Here at Mtbr HQ, the iPhone is king. Of all of us employees, the actually count is 5 iPhones vs. 2 others (the two others being a Blackberry and an Android G1). I love my all purpose iPhone and it’s even better when I can combine my inner tech geek with my mountain biking Passion! Here is a list compiled from our own opinions along with current forum discussions on just what the hottest iPhone apps for mountain bikers are.
#5.) “The Bike Computer” ( http://www.everytrail.com/iphone.php) FREE – Provides a large display of speed and distance based on your iPhone’s GPS. Also contains a bunch of other GPS based features, but the clean and simple bike computer is the best part.
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What about Runkeeper (runkeeper.com)? I’d say it’s probably the best in class, not to mention the most popular of this type of app.
I use it pretty religiously when I go out biking.
I have an HTC Hero (Android). It has a compass and GPS. I use My Tracks which gives all the speed, distance, elevation stats, etc. It also gives you the ability to upload your rides right to Google maps. I believe you can export it in different file formats as well.
An app that turns your iPhone into a rear blinky light. Seriously? Why the heck would you attach a several hundred dollar phone as a blinky when the classic $6 one is great at that job already?
I use the Clinometer since it’s my business to know head angles
. It’s a great level too for my pool table.
But really understated is the value of the Camera. I have my phone all the time so I have a camera on every ride. It’s come to good use so much. And when I spot my first mountain lion, my Iphone camera will record my last images.
The Ipod is good too. Last ride, I put it on my thigh with the speakers facing out and I was rocking on the climb out.
I use Trail Guru http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page when I ride… You can Geotag photos along the way and when you’re done, just upload to the website. Gives you all the pace, mph, climbing, calories, etc. stats you could want. As well as several options for graphing it and exporting to Google Earth.
Only downside is battery life (all GPS apps kill your battery) and if you get a text, call, etc. it interupts the app and you have to make sure you restart to keep collecting.
I disagree with Itunes being a top app when you ride. Being in the wilderness, you need all your senses to properly fend for yourself. Not being able to hear your surroundings is a disability. What type of person would willingly want to be disabled? With earbuds in you won’t hear your friend scream when he piles face first into rocks and snaps his collarbone, you can’t hear the racer guys wanting to get around you on a climb, you cant hear that babe calling you to help her change her flat…
Also, Everytrail is the same developer as The Bike, but has a map added to it and a less cyclo-computer type speed/distance page(identical to Trailguru for the most part)
I prefer these to MotionX, as it is too cluttered with unecessary features and the uploaded data isnt as favorable, but those can be turned off to mimic trailguru/everytrail
Biggest differences are in uploaded maps:
good: MotionX only displays track
better: Trailguru gives track, elevation chart, speed chart
best: Everytrail/The Bike gives track, elevation chart, speed chart in an interactive manner
all are great, just comes down to personal preference
Great article, Gregg. I need to do a similar one for photography iPhone apps on PhotographyREVIEW.com.
I have mixed feelings about the iPhone, although for Internet connectivity and apps it’s awesome. And when I bought it, it was really the only game in town. We’ll see if the Android and Palm Pre catch up with the number and diversity of applications.
I don’t really have many bike-specific apps. I do have Clinometer, suggested to me by Scott Nichols
I’m psyched to take a closer look at what you’ve listed here as well as the other apps listed in the comments. One app that I think should be listed is Google Earth. A lot of mountain bikers I know use it to find trails – especially where there may be abandoned and forgotten trails.
A couple of notes on Cinometer – I have actually used it for mountain bike-related stuff. I use it to level my camera and it’s a great ski tool – there’s no easier way to measure the pitch of a slope – just don’t drop it in the pow!
You guys missed out the best one of all: B.iCycle
http://b-icycle.com/home.html
from this weekend also “EasyTrails GPS” is uploading directly to everytrail.com!
the app is quite better than MotionX, but still waypoints are missing… the support tells that in 1 week they will submit multimedia-waypoints to the AppStore…
What about Apps for the new Android 2.0 phones (IE Droid). Please post here if any are available…
I’d love it if someone did a spoke calculator app. Maybe there is one- anyone know of one? Thanks!
- Meghan
AccuTerra is a good one as well- all the trail maps are stored on the phone so it displays maps outside of AT&T’s cell service. I tried it out at Outdoor Demo at Interbike- they had all the trails for Bootleg laid out on a nice topo, and it shows the trail profile and speed, pace, etc. The guy said Android is next on their list. You just have to buy maps for the areas you’re riding, but they’re cheap enough.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/accuterra-by-intermap/id308174318
Not an app unless it were to turn it on or off and/or view somehow remotely, but someone needs to develop a good way to attach your iPhone to popular helmets so can it can be used as a helmetcam – why pay $2-300 for a helmetcam when you have the iPhone 3GS’s video? I was going to try and rig something when I rode Porcupine Rim in Moab a few weeks ago, but never got around to it. Ended up attaching it to my pack’s chest strap, but it moved around too much so the video was blurry…
The Android has far better apps and tools for bicyclists. Direct replacements for the “top 5″ listed above:
#5 Bike Computer
Android has Velox (free), RideTrac (free), and SportsTracker (free)
#4 iTunes (which sucks)
Android has built in music player. Plus there are dozens of other music players you can replace the stock Androin player if you want. All for free.
