A guide to smart-phone cycling apps
A guide to smart-phone cycling apps
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. Because apps are free or inexpensive, and because there are often many different choices providing essentially very similar functions, we suggest you enjoy playing 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.
In the list below 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 apps cyclists think about are GPS and mapping apps 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
Endomondo
£Free / iOS and Android
https://www.endomondo.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
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zeopoxa.fitness.cycling.bike&hl=en
Bike Computer - GPS Cycling Tracker
£Free / Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fehmin.bikeometer&hl=en
Journey planning apps
Want to know how to cycle from A to B in the quickest, simplest of safest way? Cycle journey planning apps are the answer — think of them almost as satnav 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://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cyclemaps-cycling-route-planner/id428397791?mt=8
CycleMap
£Free / iOS and Android
https://cyclemapapp.com
Komoot
From £3.99 / iOS and Android
https://www.komoot.com/product
ViewRanger
£Free / iOS and Android
www.viewranger.com/en-gb
Bike Hub Cycle Journey Planner
£Free / iOS and Android
routes.bikehub.co.uk
Maplocs Cycling Route Planner
£Free / Android
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 (A) / iOS and Android
http://www.bikerepairapp.com
Bike Doctor
Personal pocket bike mechanic.
£4.99 (iOS) £2.15(A) / iOS and Android
http://bikedoctorapp.com
FillThatHole
Cycling UK’s pothole recording and reporting app.
£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.fillthathole.org.uk
SizeMyBike
Helping you choose the bike perfect geometry for your body.
£1.99 / iOS
http://www.sizemybike.com
Bike Fast Fit
Bike fitting and positioning guidance.
£3.99 / iOS
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
Bicycle Gear Calculator (Android)
Calculating gear sizes with different parameters.
£Free / Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andrew.Gear_Calc_Free&hl=en_GB
Ride ID
In-case-of-emergency app with all a rider’s personal medical details.
£Free / iOS only
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ride-id/id548626479?mt=8
St John Ambulance First Aid For Cyclists
Advice to deal with most common cycling injuries.
£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/free-mobile-first-aid-app.aspx
Bicycle Maintenance Guide for Android
Simple advice for looking after your bike.
£4.99 / Android
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
Cycle Hire
Non-official but very handy companion to the London Cycle Hire scheme.
£Free / iOS only
http://cyclehireapp.com
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 smart-phone technology, off-road riders have plenty of app options available to them 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/
ViewRanger
Route guides, offline maps, GPS navigation and innovative Skyline functions.
£Free / iOS and Android
http://www.viewranger.com/en-GB
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
Cane Creek Dialed
Tune your Cane Creek suspension perfectly.
£Free / iOS and Android
https://blue.canecreek.com/products/suspension/accessories/dialed
Fitness apps
While many of the GPS and mapping apps certainly 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 year subscription / iOS and Android
https://www.elite-it.com/en/products/app-software/my-e-training
Plus Workout - Indoor Cycling (iOS)
Variety of turbo-training / spinning programmes.
Free / iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cycling-workout-spinning-your/id944800953?mt=8
Cycling Workout (Android)
Variety of turbo-training / spinning programmes.
Free / Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.knila.cyclingworkout
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
Endomondo
GPS route recording and mapping app.
£Free
https://www.endomondo.com
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.
Types of apps
iOS works on iPhone and other Apple products
Android is used by Samsung and most other phone manufacturers.
The Windows operating system is found on phones from Nokia/Lumia and Blu

Comments
Osmand
Osmand is a free Andoid app that provides route planning, tracking and navigation (including turn-by-turn announcements like a SatNav). It uses Open Street Maps so can cover many different countries. Its key benefit is that it doesn't need a data connection. Everything it needs is stored on the phone (and Osmand is SD-card aware). Turning data off dramatically extends battery life. I navigated a couple of 80+ mile rides last week and the battery on my cheap Motorola never fell below 50%.
There is an IOS version but it is not as fully-featured as the Android one - however, the development team is working on it.
There are also paid for versions. I signed up because the app is so useful, I want to see it continue.
More details: Osmand.net
Andy