Being in the business of Smartphone Mounting Solutions, we are often asked by our customers which apps are best for tracking your exercise whilst cycling.
Naturally we at Quad Lock HQ have our own favourites but we thought we would give you a quick review of what we believe are the Top 5 Cycling Apps available.
In no particular order:
Strava (60 Day Free Trial - Premium $6.83/month USD)
Strava records all the data you need to track your ride and monitor your statistics. It also features social integration so that you can compete with your friends.
- Monitor your average speed, distance and elevation
- Compare your ride against friends, family and the cycle community
- Keep a log of your rides
- Automatically compares similar rides to show your progress
- Compete against other riders in segments off-road
- With the addition of other equipment, track your heart rate, resulting in a 'Suffer Score' (for premium users) which displays how hard you worked.
Strava has made a premium solution for the cycling market which seems to have everything you'd expect in a cycle tracking app. Allowing you to compete against other riders and your own personal records to assist you in tracking your progress towards being a better cyclist.
Track your progress as you ride with Strava
MapMyRide Free Version (Premium $6.49 per month)
Simply put, MapMyRide is a great app. It is said to have the best route creation tool compared of all cycling apps and is packed full of other features, which rival many of the other apps discussed in this review.
- Exportable maps
- Easy map and route sharing
- Statistical data analysis
- Workout timetable/calendar
- Allow your friends to follow you whilst on a run
This app also has a lot of other cool features which can be unlocked by purchasing the premium version of the app. This can be purchased in app for $6.49 per month or $31.99 per year.
Cyclemeter - $4.99
Cyclemeter is a great option for tracking a ride, with its numerous features and accurate calculations. And you can do all of this without signing up and creating an account on a website or paying any subscription fee. Cyclemeter allows you to:
- Compare against your previous workouts
- View a large range data and stats including Speed, distance, elevation total ride time, etc.
- Use Google Maps, including the ability to switch between Map, Satellite and Hybrid forms and sharing your routes over Facebook or twitter
- Audio feedback, to let you know how you're tracking.
Cyclemeter (Like many other cycling apps) is also used for running, this includes set work outs and running plans. It is a very accurate solution to tracking your ride and is designed to be mounted on the front of the bike, making it perfect for the Quad Lock Bike Kit.
Bikemap - Map for Cycling - Premium $4.99/month
Navigate your way round worldwide and get personalised bike route recommendations with the Bike Map App. Key features of this app include:
- Discovery
- Route Planner
- Offline Maps / Navigation
- Access to 3.4 million global bicycle routes
- Tracking
- Personalisation
The app boasts over 3 million bike routes in more than 80 countries around the world. So it's very likely you're going to discover a ride near you that you haven't yet done. It's best used when in you're in an unfamiliar area and want to know the best bike track around. If you're going off the beaten track and have little data connection, you can turn on the Offline Navigation.
Zwift - Free or $14.99 / month for Unlimited
Moving away from navigation and tracking apps and into another world is Zwift. Ride in the real world and power your avatar across virtual worlds, competing against other riders in real time.
Zwift is the perfect setup to keep you training in the cold winter months. Try a workout from the library of training plans, world-class workouts or create your own. Climb mountains, sprints or intervals in iconic locations around the world or participate in group rides with over 200 events a day.
To get started you'll need a supported bicycle trainer and compatible bluetooth hardware. Check out our blog 'What do I need to set up Zwift?' for more details.
Ride with fellow cyclists online using ZWIFT
NOTABLE MENTIONS
Road Bike Pro
Another great app for recording your rides such as weather info, average speed total distance and more.
Challenger Outdoor
A GPS app that turns your handlebar into a dashboard to visualise speed, altitude, distance and much more.
Komoot
If you're off on a bicycle adventure then give Komoot a look in. The app is aimed specifically at those tackling the mountains.
Navigr8
Track your speed, distance, pedaling rate (cadence), heart rate, and more – all on a clear and customisable dashboard.
Let us know in the comments below what your favourite Cycling Apps are.
