There are also apps for handy things like fixing your bike and even setting up your bike fit Updated November 6, 2020 Welcome to the latest edition of road.cc’s buyer's guide to cycling apps in which you’ll find everything you need to know to find the right app for you, plus our pick of 29 of the best and most useful cycling apps. bikedoctorapp.com, Do away with the guesswork of nutrition on your ride and let your phone do it for you. There's little doubt that getting enough sleep is an important aspect of any budding cyclist's life. As the old saying goes no pain, no gain, and the Sufferfest dishes both out in spades. In these cases, the resistance responds to the particular training block and the groups are held together regardless of how much power an individual rider is producing. Training content brought to you in association with the Wattbike Atom, Best smart turbo trainers: Top Zwift compatible indoor trainers, Best turbo trainer workouts and sessions to improve your cycling, Best exercise bikes 2020: Keep fit this winter, Zwift: How to get set up and how to make the most of the virtual app. ordnancesurvey.co.uk. In the past, the closest thing to an interactive element during home training sessions was to plug in a VHS and listen to Phil Liggett on full blast, barely audible over the whirring of your turbo trainer as you try to ‘keep up’ on a mountain stage while forgetting about the discomfort of sitting still. When Peloton launched its home spin bike in 2014, it made getting a pro-grade cycling class in your living room easier than ever. 1. What it is: The reigning champion of cycling fitness apps—with a competitive social edge. For the more adventurous rider, the Ordnance Survey maps are all but incomparable for the rider who wants a full perspective on the land they intend to ride over. Copyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2020. If you’re a bookworm as well as a commuter, Audible is the best cycling app for keeping you relaxed and for exercising your mind as well as your body. Cost: 3 issues for £5, then £19.49 every six issues. Built-in trainer and power meter calibration is another feature that shows the developers at TrainerRoad are serious about accuracy. Here we look at seven training apps to see how they stack up. Technology is an ever-present in all aspects of modern life, and that includes our humble sport of cycling. Another issue was finding a workout: 1,000s of user-made workouts are available through the online ERG database tool, but with searching almost impossible, it’s like looking for the proverbial needle in haystack. The other benefit is being able to link your turbo sessions to realistic online worlds – either computer-generated or linked to real-world videos – where you can ride with/against others, with the resistance of your turbo trainer increasing every time you hit a virtual hill. Smart trainers do away with this manual resistance control, instead linking up with computers, smartphones and compatible bike computers which can control the resistance level for you. Legends aside, this app is based on years of development with a mixed offering of real-world video rides, interval training sessions and a selection of competitive modes that are sure to see you outpacing the local wildlife. Run by Amazon, Audible has an enormous library of audio books to listen to, and even offers a free 30-day trial (including a free audio book) for new users before paying its £7.99 membership fee. One for the geeks. sleepcycle.com. May 31, 2018. It all ties into an easy-to-use website with a large catalog of user-created rides. It’s quite an investment in time and potentially cost to try them out, and not all will suit your needs or tastes. The year 2020 saw big changes for the app as it put some of its most popular features, notably segments and leaderboards, behind its premium paywall. For: iOS, Android Cost: $4.99 A comprehensive mapping tool for worldwide routing, with intuitive route planning function. 7. One of the best things about riding your gorgeous bike in lovely places is that you can share a picture of it on social media to make all of your friends jealous. Lacks serious in-depth data but turns tedious turbo sessions into a fun, sociable experience. Following the Winter Base plan, we knew exactly what we had in-store each day, so there was no wasted time before each session deciding what to do. 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. Log your training, find new routes and help get the roads repaired at the tap of a smartphone screen. Other – still really good – cycling apps Ride With GPS. endur8.com. For: iOS, Android It took a little while to get used to the amount of information displayed on the screen, but it wasn’t enough of a problem to distract from the workout itself. If you’re using TrainingPeaks, you can pull your workouts from there, which is a nice touch; it’s also compatible with Sufferfest workout videos. There is a whole host of training plans to pick for catering for beginners to pros with everything from on-the-bike sessions to yoga and strength training plans. This cycling navigation app plots a route from your selected start and finish points using not only roads (omitting dual carriageways and motorways), but also cycle paths and permitted paths. Using this free app, you can easily keep track of your performance by comparing key statistics such as your distance and pace, which makes it a great tool to follow your progress and set goals. 1. 4. 