

The real-time feature, which tells you how fast you are tracking on a selected segment, such as the local hard climb, works on smartphones but also newer Garmin Edge and Wahoo computers, too. While you can use Strava like a cycle computer on your phone, most riders use a separate GPS computer to record and upload their rides and then use the app to see what their friends are up to.Īll rides uploaded to Strava deliver automatic rankings of your times over popular stretches of road and trail – known as ‘segments’ in Strava-speak – along with a GPS map of where you rode. Many riders use a GPS computer for recording and uploading rides to Strava – and then use the app for checking out what their friends are up to. Strava’s ace in the hole is its social component. These are probably the most popular cycling apps out there, with Strava leading the field (and offering a host of other features, including segments, leaderboards and route planning). The best cycling apps for tracking will record your ride and show your speed, distance, route and other metrics, such as elevation.

Some of the apps featured here are free, some are not, and some are free up front with an option to buy or subscribe for more bells and whistles. What’s more, with Bluetooth accessories such as heart-rate monitors, speed sensors and power meters becoming more common, you can get your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection and processor to do the work that used to require a separate computer and, not so long ago, wires.

For others, such as Strava, you can just hit start, put your phone in your jersey pocket or in a bike phone mount and go. For some apps – Google Maps, for instance – you need to have your device on the handlebar to take full advantage.