#3 Clinometer
Got it too (called “Bubble”). Plus a compass. Plus GPS mapping. Plus geotagging on Google Maps. Plus custom maps.
#2 MotionX GPS
Android has a TON of various GPS tracking tools – built right in. And all for free
#1 Bicycle Gear Calculator
There is “FixedGear” (free) which does the same thing
Plus there already is a Virtual Bike Bell on Android.
Anything the iPhone can do – Android does too – for free – and better.
Excellent list Shane, thanks for your contribution!
I will have to disagree with you about iTunes sucking though. My wife has the new Droid and there are not many options when it comes to videos (movies, TV shows, podcasts, etc…) unless you know of a source that I don’t.
True, there are a lot of things that cost on the iPhone, but there is quite a bit that doesn’t (or come in a “lite” version). Also, I noticed that there seems to be a lot more less-developed (that’s putting it kindly) apps on the Droid Marketplace than the iPhone AppStore. A lot of apps that I’ve tried on the Droid seem like they were only half developed and are prone to bugs.
-g
Used both B.Icycle and Everytrail and both are good but one is better… I guess you get what you pay for.
Motion X GPS is an amazing app. I send the track to myself and then upload it on Everytrail.com. Mountain Bike Trails will be great once they include maps. Right now it’s basically the same as the trail reviews on MTBR.
Motion X is one of the coolest apps i’ve used yet. It tracks your ride, including speed, elevation, max speed, can support waypoint pictures. All in all its a great iphone app. All i need now is the ram mount bike mount to attach this to the stem. Love it!!
Hey, good article. I would like to put in a plug for Bike Quiver With quite a few bikes hanging up in the garage, it is nice to have all their information with me all the time. You can export the information for backups and it is great to have all your serial numbers in the case of a theft. Check it out when you get a chance.
http://www.bikequiver.com/
AccuTerra
By far the best app for any back country activity be it biking hiking whatever, is called AccuTerra. All the maps are custom made for this type of thing so they show trails no one else does (certainly not Google maps). all the maps are embedded on your phone so they work even when you loose cell service (unlike google maps).
Also does all the stuff all the other ones do:
geotegged photos
speed, distance, etc, stats
elevation profiles
record KML, email it, post to facebook, etc.
definitely worth checking out. get the app then buy a HD map of your area for a few bucks using their ‘map store’. well worth it.
Any thoughts on iRPM+? It looks awesome and supports ANT. None of the top 5 in this article appear to support the iPhone’s ANT capability. I don’t have an iPhone and was actually considering the n900, but iRPM+ is forcing me to reconsider.
i use the motionx app and it rocks . check out my blog for a cheap iphone mount i use made out of 2 1 liter soda bottles and a few rubber bands. $2.00 spend
http://www.ibike.us
Dr.R and HW for the tapatalk tip? thanks for remembering me.
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=178179&highlight=tapatalk
followed up soon after with this one
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=178216&highlight=tapatalk
Hey, no slight intended moschika! For the record, it was Dr.R and HW that sent me a PM and email directly to let me know about it. However, you sniffed it out waaayyy before they did, for sure!
Just seen this and before you scream down my neck about it being for Snow Sports, it could be awesome for trail and freeride action as it looks like its got GPS tracking, “Telemetry data” and a place to upload your photos in one package. Not sure when its available and knowing Nissan it’s probably free!.
http://www.facebook.com/nissanproveit?v=app_193815557213&ref=sgm#
Click on the love Iphone icon
I’ve got an Android and us Satsports Log for riding, hiking etc. I load up my days on Google Earth and check them out in 3D – very cool. Check out their site, http://www.satsportsgpscanada.com – they’ve got killer apps and apparently are releasing them for iPhone shortly.
Thanks so much for a sweet article. The iphone rides with me on every trails I ride just in case I ever get lost or get hurt! Plus it is handy all the way around. I can’t wait to start using it to track my rides with GPS!
Cyclemeter is another great one and as soon as you press done it emails you all your stats and text,phone calls and music do not interrupt the app. It also has voice over with optional voices that will give you times like splits for example. It’s one of the better ones I have tried
Hi Guys I use Endomondo to track my mountain biking trails. It uploads your data to Facebook and Twitter. Nice apps for the Droid and iPhone and the site rocks.
http://www.endomondo.com
GPS Kit is a great app with no crashes with very usefull tools great interface and upgrades (little expensive) that put you at the level of a garmin GPS for mtb.
Strava Cycling is the best cycling app I’ve found so far. It keeps track of where you are and where you go, how fast you’re going and how far you’ve ridden. This is definitely a must have app for cycling enthusiasts. See review here: http://www.appfavour.com/health-fitness/strava-cycling_426826309
Does anyone know of mountain bike apps that do not require a cell signal? So far the ones that I have tried require a cell signal. There are many place where we bike where there is no cell service, but we still want to be able to track position, use maps and GPS functions – without a cell signal.