tab of the main menu and see how you stack up against others throughout the month.
This month’s training challenge is your cumulative total distance ridden. All rides count (free riding, pacing, workouts, pacing, etc), so head out onto the flatter coastal routes to rack up those miles.
This month’s racing challenge is the 4km Time Trial. Every hour throughout the month, there’s a special event running, highlighted in gold in the list of events (see screenshot below). Race over eight laps of the TrainingPeaks Virtual 500m velodrome – try it as many times as you like; your fastest attempt counts!
As usual, there are also a large number of other additions, improvements, and fixes. These mainly focus on the UI and background infrastructure to make sure everything keeps running smoothly and is as easy as possible to use as we continue to scale up rapidly.
Additionally, the automated Performance Verification checks that are run for every rider in every race have been extended, and Group Rides and Group Workouts now keep riders of different abilities together better when using the fully configurable strength rubberbanding options.
Thank you all again. Please do keep your ideas and suggestions coming for what else you would like to see in future TrainingPeaks Virtual releases. Our core focus remains providing committed athletes, coaches and event organisers with the infrastructure you need to get the most out of your training and racing.
If all has gone well, then you shouldn’t have to do anything to get the new version, as TrainingPeaks Virtual 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://help.trainingpeaks.com/hc/en-us/articles/31341200801549-TrainingPeaks-Virtual-Updates
The full patch notes are below!
Do you want to steepen your indieVelo learning curve? Check out our How-to-Guides page for details!
Every thought and piece of feedback you have makes a huge difference to the roadmap and is really appreciated. To help make that easier than ever, we’ve created a new feedback portal so you can see what other people are suggesting, comment on them, and vote for the ideas you like:
https://peaksware.uservoice.com/forums/964442-trainingpeaks-virtual-customer-feedback
“I can’t wait to see what we all build together next as we continue to define the future of virtual sport.”
George Gilbert, and the TrainingPeaks team
Patch Notes – v0.4.1 – Key changes from the last version:
Added new monthly challenges for November.
Added further Performance Verification checks.
Added lots more custom team kits, event banners and event jerseys.
Removed Remember Me option from legacy indieVelo login menu.
Improved memory usage on devices with less than 3GB RAM.
Improved effectiveness of rubberbanding in Group Rides & Group Workouts.
Improved signup URL for events to use https://trainingpeaksvirtualhub.com
Improved display of CORE temperature sensor to use coloured HSI zones.
Improved pairing process when sensors aren’t currently being worn.
Improved visibility of distances on rider overhead labels.
Improved handling of large teams with over 100 members.
Improved connected 3rd party accounts flow.
Improved FIT file upload default options.
Improved branding of workouts.
Improved various language translations.
Improved checks on kit requirements.
Improved disallowed word filter.
Improved size of download & installer.
Fixed bug with Windows PC installer permissions requirements.
Fixed bug with logging in with TP UserNames containing a space.
Fixed bug with randomising list of teams to select for new accounts.
Fixed bug with colour scheme of menu cancel buttons being too bright.
Fixed various re-branding text throughout.
Fixed various minor 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.
