Bike computer vs phone computer? Whats the best

[carlbiker]

I agree, the difference between using a mobile phones GPS and that of a dedicated device like a Garmin is a revelation.

I was looking to find a route this week which I could not find on my OS map or google maps. I had never used my ancient Garmin Edge 510 for navigation but thought I would give it a whirl. Unbelievably it managed to find the trail I had been looking for and while it simply gave me a line to follow and beeped when I went off course it worked. Simply created it on their website. Told it to sync with device. Connected the device to my phone app and bosh it was there. Very impressed for such an old device.

Its also bullet proof and has been end over end with me on the bike over rocks etc. My iphone would have been in bits.

S

cheers, but in this instance you had to prep first, visit the computer to upload the trail to the Garmin device, I have an edge explorer I got in the amazon sale but its still in the box, I've been focusing on shoes and gear of all things still! . See if you'd just rocked up with the Garmin it sounds like it wouldn't have helped unless you had put in the groundwork beforehand. Can you do me a favour and give me the details on the trail you were trying to find, I'll see if I can do something with Alltrails and Trailforks, then check against the Garmin perhaps.

If you only used OS map or google maps thats not going to be great I don't think, did you try the apps or?

 

[GeekEcosse]

Bike computer is far better- way more data, much more accurate in the mountains, and way longer battery life. I just went from a Garmin 510 to a Garmin 1030. Another nice thing- if I crash, I do not want my phone to go crashing down on some rocks. It is well protected in my pack.

I am still on the 510 and just picked up my Focus Jam2 6.7 Plus today. I had hoped that I could pair with the 510 to pass on cadence and various other sensors but alas no. How are you finding it, can you get E8000 telemetry on to your 1030?

S

 

[carlbiker]

Btw your garmins are 5x more expensive than the £100 iPhone 7 I’d be using.....next week I’ll be in the fun part of the hobby....riding! Be interesting to see what all these apps or devices can do

 

[p3eps]

I’ve got a Garmin 830. It’s my 3rd 800 Series Garmin in the last 10 years.

It has Trailforks integration, and shows the trails of the area I’m in on the map.

Although you’d consider it as prep work, something I frequently do is go onto Trailforks on my Mac, and select an area I’ve never been before. You can then choose Routes, and it will give you a list of saved routes in that area.
I find one the approximate length I want, and something that covers some decent looking trails - then save it.
Alternatively, I can use my mouse to draw out my own route and save it.

On the Garmin, I then choose to navigate from Trailforks, and can download my saved route. The Garmin then offers me turn by turn navigation of my planned route.

I’ve found loads of good areas, and nice trails by doing this. Things I’d probably have never discovered on my own... and I’m mainly a solo rider. Whether you just want to ride round fire roads, or follow the Scottish Enduro routes - Trailforks has them all!

 

[GeekEcosse]

I’ve got a Garmin 830. It’s my 3rd 800 Series Garmin in the last 10 years.

It has Trailforks integration, and shows the trails of the area I’m in on the map.

Although you’d consider it as prep work, something I frequently do is go onto Trailforks on my Mac, and select an area I’ve never been before. You can then choose Routes, and it will give you a list of saved routes in that area.
I find one the approximate length I want, and something that covers some decent looking trails - then save it.
Alternatively, I can use my mouse to draw out my own route and save it.

On the Garmin, I then choose to navigate from Trailforks, and can download my saved route. The Garmin then offers me turn by turn navigation of my planned route.

I’ve found loads of good areas, and nice trails by doing this. Things I’d probably have never discovered on my own... and I’m mainly a solo rider. Whether you just want to ride round fire roads, or follow the Scottish Enduro routes - Trailforks has them all!

I can see me following this route if you excuse the pun and upgrading from my 510 specifically for TF integration.

 

[carlbiker]

I’ve got a Garmin 830. It’s my 3rd 800 Series Garmin in the last 10 years.

It has Trailforks integration, and shows the trails of the area I’m in on the map.

Although you’d consider it as prep work, something I frequently do is go onto Trailforks on my Mac, and select an area I’ve never been before. You can then choose Routes, and it will give you a list of saved routes in that area.
I find one the approximate length I want, and something that covers some decent looking trails - then save it.
Alternatively, I can use my mouse to draw out my own route and save it.

On the Garmin, I then choose to navigate from Trailforks, and can download my saved route. The Garmin then offers me turn by turn navigation of my planned route.

