Move over, Zwift!
One of the coolest mod ideas is GTBike V, which basically lets you turnGrand Theft Auto Vinto Zwift, pedalling a bike in the real world to ride a virtual bike around Los Santos. Now a new version has added multiplayer, letting you trundle around the same city independently or join up for group rides. It almost makes me want to get the kit to hook my bike up.
GTBike V lets you connect a smart bike trainer or cycling power meter to Grand Theft Auto V, turning your real-world pedalstrokes into virtuacranking. It’s similar to Zwift, but with the extra-prettiness of GTA V, the familiarity of Los Santos, and the sheer novelty of this even being possible. You can even upload the rides to Strava afterwards.
Version 0.6.0.2of GTBike V launched on Friday, bringing the long-awaited addition of multiplayer. You’ll get to ride around the same world as other players, free to roam if you want, or have the option to formally squad up for a group ride.
“For now you can only ride together, there are no fancy races or missions, but there are plans for those in the future,” the makersexplain.
GTBike V multiplayer doesn’t run through GTA Online, so your morning ride won’t be interrupted by a griefer on an Oppressor Mk II. And no, Fred: you can’t whip out a submachine gun to aggressively defend your Vinewood Boulevard segment KOMs.
Hitthe mod’s websiteto download it for free (the devs do acceptdonations). You will needthe right hardwareand, y’know, a bicycle (though it does work with some treadmills).
It was a pretty miserable winter for cycling here in Edinburgh so I was sometimes tempted to get a trainer to ride indoors, but I’m not seeking the serious competition of Zwift. I adore cycling around GTA Online normally, so this mod honestly makes buying a trainer mighty tempting. I’ll think about this again when summer’s over, if it ever starts.
