cycle computer apps?

Walking about the shops today and noticed a cheapo £10 cycle computer. Not something I have looked at in years so I was surprised to see so many functions. Back in work and I look online for some others and reviews then I stumble across a huge number of apps to track/store/analyse routes taken by your phone. Instead of trying loads and loads of them it seems smart to ask about.

Anyone use any?

Good/bad experiences?

Hi Clockwise,

The most popular app is mapmyride, although the most upcoming at the moment is strava.

I personally use sports tracker as I like the way it displays data after the ride.

Although any of these apps will give you the basic functions of a cycle computer. Trip Distance, Lap time, etc etc. Just make sure your phone has good reception as this could be the only hindrance using an app over using an actual cycle computer.

Regards

Martin

Just make sure your phone has good reception as this could be the only hindrance using an app over using an actual cycle computer.

Definitely. I've got phone coverage for about 20% of my rides max at the moment ! It's like trying to use mobile Wifi on the train

Think I will give them a go. I'm more interested in the post ride data, maybe a speed and elevation lines and distances on a map. I city cycle around London and so Google maps guess of distances is nice but an exact x miles would be an improvement.

I haven't converted my bike to electric yet as I want to be sure before I buy. The more I read the more I know what I don't want lol

Might get a cheapo on bike one, seems to be loads on Amazon for £10ish

Strava - excellent for post ride data. All the graphs, speeds, elevations and maps you could wish for

Co-pilot for looking at whilst you ride i.e "at 200 yards, turn left" its a bit like TomTom

Cruicially, neither of these need a connection to work or use up data on the move. Copilot downloads the maps you need in their entirety and then uses them offline (i only have uk and ireland but have downloaded spain for use in the past). Just use home wifi to download the map in the firstplace (about 250mb)

Strava only uses data when uploading your ride data into the cloud. And its tiny amounts

The main drawback I find to using any of the gps-based ride loggers, is that I often lose gps signal when I'm under tree cover in summer (which is a good proportion of my rides). I suspect you'd find the same effect from "Canyonning" between high buildings.

This results in spurious height & speed spikes (up or down) - Some of which can be quite spectacular

Having said that, I rarely go anywhere without Viewranger running on the phone: I do like to know zackly whereabouts I am & which way I'm going!

Edited July 22, 201312 yr by jackhandy

Well I have one of these on the way.

Bike Bicycle Cycling Car Mount Smart Clip Holder For Cell Phone Iphone 4 4S 5 6 | eBay

Hopefully it will feel secure enough or I will order another type.

Think I will give them a go. I'm more interested in the post ride data, maybe a speed and elevation lines and distances on a map.

Hi

I use my iPhone4s along with Cyclemeter APP (Excellent APP - can't recommend it enough).

I mount the phone on this:

Bike Mount

and I carry a TeckNet external Battery Pack which I can plug in 'on the go' so little danger of running out of juice. The battery pack resides in this:

Topeak Tribag All Weather Bike Cycle Handlebar Bag -Black/Grey: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

The feedback from Cyclemeter is like this:

It also permanently stores your data so you can access it at any time and also allows you to compare the same rides - in total or in splits.

T

Edited July 23, 201312 yr by Taff

the main drawback i find to any of the app driven ones is how much power gps sucks out of the phone

Yep, the only way I'd use my phone GPS is with an aux socket to the main battery.

^^ Highly recommend this kit - dead easy to rig up over a 12V DC-DC converter, has compact fully waterproof switch box with voltage protection, inline fuse holder (although I swapped it for one with an LED indicator) and comes with proper waterproof caps for when not in use. You need the lead for your particular phone as well and the waterproof tough case/mounts are very good too - if you contact them they'll most likely do a complete package with discount.

Waterproof Hardwire Cable

As always you can cobble something together yourself cheaper but you won't get it anything like as well sealed as this system & if you've got a relatively recent phone that's pricey to replace, I personally think it's a very good product for reliability / peace of mind.

I use strava, just to see if I am improving my times on my commute as I hopefully get a little fitter. I bought a generic iphone holder from ebay. On a trip home in the dark, I peaked at just over 52km/h on a hill, and glided over a bridge to notice that my holder was open and empty.

Called my wife on my work mobile, got her to log into me.com and see if it had any signs of life. After 45 minutes of searching found it. Screen in tact but with a severly scuffed side/back.

I think the moral is that I should have paid more $$$ and bought a quad-lock

I use strava, just to see if I am improving my times on my commute as I hopefully get a little fitter. I bought a generic iphone holder from ebay. On a trip home in the dark, I peaked at just over 52km/h on a hill, and glided over a bridge to notice that my holder was open and empty.

 

Called my wife on my work mobile, got her to log into me.com and see if it had any signs of life. After 45 minutes of searching found it. Screen in tact but with a severly scuffed side/back.

 

I think the moral is that I should have paid more $$$ and bought a quad-lock

I'm a little worried about the mount but as my phone isn't popular finding a good mount isn't happening. Going to get one of them loop things so if the mount fails it should dangle from my handlebars on something long enough for me to pull over.

Have done 3 short journeys with the Strava app on so about 9 miles total with it just in my pocket, didn't loose gps much and worked really well. Can't wait to see the stats on the move.

Still no sign of the mount but I have notched up plenty of miles(85) on strava.

Chris T. | Cyclist | Strava

Still no sign of the mount but I have notched up plenty of miles(85) on strava.

 

Chris T. | Cyclist | Strava

Are you setting your rides as private?

Are you setting your rides as private?

It doesn't seem to be but I think you must login to view them. I'm really not sure tbh.

Edited July 31, 201312 yr by Artstu

I was expecting to see some 20 mph average speeds, I guess you must be taking it nice and steady. Mind you I'm guessing the traffic is busy in your part of the world.

I'm just cruising...

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t171/pimptasticmofo/IMG_20130725_122859_zps4e393c16.jpg

It doesn't seem to be but I think you must login to view them. I'm really not sure tbh.

No, I meant have you made them private so your times don't appear on the leader boards?

No, I meant have you made them private so your times don't appear on the leader boards?

He's on the leader board, but then that bike is only leg powered isn't it?

He's on the leader board, but then that bike is only leg powered isn't it?

At the moment yes, I'm still on the ropes about if I need the assistance but more if I do how much more I will leave my non cyclist partner behind when she does occasionally cycle.

No, I meant have you made them private so your times don't appear on the leader boards?

Every ride I did ended up with several KOM's and a flag from someone on every ride I did, understandable really. So you can either make them private or log them as a workout, neither of which are ideal, the workout doesn't show the segments, and private means you can't share it.

I tried map my ride briefly but kept getting pop-ups I couldn't seem to get rid of, so soon got annoyed with it.

Edited August 5, 201312 yr by Artstu

I got Strava and was most impressed;

the Lycra boys less so

I got Strava and was most impressed;

the Lycra boys less so

Indeed, they're looking out for me now

As I have a Garmin I've tried their website, seems reasonable after initial confusion trying to set it up.