I remember Nate mentioning somewhere that subscription tiers have crossed his mind. IIRC he didn’t like the idea because the TR features were too dependent on each other. As it stands, the workout selector just looks at watts and does its thing. I see it as the core of TR and the one thing that anchors everything else, but all the cosmetics around it (are supposed to) have no bearing on the core functionality.
From this point of view, I can see a Core subscription that has: TrainerRoad AI workouts (workout selector, library, RPE assessment), training approach, simulation window, along with some optional add-ons: features that can be disabled unless added to the subscription, like:
Plan builder: build plans (Edit: the plan adapting to adding/(re)moving races, changing ABC priorities, adding time off, converting the taper week only once it enters the simulation window should discourage people from opting in for one month to build a plan and then opting out for the rest of the time)
Fatigue detection: it will affect the workout selection when enabled, but is not essential for it.
AIFTP detection and prediction: FTP as a number is supposed to be largely inconsequential for the platform anymore. Sure, it’s a shiny new feature (the prediction), but it is very polarizing and from the PoV of a person who doesn’t like or use it, I’d be happy to pay less and have it disabled altogether.
i have a b race (3 hr mtb) in the middle of my plan (last week, leadville is my A) that had a 2 hour dynamic endurance the same day. agreed that it was a dumb plan for me that day. I did not do the dynamic, i did the race instead.
New but not essential things line the nutrition calculator are the best candidates. Allows existing users to carry on, doesn’t impact core features/selling points, but integrated additional analytics can be useful for some
That ship has sailed though. I gave myself a year’s worth of TR as a Christmas present. Less than a month later, core features and selling points were impacted.
I see it more like this: automatically convert current subscriptions to the highest tier (same price, all features, as it is currently) with the ability to downgrade the subscription by opting out of some extras.
Good point, but what’s the alternative if they entertained this model? Would it be it increase the prices, and then start backing things out and make the packages cheaper?
Because existing features have been changed and made harder to use in some cases. Said cases could be compensated by being allowed to opt out.
Examples:
I paid for AI FTP detection and now I get AIFTP detection. Not the same thing. The first was a feature, the second is a non-feature for me, personally. Stuck to using manual.
Workout alternates is inferior to what it used to be. It requires way more time and effort to select an alternate now compared to before.
Your next workout is a blur unless you pin it. AI makes changes without announcing them. That’s functionally different to the 2025 user experience and requires more trust or attention form the user. Trust has yet to be regained.
Overall, I’m not convinced that the platform is a higher quality product now compared to a few months ago. I think that workout extension and dynamic endurance have been good additions, but there’s nothing that’s really made my training quality better or training process easier compared to 2025.
On one hand, you’re right. On the other hand, Nate was talking on the podcast about how much AI costs in terms of computational power (i.e. electricity).
Ultimately, how companies work, is that they try to keep users aboard. If I hadn’t subscribed for a full year in December, I’d be out as soon as I get past my A race in June, along with my partner. I’m pretty sure that giving me the option to spend $17/m instead of $20/m and keeping me aboard is better than losing me to a competitor, especially in the AI age. More users means bigger (and better) database, and any AI model is only as good as its dataset.
Yep, vote with your wallet. If you don’t feel like the platform is working for you then just leave. No one is stopping you.
I personally think the AI workouts are incredible. I used to fail a bunch of intervals almost every week. My AI FTP was consistently off. Maybe the new AI FTP is off too…but I know what I can do in training which has been consistently giving me workouts that push me just to my limits. I find those real world numbers far, far more important than any predictive FTP model.
I’m not saying that the platform is bad. At its core (the AI workout selector), TR is amazing, really, that’s why I want to stay, but I’m looking for ways to rationalize this decision, too, because as it stands, I’m in a situation where I’m also paying for features which don’t work well for me anymore. They used to work better at the time when I decided to spend my money though. It’s only natural to try and opt out of them (and it’s a strong feedback channel).
(Edit: the plan adapting to adding/(re)moving races, changing ABC priorities, adding time off, converting the taper week only once it enters the simulation window should discourage people from opting in for one month to build a plan and then opting out for the rest of the time)