Kinomap Review: Severely Underrated Training Platform?

Kinomap is an indoor cycling app and training platform. Its library includes tens of thousands of routes from all over the world.

But, it offers much more…

In this Kinomap review, you learn how it differs from other indoor cycling apps, its pros and cons, and more.

I will also tell you who I think this app is suitable for and whether you should try it.

Let’s dive in.

Kinomap Summary

What is Kinomap?
Kinomap is an app with a rich library of pre-recorded high-quality footage from around the world. It also includes thousands of structured workouts and training plans. You can ride solo or with friends.

Who is it for?
Kinomap is suitable not only for cyclists but also for runners or rowers. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an advanced rider. Kinomap is suitable for people of all levels. It will allow you to explore beautiful places worldwide thanks to crowd-sourced footage.

Who is it not for?
Kinomap is not for those who want to participate in races or require sophisticated gamification elements.

My Experience with Kinomap

Here is my experience with the initial setup, routes, user experience, and more you can find in Kinomap.

Initial Setup

Kinomap is only available on iOS and Android. But, thanks to clever engineering, the app can mirror video to a smart TV or laptop.

This means they act as the main screen showing the video, while your phone is a secondary screen with your ride data.

The following picture shows what the app looks like when you don’t use screen mirroring:

I paired my Wahoo KICKR v5 trainer using the app without issues. However, finding out how to pair the HR monitor took me a while.

First, you pair the smart trainer, click on its settings, scroll down, and then pair the HR monitor.

If you don’t have a smart bike trainer, you can use a dumb trainer and pair the app with a Bluetooth-compatible power meter.

But, you will miss the interactivity because dumb trainers can’t adjust the resistance based on the terrain.

Of course, Kinomap is also compatible with smart treadmills and rowing machines. (Source)

In-App Experience

I first decided to try the scenic videos. To my surprise, the screen mirroring worked well.

It was stable, had almost no latency, and was of good quality. Although it requires an extra step (scanning the QR code), I think it’s not a dealbreaker.

I highly recommend riding on FHD settings instead of HD:

My 20 Mbit/s internet was enough for FHD quality, so you don’t need super fast internet.

I noticed an issue with the challenge mode. It didn’t adjust the speed of the video.

In theory, the video should play faster when you start to ride hard (or sprint). But I honestly didn’t notice a difference.

FulGaz works on the same principle. But they added a video playback speed indicator to see how fast you ride compared to the video maker.

Another area you can try in Kinomap is structured workouts. But more about them later.

TIP: Get an indoor cycling fan to stay cooled down during your indoor training sessions.

Engagement

Kinomap only uses a few gamification elements, like leaderboards or badges (unlike Zwift).

Due to the lack of socialization, Kinomap is less engaging. Therefore, you have to be internally motivated.

But, the large variety of routes is a motivation by itself. It allows you to visit places worldwide, for example, those you have visited already, or completely new ones.

TIP: Are your indoor cycling workouts uncomfortable? Try a rocker plate. It will reduce the friction between your intimate parties and the saddle. It will also make it more engaging.

Routes

Kinomap has a rich routes library. This is thanks to thousands of users who uploaded footage of their rides.

The principle of Kinomap is similar to FulGaz. I asked Kinomap about the criteria they consider when approving routes. Here is their reply:

We validate the type of activity, synchronization of the slope with the video, the slope, the quality and interest of the video, and the environment.

Their library is easy to browse and filter on mobile and desktop. So, finding the route that will suit you best is easy.

You can explore new places or ride those routes you have already visited. It’s up to you.

I also like their browse map feature, where you can find routes shot by people in your area.

Training

Kinomap’s workouts library is comprehensive.

This is because people can contribute workouts they created. But, of course, their quality is questionable, and not all workouts are worth trying.

Kinomap also offers so-called playlists. It’s a series of training videos created by trainers, coaches, and other community members.

It’s nice to see that you can follow some structured training over a longer period, but they are not tailored to your goals.

So, if you are highly oriented toward improving your performance, I recommend Wahoo SYSTM or TrainerRoad.

These apps can create a customized training plan based on your goals and preferences.

Kinomap’s workouts are guided, but not fully. This means that the coach will tell you about what’s coming, but mid-workout, you will only see text instructions.

Another issue is that the app doesn’t adjust the trainer’s difficulty. So, when you get an instruction to pedal at a cadence of 120 RPM, you have to either reduce it manually or shift to an easier gear.

User Friendliness

Kinomap has a nice clean user interface that is pretty easy to navigate.

Some texts are hard to read because of the tiny font, but the app is intuitive and responsive.

Unlike many other apps, Kinomap is available in multiple languages. So it’s accessible to a wider audience.

As a fan of dark modes, I appreciate that Kinomap has one.

Of course, you also can download videos in advance to avoid issues caused by a slow internet connection.

However, during my testing, I never had to do it because everything ran smoothly.

Platforms Availability

Kinomap is only available for iOS and Android.

It’s a shame that desktop apps (for macOS or Windows) are unavailable. Luckily, Kinomap can mirror the video screen to a smart TV or laptop.

Kinomap Alternatives

There are plenty of indoor cycling apps out there. Here are the closest alternatives to Kinomap:

• FulGaz – works on the same principle as Kinomap but is also available for macOS and Windows. Its libraries of workouts are not as comprehensive, but the video quality seems to be better.
• ROUVY – also uses real-world footage but augments it with objects like avatars. It includes more motivational elements and is racing-friendly.

I created a rating system for evaluating the following features. It helps to keep the comparison between training apps consistent.

• Price – how expensive is the app relative to other indoor cycling apps?
• Ease of setup – is the app easy to set up with a smart trainer? Can it be used without it?
• Engagement – does the app keep you engaged and motivated?
• Routes – does the app offer a wide route library?
• Training – does the app include prebuilt workout plans? Do they help you get faster?
• User-friendliness and intuitiveness (UX) – is the app easy to navigate, easy to use, clear, and intuitive?
• Platform availability – is the app available for multiple platforms like iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, AppleTV, etc.?

The following table shows my ratings of specific areas on a scale of 1–5 (5 is the best).

Kinomap FAQ

My Verdict

Do I recommend Kinomap?
Yes. Kinomap is a great app that offers thousands of real-world routes and workouts you can ride.

Furthermore, it’s also suitable for runners and rowers, so it’s not a cycling-specific app.

The main limiting factor is that Kinomap is not available for Windows or macOS, so you have to use their screen-mirroring feature.

Do I recommend it to everybody?
No. Kinomap is unsuitable for dedicated athletes who want to take their performance to the next level. These should use TrainerRoad or Wahoo SYSTM instead.

You will also probably get bored if you are used to sophisticated gamification elements and socialization with others, like in Zwift.