1. Saddle time is rewarded with XP points, which allow you to upgrade kit and equipment and adds an extra level of interest and possibly motivation. Read our full Sufferfest review. BKOOL is best if you’re looking for variety in your indoor training: virtual worlds, structured interval training, cycling classes and video routes are just some of the available options. The Sleep Cycle app is a remarkably clever thing that measures your sleep cycles throughout the night, and wakes you up at an optimal moment to reduce your grogginess for a morning training session. With all the trimmings... From Campagnolo, obviously, My Campy keeps track of your cycling activities in a way that not only measures them from a physiological perspective, but also offers information on the interaction with your bike – or bikes – as you go, even going so far as to say when you may need to replace your chain, for example. So plug into our guide to discover which one can provide the kind of indoor-training environment you’re looking for. The first is the ability to follow preset workouts, with resistance changes coming at set points without you needing to intervene. All rights reserved. Cyclist™ is a registered trade mark. Bicycle maintenance made easy. Here we have brought you five of the best cycling related apps to help out with everything associated with a cycling ride: BBC Weather. In the ‘Just Ride’ mode, the resistance responds to the gradient and the Zwift programmers must be commended for providing a fantastically smooth and realistic feeling. In theory, there should have been enough content to keep us entertained but in reality we were left a bit underwhelmed. Another mapping service, Komoot has an abundance of quirky extras that we really love and that are super useful for cyclists. Tacx Flux S direct drive smart turbo trainer review, Best single speed bikes 2020: fixed gear and single speed bikes from £199.99, Video: How to adjust a rear derailleur and index your gears, Women led the way in huge increase in cycling for 2020, Strava data shows, Thinking about a cycling holiday in 2021? Runtastic Road Bike. However, we found this complexity made the app and specifically the training mode, difficult to use – especially figuring out how to setup our trainer with the software. It focuses on delivering high-quality training sessions and doesn’t require you to have a degree in sports science to use it – simply choose your discipline, development area and volume to arrive at your multi-week training plan. For: iOS, Android What's the best home gym kit for cyclists? Platform: iOS, Android. Cyclists can now record rides, set goals, track progress and monitor training much easier than they could in the past, vastly increasing the opportunities on offer to them. Created by Cycling UK, the Fill That Hole app means that if you come across a pot hole while out riding, there's something you can do about it. 3. If you want a no-nonsense app that’ll make you a faster cyclist, then this is the one for you. Ideal for anyone looking to, Activties for UK women between ages of 18 and 29 rose by 108% during pandemic, Cyclist and PedalTripr have teamed up to bring you the best cycling holidays (for when we can all, The Manxman is set to rejoin the Belgian team on a one-year deal for 2021. I think there are more to this app. At the core of the app are the Sufferfest workout videos; combining race footage and music to match the effort demanded by a particular interval. BKool Simulator. The free version works like a Strava without segments; it’s effective, but this app really shines if you subscri… We did find the technical side of the ride experience was lacking, however, with brutal resistance changes and the video going slowly out of sync with the resistance. This works by adjusting the level of magnetic resistance in the flywheel, enabling riders to recreate the effect of, for example, riding up steep gradients. FulGaz. For: iOS, Android For: iOS, Android Cost: Free You’ve got to be cool and patient to make the perfect attacking move on a ride, or so they say, and BKool’s expansive offering will help you build the legs needed to execute it. myfitnesspal.com. Free. Free trial period: 14 days. With so many out there, you can let us know in the comments if we've missed any that you find useful when out on the bike. With loads of data, training sessions and plans, it’s ideal for those who take their indoor training seriously. Regardless of your ability, Strava is an excellent cycling tracker. We've looked at a whole host of apps and landed upon a selection that we think shows the best cycling apps for iPhone and Android. If you’ve ever heard the Classics racers give a post-race interview you’ll probably have heard the term ‘full gas’. Ideal for anyone looking to, Activties for UK women between ages of 18 and 29 rose by 108% during pandemic, Cyclist and PedalTripr have teamed up to bring you the best cycling holidays (for when we can all, The Manxman is set to rejoin the Belgian team on a one-year deal for 2021. Garmin and other cycle computers can relay all sorts of data as you ride, and the best cycling apps for iPhone and Android can assist with route planning, logging your training, helping you fuel correctly and even advising on when it's time to change your chain. ErgVideo Multi-rider mode supports up to 24 riders from a single PC, and records all ANT+ device data using a … For: iOS, Android Cost: Free for 'casual users' or £8.49 per quarter for those after more developed plans Suffers from a few technical glitches and lack of users, but still a worthwhile indoor companion. For: iOS, Android Price: Free Format: iPhone, Android From: What3words What3words is a geolocating app that uses a three-word code to locate you anywhere on earth.While it's good for trying to make sure that parcels get delivers to your house, it's also gaining rapid acceptance by police, ambulance and mountain rescue teams as a simple way to get help to people that need it. We found the real-world rides challenging and engaging, particularly in the 3D virtual renderings with fellow competitors to keep you company and crowds to cheer you on. A neat app for tracking food and calorie intake if you're attempting a diet. Like Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, the graphics of Zwift aren’t quite Hollywood CGI, but we found them so engaging that we soon forgot we weren’t actually riding. Website: Kinomap.com. Simple as that. Don’t get us wrong, no-nonsense is not a euphemism for poor quality or lacking in features – quite the opposite. The BKool Cycling app offers four types of sessions; Route, Workout, Velodrome and of course, FTP test. Get every issue directly to your device, re-formatted and optimised ready to read on screen. 