OpenBikeControl
OpenBikeControl is an open protocol that lets controllers, remotes and smart bikes send button presses (shift, steer, U-turn, pause) to a trainer app over Bluetooth or the local network, without licence fees. 8 apps in this directory support it today.
Apps with OpenBikeControl built in
| App | Kind | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Biketerra | Virtual world | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux |
| Grimpa | Map & routes | Web |
| icTrainer | Training | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| MyWhoosh | Virtual world | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Apple TV |
| Ride Cave | Training | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Strappo | Map & routes | iOS |
| TrainingPeaks Virtual | Virtual world | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Apple TV |
| Velotoss | Game | Web, iOS |
Source: the “Trainer apps” list in the openbikecontrol-protocol repository. This page follows that list and nothing else; an app is marked supported only once it appears there.
What it does for riders
If your app supports OpenBikeControl, any compatible controller can drive it: handlebar remotes, game controllers, or a smart bike's own shifters. The first smart bike with it in the firmware is the Stages SB200, whose shifters, brake levers and ten buttons work in TrainingPeaks Virtual out of the box.
For apps that don't support it yet, a bridge app such as BikeControl can translate controller input into keyboard or touch input.
For developers
The protocol is a small, documented data format over BLE or a network connection, designed to be easy to add and to work on iOS (it does not depend on manufacturer data fields iOS can't emulate). Read the protocol specification. Once your app ships it, open a pull request to the implementation list and this directory picks it up.
Our affiliation
This directory is built by Jonas, creator of OpenBikeControl and BikeControl. That's why the column exists, and it's also why it only repeats the public list: support isn't a ranking factor, and apps without it are listed the same way as everyone else.