Survey: 60% of Cyclists Now Use AI-Powered Coaching Tools

A new survey of 5,000 cyclists across the US, UK, Germany, and Australia finds that 60% have used at least one AI-powered coaching or training tool in the past year. The survey was conducted by the Journal of Cycling Research in February 2026.

Key findings60% have used an AI coaching tool in the past year (up from 22% in 2023)Strava AI Coach is the most popular (24% of respondents)WHOOP strain analysis (21%) and Garmin training readiness (19%) are next most popularTrainingPeaks AI Coach (12%) and Zwift AI Companion (8%) round out the top 5Users under 35 are 2x more likely to use AI coaching than users over 50Triathletes use AI coaching at higher rates (74%) than pure cyclists (52%)

Adoption barriersThe 40% of cyclists not using AI coaching cite three main barriers: distrust of algorithmic recommendations (38%), preference for human coaching (24%), and lack of awareness (19%). The remaining 19% report cost or technical issues.

ImplicationsAI coaching has gone from niche to mainstream in three years. For coaches, this means the bar has shifted 鈥?cyclists increasingly expect AI-assisted insights even when working with a human coach. For athletes, this means more options for structured training at lower cost than traditional coaching (which typically runs $200-500/month).