Wahoo SYSTM Review: An Indoor App Like No Other!

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In this Wahoo SYSTM review, you will learn whether this universal indoor cycling app is worth your time, its advantages and disadvantages, and much more.

My Wahoo SYSTM rating at a glance:
Ease of Setup 5/5 | Engagement 4/5 | Community 2/5 | Routes 3/5 | Training 5/5 | UX 5/5 | Platforms Availability 5/5 | Price 4/5 | OVERALL 4.0/5
More about this indoor cycling apps scoring.

NOTE: Wahoo SYSTM was formerly known as The Sufferfest.

Wahoo SYSTM Summary

What is Wahoo SYSTM?
SYSTM is a comprehensive training app that allows you to do structured cycling workouts and plans, strength and mobility training, mental training, yoga, and more. Instead of the FTP test, it uses the Full Frontal test, which more accurately predicts what type of rider you are. Based on a 4-Dimensional Power, it then recommends what workouts and areas to focus on.

Who is Wahoo SYSTM for?
SYSTM is suitable mainly for cyclists, triathletes, runners, and swimmers. It’s for internally motivated athletes who want to improve in multiple areas. In addition to the physical workouts, it also includes mental training.

Who is Wahoo SYSTM not for?
SYSTM is not for people looking for direct interactivity with their in-app avatars or others. It doesn’t allow you to interact with others because it is designed for solo training. It’s also unsuitable for those lacking motivation and requiring external stimulus.

My Experience with Wahoo SYSTM

Here are my thoughts on the gaming experience, training, engagement, and other aspects of SYSTM.

Initial Setup

Rebranding the Sufferfest to SYSTM was one of Wahoo’s steps to create a better and more sophisticated ecosystem. And although it didn’t work out with RGT Cycling, SYSTM is still alive and well and has much to offer.

SYSTM works with trainers and devices from 3rd party manufacturers, not just Wahoo. I’ve used it with multiple smart trainers and a Wahoo TICKR heart rate monitor. You can also use it with just a power meter or cadence + speed sensors. However, a smart trainer with an in-built ERG mode provides a better overall experience. The pairing process of my devices went smoothly, so let’s jump right into the next section.

CYCLISTS HUB TIP: Improve your indoor cycling workout with a rocker plate for better riding comfort, and use a fan to stay cool.

In-App Experience

Because of the complexity of SYSTM, I break down my experience into multiple parts. I didn’t try running and swimming workouts because I don’t have a smartwatch. So, I focused mainly on:

1. Cycling

According to Wahoo, this approach is better than just following your FTP because you will find your strengths and weaknesses and improve them accordingly. I took the test and got the following result:

This was no surprise for me. I expected to be a ‘Climber.’ The test was well-guided. I was surprised by how much fun (and pain) I had.

The funniest thing was when penguins (and later a turtle) appeared on the screen. Then, the instructions told me to go for a walk to rest after 5-minute and 20-minute efforts. You can see the screenshots below.

By the way, you can turn the text off if you find it annoying.

In addition to these modules, there is also a brand new The Knowledge by Wahoo podcast. Its episodes are around 15 minutes long to be more easily digestible, while TrainerRoads’ ‘Ask a Cycling Coach‘ exceeds 2 hours.

I tried ProRide, and I had a lot of fun. The constant changes in the tempo will keep you engaged. It is also one of the features that sets SYSTM apart from other indoor cycling apps.

The On Location routes are nice too. I am sure you will like it if you know Col de Collective and their style of videos. Wahoo keeps updating this library, so you have new routes to explore.

2. Strength Training

Winter is an ideal time to include strength training in your preparation. The good news about SYSTM strength training is that you don’t need any equipment. It comprises body-weight exercises only. The bad news is that this approach might not be the most effective.

The exercises are focused mainly on strengthening your core, improving your balance and bike handling, building more muscle fibers for speed, endurance, and efficiency, and reducing the chance of injury. You can filter them based on category, difficulty, or duration.

3. Yoga for Cyclists

Yoga is great for improving strength and flexibility. How many cycling apps include it? Well, I know only SYSTM. It has over 50 yoga sessions, and SYSTM can mix them with your cycling training when building a training plan.

But if you only want to do yoga, you can choose from yoga workouts that will help you improve your balance, agility, strength, etc. These workouts are mainly 3-minute or 15-minute long, so they are easy to do every day or whenever you are in the mood.

Once you play a workout, a trainer will explain and show you how to do the exercises correctly. As a yoga newbie, I honestly enjoyed them and found them easy to follow.

4. Mental Toughness

Mental toughness training is a unique feature of SYSTM. It helps you stay motivated, believe in yourself, resist pressure, push your limits, and more.

Everything is just in your head.

Naturally, I was the most curious about this part of SYSTM because I had no idea what to expect. The app contained a link to a comprehensive Mental Training manual, which I must complete to maximize the effects of this training.

