Wahoo Fitness has announced it is shutting down its virtual cycling platform RGT as of October 31st, 2023.
In an email to subscribers seen by Cyclingnews, Wahoo announced the move is a "strategic decision to focus on Wahoo’s long-established strengths around structured training content, through SYSTM."
The Atlanta-based brand's indoor cycling portfolio has evolved through a number of iterations over recent years. The brand cut its teeth manufacturing hardware, including GPS bike computers and more pertinently indoor cycling equipment such as smart trainers. In 2019, it acquired popular indoor cycling training platform, The Sufferfest, later rebranded it as SUF and then rebranded again as Wahoo SYSTM.
In 2022 it bought competitor virtual cycling app, RGT Cycling, rebranded that as Wahoo RGT and launched its two concurrent platforms – SYSTM and RGT – as a single subscription known as Wahoo X. It retained the longstanding free version of RGT, maintaining that product's 'freemium' offering.
In a statement, the brand claims today's move "means that all of Wahoo’s talented software team’s energy, attention and innovation will become solely focused on SYSTM," before promising "a number of exciting new developments" to the SYSTM platform.
In a bid to soften the news for current users, the email includes a code that will enable a 30-day trial of SYSTM for non-paying users.
Interestingly, Wahoo is also promising a complimentary membership to rival indoor cycling app, Zwift.
"Wahoo has acquired easy-to-redeem complimentary Zwift memberships - to give its customers the very best in structured training with Wahoo SYSTM and access to the world’s biggest virtual riding community with the Zwift app," the statement concluded.
This point marks a continuation of the "renewed approach to collaboration" that was agreed between the two sides last month, when they settled a year long patent infringement court case.
On this, Cyclingnews understands subscribers who pay monthly will be issued a three month Zwift subscription, while those who pay annually will receive a 12-month Zwift subscription.
It is unconfirmed whether the monthly subscription fee, which previously provided access to both RGT and SYSTM, will be reduced.
