Cycling Apps Worth Your Time
Your phone can do a lot for your riding. Here are the apps that actually matter.
Tracking: Strava
Most cyclists end up on Strava. It tracks your rides, lets you compete on “segments” (timed sections of road or trail), and connects you with other riders.
Free version does the basics. Premium adds training analysis, route planning, and some extra features. Honestly, free is fine for most people.
The social aspect is what keeps people hooked. Seeing what friends rode, giving kudos, comparing times on local segments.
Navigation: Komoot
Best route planning app out there. Tells you surface type (paved, gravel, dirt), elevation, and difficulty. Turn-by-turn voice navigation works well.
Great for discovering new routes. The community contributes highlights and tips for areas you’re riding through.
Free tier gives you one region. Pay once for more maps or a one-time fee for everything.
Indoor Training: Zwift
If you have a smart trainer, Zwift makes indoor riding bearable. Virtual world, other riders, structured workouts, races. Gamified cycling.
$15/month. Worth it if you train indoors regularly. There are alternatives (TrainerRoad for pure training, Rouvy for real-world video routes) but Zwift has the biggest community.
Weather: Dark Sky or Weather Apps
Check before you ride. Minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts save you from getting caught in storms.
What About Garmin/Wahoo Apps?
If you have a bike computer, you probably need the companion app (Garmin Connect, Wahoo ELEMNT). They sync data, push routes, update firmware. Not exciting but necessary.
My Setup
Strava for tracking and social, Komoot for planning new routes, Zwift when I’m stuck inside. That covers everything without app overload.
Most people don’t need more than 2-3 apps. Don’t install ten different things and use none of them properly.
