Study shows cycling apps become wellness tools, not just competition trackers

Are sports apps only about competition and breaking personal records? Research conducted by SWPS University scientists shows that cycling enthusiasts in Eastern Europe are increasingly considering digital devices as pathways to well-being and leisure, not necessarily as virtual racetracks.

Cycling enthusiasts eagerly embrace digital tools that not only allow them to track their accomplishments, but also provide a space for finding inspiration and building community.

Researchers at SWPS University decided to analyze how cyclists use sports apps and digital platforms, and what narratives they create around those tools. They focused on two apps: Zwift and Strava. The former can be described as an interactive cycling application, which enables users to traverse virtual routes in their living room while cycling on a trainer. The latter is one of the most popular activity-tracking applications.

Both applications allow users to integrate health monitoring sensors and devices. They can also be used to share achievements with a specific group of people on social media. The main device to operate both platforms and transfer data between them is the smartphone.

The study group was selected based primarily on their participation in local cycling social media involving two YouTube lifestyle and cycling channels. Eighty cyclists from Eastern Europe completed an online questionnaire with open and closed questions, and 10 in-depth interviews were conducted. The researchers wanted to understand how digital tools were being used by their users not only to measure athletic performance, but also for self-development, health maintenance, and community building.

The results are described in the paper “Mobile Health Cycling: How Eastern European amateur cycling enthusiasts frame their experiences with Zwift and Strava.” International Review for Sociology of Sport,

everyday digital devices

The analysis was conducted by Mateusz Felczak, PhD, a cultural studies specialist at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw, and Mirosław Filisiak, PhD, a media expert, professor at SWPS University and director of the Institute of Humanities at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw. This shows that digital platforms and social media, originally intended to enable performance monitoring, are an important part of the cycling world – they influence cyclists’ motivation, activities and perceptions of physical activity.

Researchers have observed that digitally enhanced forms of indoor and outdoor cycling are more often associated with normal, everyday activities than participating in races or other public events.

Among other things, participants were asked about their motivation for using the indoor trainer. The most common motivation for choosing indoor cycling was the desire to achieve or maintain physical fitness (85%). The second motivation was economic factors. The cost of maintenance of outdoor equipment was a frequent theme among participants: even without serious accidents, bicycles used outdoors in typical Eastern European weather conditions require regular maintenance and periodic replacement of mechanical parts, which is a significant entry barrier to this sport. Nearly three-quarters of respondents regularly use indoor trainers.

Respondents emphasized that using indoor trainers is a more convenient, safe and weather-independent form of activity for them. He also notes that it is easier to make time for, and it allows for more precise training planning. The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant factor in many people’s participation in indoor cycling.

more than the competition

Why do cyclists really use apps like Zwift and Strava? For most, the main reason is to maintain general well-being and a desired level of physical fitness, which is directly related to their social life. This also shows that being inspired by the achievements of others is very important for users. 67.5% of respondents indicated “being motivated by tracking others’ achievements and workout routines”, while only 56.4% chose “tracking personal training data in real time”.

Although applications such as Zwift offer the possibility to participate in virtual races, almost half of the respondents say they have no interest in watching online competitions. Furthermore, 35.6% of respondents declared that they were not interested in participating in online competitions on digital cycling applications and platforms, and 22.2% had never done so. This is consistent with comments on YouTube, where viewers are more interested in cycling themselves rather than encouraging others.

“Our results show that applications designed as advanced performance measurement tools are becoming platforms for building communities, motivating each other, and shaping identities associated with cycling as a lifestyle that prioritizes mental health and social aspects over pure competition,” Felczak emphasized.