Customer Reviews (100)

George Stathis • 2025-05-01T13:34:50.603Z

Fix the calibrating. It keeps failing. And it's not me it's you, trust me

Sebastian Guevara • 2025-04-26T20:03:29.178Z

awesome

Tim Britton • 2025-04-25T04:04:50.835Z

really easy to use and does the job well.

Summary of Key Insights

The Tacx Training™ app receives mixed reviews, with a nearly even split between positive (4 & 5-star) and negative (1 & 2-star) ratings. While users appreciate the app's ease of use, integration with Garmin Connect, and variety of rides, significant issues plague the app, including frequent crashes, connection problems, data loss, and subscription-related complaints. The app's instability and lack of essential features like reliable data saving are major deterrents for many users. The recent updates seem to have introduced new bugs and removed previously available features, further exacerbating user frustration. The sentiment is polarized, with some users praising its seamless integration and training capabilities, while others condemn its unreliability and subscription model.

Overall Rating: The average rating based on the provided data is approximately 3.07 stars.

Score Distribution:

  • 5-star: 34%
  • 4-star: 16%
  • 3-star: 7%
  • 2-star: 8%
  • 1-star: 35%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Predominantly recent reviews, with some mentions of experiences spanning several years. The presence of explicit date mentions like "September 2024 update" and "December 2024" suggests a focus on recent experiences.
  • Analysis Methods: A combination of sentiment analysis (categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral), keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned terms like "crash," "connection," "data loss," "subscription"), and thematic analysis (grouping reviews based on common issues and requests). The analysis also considers the star rating associated with each review to gauge the severity of the problem.

Key User Pain Points

  • Crashes and Data Loss: This is the most frequently reported issue. Users experience crashes during workouts, leading to the loss of training data, which is incredibly frustrating, especially after long rides.
  • Connection Issues: Many users report difficulty connecting to trainers and sensors via Bluetooth, leading to disrupted workouts and an unreliable experience.
  • Subscription Model and Features: Users feel that the app pushes them towards a paid subscription while removing previously available free features. Some feel that the cost of the premium subscription is too high given the app's instability.
  • Bugs and Glitches: Various bugs are reported, including video lagging, freezing, issues with climb visuals, problems with resistance syncing, and auto-pause malfunctions.
  • Calibration Problems: Some users struggle with calibrating their trainers, hindering the accuracy of their training data.
  • Login and Account Issues: Some users are experiencing login issues and problems with multiple users on the same account.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Auto-Save Functionality: To prevent data loss in the event of a crash.
  • Improved Workout Programming: Users want more intuitive and efficient ways to create and modify workouts, including copy/paste functionality and live graph visualization.
  • Multi-User Support: The ability to have multiple user profiles on a single account.
  • Landscape View: For better viewing on larger screens.
  • ERG Mode Toggle: Ability to easily switch out of ERG mode for manual resistance control.
  • Past Efforts on Climbs: Displaying past performance data on climbs for comparison and motivation.
  • Split Screen Support: The ability to use other apps (e.g., watch videos) while training.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Ease of Use: Some users find the app easy to set up and use, particularly for basic training.
  • Garmin Connect Integration: Seamless synchronization with Garmin Connect for data tracking and analysis is a significant advantage for Garmin users.
  • Variety of Rides: The app offers a wide selection of training films and virtual routes, providing variety and engagement.
  • Custom Workout Creation: The ability to create custom workouts is appreciated by users who want to tailor their training.
  • Google Maps Integration: Some users enjoy the Google Maps view for virtual rides.
  • Seamless Integration with Garmin Ecosystem: Users already invested in the Garmin ecosystem appreciate the ease of setup and data synchronization.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Crashes and Data Loss: Investigate and fix the root causes of crashes. Implement an auto-save feature that saves progress every few minutes.
  • Improve Connection Stability: Resolve Bluetooth connectivity issues and ensure reliable communication with trainers and sensors.
  • Fix Bugs and Glitches: Prioritize bug fixes based on their impact on user experience (e.g., video lagging, resistance syncing problems, auto-pause issues).
  • Re-evaluate Subscription Model: Consider offering more value in the free version or adjusting the pricing of the premium subscription to align with the app's stability and features.

Medium Priority:

  • Enhance Workout Programming: Implement user-requested features like copy/paste functionality, live graph visualization, and easier workout creation.
  • Implement Multi-User Support: Allow multiple users to create profiles on a single account.
  • Improve Calibration Process: Make the calibration process more reliable and user-friendly.
  • Address the "Climb" functionality issues: Fix the issues with the "Climb" functionality, as it seems to be a recurring source of problems.

Low Priority:

  • Add Landscape View: Implement landscape view support.
  • Add ERG Mode Toggle: Provide an easy way to switch out of ERG mode.
  • Show Past Efforts on Climbs: Display past performance data on climbs.
  • Improve User Interface: Refine the user interface to improve navigation and discoverability of features.
  • Add a prominent "Download Movie" button: This would help prevent data loss due to mid-ride movie loading failures.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Reliable Indoor Training Platform: A new platform focused on stability, data integrity, and seamless connectivity, addressing the core pain points of existing apps like Tacx Training.
  • AI-Powered Workout Generation: An app that uses AI to create personalized workout plans based on user goals, fitness level, and available equipment.
  • Community-Driven Virtual Rides: A platform that allows users to create and share their own virtual rides, fostering a sense of community and providing a constantly expanding library of content.
  • Hardware-Agnostic Training App: A training app that works seamlessly with a wide range of trainers and sensors from different manufacturers, offering greater flexibility and choice for users.
  • Offline Training Mode: An app that allows users to download workouts and training videos for offline use, eliminating the reliance on a stable internet connection.

Trends and Observations

  • Negative Sentiment Towards Recent Updates: Many negative reviews attribute issues to recent updates, suggesting a decline in app quality over time.
  • Polarized User Base: The app seems to have a loyal user base that appreciates its core functionality, but is increasingly frustrated by its instability.
  • Importance of Data Integrity: The loss of workout data is a major pain point, highlighting the importance of reliable data saving and synchronization.
  • Garmin Ecosystem Lock-In: While integration with Garmin Connect is a strength, it also creates a degree of lock-in, potentially making it difficult for users to switch to other platforms.
  • Subscription Fatigue: Users are increasingly wary of subscription models, particularly when the value proposition is not clear or the app is unreliable.

Conclusion

The Tacx Training™ app has the potential to be a leading indoor cycling platform, but its current state is marred by significant stability issues and a perceived lack of value in its subscription model. Addressing the core pain points of crashes, connection problems, and data loss is crucial for improving user satisfaction and retaining customers. By prioritizing bug fixes, enhancing workout programming, and re-evaluating its subscription strategy, Garmin can restore user confidence and unlock the app's full potential. The app's tight integration with the Garmin ecosystem is a major advantage, but it should not come at the expense of reliability and user experience. Overall, a significant overhaul focusing on stability and user-centric design is needed to make the Tacx Training™ app a truly competitive and enjoyable platform.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/work/apps/details?id=tacx.android