I listened to a few first workouts/talks (or however you want to call them), and their effect depends mainly on your open-mindedness and honesty with yourself. It is a shame that SYSTM has no video playback speed settings, so there is no way to play the videos faster.

Because of my time limitation, I haven’t completed the whole module, but I strongly believe in the power of our minds. What about you? Let me know what you think about this module in the comments below.

5. Swimming and Running

The Swimming and Running modules were not a part of The Sufferfest. Wahoo added them during the transition to SYSTM. You can expect the same as from the Cycling module.

They include structured workouts made by professional coaches and experts. So, if you do a triathlon, you know what app to use. The running module includes almost 120 workouts, and the swimming module includes almost 80. So, I am sure you will choose workouts depending on your goals and needs.

Engagement: You Need Internal Motivation

SYSTM is not like Zwift or ROUVY, for example. It doesn’t include as many or as sophisticated gamification elements. You also won’t find any social interaction here because SYSTM is designed for training solo. What makes SYSTM different is how it ties everything together.

For example, depending on the current intensity, you will see real-world footage from races during a workout. So, during a sprint interval, riders will sprint, etc. I am sure you will also sometimes laugh during your workouts. The app includes funny and motivational videos (as shown above).

SYSTM includes an Award library, but it doesn’t work very well with it. I was not even notified that I had obtained some awards, so there is room for improvement here.

To wrap this up, SYSTM relies on your internal motivation to become a better athlete. It won’t provide you with much external motivation. However, its modules are so cleverly designed that you will be motivated to complete them.

Routes: Beautiful but Limited

SYSTM complements your ride data with pre-recorded footage from races. However, you can’t choose what recording will play because they are tailored to fit the workout. Although SYSTM brought tons of new content (like the ProRides or Inspirational libraries), one of its biggest disadvantages is that the footage gets repetitive.

ROUVY or FulGaz are on another level. Their libraries include thousands of routes, so you can always choose a different route. But these apps work on a different principle. For example, when I compare SYSTM with TrainerRoad, which shows only your ride data, SYSTM ends pretty well.

You might also be interested in my comparison of TrainerRoad vs. SYSTM.

Training: Comprehensive and Personalized

Above, I highlighted some SYSTM training features. SYSTM is, together with TrainerRoad, the best app for actual training and improving your performance.

While TrainerRoad uses Adaptive Training and other technologies, SYSTM leverages 4DP. I leave it to certified trainers and experts to evaluate which approach is more effective, but I like the comprehensiveness of SYSTM. It is not just about riding a bike but also about combining other sports and activities. The mental training program is also unique; I haven’t seen it in other apps.

In addition, SYSTM includes a plan builder where you can set almost everything – a type of event, training load, time available for training, etc. The resulting training plan is then tailored based on your 4DP results.

As you can see, SYSTM is a sophisticated training app. It has a downside, though. Unlike TrainerRoad, it doesn’t count your outdoor workouts.

User Friendliness

Clearly, SYSTM was put together with a lot of thought. I find it well-designed, user-friendly, and easy to use. However, Wahoo doesn’t leverage the app as well as it could. For example, these new features are ‘hidden,’ and you probably won’t click on them if you don’t know they exist. But this can be easily resolved with future updates.

I like the possibility of using SYSTM in light or dark mode. I wish more apps would offer this option. Both desktop and smartphone apps are functional and stable. They also load quickly and don’t lag.

However, I noticed SYSTM doesn’t leverage the entire screen, and the bottom bar is aligned to the left and not stretched to the full width of the screen:

Another issue I found was when I completed the Full Frontal test. There was no button to update my power values, and they didn’t update automatically, so I had to update them manually. These issues are likely to be solved in future updates.

Platforms Availability

While The Sufferfest was only available on iOS, macOS, and Windows, SYSTM is also available for Android.

An app for Apple TV is not available, but you can use iPhone/iPad screen mirroring. It comes with limitations, though – the screen may lag or drop.

I’ve been using SYSTM mainly on macOS, and it worked flawlessly. However, when I tried to play a few workouts on my iPhone, they didn’t load after hitting the “Start Workout” button. So, I had to “kill” the app and start it again.

Wahoo SYSTM Alternatives

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

My Verdict

Do I recommend Wahoo SYSTM?
Yes. I recommend Wahoo SYSTM to riders who want to improve their cycling fitness and core strength through yoga and strength. SYSTM’s mental toughness training is also worth trying.

The unique 4-Dimensional approach will help you focus on areas that matter. Your training won’t be based on your FTP but on your 5-sec, 1-min, 5-min, and 20-min power. This makes it more effective and focused on your goals.

SYSTM is also suitable for other endurance athletes like runners, swimmers, or triathletes because it includes running and swimming training plans and workouts.

Do I recommend it to everybody?
No. SYSTM is unsuitable for people who want to interact with others or do e-racing. You only get a solo experience. It is also not ideal for riders who don’t take cycling too seriously and rather want to explore new places from the comfort of their home.

Wahoo SYSTM FAQ