Guide to smartphone cycling apps

By mattlamy
A cyclist using Cycling UK’s FillThatHole app
With everything from route planning and fitness to bike maintenance and first aid, it’s incredible how many different ways your cycling life can be assisted with the right cycling app. Journalist and Cycling UK member Matt Lamy rounds up some of the best

Long gone are the days when we had to buy a dedicated cycling computer to tell us how far and fast we were riding – now we can find out all that from our smart phones. But with new products appearing all the time, it’s increasingly hard to keep track of what’s available.

Because apps are free or inexpensive, and because there are often many different choices providing essentially very similar functions, we suggest you play with a few different versions to find which one you like best. There may be something with a very popular product that you find infuriating, while a hidden gem lurks somewhere lower down an app store’s rankings.

Rather than create a spurious ‘our favourite top 10' or 'top 20’ list, here we’ve tried to round up as many cycling-based apps currently available as possible. We have included the app name, price, website and available operating systems.

For the less tech savvy, iOS works on iPhone and other Apple products, meanwhile Android is used by Samsung, Moto and most other phone manufacturers. Previously the main alternative was the Windows operating system – found on phones from Nokia/Lumia and Blu – but Microsoft has recently withdrawn support for that.

However, there are still a few cycling apps for Windows phones available, so we’ve listed those in a separate section at the bottom of the page.

GPS route recording and mapping apps​

Perhaps the first type of app cyclists think about are GPS and mapping services that record your ride – where you cycled, when and how fast – and present it on a suitable map. These apps often synch with a website to record your riding schedule and may offer other functions, such as monthly mileage or climbing challenges, or even elements of community social media where you can interact with other users.

Strava

£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.strava.com

MapMyRide

​£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.mapmyride.com

Cyclemeter GPS

£Free / iOS and Android
https://abvio.com/cyclemeter/

Runtastic Road Bike

£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.runtastic.com/en/apps/roadbike

Ride With GPS

£Free / iOS and Android
https://ridewithgps.com

Sports Tracker

£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.sports-tracker.com

TrackMyTour

£Free / iOS only
https://trackmytour.com

Cycle Tracker Pro

£2.29 / iOS only
http://www.bluefinapps.com/cycle-tracker-pro.html

B.iCycle

£7.99 (iOS) £3.99 (A) / iOS and Android
http://b-icycle.com

Bikemap

£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.bikemap.net/en/apps/

Cycling – Bike Tracker

£Free / Android only
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zeopoxa.fitness.cycling.bike&hl=en

Bike Computer – GPS Cycling Tracker

£Free / Android only
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fehmin.bikeometer&hl=en

Journey planning apps​

Want to know how to get from A to B in the quickest, simplest or safest way? Cycle journey planning apps are the answer – think of them almost as sat nav for bicycles.

CycleStreets

Journey planning app using the same mapping as Cycling UK’s Journey Planner
£Free / iOS and Android
https://cyclestreets.net/mobile/

CycleMaps

£Free / iOS only
https://cyclema.ps/hello

Komoot

From £3.99 / iOS and Android
https://www.komoot.com/product

Outdooractive

£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.outdooractive.com/en/mobile-app.html

Maplocs Cycling Route Planner

£Free / Android only
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=abhiank.maplocs&hl=en_GB

Practical help apps

​The next section is a broad range of different apps that supply practical help, from bike maintenance to Cycling UK’s very own FillThatHole app, which records, reports and then helps local authorities repair potholes across the country. We’ve added a one-line description for each app below to explain what they provide.

Bike Repair

Repair instruction guides and riding tips.
£3.99 (iOS) £2.49 (Android) / iOS and Android
http://www.bikerepairapp.com

Bike Doctor

Personal pocket bike mechanic.
£4.99 (iOS) £2.15(Android) / iOS and Android
http://bikedoctorapp.com

FillThatHole

Cycling UK’s pothole recording and reporting app.
£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.fillthathole.org.uk

Bike Fast Fit

Bike fitting and positioning guidance.
£3.99 / iOS only
http://bikefastfit.com

The Roadie Bike Fit

Bike fitting for road cyclists.
£3.25 / Android only
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mantapix.android.theroadiebikefit&hl=en_GB

Bicycle Gear Calculator (iOS)

Calculating gear sizes with different parameters.
£Free
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bike-gear-calculator-bike-gears-cycling-gear/id936361951
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andrew.Gear_Calc_Free&hl=en_GB

St John Ambulance First Aid For Cyclists

Advice to deal with most common cycling injuries.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/free-first-aid-app/

Bicycle Maintenance Guide

Simple advice for looking after your bike.
£4.99 / Android only
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bicyclemaintenanceguide.bicyclemaintenanceguideforandroid&hl=en

ProBikeTracker – Bicycle Maintenance Tracker

Easy way to keep on top of wear and tear issues.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.probikegarage.com/#download

London and city cycling apps​

​Dedicated apps designed to make cycling in London and other cities easier.

Santander Cycles

The official and quickest way to hire a London Cycle Hire bike.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycles/community?intcmp=5390

London Bike Rides

30 great cycle routes through London.
£2.29 / iOS only
http://londonbikerides.com

Bike Citizens

Route planning app for cities using cycle courier knowledge.
£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.bikecitizens.net/app/

Mountain biking apps

While road and commuting apps might seem the most obvious users of smartphone technology, off-road riders have plenty of app options available as well.

Runtastic Mountain Bike

GPS route mapping and training app.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.runtastic.com/en/apps/mountainbike

Trailforks

Mountain bike trail database, GPS and other features.
£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.trailforks.com/apps/map/

Outdooractive

Route guides, offline maps, GPS navigation and innovative Skyline functions.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.outdooractive.com/en/mountain-biking-trails/5101/

MTB Project

Trail guides, offline mapping and GPS navigation.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.mtbproject.com/mobile-app

OS Maps

Official app from Ordnance Survey allowing you to buy map tiles for your device.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop/os-maps-online.html

My Trails

Download maps to your device so they are available offline.
£Free / Android only
https://www.frogsparks.com

Fitness apps

​While many of the GPS and mapping apps have elements that contribute towards establishing an effective training programme, the apps below are particularly focused on developing cycling fitness.

MyE-Training

Interactive virtual coach for Elite turbo-trainers.
Initially free then €9.99 a yearly subscription / iOS and Android
https://www.elite-it.com/en/products/app-software/my-e-training

Plus Workout Indoor Cycling

Variety of turbo-training and spinning programmes.
Free / iOS only
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/plus-workout-indoor-cycling/id944800953

Exercise Bike Workout

Variety of HIIT programmes for indoor bikes.
Free / Android only
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spacedema.exercisebikeworkout&hl=en_GB&gl=US

My Virtual Mission

Use your daily rides to achieve an overall fitness challenge.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.myvirtualmission.com

TrainingPeaks

£Free / iOS and Android
www.trainingpeaks.com

Wahoo Fitness

£Free / iOS and Android
www.wahoofitness.com

Windows Phone apps

B.iCycle

GPS route recording and mapping app.
£3.09
http://b-icycle.com

CycloMeter

GPS and training app.
£Free
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/p/cyclometer/9wzdncrfj0bm

CycleStreets

Journey planning app.
£Free
https://cyclestreets.net/mobile/

CycleMaps

Journey planning app.
£3.29
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/p/cyclemaps/9wzdncrdc8xv

Finally, don’t forget every cyclist’s favourite get-out-of-jail-free card: Google Maps. It might not have the bells and whistles of other mapping apps, but when it comes to trying to work out exactly where you are, there’s nothing simpler.

What apps do you use? What have we missed? Log in and leave a comment below.

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