Getting started with Ride Cave

Ride Cave is a browser-based virtual cycling app focused on track cycling. Unlike road cycling simulators, Ride Cave puts you on virtual velodromes where the physics of banking, drafting, and pursuit racing come to life. This guide walks through setup and your first ride.

What you need

You need a smart trainer with FTMS (Fitness Machine Service) Bluetooth support. Most trainers manufactured after 2018 include this protocol. Popular compatible trainers include the Wahoo KICKR series, Tacx Neo and Flux, Garmin trainers, Elite Direto and Suito, Saris H3, and Zwift Hub. If your trainer shows up in other cycling apps over Bluetooth, it will likely work with Ride Cave.

For the browser, you need Chrome or Edge on desktop, laptop, or Android. Web Bluetooth, the technology that lets your browser communicate with your trainer, is not supported on iOS Safari or Firefox. This is a browser limitation, not something we can work around. Chrome on desktop provides the most reliable experience.

Connecting your trainer

Navigate to ridecave.com/ride and click the Connect button. Your browser will display a popup showing nearby Bluetooth devices. Look for your trainer name in the list. Wahoo trainers typically appear as 'KICKR' followed by a number. Tacx trainers show the model name. Select your trainer and wait for the connection to establish.

Once connected, you will see real-time power data appear in the interface. Pedal gently to confirm the connection is working. If you see watts updating as you pedal, you are ready to ride. If the connection fails, make sure your trainer is awake (spin the flywheel briefly) and that no other apps are connected to it. Bluetooth only allows one connection at a time.

Understanding the interface

The main display shows your current power output in watts, your speed in km/h or mph, and your position on the track. The track visualization updates in real-time as you ride. You will also see lap times, total distance, and elapsed time. The energy display shows cumulative kilojoules and kilowatt-hours, a unique Ride Cave feature that tracks your lifetime energy output.

Choosing a track

Ride Cave includes virtual versions of real velodromes at various sizes. Indoor tracks are typically 250 meters with banking angles around 42-45 degrees. Outdoor tracks range from 333 to 400 meters with gentler banking. For your first ride, I recommend starting with a 250m indoor track. The shorter lap length gives rapid feedback on your pacing.

Each track has different characteristics. Wooden indoor tracks have lower rolling resistance than outdoor concrete. Banking angles affect how much you can carry speed through corners. The physics simulation models all of these factors.

Your first ride

Click start and begin pedaling at a comfortable pace. The physics simulation models real velodrome dynamics: air resistance, rolling resistance, banking forces, and inertia. At first, just ride easy and get familiar with how speed responds to power changes.

Try varying your effort and watch how the simulation responds. Push hard for 10 seconds and see your speed climb through the banking. Ease off and feel the deceleration as drag takes over. The squared relationship between speed and air resistance means small power changes at high speed have big effects.

Trying structured workouts

After a few free rides, explore the workout mode. Track cycling naturally fits interval training. Classic sessions include sprint repeats (6x10 second all-out efforts with full recovery), pursuit intervals (4-5 minute threshold efforts), and endurance laps at steady power. Ride Cave includes preset workouts or you can create custom sessions.

Connecting external services

Link your Strava account to automatically save rides. After each session, your activity uploads with full power data, lap splits, and track information. Intervals.icu integration is also available for more detailed training analysis. Both connections are optional and can be configured in settings.

Next steps

Once comfortable with basic riding, try racing against the Cave Crew ghost riders. These are recordings of other riders you can chase around the track. It adds a competitive element to solo training. You can also explore different track lengths to see how the physics change with different geometries.