Are you using a phone App?
 

I have been using a bike computer and Strava. I am looking to go just phone, however there has to be a better app then Strava. I am looking for an app that does everything a bike computer does but on a phone app. What you using? What do you like and dislike about it?

I used one briefly last year, but it did not record distance accurately. I think it would have if I had a speed sensor, but I just resurrected my Cateye Solar computer from 1984.

Try Cyclemeter. Beats any other cycling app hands down for analytical statistics and all the ride data resides in a local database on your phone. No need to have internet or cellular connection to review any of your rides. It also costs less - $9.95/year vs monthly subscriptions from other cycling apps. I used it for about 5 years and it worked flawlessly with any BTLE sensors (heart rate, speed, cadence and power meter). If you also use the Strava web site to upload your rides, it will automatically upload your ride to Strava at the end of each ride. It also has a user defined Live Track where you can define when and how you want the data sent (time or distance). I tried all of the popular cycling apps and have yet to find one with as many features and as user defines as Cyclemeter. It works with iPhone and Android phones. However, sensors seem to work better on an iPhone.

They do have a free version, but like all the other free versions, parts of the app are disabled until you pay for a subscription.

I use this app on my phone. It does everything I want in a cycling app, and it's easy to use. There's a free version which works well enough, if lacking in features that the paid version gives you.

Bike Computer Pro

I uninstalled Strava after a single ride, because it wasn't of any use to me.

John nailed it: Cyclemeter for iOS and Android.

I use ridewithgps on every ride, unless I forget. It collects more data than I could ever dream of. I'm very happy, and I pay the subscription fee. You still get a lot if you don't pay.

I use a Quad Lock mount for my handlebars. I also have an external battery to run off of so I don't drain the phone's meager internal battery.

I'll fight back on the question - I think you're better off with a cycle computer that can sync to Strava, Garmin, or other app. First off, they mount better to your handlebars. They're built for that, where as any smartphone is by comparison large and requires an unwieldy (and possibly expensive) mount. Second, bike computers use less power, unless you don't actually use the phone while riding (i.e., you let the screen go dark) - if you're wanting to track your info (speed, HR, cadence, etc) in real time, you'll need the screen on at all times.

Now, if all you're looking to do is record your ride for reviewing at home, a smartphone can do that (I haven't used it but Cyclemeter looks very good), then you can ditch the bike computer. But I spend a lot more time looking at my ride info while riding than once I'm home.

Cyclemeter syncs with Strava...the recorded ride is automatically uploaded to Strava when you close the ride. For displaying the ride in real time without mounting the iPhone (I keep it in my pocket), I use a comprehensive bike computer (Bontrager Trip 300). I also have a Garmin Edge 1000. That's usable and it does upload to Strava, but Garmin has the worst user interface of any consumer hand-held device I've ever seen and the display is very dim, even at it's brightest.

Right . . . issue isn't want to sync with, it's what useability there is during a ride. I don't think any phone-based app is going to be as useable during a right as a cyclecomputer. Afterwards, of course, easier to review with whatever app you like most.

Urban Biker
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...mis.urbanbiker

Free. Awesome. Can use your own offline maps to embed the map right on the dashboard.

Love it.

I used that one before, and it seemed like any time I used it my battery would get drained in a hurry. Seemed like even when I wasn't using it my battery would get really low. Uninstalled it and my battery usage went back to normal. Not sure why, or even if it was that particular app causing the issue.

I've never had that issue with Urban Biker and I'm pretty obsessive about battery life and checking battery stats to see what's using battery.

In real world use I get about 4-5 hours out of my bike phone with the screen on (and huge battery)

In testing I've let Urban Biker run with the screen off and it worked for 2 days with GPS on before it drained the battery. (Which is nice so on long trail rides I can keep it running with the screen off and it will still work fine)

It could have been a conflict with some random version of Android. Or you could have gotten a bad version of it and quit before it was patched. That stuff happens. But the app in general isn't a battery hog.

This was some time ago so it likely was an older version which may have been buggy. I think the version I had didn't utilize any maps or anything. At any rate, the apps I use are good enough and I really don't need to use anything else. I usually turn the screen off anyway to save battery life, and I prefer to enjoy the ride and don't bother looking at my phone all the time.

