FAQ and troubleshooting
Questions
When can I download it?
With version 1.0. The mod works and is being tested; downloads will appear on this site when it's ready.
How do I get in touch?
Email [email protected], for questions, problems and ideas. For a problem, see what to include.
Does it work in Red Dead Online?
No, and never try: it's for Story Mode only. Mods in Red Dead Online can get your account banned.
Which trainers work?
Any smart trainer with ANT+ FE-C, which covers most from Wahoo, Tacx/Garmin, Elite, Saris, JetBlack, Van Rysel and others. Over Bluetooth, any trainer with FTMS. It was first ridden on an Elite trainer.
Can I try it without a trainer?
Yes. Press F11 in the game for the simulator: it pretends you're pedalling at a set power, which Page Up and Page Down change by 25 W.
How fast does the horse go?
As fast as a bike would at your power, through real cycling physics: about 200 W on the flat gives roughly 34 km/h, a steady gallop. SpeedScale in the ini makes the horse faster or slower at the same power.
Do I have to steer?
No: by default the horse follows the roads and paths by itself. But you can steer whenever you like, with the keys or the stick, and it lets go while you do. Press End to steer yourself all the time. See Steering.
Windows warns about the files. Is that normal?
The files aren't code-signed, like almost all game mods. Click More info → Run anyway. On Windows 11, Smart App Control blocks unsigned files outright and has no per-file exception; the only fix is to turn it off (Windows Security → App & browser control → Smart App Control settings). Microsoft Defender stays on.
What happens to the trainer if the game crashes?
The mod sets the trainer back to flat when you switch bike control off, get off the horse or quit. If the game crashes mid-ride, the trainer keeps the last slope until it's switched off or another app takes control. Just stop pedalling.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Nothing appears in the game, no panel | Check that Script Hook RDR2 is installed and matches your game version; it needs updating after every game patch. Check that RDR2BikeMod.asi is in the folder with RDR2.exe. If there's no RDR2BikeMod.log, the ASI loader is missing. |
ANT+ stick: not found | Replug the stick, and look in Device Manager for a driver problem. Close other apps that use the stick. |
| "in use by another program" | Close Zwift, Garmin Express, TrainerRoad and other ANT+ apps (check the system tray). |
Trainer: searching... (pedal to wake it) | Pedal. Move the stick closer to the trainer on a USB extension cable. Disconnect other apps and bike computers from the trainer. |
| The resistance never changes | If the panel shows (no slope mode) after the trainer's name, the trainer can't simulate slopes. Otherwise check that Difficulty in the ini isn't 0. |
| The horse doesn't move, or moves oddly | Press F7 to try Limiter, then GaitSim. Hold the brake control to take over by hand. |
| Auto-steer turns away from the road, or weaves | If it circles away from the road, set SteerInvert = 1 in [Routes]. If it weaves, lower SteerGain. Or press End and steer yourself. |
| The horse is too slow or too fast | Change SpeedScale, and check RiderWeightKg. |
| Power drops out now and then | The stick is losing radio messages. Put it on a USB extension close to the trainer, away from blue USB 3 ports and the PC case. |
| Bluetooth problems | See Bluetooth. |
Reporting a problem
The mod records what's needed to find a fault. Email [email protected] with a sentence on what you did, what happened and roughly when, and attach these files from your RDR2 folder (or %LOCALAPPDATA%\RDR2BikeMod if the game folder is write-protected):
| File | What it is |
|---|---|
RDR2BikeMod.log | Your versions, the settings in effect, trainer and horse events, and a status line every minute |
RDR2BikeMod-trace.csv | Ride data ten times a second; about 10 MB per hour, so zip it |
RDR2BikeMod-crash.txt | Only there if something crashed |
*.previous.* | The same from the run before, if the problem happened last time |