5. If you want an app that can do it all, Kamoot is a top pick. Entry-level models such as the BKool Smart Go cost around £350 and include everything needed to get started, but for a more realistic experience check out the Tacx Neo Smart, which among its many features is able to simulate road vibration and has a bone-shaking price tag to match – £1,299. Wahoo Fitness is a tracker for running, cycling and all kinds of fitness activities. The leading online training app that transforms indoor riding into a game with a detailed virtual world and interactive avatars. A good choice of workouts, lots of data and a user-friendly interface. Zwift. Road Grand Tours is intended to be a social platform providing multiplayer races and rides, allowing you to interact with other users via the mobile app. For a comparison of the best apps tailored to training, see our in-depth guide here. We say it's worth the few quid it costs a month, however, as Strava really is the ultimate companion for any bike ride. Just like all the other apps on the list of cycling apps, Runtastic Road Bike also allows you to monitor your cycling activities. With its unique blend of tough-love motivation, inspirational race footage and targeted intervals, it’ll help any rider gain access to their personal pain cave and emerge a stronger rider. Interesting in any case for the nerds, but potentially quite useful when changing or replacing drive train components. If you are tired of paying monthly fees to use your indoor smart trainer, then your options are limited. citymapper.com/london. They offer hundreds of virtual places to ride with or against other riders, with realistic, real-time graphics or video. Like Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, the graphics of Zwift aren’t quite Hollywood CGI, but we found them so engaging that we soon forgot we ... 2. The user-submitted videos are a real highlight and of excellent quality. The PowerMatch feature does an excellent job of working with your bike’s power meter to control the resistance of your smart trainer, making indoor sessions comparable with those completed outdoors. Best Bike Hire Apps Santander Cycles. Strava barely needs an introduction, such is its popularity. ¡Hola! With routes from a variety of worldwide locations, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. fillthathole.org.uk. The latest generation of training apps works across multiple platforms from PCs to smartphones and tablets. But on the plus side, any ride can be turned into a BKool session (by linking to your own GPS tracks) and enjoyed in an aerial map mode. And for anyone with a place in this year’s RideLondon, you can train on the slopes of a virtual Box Hill and hone your sprint finish down the Mall too! The FillThatHole app is operated by Cycling UK, the UK's leading cycling charity, and is the easiest way to notify the local authority of any road defects. For: iOS, Android With 50 or so workout videos, there’s enough to keep you coming back to Sufferlandria for a whole world of pain – again and again. The Road Bike Manual. The best apps for mountain bikers. Here are the best cycling training apps. Best Cycling Apps – Essential Apps for All Cyclists Apps have become incredibly more advanced in the last 10 years and have thus revolutionised the cycling world. It’s almost like having your own coach. It’s when you’re going as hard as you can and there is nothing left. Now owned by Wahoo, The Sufferfest has been long considered as one of the leading training platform available to cyclists. A must-have for navigation-challenged riders, Ride With GPS has audio cues available to paid users to help navigate routes. Strava. Trainerroad. Using physics modelling to reflect the ride sensations by altering resistance on your smart turbo trainer, along with high-definition videos of real races, it really pulled us in, to the point where we naturally chased the wheels in front of us and even leant into corners. FulGaz has a vast library with over 250 global videos that cover from 1-100 miles, and offers three ride modes: ‘Steady’ plays the video back at the speed it was recorded, making it ideal for fixed-duration workouts, whereas the ‘Reactive’ and ‘Challenge’ modes respond to how hard you’re working. Simply complete the form in the app and the team at FillThatHole does the rest, keeping the bureaucracy and hoop-jumping to a minimum. Not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re used to following paper training plans and already make use of the analysis tools, GoldenCheetah, could prove a very cost-effective solution. With thousands of riders Zwifting at any one time, we were never on our own for a ride, further increasing engagement with the app. Cyclist Tours can help, Check out the first sneak preview of Mark Cavendish in his new Deceuninck-QuickStep kit. For an added incentive, you can use Challenge mode to race against a ghost of yourself or an online rival. Saving the best until last: The Cyclist app. Bikemap brings together over 5.5 million cycling routes in more than 100 countries, providing navigation for... Wattson Blue. Many turbo trainers offer the option for the user to vary resistance via a remote switch mounted on the handlebars. Strava. According to the developers behind Rouvy, the name is enshrined in cycling legend, being the nickname of a wild sheep-like animal ridden by a court jester up the steep hills of Central Europe that was supposedly the inspiration for the first bicycle. With such a wealth of content, BKool is one of the most engaging and best value apps out there. It is, however, a doddle to make your own workouts, so if you have a selection of your own pre-made workouts these can be input and used in ERG mode with your smart trainer. And which is the best free cycling app? 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