Best Andorid App to replace a bike computer and GPS

[KneesUp]

I am thinking about getting a cheap android phone to use specifically as a bike computer, because it seems you can get a bigger screen and more functions for less money that way.

As I don't currently have an Android phone though (I'm the only remaining Blackberry user) I don't know that the app I want is out there.

I suppose I want it to log a ride, do navigation with downloaded maps and then display all the usual speed and distance stuff.

Any recommendations? Thanks.

 

[Lanzecki]

Endomondo or Strava.

You'll get given other options, but these would be the main ones.

I'm sure there will be people who praise an app no one else has heard of. Just nod and agree with them, they'll soon get back in their boxes.

 

[KneesUp]

Endomondo or Strava.

You'll get given other options, but these would be the main ones.

I'm sure there will be people who praise an app no one else has heard of. Just nod and agree with them, they'll soon get back in their boxes.

They don't do navigation though, do they?

I was hoping for something that could download the excellent openstreetmap data (or similar, but OSM has a good 'bike routes' layer) to use offline and:

navigate
log route and save it
show me speed/distance info as I ride

 

[KneesUp]

Edit to add - and I'd much rather buy software than get a thousand adverts all over the screen

 

[PpPete]

OSMand is not bad for navigation with downloaded OSM maps.
Supposed to be able to use it for tracking too, but I've never bothered.
Strava is the obvious choice for the tracking element, but I'm not sure if it does navigation ?

You know, I expect, that having GPS switched on will chew through your phone battery at an accelerated rate ?
Any more than a couple of hours and you'll want an external battery to keep it going.

 

[KneesUp]

OSMand is not bad for navigation with downloaded OSM maps.
Supposed to be able to use it for tracking too, but I've never bothered.
Strava is the obvious choice for the tracking element, but I'm not sure if it does navigation ?

You know, I expect, that having GPS switched on will chew through your phone battery at an accelerated rate ?
Any more than a couple of hours and you'll want an external battery to keep it going.

I don't get chance to ride more than an hours or so at the moment anyway, but yes, when I get to do longer rides I'll need a booster battery pack, definitely.

I'm a bit wary of the free apps linked to free sites that record your data to be honest. If they're giving you all that for nothing and you're giving them lots of data, there has to be a catch.

 

[MrWill]

Just bought a Moto G, 99 squid. Very good phone. Big battery for a smartphone. Do not think there is better.

Quite a few apps, best to Google search.

Almost 2.5 days on battery so far,all the initial set up and downloading, used it for a few calls, emails, prob an hour games, as a sat nav for 30 min yesterday and still 51% battery left!

 

[Wafer]

I was thinking of doing this recently, I've got an android phone already and didn't fancy spending £100+ on a gadget just for the navigation bit. Looks like strava is starting to do routes so worth checking if it meets your needs.

Other options I found while searching was to use an app called bike hub. You can import gpx routes in to it, then tell it to download maps for the route while on wifi at home. Then you don't worry about data connection availability or bandwidth use while out and about and can also turn mobile data off to conserve the battery.

Not actually tried using it on a ride yet but I did create a route on cycle.travel, import it into the app (via email) and download maps, all worked reasonably well. Battery life is still likely to be the issue I'd guess.

 

[albion]

For Endo tracking screen off does anyone know if the Moto G can do 24 hours?

For on screen cycling I think Orux maps can be your all in one. Last I knew it had a list of social sites it can send the tracks too.

 

[vickster]

@jefmcg , queen of all things android

 

[John the Monkey]

Other options I found while searching was to use an app called bike hub. You can import gpx routes in to it, then tell it to download maps for the route while on wifi at home. Then you don't worry about data connection availability or bandwidth use while out and about and can also turn mobile data off to conserve the battery.

Bikehub is excellent, but my recollection is that the turn by turn navigation clobbers your battery. It's based on Cycle Streets (which in turn is based on Open Street Map) so routing can be a bit idiosyncratic at times (if you're asking it to choose your route).

In this article, Road.cc's "Kiwimike" reckons viewranger is a good bet, just bring the screen up when you need to check you're still on course - there's some useful comments below the article too.

Otherwise, give some consideration to whether you want the social aspects or not - (e.g. I use Endomondo and MapMyRide largely because people I know are on them). I've had Sports Tracker on my phone(s) ever since it was a Nokia Beta Labs project, and I like that a lot - I think it does do courses, but that's not a feature I've ever used.

Strava's never clicked for me, I guess because I don't find the competitive aspect of it particularly engaging - it does have some useful features missing from other apps though (privacy zones around start points/destinations, for example).

 

[Lanzecki]

Follow ya nose mate, don't be tied into a GPS saying "Go here, do this". Ride free and ride often!

I've binned my Cycle computer and have stopped using Endomondo. I just get on the bike and cycle until I have to go home of feel tired.

No more "I just have to finish the last 10km", "Com on, you were 30 secs faster over that section last week".

Making that conscious decision has released me to enjoy the ride.

 

[albion]

CycleStreets have their UK map pack you likely best you load Cyclestreets plus the map pack rather than BikeHub.

My Endomodo is just my log, never my maps or motivation.

 

[John the Monkey]

You know, I expect, that having GPS switched on will chew through your phone battery at an accelerated rate ?
Any more than a couple of hours and you'll want an external battery to keep it going.

I use them as recorders, rather than displays, but I can run Endomondo, Mapmyride and Sports Tracker concurrently (with no changes to my settings re: wifi, data, or syncing) on my Galaxy S4 for 3-4 hour rides, and arrive home with 50 - 60 % battery left. I could probably eke more out if I remembered to switch wifi and mobile data off before leaving. (Obviously, that might be offset were I running the screen for navigation - screens are very power hungry).

 

[PpPete]

For Endo tracking screen off does anyone know if the Moto G can do 24 hours?

I'd be surprised if it goes anything like that long with the GPS switched on - but I've not used Endomondo.
Maybe if you switch it to Aeroplane Mode so it's not constantly hunting for a phone signal it might do better.