GPS phone app's?
- Thread starter Mobi8
- Start date
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WellyWonkey
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Denton, Manchester, UK.
MapMyRide has always worked for me. For what I need, it works a treat. I'm sure there are much more professional ones out there, but for an easy, no frills app it's brill. Once you finish your ride, log onto your account and hey presto, your mapped route is there with all your stats! Not bad for free 
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Well, I'm a user of dedicated GPS, so I can't really help. However, this morning I received an email from ridewithgps (who I use for ride logging) saying that they've released an Android app.
I don't know anything about it other than that it seems to have some nice features. If you use an Android phone, may be worth investigating. Details should be available at www.ridewithgps.com
I don't know anything about it other than that it seems to have some nice features. If you use an Android phone, may be worth investigating. Details should be available at www.ridewithgps.com
Ootini
Senior Member
- Location
- North Wales
Just installed the RideWithGPS app, looks OK but it doesn't do turn by turn navigation unless you pay. Which is something I'd be interested in as I can get lost in my own house.
BRounsley
Veteran
This one comes up pretty often.
Garmin has a very strong following and has evolved is to fine solution.
I’ve been using my smartphone for many years which stared out as a pain but now it’s a great option. I think it’s very telling that the ‘new’ features on Garmins are now playing catch-up to smartphones.
One of the great things about smartphones is you can run many apps and use different one’s depending on what you're trying to do. Most are free or cost very little so you can experiment.
I have an iPhone and this is what I use:-
Strava :- I use this to track my rides and display cycle computer type information (speed, distance etc). I use the app as I use Strava, it decent but not ground breaking but makes uploading to Strava a one button process. I have also bought the Wahoo Fitness RFLKT (Bluetooth second screen), I love this and it works great with the Strava app. It also allows me to free up my Phone screen for pure navigation.
MotionX :- I’ve been using this for years now. It work very well and I use it to navigate. I like to plan my routes in advance (using the website gpsies). I navigate by following my route (line on the map) as a scrolling map. I prefer this approach.
TomTom :- I also have TomTom (my phone is my car satnav). I very rarely use turn by turn navigation on the bike but when I have the cycle setting works a treat.
Bluetooth 4 (low power) will replace ANT+ over time. It’s technically better but the fact it’s an industry standards it’s a given. If you have an iPhone 4S or later it will work with Bluetooth 4 devices. Both Topeak and Wahoo do a range of heart rate monitors, cadence sensors etc.
The 2 issues with using a smartphone are:-
1) How do you mount it – There still haven’t made the perfect phone mount. I use the Topeak Ride CaseII for iPhone 5, it’s about 90% there as a solution for me.
2) Battery life, if you’re riding all day – This is pretty easy to solve by plugging the phone into an external battery. My old solution was £20 battery bought from amazon left in a frame bag, worked a treat. I have recently bought the Topeak Battery Pack. This velcros to the stem. I’m very pleased with the Topeak, it looks a lot neater but it’s a bit pricey at £50
Garmin has a very strong following and has evolved is to fine solution.
I’ve been using my smartphone for many years which stared out as a pain but now it’s a great option. I think it’s very telling that the ‘new’ features on Garmins are now playing catch-up to smartphones.
One of the great things about smartphones is you can run many apps and use different one’s depending on what you're trying to do. Most are free or cost very little so you can experiment.
I have an iPhone and this is what I use:-
Strava :- I use this to track my rides and display cycle computer type information (speed, distance etc). I use the app as I use Strava, it decent but not ground breaking but makes uploading to Strava a one button process. I have also bought the Wahoo Fitness RFLKT (Bluetooth second screen), I love this and it works great with the Strava app. It also allows me to free up my Phone screen for pure navigation.
MotionX :- I’ve been using this for years now. It work very well and I use it to navigate. I like to plan my routes in advance (using the website gpsies). I navigate by following my route (line on the map) as a scrolling map. I prefer this approach.
TomTom :- I also have TomTom (my phone is my car satnav). I very rarely use turn by turn navigation on the bike but when I have the cycle setting works a treat.
Bluetooth 4 (low power) will replace ANT+ over time. It’s technically better but the fact it’s an industry standards it’s a given. If you have an iPhone 4S or later it will work with Bluetooth 4 devices. Both Topeak and Wahoo do a range of heart rate monitors, cadence sensors etc.
The 2 issues with using a smartphone are:-
1) How do you mount it – There still haven’t made the perfect phone mount. I use the Topeak Ride CaseII for iPhone 5, it’s about 90% there as a solution for me.
2) Battery life, if you’re riding all day – This is pretty easy to solve by plugging the phone into an external battery. My old solution was £20 battery bought from amazon left in a frame bag, worked a treat. I have recently bought the Topeak Battery Pack. This velcros to the stem. I’m very pleased with the Topeak, it looks a lot neater but it’s a bit pricey at £50
Wayne Tully
Senior Member
If you turn mobile data off the battery lasts a lot longer.
Born2die
Well-Known Member
- Location
- 8th c*****t town in the uk
I use osmand it's great and you can turn off all but your gps add in turn by turn it's a great tool there is a thread on here that I used to set it up and get it running and as I'm on payg it's a godsend that it doesn't chew up mobile data
Candaules
Well-Known Member
- Location
- England / France
Thanks for that tip-off. I was looking for an app like this, but got confused by the many options (and many bad reviews). I've just installed Osmand, and looks very useful.
I used to use Strava and it worked fine if you just want it to track away in your pocket (although you can get mounts too for some phones?).
The only downside for me, is I buy low end phones, and a 3 hour ride would have drained the battery entirely (with data off) leaving me nothing in an emergency. But with something like Strava, it's free, you have nothing to lose trying it.
The only downside for me, is I buy low end phones, and a 3 hour ride would have drained the battery entirely (with data off) leaving me nothing in an emergency. But with something like Strava, it's free, you have nothing to lose trying it.
Born2die
Well-Known Member
- Location
- 8th c*****t town in the uk
No worries we are all here to help each other I love this app
The Mighty Boosh
Active Member
- Location
- Anglesey
I have just started using Endomondo on my iphone, I like it as it tells me all the stat's. I need to know after my ride, I don't need map's when I ride and so the phone stays in my pocket.
jack smith
Veteran
- Location
- Durham
Map my ride is good but I currently use topeaks app as it includes things like gradient when mounted on their stem mount
The Brewer
Shed Dweller
- Location
- Wrexham
I think I've finally settled on Endomondo, I like the way she talks to me 
