matimeo

Do any of you commuters use Strava? I don't have a computer on my new summer bike build, so I've gotten into using Strava since I was introduced to it by a friend. It does a great job of tracking my rides. I've seen posts about it on the road forums, but almost all of my riding is commuting or utility riding, and I'm wondering if anyone else like me uses it as well. I'm not tracking big long rides like the roadies, but just like being able to see how much I'm using my bike (instead of my car). It's also been interesting to see how long my commute actually takes, and how little difference there is in time between a commute where I take it easy, and one where I'm going as fast as I can.

megalowmatt

I use it from time to time with my phone or through a bike GPS. Mostly it's used for long rides, though.

UberGeek

I don't use Strava, but I use a similar app called Runkeeper; instead of a dedicated cycle computer. That might change, since my rides are getting longer and longer. They chew through battery when the screen is on. I'm limited to about 3 hours of riding, before the phone's battery is dead.

cvskates

I use Strava for all my rides - mountain, road, commuting, errands, everything.

You don't get the real time data of an actual bike computer, but I like the ability to track my performance over certain stretches, and individual rides, as well. There's a steep hill on my commute and I like to see my time up the hill get shorter and shorter each week.

ArizonaAdam

I use runkeeper and am experimenting with mapmyride. I'd buy a garmin if I didn't already have the phone

bunkiefd4

I use the iRunner app on my iPhone and its great. You can tap the lock button on top of the phone and make the screen go black and the app will continue to track progress. When you get to where your going just unlock your phone and it will bring you rite to the app. Strava is pretty good to, I've used it a time are two.

jdstoledo

I use map my ride on my iphone and love it. I don't even use a dedicated bike computer anymore. Map my ride can also interface with ANT+ devices like heart rate and power. I think it's great and it's only a few buckaroos.

cccorlew

For some reason I decided to Strava all my rides this year. I commute and ride for fun. I've only used the phone app a few times. Usually I use the Garmin 500. It would be overkill for just commuting, but since I have it already, why not?

https://app.strava.com/athletes/264291

parkersdad

I use an app called Cyclemeter. I have just about used them all. I like Cyclemeter because it works internally within its own app, you don't have to join anything. I also like the fact that it will email my wife or whoever I choose as I ride to let them know where I am and at what speed I am moving. Give it a try, I think you will love it.

SpookyReverb

I've used Strava for every single ride I have done, whether it is a century or a quick ride around the block. I think it is a fantastic app, I really love looking through all of the statistics.

nashvillwill

I use it every ride. As soon as I got it, I ditched the computer.

Its a very small hassle getting it started, but I love it otherwise.

Badger6

I use Mapmyride...no experience with Strava. I use MMR for the route building functionality, then upload to my phone (iPhone 4s) which i mount on my handlebars and lets me see the route in detail as I progress. Not really awesome, because I refuse to pay their MVP pricing, but good enough that I can vary the route, without getting lost whilst avoiding the roads filled with people in the slowmotion Indy 500 every morning. My 2 cents.

old's'cool

I like the idea of the app being self contained; but when I searched, I got two results: Cyclemeter GPS by Abvio costing $4.99 and CycleMeter by Yusuke Sekikawa, for free. Which one are you endorsing?

Rest_assured

I use strava for every ride, in conjunction with a very cheap computer just so I can see how fast I'm currently going. Plus strava gives you info on your average speed, so I use the computer to try and roughly match the average in real time. Has anybody used strava pro? It is pretty expensive... Wonder if it is worth it

parkersdad

I use the Cyclemeter by Abvio that is $4.99. To me it is well worth the money. This is an example of what it sends my wife. You can set it up to report every 1/4 mile up to 10 miles I think.
https://cyclemeter.com/0610630a577d6c...30621-0619?r=e

parkersdad

You can also export your trips at anytime. Here is the link to the app

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cycl...330595774?mt=8

FeuRouge

+1 for Cyclemeter. It's a great app and their support is good too.

matimeo

Cyclemeter sounds cool. Are any of you familiar with the app Tasker? You can set it up to automate all kinds of cool tasks. I wonder if I could set it up when using an app like Strava, to do what the Cyclemeter app does (e.g. send my location to my wife). I to have it set up that if I lost my phone and I text it a key word, it will text me back it's location, take a picture with front and rear camera, and lock the screen.

I had never thought of using Tasker for these types of cycling applications, but I bet the possibilities are endless.

majwell

I have used Runkeeper, Map My Ride and Strava (the apps for tracking and the web sites). I have used them for commuting and longer rides.

Right now I use Runkeeper and Strava. Runkeeper and Map My Ride have voice feedback so you can leave the screen off but still get some info on pace, etc. so if you ride with headphones, or are riding somewhere quiet, you can hear how you are doing.

I will say the runkeeper GPS seems a little worse than strava or map my ride, but this is marginal. Map my ride website is a little clunky and they give you no way to export your GPX/TCX files, you need to use a 3rd party and do it one by one, which is very annoying. Also they give you no way to edit specific rides, only the routes, so if you mess up (leave your tracking on) you can't fix it.

Runkeeper supports routes, allows you to edit routes and edit rides, and also allows you to export GPX files in bulk. So with the routes I am generally too lazy to track every single commute, so I have saved my commute route, and just put in the time I left and arrived (approx.) as I don't care about speed, segments, or anything, just tracking my distance.

I then use this site to keep my strava and runkeeper in sync: https://tapiriik.com/

This ensures if I use Runkeeper or Strava for tracking then it will appear in both, do not however load GPXs manually or tapiriik with duplicate rides. Also I find with Strava I can last quite a few hours on my iphone (6+ hours) if I turn off cellular data while I ride. Last, distances between all 3 will never match as the algorithm they use is different.

calyth

I'm using mostly Endomondo (similar to Strava) to see if I've improved over time.

I do have a bike computer with HR to tell me if I'm going over the limit.