The Rouvy Group, owners of the Rouvy indoor cycling app that aims “to bring the world’s most iconic routes to life”, has acquired the Bkool app just months after buying FulGaz from The Ironman Group. Bkool will continue as a standalone brand with Rouvy developing a longer-term plan for its future.
We seem to be in a period of ongoing consolidation in the cycling app market, Wahoo having acquired The Sufferfest in 2019 and RGT Cycling in 2022 (before closing it in 2023), and TrainingPeaks acquiring indieVelo last year – although Zwift, with its highly gamified experience, still rules the roost.
Bkool stopped making turbo trainers to focus on its app back in 2019.
Rouvy says it has achieved significant growth in recent years and has a subscriber base of 250,000. Whereas Zwift is based on riding in virtual, computer-generated worlds, Rouvy allows you to ride along to video footage of real outdoor cycling routes. There are also challenges, group rides, workouts and training plans for different ages and abilities.
Check out our article to find out how Bkool fits into the indoor cycling landscape.
Rouvy says, “Bkool, with a strong presence in Spain (and Spanish-speaking countries), France and Denmark, represented a strategic prospect for The Rouvy Group as it looked to further bolster its position in these territories. Furthermore, Bkool’s solution for turning GPX files into 3D virtual routes was seen as complementary to the flagship Rouvy app, its own Route Creator technology, and in aiding Rouvy’s continuing mission to connect the indoor with the outdoor.”
“Bringing together Rouvy, FulGaz, and now Bkool unites a wealth of expertise and unique features under one roof, clearly positioning Rouvy as the leader in the indoor cycling reality market,” says Petr Samek, co-founder and CEO of Rouvy.
“This acquisition is another step towards our mission of connecting indoor and outdoor, helping cyclists be better year-round, and empowering our users to achieve their sporting dreams, whatever they may be. From simply being fit, to exploring exotic landscapes, even preparing to complete an Ironman, now we can better support all riders. We can invest more in product, marketing, and exciting concepts with partners – all to bring more value to athletes.”
> Indoor cycling — a complete guide for 2025 and everything you need to get started
Rouvy says that it will “continue to develop great indoor riding experiences on the Rouvy app”, but what does this all mean for existing Bkool users?
Bkool will continue as a standalone brand with the Rouvy Group saying that it’ll focus initially “on ensuring the stability and reliability of the platform”.
“From there, just as with the FulGaz acquisition, [we] will enter a learning phase, listening to the needs of the existing Bkool community before looking to shape a longer-term roadmap,” says Rouvy.
It’s currently free to try Bkool, then £9.99 per month or £89 per year.
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1 thought on “Rouvy acquires Bkool indoor cycling app”
That’s really irritating,
That’s really irritating, they’ll phase it out, brilliant 😠