Deck de France Turns a Bike Trainer Into a Steam Deck Controller

Deck de France is a new Linux application that lets you control compatible games by pedalling on a smart bike trainer.

The community made tool creates a virtual Xbox 360 controller on a Steam Deck or another Linux device. It then converts cycling data received over Bluetooth into gamepad input that supported games can recognise.

The project was originally designed for the Tour de France game series, allowing you to pedal on a real training bike instead of repeatedly pressing a controller button. Its virtual controller system can also work with racing, driving, and other games when the inputs are configured correctly.

This means your pedalling could be assigned to cycling, vehicle acceleration, or another suitable action. Most games will still require a regular controller for steering, camera movement, menus, and additional commands.

Deck de France connects bike trainers to Linux games

The application works with smart trainers and power meters that broadcast the Cycling Power Service through Bluetooth Low Energy.

It receives the trainer’s cycling data and translates it into an input that appears to the game as an Xbox 360 controller command.

Deck de France feature	Details
Supported platform	Steam Deck and other Linux devices
Controller output	Virtual Xbox 360 gamepad
Wireless connection	Bluetooth Low Energy
Required trainer service	Cycling Power Service
Main input	Pedalling or cycling power
Additional controller needed	Usually required for most games
Original purpose	Tour de France games
Wider use	Racing, driving, and other configurable games

Because games recognise the virtual controller rather than the trainer itself, the application is not limited to cycling simulations. The same input can be mapped to acceleration in a car, forward movement, or another command supported by the game.

Several major trainer brands are supported

Compatibility depends on whether the trainer broadcasts the required Bluetooth cycling power information.

The currently supported hardware list includes products from Tacx, Elite, Wahoo, Garmin, Magene, CycleOps, and Zwift. Compatible cycling power meters may also work.

Compatible hardware group	Examples
Smart bike trainers	Tacx, Elite, Wahoo
Indoor cycling systems	Zwift Hub
Training equipment	CycleOps
Cycling devices	Garmin and Magene
Power measurement hardware	Compatible power meters

Not every product from these companies is guaranteed to work. The specific device must provide Cycling Power Service data through Bluetooth Low Energy.

Owners should therefore confirm the capabilities of their trainer before attempting to configure the application.

The app can work beyond cycling games

Deck de France was built with Tour de France 2023, Tour de France 2024, and Tour de France 2025 in mind, but its virtual controller output gives it wider compatibility.

The reported list includes Rocket League, Forza Horizon, American Truck Simulator, Euro Truck Simulator, Grand Theft Auto V, and Cyberpunk 2077.

Game or series	Possible use for pedalling
Tour de France 2023 to 2025	Bicycle movement
Forza Horizon	Vehicle acceleration
Grand Theft Auto V	Cycling or driving
American Truck Simulator	Truck acceleration
Euro Truck Simulator	Vehicle input
Rocket League	Acceleration
Cyberpunk 2077	Configurable movement or vehicle input
Other racing games	Throttle or another mapped command

The exact experience will depend on how each game handles controllers and whether its commands can be remapped.

A game does not need native bike trainer support. It only needs to recognise the Xbox 360 controller created by Deck de France.

A normal controller is still needed for complete gameplay

Pedalling provides one main source of input, so it cannot replace every function of a traditional controller.

Most games require several commands for steering, braking, looking around, opening menus, selecting items, and interacting with the environment. You will usually need to combine the bike trainer with a gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or the Steam Deck’s built in controls.

For example, pedalling could control acceleration while the Steam Deck’s sticks handle steering and the triggers operate the brakes. In a cycling game, the trainer could provide movement while the gamepad manages direction and attacks.

Input device	Possible responsibility
Bike trainer	Pedalling or acceleration
Steam Deck sticks	Steering and camera
Triggers	Braking or secondary actions
Face buttons	Menus and interactions
Trackpads	Mouse style controls
External controller	Additional gameplay commands

This mixed setup gives you more freedom to create a control scheme that matches the chosen game.

The project offers an unusual exercise setup

Deck de France provides a practical way to combine indoor cycling with games that do not officially support fitness equipment.

It may be especially useful for players who find traditional training applications repetitive or who want additional motivation during exercise sessions. Driving or cycling through a game while using a real trainer can make the physical activity feel more connected to what is happening on screen.

The application remains a community project, so setup may require more work than connecting a standard controller. Compatibility may also vary between Linux distributions, Bluetooth hardware, game updates, and individual trainer models.

Still, its use of a virtual Xbox 360 controller gives it a flexible foundation. Any game that accepts the generated input could potentially be configured around real pedalling.

Deck de France shows how Steam Deck and Linux gaming can support unusual control methods beyond traditional gamepads. With a compatible smart trainer, Bluetooth connection, and some input mapping, you can use your cycling effort to control games ranging from Tour de France to Grand Theft Auto V.