I currently use a Wahoo Bolt but for the 5 years that I used Cyclemeter as my bike computer, it was connected to a Wahoo RFLKT+. All my data, except for on-screen mapping, was displayed on the RFLKT+. I actually liked using that combination better than using the Bolt. Had my RFLKT+ not died on me and Wahoo still made them, I would still be using that combination today. Never had a battery issue and have done several centuries without having to recharge my iPhone 5C or my iPhone SE (used both with Cyclemeter). Other than the on-screen mapping, the only other advantage I have using the Bolt is turn-by-turn navigation.

+1 for Cyclemeter.

I use Runstastic Road Bike Pro on iPhone $4.99(?) one time purchase, and I pair it with SunDing Bluetooth speed/cadance sensor ($13/amazon). I have multiple bikes, so I buy phone mounts and SunDings for each.

I use a 3T eye which puts all my Strava data out front. The other option is a Wahoo RFLKT then you can use an app which controls all your ANT+ or bluetooth devices and it gives you a screen out front that you're not worried about if you damage it in a crash. The 3T Eye is a pain in the ass to set up because 3T have basically dropped support for it, so I would go with the Wahoo. But yeah, it saves you from having your phone out front and it gives you all your vital stats out front.

Its surprisingly good once you have it set up, but the 3T eye is a major pain in the ass to set up. Once you do its set and forget though and the 3T app by itself is actually really good but then getting it to upload its data to Strava requires you to sign up with an account from Strava, Rouvy, and a whole bunch of other crap that took me a full day to get the stupid thing to sync with Strava... So... the app is good but the way it connects because 3T has basically ignored development of it is really, really terrible. It does work though... And it was designed by 3T so it has only the stats you need out front rather than lap, speed and cadence averages that don't mean anything taking up unnecessary screen space.

You will need sensors sensors (speed, cadence, heart rate, and maybe power) but you will need those sensors anyway, and if you want to do it ideally you will also need an ANT+ sensor to get it working like a Garmin. Once its all set up it will automatically upload to Strava though. Unless you have ANT+ built into your phone you will possibly also need a specialised ANT+ sensor from either Garmin or Wahoo to work with all the sensors you are connecting to your phone.

Using your phone you will also get skewed up max speed settings like 60mph when your phone is syncing with the global GPS it has, but I just ignore my max speed because its unimportant data in most cases. With the 3T Eye you cycle through all your stats using the arrows with the out front computer which is really easy. Either left arrow or right arrow or use the center arrow for lap timing. Its way more straight forward than a Garmin 520 or whatever but it gives you the exact same amount of computing power if not more minus maybe route planing. It can give you more because you can attach any sensor that the Wahoo or 3T app supports and your not limited by the specific restrictions of the Garmin/Wahoo you're dealing with, its an open box as far as sensor support an instant uploading goes. There are over 240 devices that work with the Garmin ANT+ sensor so yeah that goes to show you how deep down the rabbit hole you can go.

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It's like Alice in wonderland once you start down this pathway.... tumbling down the rabbit hole. You just have to work out which apps and what sensors you're going to stop with. What can I say? Once you start doing this though its worth getting a dedicated out front computer rather than risking your phone out front. I'd start with a better supported computer though such as a Wahoo REFLKT+ that way if you do crash your bike you wont ruin a $1000 phone.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/954/2...0e1e7c51_b.jpg

Not from my bike but for the purposes anyway:

https://www.cyclowired.jp/sites/defa...7/3V1A7397.jpg

https://images.sportive.com/thumb_65...6e0a15bfc0.jpg

That's what I use and I've found it to be the best app, personally.

Yesterday, I tried to use a smart phone as a GPS unit :
180 km on one day, my hands were sweaty, then there was a nice shower of rain : the damn thing would not react to my finger authentication, the USB plug was full of water.
And finally it shut off out of battery.
I'm considering buying a new Garmin even if I was really disappointed by the 810

Yves

This is why I have weather proof computer out front. Its weather sealed, there's no touch screen to worry about. My phone stays dry in its case in my jersey pocket. It still does all the fancy stuff, and manages all the ANT+ stuff it just stays dry and out of the way. Its a talking point also "you've got a computer that's that small that does all that..." "Yeah and more..." Doesn't need navigation either... I fly as the crow flies around where I live.

