Rollerdave

Does anyone use an app on your smartphone as speedometer/odometer?

I tried Speedview for android, but it lacked an odometer.

Today I tried Ulysse Speedometer and really liked it, its got an odometer with trip, and a bunch of other stuff I like, now to figure a secure way to mount my Android to my handlebars.

Thoughts?

RD

donalson

there are dozens of apps specific to cycling with speedo's integrated into them.... my preference is IPbike, add a ant+ usb2 stick and it reads my old garmin HRM, and cadence/speed sensor.

also played with strava cycling, endomondo, garmin fit, MapMyRide, and ubikelite and a few others... IPbike isn't the easiest to use but it is as close to a garmin edge 800 as I can get right now.

Rollerdave

Oh awesome, I'll check those out. are any of them free?

donalson

pretty sure all of them are... they do have a pay for upgrade option (ipbike gives you 1,000,000 wheel revolution trial or something like that)

bassjones

Strava app is nice too, though I prefer MapMyRide for the simplicity. I want to get a carrier/cradle and cadence sensor, but for now I just turn on the app and put my iPhone in my jersey pocket.

trmulder

I use endomondo for Blackberry, but I'm pretty sure it's available for Android & iPhone as well. It works for what I use it for. Shares workouts to soial media. It's free also...so you can't beat that.

SeanBlader

If you need a mount, I dig the handlebar mount version from https://www.slipgripcarmounts.com/. Although after my last phone fell out after I bounced over a few unexpected tree roots, I've started wrapping a rubberband from the mount around the phone to the "latch", which doesn't get in the way too much, and makes me a little more sure in my phone's security. But they also make versions that hold phones with some cases.

And occasionally I wish Strava would have momentary speed via GPS shown on screen rather than ride average, but I don't really want to be looking at my screen when I'm going fast either. I think that's a better use for Google Glass when there's a retail version, I might have to spring for one and end up being a white guy/glass-hole on a bike.

Mi11er

I love stava, But it is what I started with.

FSUGOLFPRO7671

I just picked one of these and have used it a few times - LOVE IT!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

less than $8 with shipping - couldn't imagine riding without it

Willbird

I have been using cyclemeter, there is an annual subscription (not bad) but I do not recall exactly what that gets you. it is cool that you can set it up to email you or others when you start, and probably they could look and see where you were, might be nice for group rides ?. Then it sends another email when you stop.

I strictly use it with GPS right now, no other sensors.

Bill

slorollin

I've been using an Android app called Runtastic for road bikes. There are several versions. App is free for basic, but you can upgrade to Pro version for $5, which I did. It has everything I need and then some. You can watch your ride afterwards on Google Earth.

ill.clyde

Endomondo for Android user here ... it's free, pairs with my HRM and I've used it for years, even before the HRM.

It's one of the few apps I'd pay for if I had to (there's a premium version, which I'm considering maybe).

donalson

another one to check out if you are on android is the ridewithgps app... will use bluetooth HRM and gets great battery life (i have an older HTC rhyme and was able to ride for 7 hrs (over 12 hrs in the day leaving it on the entire time) and still had plenty of battery life... that was with screen off and in airplane mode... but still real good stuff... will do turn by turn nav for a fee and should soon have that option avl even without data... and the iphone beta should be avl pretty soon... nice stuff if you already use ridewithgps online

CommuteCommando

I have used both Strava and Endomondo. Both are decent, as are some of the others I'm sure. Mostly do Strava now.

ChargerDawg

I prefer cyclemeter as the display is easier to see during a ride.

sstorkel

I haven't been terribly impressed with the accuracy of smartphone-only solutions...

pavemen

I use Endomondo (free) on my S4 with a Garmin GSC-10 speed/cadence sensor (ANT+). Works great, but my phone supports ANT natively. There are BTLE options as well if your phone does not support ANT

daviddavieboy

I find them quite bad as well. I have used my phone to find my way in unfamiliar cities but for tracking apps they lack.

Rich Gibson 

Another vote for ipbike. You can change the screens in any arrangement or size numbers you wish. I have had no problems with accuracy. It matches my Bontrager computer identically. I mount it on my handlebar and also play streaming music from live365. In landscape you can show a map of the area in which you are riding.

Rich

Jimbosays

+1 for Endomondo!

I use it for every ride!

In addition to instant speed/distance info it is great reviewing your route/stats and making new routes (with distance info) to try.

While there is a 'premium' charge version, I have yet to find the need to upgrade from the free app.

Willbird

Probably overall using a gps to track speed and distance on a bike would all hinge on how many waypoints it measured....it will probably not pick up the extra distance you add to miss a pothole for instance nearly as well as a cyclecomputer will.....the computer tracks every wheel revolution.

But the aps have a lot of nice features esp IMHO (not that I have done it yet) for when more than 1 rider is in a group, and they may become separated, looks to me like cyclemeter would let me easily find a friend or them to find me as long as the email was setup right and the phones had signal :-).

Northwestrider

How is battery drain when using these apps. I tried runtastic the other day, it seemed not too bad. How are some of the other apps like mapmyride , etc ?

Willbird

If I leave the screen open on Cyclemeter (which I do) it seems to burn about 10% of an Iphone5s battery in 1 hour. When I was sticking it in a pocket before I got a mount I closed the screen and it used a lot less power. I have not really explored settings and features of the ap much yet, I just use it :-).

Bill

Vexxer

I find the apps unreliable for speed as they tend to keep running while stopped, and riding out in the country can result in loss of GPS signal. I still use them to try to keep track of total mileage, routes, and elevation gain... but I rely on my inexpensive wired computer more for speed, and time riding.

Willbird

Having a record of the temp and humidity is nice too :-).

Not so sure on that elevation today hehe I rode a loop and it gave me more climb than descent somehow....that should be impossible if you ride a loop with your start and end point the same ??

Bill