Part 5 of our smartphone apps series: This time around, fun and useful apps for cyclists.
New apps are scoring points with road riders, mountain bikers and casual cruisers more and more these days. And it's no wonder. The best apps now provide features similar to the traditional bike computer, heart rate monitor or GPS unit. Though smartphones are a bit larger than most bike computers, their functionality along with a handlebar-hugging bike mount is sure to make the size seem less intrusive.
Reminder: Even the most cycle-licious app is limited by your phone's battery- and cell tower‒dependency. When cycling off the grid, a map and compass (and your ability to use them) are your only sure guides for navigation.
Here are a few new apps raring to enhance your cycling performance.
Bike Doctor is an Apple/Android do-it-yourself guide to bike repairs and maintenance. This popular app comes with dozens of detailed tutorials that are continually updated. The most common bike breakdowns are divided into 8 clear categories, so you can diagnose, repair and get back on your 2-wheeler, stat. From tire punctures to embarrassing squeaks to components gone awry, this app can help you save a few bucks by tackling repairs sooner and on your own. I like how the app asks my general bike type and filters accordingly, so irrelevant repairs and tutorials are soon weeded out.
Price: $4.99
iBiker is an Apple app for serious cardio lovers. The free version tracks your pedaling power in terms of distance, speed and pace when a GPS signal is within reach, or it archives your workout times when it's not. But for the cardio-tracking of champions, upgrade to the full app version ($9.99) and invest in developer Digifit's connect transceiver and fitness sensor (sold separately – $79.99 and $49.99, respectively). Yes, these are pricey "appcessories." But the add-on transceiver tracks your heartbeat with real-time charting, which makes it a reasonable buy among heart rate monitors. Fun feature alert: The app syncs with your music library, so you can assign go-to warm-up or cool-down songs with target heart rate zones.
Price: $9.99
iMapMyRIDE is another Apple/Android workout buddy for your ride. This app's a great option if you like reliable mapping and performance records, plus the option to loop in your network of pedaling pals for extra motivation when you need it. This GPS-enabled dynamo tracks and logs your course, calories burned, elevation and workout stats (that is, if you purchase a compatible heart rate monitor). It also displays a live map and activity feed of your friends' rides. Just create a free account on the app's community website, www.MapMyRIDE.com, and you can share stats and ride maps in real time or later on Facebook and Twitter. Need a cherry on top? The app comes with a worldwide database of 26+ million bike routes.
Price: Free
MotionX GPS is Apple's superstar mapping app to track your position, speed and more on street, topographic or satellite maps. It'll orient you on your bike route via GPS-based waypoint tagging and let you pre-download maps (muy importante for mountain bikers gearing up for a backcountry ride). I'm partial to the app's voice-coaching mode, which audibly announces your performance and positioning data so you can keep your eyes safely ahead. Geotagging photos and real-time location sharing also top the list of features. Oh, and BTW, this little firecracker won About.com's 2011 Readers' Choice Award for Best Outdoor/Hiking App.
Price: $2.99
B.iCycle: GPS Cycling Computer for Road & Mountain Biking is an Apple/Android app focused more on logging your route than your pedaling performance. Its GPS sensor is a real standout: It knows to pause the timer when you come to a standstill, making this app a good companion on both nonstop and leisurely rides with breathers. I also like how the app emails you post-ride with a Google Earth summary of your trip for easy sharing and personal records. This baby gives a great bang for your buck since it collects all the bike ride metrics (speed, altitude, calories burned, time, etc.) found in traditional bike computers. In terms of GPS navigation, however, a bike computer's failsafe GPS coverage still bests a smartphone's cell tower‒reliant GPS technology.
Price: $9.99
Bike Quiver is a life-simplifying Apple tool for conscientious bike owners. Especially useful if you have more than one steed in your bike shed, this app stores your bike history so you can track upkeep and proof of purchase info (in case of theft). The easy-to-use program lets you input your gear info, brake pad type, seat height preference, mileage, etc. for multiple bikes, which makes it easier to forecast timely upgrades (sweet!). The app's maintenance log is also there to ping you when it's time for a new bike chain (thank you!).
Price: $0.99
Thirsting for more smartphone apps for your outdoor adventures? Our app lists for general outdoor use, camping, hiking and paddling are full of the latest apps that can be useful on cycling trips, too.
Have you dabbled in cycling with a smartphone sidekick? Tell us about your favorite apps!
New apps are scoring points with road riders, mountain bikers and casual cruisers more and more these days. And it's no wonder. The best apps now provide features similar to the traditional bike computer, heart rate monitor or GPS unit. Though smartphones are a bit larger than most bike computers, their functionality along with a handlebar-hugging bike mount is sure to make the size seem less intrusive.
Reminder: Even the most cycle-licious app is limited by your phone's battery- and cell tower‒dependency. When cycling off the grid, a map and compass (and your ability to use them) are your only sure guides for navigation.
Here are a few new apps raring to enhance your cycling performance.
