A Platform Built for a New Way of Training
Which way would you like to train with BitCrew?
There is no right way to train. The important thing is choosing a model for how you want to train, and then tracking your relative volume of intensity. With five popular training models to choose from, you can decide how you want to spend time in the right zones to meet your goals. Want to try switching from Polarized to Pyramid for a couple weeks? No problem. You can switch any time so you can see what works best for you without any commitment.
Polarized training, also known as 80/20 training, is our most highly recommended training model. With polarized training you spend most of your training time in the low intensity zone, a little time in high intensity, and almost nothing in the middle. The extra time at low intensity in Zone 1 allows your body to recover and to make adaptations that are difficult to achieve in models that favor higher intensity. While counterintuitive, with polarized you can actually work less while gaining more, which makes it a really fun way to train.
Pyramid training is similar to polarized training in that you spend the majority of your training time in Zone 1 at low intensity, and studies show that the gains are on par with polarized. Pyramid training, however, reduces the amount of high intensity training time and adds more medium or threshold intensity work. Both the polarized and pyramid models have been shown to be very effective in producing gains and reducing risk of burnout and injury by focusing on base fitness and recovery to support adaptation.
High intensity interval training can be effective for athletes who can handle large deltas in intensity over longer durations than in the polarized or pyramid models. With HIIT training it can be challenging to show continued gains over longer periods, but over shorter periods it can be effective way to get some quick gains. Be careful with burnout and with injury, however, and consider the polarized, pyramid, or especially the MAF model instead if you’re at all concerned about getting sidelined with an injury.
Maximum aerobic function, or MAF, flips the script on what we generally think of as traditional training by focusing on bringing your heart rate down, rather than having focusing on building your muscle up, to meet your activities. Over time you will find that you can go longer and faster at that same heart rate, which is the most fundamental indicator of increased aerobic fitness. MAF is a great model generally, but especially to avoid burnout and injury, and it is a safer way to build base fitness back from some time off.
Threshold training focuses on the burn. The “threshold” in threshold training refers to the point at which your oxygen intake during exercise can no longer support 100% of the work your muscles are doing, resulting in that burning you start to feel at sustained high effort over a longer duration, training your muscles to experience this state. Recent studies suggest it may not be the most effective model, even over the short term, but it may work well for some athletes who are particularly good at recovery.
BitCrew training models invert the traditional model of training into one that is much easier and more enjoyable to follow which will increase your chances of being successful in accomplishing your goals. Just fill up your Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3 intensity bars however, whenever, and wherever you want. Inside or out.
Just get out there. We’ll track it for you.
Want more guidance? BitCrew’s on-demand video based sessions can be grouped by coaches into schedules as training plans, but aren’t rigid like traditional training plans. If you miss a day or two because life gets in the way, or just because you’re tired, no problem! You can always just pick up where you left off. As a result, it’s never been easier to be sure that you’re doing just the right amount of training to meet your training goals.
Plans are 100% customized to your goals and tracked by you and your coach. All you have to do is hit Start and follow along!
Formal check-ins with your coach to review your progress and make adjustments + unlimited messaging
Our one-of-a-kind approach to training always keeps you focused on the next step, guiding you to success
Train, track, and review your progress with your coach completely through our one app
Workout with others and use our exclusive Discord channel to stay motivated and share successes
Learn from others who have been there pushing through it just as you are
Olympic gold medalist Iana Dementieva will custom design a training plan built specifically for you that can help you dramatically improve your 2k erg score
No proprietary fitness equipment necessary. Use Bluetooth smart devices you already own for bike speed/cadence/power, heart rate monitoring, row erg, etc., to share your stats live in real time. Or just use your bike computer and get outside.
BitCrew will take your data and track your training intensity for you using whatever is available: power, duration, heart rate, etc., guiding you to do more or less intensity based on your chosen training model. All you need is a web browser. Training has never been so easy or fun.
Why choose between something that’s fun and something else that will optimize your training time to maximize your performance on the course or out on the trail or road?
Why not have both? BitCrew is fun, motivating, captures all of your data in a way that can easily be reviewed to chart your progress, while simultaneously offering expertly crafted training sessions and training plans. All in one place.
If there is a way you prefer to train, BitCrew probably supports it.
Zwift | Peloton | Hydrow | TrainerRoad | ||
Real World Training | ✅ Bring your connected Garmin device and we’ll track everything you do and apply it to your training model. | ✖️ | Run only | ✖️ | ✅ |
Video Based Sessions | ✅ From music videos to outdoor ride/row alongs, BitCrew sessions are always something new. | ✖️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✖️ |
Virtual World | – | ✅ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
High Quality Music | ✅ When you have an interval workout to get through, nothing helps quite like pumping music. Add your own or use what’s available. | ✖️ | ✅ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
No custom equipment | ✅ Use whatever you already own. | ✅ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✅ |
Bi-directional audio/video (e.g., “zoom” functionality) | ✅ Row/ride with friends whenever you want. No more zoom links. | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
Public/Private Group Sessions | ✅ Create and easily maintain lists of users to include in sessions. | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
Virtual racing | ✅ Go head to head with other users, live. | ✅ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
Training plans | ✅ Customized training plans are available from coaches all over the world. | ✅ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✅ |
Expert coaching | ✅ Coaches on BitCrew create their own video sessions and video based training plans and can connect for private sessions 1-on-1. | ✖️ | Not available 1-on-1 | Not available 1-on-1 | ✖️ |
Custom sessions | ✅ Upload a .zwo or .fit file and replay it as a workout. Or build your own using our builder. Automatically generate a spin session from a .zwo file. | ✅ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✅ |
Strava Integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✖️ |
Concept2 Logbook Integration | ✅ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
Price | Free Our coaches may choose to charge for sessions or training plans, and some advanced features require membership. | $14.99/mo | $12.99/mo app only, $39/mo all access, bike starts at $1,495 | $2,495 rower, $19.95/mo digital basic, $456/yr all access membership | $19.95/mo |
Crews are groups of users who can join live private sessions together. Crews make it much easier to repeatedly invite the same group of users to multiple sessions and manage that list of users over time.
Connect your laptop to your own equipment, get your crew on board, and get fitter, faster, while having more fun.
We will keep you posted on the latest at BitCrew.
BitCrew is a platform to connect communities of people to lead fitter, healthier, happier lives.
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