I've been using a few apps lately on my phone and here are my thoughts:

For showing current info (speed, distance, cadence etc):
IpBike. Almost shows too much info on the screen but can be changed somewhat. Can connect to Ant and Bluetooth speed/cadence sensors and not use GPS.
The other recommendations here I have not fully tried but they look good too.I do not know of any app which allows complete customization of the screen though.

For following a pre-defined route - eg GPX file:
Paid app - Ride with GPS. Auto loads from PC to the phone.
Free app - Osmand. Use Google Drive to get file on phone and open in Osmand. Has turn by turn directions and lots of customizing available. Maps are usable offline too.

To find a route while riding (eg route to the nearest bike store)
Komoot -Auto re-directs if you take a wrong turn and you can change settings to be more aggressive (ie more hills) or easier riding. Voice is clear and works well. Better than google maps IMHO but it works OK too.

Yes. I simply use Strava on my phone and it connects via bluetooth to my heart rate monitor & cadence sensor.

The downside is short battery life (easily fixed with an extra battery), and overheating issues in the summer. The latter I partially fix by using airplane mode, but also I should mount the phone on a mount which allows airflow to cool it; currently it's in a top tube bag and that's not ideal.

The trouble with Strava is that for real-time ride info it is abominable. It just shows trip distance and average speed - not even current speed. It's so terrible it invites conspiracy theories that they are in bed with Garmin to boost sales of their devices. But Stava is great for recording rides and analyzing the data after - just use another app for current ride info.

My ridewithgps app displays current speed, but it's not calculated well. I think it would do a better job if I added a wheel sensor. After the ride, it seems to get recalculated and more accurate. I'm OK with the "estimates" that come out in real time.

You could add a cheap wired computer with a wheel sensor if you really want an accurate speed readout. I've used the ones that sell for between $3 and $6, and they are rock solid.

Windy

I used the free Wahoo Fitness App until I recently got a Garmin Edge 520. The app was fine, much better than Strava at showing information and also not using as much battery, but the old phone I was using just didn't have enough battery life for the longer rides I plan to do this summer. I like that the Edge is a lot smaller and weatherproof, as my handlebar was too crowded with a ginormous waterproof phone mount in between light, action cam, and tail light remote.

Cyclemeter for iPhone was very good, lots of user configurable settings including voice prompts. Almost too many options and some aren't clear at first. But the overall layout is much better than IpBike, which offers comparable user configurable options.

Be sure to transfer and back up your data separately from Cyclemeter. If you don't renew the subscription you'll lose access to your own data recorded by Cyclemeter. I uploaded most activities recorded with Cyclemeter to Strava.

After a year I decided I wasn't getting enough use from Cyclemeter since I don't use fitness monitors, so I didn't renew and now just use Strava. If I decided to add heart rate and other monitors I'll consider renewing Cyclemeter.

Wahoo Fitness for iPhone is a very good freebie. Clear display, simple interface, not a battery hog. Lots of activity presets with easy to understand options to configure for your preferences. It records full data, but displays only a tiny fraction. To see more data, upload to Strava. Don't bother with the Android version until they fix the lack of an auto-pause/resume feature.

I keep trying other apps suggested by other cyclists, but so far I haven't found any I like better than Strava (Android and iPhone versions) and Wahoo Fitness (iPhone only).

If I wanted to record routes as well for future navigation I'd reconsider Ride With GPS and Map My Ride. Those are popular with local clubs for scheduled group rides. Guests can download the data and be ready to tag along and regroup if they fall off the back on fast group rides. Excellent for previewing routes before joining a group for a long ride on unfamiliar turf.

Regarding real-time display, no phone app based on GPS data can offer true real-time speed, etc. There's always lag, ranging from small to significant. Some are worse than others. Some days are worse than others when GPS sync errors occur -- usually a problem with the phone itself, or atmospheric/terrain conditions.

The best (or least laggy) GPS phone app I've tried for near-real-time speed is Speedometer for iPhone by by David Garner. Minimalist, clear, easy to see even in daylight and very battery-frugal. It doesn't record data for uploading to Strava -- the one thing that would make it the perfect minimalist app, for folks who don't need to record heart rate, power, etc. But it's a good substitute for a proper bike computer.

But any sub-$50 wired or wireless computer would be better for real-time speed.

The Wahoo Fitness app for Android has had autopause/resume for a couple months now.