Good Smartphone Apps for Cyclists

[krakhead]

I have recently found this lovely little free app for Android or Java MIDP phones, details/download from here

Velox is a small piece of software which turns your mobile phone into a bike computer and enables you to record GPS tracks and upload them to this page.
You can use this service to keep track of your tours, to exchange tracks with other users and to get some statistics like your travelled distance.

Anyone got any other apps they've found useful?

 

[martint235]

My Tracks works well from Google for Android. However as with all smartphones and GPS applications, I would have reservations about using it over long distance due to battery drain. for example a recent ride took over 10 hours and I'm not sure the battery (even extended) on my HTC Hero would last that long with GPS and I might need to make a phone call in an emergency.

 

[benb]

I used to use MyTracks, which I thought was excellent. I now use Endomondo which is even better.

I think I'll invest in one of those rechargable battery packs with a USB output for long rides.

 

[John the Monkey]

If you have a Symbian (S60) phone, definitely Nokia Sportstracker, it's superb, and free.

I've tried Endomondo, don't like it as much, tbh.

 

[Panter]

Motion-X is very good on the iPhone but, as per the above, it's a real battery slayer.

 

[Garz]

I have used my HTC Magic for over a year now and MyTracks was a great app but I agree with martin that it really does drain the battery. I managed a 100 miler with it last year but it required a portable charger (1x AA battery) to just about achieve it.

As ben mentioned if your using these apps for long detailed rides then a chunky battery invested will be worthwhile.

 

[rusky]

Only Velox Pro allows you to record GPS tracks. RMaps for Android allows you to save, import & export GPX files.

 

[Glenn]

SportyPal is another cross platform app, SportyPal Bike is out for the iPhone and should be available for others soon. http://sportypal.com/Home/Overview

 

[Bodmass]

I'm looking for an Android app that will allow me to create routes in advance and then see & follow with my mobile attached to my handlebars.

I live in Milton Keynes and we have 100s of miles of off-road cycleway, so I want to be able to create routes on these that I can follow, the road based standard SatNav is no use to me.

Ideally I would want this feature within a tracking/cycle computer type app.

Any suggestions?

 

[benb]

I believe mapmyride has iPhone and Android apps that let you do that.

 

[BearPear]

I use mapmyride with my iPhone, but only for plotting the route I ride, rather than plotting in advance. I didn't know it could do that, may have to have a little fettle!

 

[rusky]

A word of warning, GPS on my adroid phone eats the battery! it lasts for about 4 hours from fully charged

 

[Bodmass]

I believe mapmyride has iPhone and Android apps that let you do that.

Thanks for that.

MapMyRide allows easy route creation on my PC that I can follow on my phone, with just one drawback. Whilst I can use the satellite map view to create my map I can only see it on my phone within a street map. This is a problem when following cycle routes separate from the road as they are not visible making it hard to follow them.

I also find that the 'you are here' marker/icon goes behind on-screen items (such as the pause/stop button), making it hard to follow. In addition it doesn't recentre the map until my icon is disappearing off-screen making it hard to see what is coming up. Sadly the map doesn't reorientate itself either, so your icon/route is often pointing backwards (towards you) rather than in the direction you are going. Is this the case with other peoples use? It may be a handset issue I suppose.

For following Cycle routes I found the 'cycle maps' option within Rmaps very good. I'm going to have to experiment with recording on My Tracks or SportsTracklive whilst using Rmaps as my SatNav.

Just hope my little 'mid-range' droid (HTC Wildfire) has the memory to run both and play music at the same time. Fortunately my journeys are only an hour or two at the moment, battery is going to be a problem as I get fitter

 

[greekokiril]

I have SportyPal on mine. The app works on any smartphone with a GPS chip installed and the download is a snap.
More than just a pedometer, sportypal.com provides a visual map of your completed bike tour.
And gives a nice board with data.

 

[amaferanga]

There are dozens of good apps for smart phones - lack of apps is definitely not holding back their use on bikes. The things that do hold them back are 1) availability of decent mounts 2) they're not waterproof 3) they'll probably not last long being shaken on a bike.

People own Garmins and smart phones for very good reasons....