Cycling Apps Worth Downloading

Cycling Apps: What’s Actually Worth Using

Cycling app options have gotten complicated with all the platforms competing for attention flying around. As someone who has way too many cycling apps on my phone, I learned everything there is to know about which ones actually earn regular use.

Half of them I never open. Here’s what matters and why.

Strava – The Default

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Everyone’s on Strava. That’s its main value. The tracking works fine, but the real purpose is the social layer – seeing what friends ride, comparing segment times, following pro athletes.

Free version does the basics: GPS tracking, segments, social features. Premium adds training analysis, route planning, and beacon safety features. I pay for premium but could probably live without it.

Downsides: Strava culture can get competitive in unhealthy ways. Chasing segment times on public roads has caused crashes. Use it thoughtfully.

Komoot – For Route Planning

This is what I use to plan rides in unfamiliar areas. Draw a route, Komoot calculates turn-by-turn directions considering road surfaces and cyclist-friendliness.

The routing algorithm is smart. It knows the difference between a peaceful backroad and a highway, between smooth pavement and chunky gravel. Planning a gravel ride? It’ll keep you on gravel.

One-time purchases for map regions rather than subscription. Download maps for offline use – essential when cell service disappears on rural roads.

TrainerRoad – For Structured Training

If you train with power and want structure, TrainerRoad provides it. Hundreds of workouts organized into training plans. Connect to a smart trainer and it controls resistance automatically.

The adaptive training feature adjusts your plan based on how you perform. Crush a workout? It gets harder. Struggle? It backs off. Feels like having a coach without paying coach prices.

Expensive ($20/month) but worth it for serious training. Not useful for casual riders.

Zwift – For Indoor Entertainment

Indoor training is boring. Zwift makes it less boring. Virtual world, avatar, other riders, racing, group rides. It gamifies suffering.

The workouts are secondary to the motivation. Knowing other real humans are pedaling alongside you (virtually) helps get through winter trainer sessions.

Expensive and requires a smart trainer for the best experience. But if you hate indoor riding, Zwift might save your winter fitness.

Garmin Connect – For Device Users

If you have a Garmin device, you need Garmin Connect. Syncs data, analyzes trends, pushes routes to your computer. The app itself isn’t exciting but the integration is seamless.

Wahoo has their own app (Wahoo ELEMNT) that does similar things. Use whatever matches your hardware.

What I Don’t Use Anymore

MapMyRide – redundant with Strava. Cyclemeter – phone GPS drains battery fast. Various nutrition apps – too much data entry for minimal benefit. Generic fitness apps – cycling-specific options are better.

My Actual Setup

That’s what makes finding the right apps endearing to us cyclists who’ve sorted through them all. Strava for logging rides and social stuff. Komoot for planning routes in new areas. TrainerRoad during structured training blocks (not year-round). Garmin Connect because my bike computer requires it.

Four apps. Could probably survive with two. The best app is the one that gets you on the bike – everything else is secondary to actually riding.