Bike Doctor is an Apple/Android do-it-yourself guide to bike repairs and maintenance. This popular app comes with dozens of detailed tutorials that are continually updated. The most common bike breakdowns are divided into 8 clear categories, so you can diagnose, repair and get back on your 2-wheeler, stat. From tire punctures to embarrassing squeaks to components gone awry, this app can help you save a few bucks by tackling repairs sooner and on your own. I like how the app asks my general bike type and filters accordingly, so irrelevant repairs and tutorials are soon weeded out.Price: $4.99
iBiker is an Apple app for serious cardio lovers. The free version tracks your pedaling power in terms of distance, speed and pace when a GPS signal is within reach, or it archives your workout times when it's not. But for the cardio-tracking of champions, upgrade to the full app version ($9.99) and invest in developer Digifit's connect transceiver and fitness sensor (sold separately – $79.99 and $49.99, respectively). Yes, these are pricey "appcessories." But the add-on transceiver tracks your heartbeat with real-time charting, which makes it a reasonable buy among heart rate monitors. Fun feature alert: The app syncs with your music library, so you can assign go-to warm-up or cool-down songs with target heart rate zones. Price: $9.99
iMapMyRIDE is another Apple/Android workout buddy for your ride. This app's a great option if you like reliable mapping and performance records, plus the option to loop in your network of pedaling pals for extra motivation when you need it. This GPS-enabled dynamo tracks and logs your course, calories burned, elevation and workout stats (that is, if you purchase a compatible heart rate monitor). It also displays a live map and activity feed of your friends' rides. Just create a free account on the app's community website, www.MapMyRIDE.com, and you can share stats and ride maps in real time or later on Facebook and Twitter. Need a cherry on top? The app comes with a worldwide database of 26+ million bike routes.Price: Free
MotionX GPS is Apple's superstar mapping app to track your position, speed and more on street, topographic or satellite maps. It'll orient you on your bike route via GPS-based waypoint tagging and let you pre-download maps (muy importante for mountain bikers gearing up for a backcountry ride). I'm partial to the app's voice-coaching mode, which audibly announces your performance and positioning data so you can keep your eyes safely ahead. Geotagging photos and real-time location sharing also top the list of features. Oh, and BTW, this little firecracker won About.com's 2011 Readers' Choice Award for Best Outdoor/Hiking App.Price: $2.99
B.iCycle: GPS Cycling Computer for Road & Mountain Biking is an Apple/Android app focused more on logging your route than your pedaling performance. Its GPS sensor is a real standout: It knows to pause the timer when you come to a standstill, making this app a good companion on both nonstop and leisurely rides with breathers. I also like how the app emails you post-ride with a Google Earth summary of your trip for easy sharing and personal records. This baby gives a great bang for your buck since it collects all the bike ride metrics (speed, altitude, calories burned, time, etc.) found in traditional bike computers. In terms of GPS navigation, however, a bike computer's failsafe GPS coverage still bests a smartphone's cell tower‒reliant GPS technology.Price: $9.99
Bike Quiver is a life-simplifying Apple tool for conscientious bike owners. Especially useful if you have more than one steed in your bike shed, this app stores your bike history so you can track upkeep and proof of purchase info (in case of theft). The easy-to-use program lets you input your gear info, brake pad type, seat height preference, mileage, etc. for multiple bikes, which makes it easier to forecast timely upgrades (sweet!). The app's maintenance log is also there to ping you when it's time for a new bike chain (thank you!).Price: $0.99
Thirsting for more smartphone apps for your outdoor adventures? Our app lists for general outdoor use, camping, hiking and paddling are full of the latest apps that can be useful on cycling trips, too.
Have you dabbled in cycling with a smartphone sidekick? Tell us about your favorite apps!
Ratings and Comments
What about Google's MyTracks app for Android phones that's free? :) It supposedly tracks elevation gain, distance, and avg moving speeds.
I've been using CardioTrainer for Android. Tracks routes and calories using Google maps. It works pretty well, doesn't do a great job with elevation change though.
The FREE Singletracks app for iPhone (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/singletracks-mountain-bike/id385100119?mt=8) and Android is a must-have app for mountain bikers! Find nearby trails, add photos, reviews and check-in. The best app for MTB out there!
+1 for Google's MyTracks. I've been using it since before Google bought it from the developer. I've tried CardioTrainer, iMapMyRide, and a few lesser-known Android apps, but MyTracks is what I keep coming back to. It gives you allllllmost everything you'd want in an app.
The only thing I wish it had would be for viewing real-time position from a desktop computer (so someone could see where you were if you didn't arrive at your destination). I think MapMyRide does this, but believe it's one of their premium features.
Endomondo Pro ($5 on Android Market).
The graphical summary page is awesome!
I have been using a Runkeeper on my Iphone. Since I do multiple sports I can track all of them on this app. It works like a social network giving you a street team of people you know through FB, Google and the such. Then pits you against them to go and do activities. ranking you according to who has done more activities. It allows you to encourage your friends and comment on their activities. You can listen to music while you do the activity (mindful of whether that is safe to do or not) and it will spit stats out on your performance as you go. You can post to FB, Twitter or the like when done with the event. It gives you a track on google maps with elevation rise and fall. pace, and pauses. along with a bunch of other stats if you choose to upgrade from free version to pro. I have tried several bicycle apps and keep coming back to this one as my preferred based on its multisport flexibility and ease of use functions.
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