I’ve found loads of good areas, and nice trails by doing this. Things I’d probably have never discovered on my own... and I’m mainly a solo rider. Whether you just want to ride round fire roads, or follow the Scottish Enduro routes - Trailforks has them all!

Okay now we’re getting somewhere . So the main tool here isn’t the Garmin but the app Trailforks which would work the same on a phone right? Great bit of info cheers on the 830, wonder if AllTrails is integrated also?

Just to be clear the navigation is from the TF app within Garmin and not the TF trail that feeds into the Garmin and this then offers turn by turn? I’ve not used any of the apps properly, will be doing this next week though.

Do we really think Garmins are any better if really TF is the thing making them good? My rational is if I’ve a £100 phone that is amazing for navigation since the gps has never failed, the battery can draw power from the display, the phone can be protected and if for some reason the phone did break, I’ve stil £200+ spare to buy again (assuming garmins are invincible) wouldn’t the phone be a way of having less complications really?

If there’s £3-400 to be spent if anyone wanted a backup then I wonder if a phone / garmin Fenix 6 pro would be a better way to go

Fair play on going solo....shows competence, I tend to go in the largest groups possible! ?

 

[Mteam]

Trailforks doesnt have great coverage of a lot of the UK - I think it has better coverage in the US.

Carlbiker - I dont think there is anything that exists that can do all what you want , nor is it currently possible because in the UK (you are in the uk arent you?) there are very few pre-defined routes outside of the main bike trail centres, in the trail centres you just follow the sign posts, no need for any gadgetry. If you see tyre tracks going off from the way marked route, then follow them and see if its any good.

Outside the trail centres the countryside is crisscrossed by a network of thousands/millions of bridleways,footpaths , roads and unofficial trails , and you can string these together to make pretty much any route you want. you can look on apps like strava for 'segments' in your area, a segment usually corresponds to a section of bridleway or footpath or unofficial trail , you can get a guide to whether it'll be decent or not by looking at the strava leaderboards and seeing how many people have been down/up/along it, you can even click on one of those people that have ridden the segment and it'll then show you the entire route they cycled that included the segment, which you could download and then follow their route on your gadget of choice - almost any gadget will allow you to follow a gpx route.

I guess you're looking for an app that can look at all the bridleways/footpaths/road/unofficial tracks in a given radius, and create you a route based on your preferences (eg I want fast swoopy downhills over a route that is around 15 miles long , or I was steep,techy whatevers) - that doesnt exist right now _ I guess it could exists if there is enough metadata about the various bridleways,footpath etc .

The Garmin Connect App has something a little bit like the above , but for road bikers and runners, you just point to a position on the map tell it that you want to cycle or run x miles and it will work out a route for you based on certain criteria like how many others cycle or run that route , thens send it to your watch or other garmin device and navigate you round it, but they dont do it for mountain bikers - I guess you could just follow a route it created on your mountain bike, but I doubt it would be any good.

At present there is no substitute for local knowledge , you need to get out there and start riding, or start doing some research on the web, ask on the forums, ask people you bump into while out and about, or heaven forbid - buy a book of mountain bike routes for the area you're interested in, they'll be a load of crap ones in there, but some good ones too that will get you started .

You'll soon work out what is good and what is not, and seeing as you have an ebike its not that much of a hardship if you go down something that turns out to be rubbish.

The books and websites will only really tend to cover the 'legal' routes which will be made up of a combination of roads and bridleways - will be different in scotland though because of their much better access laws.

if you want to follow a route , you have to put some legwork in up front to define what that route you want to follow is, or at the very least find a gpx file of the route you want to follow from someone else - this is where strava (or any number of other websites ) comes in. Then once you have created this route (or downloaded a GPX file) you can then use almost any device (garmin bike computer, watch, phone) you like to navigate you along that route .

If using a phone - try the osmand app and ,you can then load the gpx file you created/downloaded into the app and follow the route.

 

[p3eps]

Okay now we’re getting somewhere . So the main tool here isn’t the Garmin but the app Trailforks which would work the same on a phone right? Great bit of info cheers on the 830, wonder if AllTrails is integrated also?

Just to be clear the navigation is from the TF app within Garmin and not the TF trail that feeds into the Garmin and this then offers turn by turn? I’ve not used any of the apps properly, will be doing this next week though.

