ErgBuddy open beta: what’s live, what’s next
ErgBuddy is in open beta.
Structured programming is live. You get benchmark-based pace targets inside workouts, a periodised training programme, and manual workout logging today. Expect ongoing improvements — and clear honesty about what is still on the roadmap.
This post is the short changelog-style update for anyone who met ErgBuddy through Introducing ErgBuddy, the FAQ, or the app: what you can rely on now, what we will not overclaim, and where we are headed.
Open beta — plain expectations
What’s live
- Benchmark tracking (including common goal distances such as 2K, 6K, half-marathon, and marathon)
- Pace zones inside workouts, derived from your results — not a generic calculator
- A dedicated Zones screen, plus those relevant targets inside workouts
- A six-phase periodised programme: Foundation → Build → Specific → Race prep → Taper → Race rehearsal
- Daily workout direction with target split, duration, and reasoning
- Manual workout logging
- Free tier with basic programme access and full in-app History; CSV export is Pro-gated; Pro and Team plans as listed on Pricing
Not live yet (roadmap)
- Concept2 Logbook sync — manual logging today; auto-import is on the roadmap
- Progress charts and training-load analytics — Coming soon in Pro / roadmap-soft, not a live or reliable shipped feature; we will not treat gated or unfinished surfaces as reliable “ships today”
- Deeper coach / team workflows (including dashboard-style tooling) — Coming on Team / roadmap-soft, not live; Pro is not coach tools
- On-water session logging alongside erg training
We do not describe ErgBuddy as generally available (GA), “launch complete,” or a finished full release. Open beta means the core loop works, and we keep shipping.
Banner line we use sitewide:
Open beta — structured programming is live; log workouts manually. Concept2 sync is on the roadmap.
What’s in the programming SoT
ErgBuddy programmes follow a six-phase periodisation model aligned with how elite rowing seasons are often structured in the sports-science literature (including Plews et al., 2017):
- Foundation
- Build
- Specific
- Race prep
- Taper
- Race rehearsal
Intensity distribution stays polarised in the sense we already publish on the site and in the FAQ: roughly 75–80% low intensity, ~10% moderate, and ~10–15% high intensity — with phase goals shifting as you move toward race day.
For the deeper methodology write-up, see Training methodology.
Pace zones — where they live
ErgBuddy calculates six pace zones from your benchmarks. Review them on the dedicated Zones screen; relevant pace-zone targets still appear inside your workouts. There is no hardware sync.
Target, PB, and Anchor
PB is your best test, Anchor is the benchmark that sets your zones and workouts, and Target is the goal time you’re training toward — three separate numbers, on purpose.
PB is the best logged benchmark for that distance and changes only when you log a better test. Anchor is the benchmark ErgBuddy uses for pace zones and programme paces; you can pick it, or leave it on auto (latest suitable test). Target is your plan goal time; it can be slower or faster than your PB. Changing Target never rewrites PB or Anchor.
Plans, in one honest paragraph
- Free — start without a credit card: benchmarks, dedicated Zones plus zones inside workouts, basic programme, demo exploration with sample data, and full in-app History
- Pro — $2/month or $9.99/year (58% vs monthly): unlimited history, CSV export only (no PDF), and advanced training tools. Progress charts and training-load analytics are Coming soon in Pro — not live. Not coach/team tools
- Team — $1.99/user/year with a $20/year minimum: coach and roster tooling for clubs and squads. Deeper dashboard-style workflows are Coming on Team. There is no separate student discount; Team Partnership is the path for educational and club programmes
Full detail: Pricing. Common billing and cancel questions (including the 90-day history lock when leaving Pro): FAQ.
Changelog-style notes (marketing SoT refresh)
These are the truth fixes we are aligning across marketing with the open-beta badge:
- Open beta badge + expectations banner (manual logging; Concept2 sync on the roadmap)
- Six-phase periodisation named consistently (no four-phase “base → peak” shorthand as SoT)
- Programme / periodisation spelling in body copy
- Pro ≠ Team — coach/team tools called out on Team, not Pro
- Zones language: dedicated screen is live, and pace-zone targets remain inside workouts
- Introducing “What’s next” reframed as open beta + roadmap (companion post)
- Target / PB / Anchor are three separate numbers (see above)
- Home still has a FeatureCard that says PBs automatically anchor every pace zone — that line is outdated; Anchor is not always PB. Session target on workout cards is not plan Target — do not conflate.
If something still reads like the April Introducing draft on a given page, treat this post + Pricing + FAQ as the expectations guide until that page is refreshed.
What we are not claiming
- Concept2 sync is live
- Progress charts or training-load analytics are a finished, reliable ship today
- Team dashboard / deeper team analytics are fully shipped
- Hardware sync is live
- Invented athlete counts, conversion rates, testimonials, or “studies show” claims beyond citations we already use carefully on-site
- Generally available / GA / “full launch complete”
Explore ErgBuddy
ErgBuddy is a web app (and PWA) — browser-based, no app-store gate. You can explore the product on ergbuddy.com and in the app experience, including demo exploration with sample data where available. Account creation and sign-in remain available when you are ready; plan detail stays on Pricing.
Questions or feedback: hello@ergbuddy.com — we build in the open.