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iOS Bike Tracking App (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/bicycling@lemmy.world
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Evening folks!

Looking for some suggestions on a good bike route tracking app to use. I know of Strava and Komodo, but I’m aware they were bought out and therefore I don’t trust their data privacy. Any suggestions?

I use my Garmin Enduro to track my biking sessions, but look for something on my phone to for both a map during rides and being able to share routes. I saw there is TrailLink, which is great for finding trails but does not track. Tried OrganicMaps but it gets me lost as it keeps showing abandoned railroads that look like trails 🤣. The Aventon app is nice but it drains the battery super fast.

Thanks in advance!

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[–] 4 points 1 year ago (12 children)

I'm using https://www.bikecitizens.net/, Switzerland based so with decent privacy laws, really good maps and a great UI.

Using it on Android myself, but I guess the iOS version will be more or less equal.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    This is a good suggestion. I had used it a few years ago but didn't love its navigation at that time in New York City. It's possible that it's improved, but for NYC routing in particular I wound up getting the lifetime plan for Bikemap. Slick interface, good integration into Apple Health, and based in Austria so probably has a similarly not-horrible privacy stance.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Worth the $50 a year? The interface looks beautiful, will need to try the trial once it cools down a bit so I can go for a ride. Thanks for the suggestion.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    I suppose it depends how and how much you use it. I would rather pay $100 for software I know I'll use for years than pay $5/month in perpetuity, especially if I can support a smaller software developer.

    My justification was that in the city I was paying something like $150/year for an unlimited pass and saving by cancelling a $120/month unlimited Metrocard. And as I mentioned, it was by far the best bike directions available at the time. Shortly after, Apple released bike navigation on Apple Maps, but I still preferred Bikemap for its routing. I'm still annoyed from missing out on AllTrails when they offered a lifetime license...

    It appears Bikemap doesn't always have the lifetime license available anymore, but they offered it last summer. Maybe they'll bring it back again? (Apologies for the Facebook link.)

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    Thank you! Looks it like it uses the same maps source as Organic Maps. I like I can use it without having to pay. Will need to try tomorrow when I go out.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Yep it's based on openstreetmaps, which btw you can also edit yourself - I've added some backroads/dirt roads that are not accessible by car but work nicely by bike just so that the app would recognize them and route me through.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    OrganicMaps (shout out to CoMaps, the OM alternative) and many others use OpenStreetMaps.

    This might not be what you want to hear, but you can edit the maps, and the next time OrganicMaps updates, it'll include your changes.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    I might have too, I wonder if there is an option of turning off “abandoned railroads”. They just look almost the same as trails. I haven’t looked deep into it.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

    Are there still train tracks there? There's an option on OpenStreetMaps (which to repeat, is where these apps get their data from) for "Disused Railway". Maybe labeling them correctly would stop them from blending in with other types of trails.

    OrganicMaps (and CoMaps) aren't designed around "routes", but instead can be used for navigation without a preplanned route. So that's not really what you're looking for.

    You can use one of many services to create your own pre-planned route. I have a Garmin bike computer that I can load a route into and it'll give me basic directions (designed for a small screen). I'm sure something like that must exist for a phone, but I'm not sure. The bike computer also records my GPS track so I can look at it later. I have a program called Endurain running on my server (I'm a nerd) which is like Strava but with fewer features.

    Even the Garmin app can create routes, but their maps are outdated in my area so YMMV.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    Do you find the Garmin biking computers worth the cost? I have an Enduro 3, wish they would let you track the activity on the phone simultaneously. However, based on someone else’s suggestion, Bikemap has been a very good alternative for me so far.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago*

    It's hard to answer that question without knowing your budget. I've had mine for so long I don't remember how much it cost, but I've been happy with it.

    Another big part of their functionality is sensors, so if you plan on using a cadence sensor, heart rate sensor, etc, it'd increase the value to you.

    I'm not up to speed on available options, but other brands like Wahoo might offer the same functionality.

    If you like using your phone and found an app that works, that definitely decreases the value of a dedicated computer to you!

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