I use Strava with my cell phone. There are other cell phone apps that probably work well also. The reasons I like it:
1. I use the free subscription 2. I’d probably have my phone with me anyway 3. I can easily track the mileage for each bike as well as the components on the bike, if I I choose to enter them 4. I like the visual of where I have ridden. Strava used to offer a free trial on the paid subscription where I could pull up my “heat map” that shows all the places I’ve ridden. Probably the one benefit of the paid subscription that might motivate me to upgrade my subscription. 5. Can be used even if no cell service, for example for foreign travel. GPS data recorded while riding and then superimposed onto a map later when wifi or cell connection made. 6. Global “heat maps” are useful for searching out poplular rides/routes 7. Flyby feature (other Strava riders out while you are riding) is fun and from which I have obtained new ride/route ideas. “Why is that guy riding that way instead of the way I’m going?” “Oh, I didn’t know there was a trail there.” “that looks like a fun route.” “I wonder if that is a safer route?” Etc 8. Atltitude gain, grade %, max speed, avg speed, time comparison data are all fun 9. Help keeps me motivated to get out and ride, sad as that might be - more of function of a goal than the app but the app allows me to track toward the goal 10. I can recreate routes that I rode years ago and add them in with appropriate dates which will populate my “heat map” from which I get the visual of the different places I’ve ridden. Obviously, speed data not a part of such added rides but total mileage is. I’m probably forgetting some. I do not use a handlebar mount. I just fire up the app, turn the screen off, put the phone in my pocket and then pull it out if I need it. I’ve used it on tours with no battery issues if I turn cell service off so the phone is not constantly seeking service. I have tried a couple mounts and disliked them because they rattle and finally decided that monitoring all the data while riding is too distracting anyway. I also paid a one month subscription for the Ride with GPS cell app for the ACA tour on the GDMBR. This had the advantage of my being able to download the GPX files from ACA for the tour. While on the road I could then pull up the map for the day and find out exactly where I was - particularly useful when coming to forks in the road or turns. I think one might also be able to get audible turn by turn directions but I did not use this. Again, this was all without cell service. The GPX file has the map downloaded onto your device and the GPS signal places you on the map. I don’t believe Strava has this same feature paid or unpaid. I ran both apps while touring or just fired up Ride with GPS when I needed it. Map My Ride is another app out there. I think they all have paid and unpaid service. Probably worth looking at all of them to see which one best provides whatever one is looking for at any given price. I think each is slightly different in that regard. My main complaint is that, as yet, I’ve found no way to download all that Strava data to an Excel file for really anal analysis. Bill -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