Do we really think Garmins are any better if really TF is the thing making them good? My rational is if I’ve a £100 phone that is amazing for navigation since the gps has never failed, the battery can draw power from the display, the phone can be protected and if for some reason the phone did break, I’ve stil £200+ spare to buy again (assuming garmins are invincible) wouldn’t the phone be a way of having less complications really?

If there’s £3-400 to be spent if anyone wanted a backup then I wonder if a phone / garmin Fenix 6 pro would be a better way to go

Fair play on going solo....shows competence, I tend to go in the largest groups possible! ?

I ‘think’ that Trailforks simply downloads the waypoints to Garmin, and Garmin does the navigation... much like exporting / importing a GPX file. Sometimes when you ‘draw’ your own route on the map, you get ‘off course’ bits, because you missed the line when drawing... and it asks you to U Turn.
You just need to look at the map to see you’re going the right way! It’s definitely not flawless.

I’m in the UK, and Trailforks has pretty much every forest / trail centre near me. There are some paths and tracks that I cycle past that aren’t on Trailforks, however the vast majority are. If I was that bothered, I could add them myself!

 

[carlbiker]

Trailforks doesnt have great coverage of a lot of the UK - I think it has better coverage in the US.

Carlbiker - I dont think there is anything that exists that can do all what you want , nor is it currently possible because in the UK (you are in the uk arent you?) there are very few pre-defined routes outside of the main bike trail centres, in the trail centres you just follow the sign posts, no need for any gadgetry. If you see tyre tracks going off from the way marked route, then follow them and see if its any good.

Outside the trail centres the countryside is crisscrossed by a network of thousands/millions of bridleways,footpaths , roads and unofficial trails , and you can string these together to make pretty much any route you want. you can look on apps like strava for 'segments' in your area, a segment usually corresponds to a section of bridleway or footpath or unofficial trail , you can get a guide to whether it'll be decent or not by looking at the strava leaderboards and seeing how many people have been down/up/along it, you can even click on one of those people that have ridden the segment and it'll then show you the entire route they cycled that included the segment, which you could download and then follow their route on your gadget of choice - almost any gadget will allow you to follow a gpx route.

I guess you're looking for an app that can look at all the bridleways/footpaths/road/unofficial tracks in a given radius, and create you a route based on your preferences (eg I want fast swoopy downhills over a route that is around 15 miles long , or I was steep,techy whatevers) - that doesnt exist right now _ I guess it could exists if there is enough metadata about the various bridleways,footpath etc .

The Garmin Connect App has something a little bit like the above , but for road bikers and runners, you just point to a position on the map tell it that you want to cycle or run x miles and it will work out a route for you based on certain criteria like how many others cycle or run that route , thens send it to your watch or other garmin device and navigate you round it, but they dont do it for mountain bikers - I guess you could just follow a route it created on your mountain bike, but I doubt it would be any good.

At present there is no substitute for local knowledge , you need to get out there and start riding, or start doing some research on the web, ask on the forums, ask people you bump into while out and about, or heaven forbid - buy a book of mountain bike routes for the area you're interested in, they'll be a load of crap ones in there, but some good ones too that will get you started .

You'll soon work out what is good and what is not, and seeing as you have an ebike its not that much of a hardship if you go down something that turns out to be rubbish.

The books and websites will only really tend to cover the 'legal' routes which will be made up of a combination of roads and bridleways - will be different in scotland though because of their much better access laws.

if you want to follow a route , you have to put some legwork in up front to define what that route you want to follow is, or at the very least find a gpx file of the route you want to follow from someone else - this is where strava (or any number of other websites ) comes in. Then once you have created this route (or downloaded a GPX file) you can then use almost any device (garmin bike computer, watch, phone) you like to navigate you along that route .

If using a phone - try the osmand app and ,you can then load the gpx file you created/downloaded into the app and follow the route.

amazing stuff thanks for that. What would you say is the best resource for gpx files?

 

[carlbiker]

I ‘think’ that Trailforks simply downloads the waypoints to Garmin, and Garmin does the navigation... much like exporting / importing a GPX file. Sometimes when you ‘draw’ your own route on the map, you get ‘off course’ bits, because you missed the line when drawing... and it asks you to U Turn.
You just need to look at the map to see you’re going the right way! It’s definitely not flawless.

I’m in the UK, and Trailforks has pretty much every forest / trail centre near me. There are some paths and tracks that I cycle past that aren’t on Trailforks, however the vast majority are. If I was that bothered, I could add them myself!

I think I’ll stick with the phone gps for now, the apps will run the navigation based off the gpx files by sounds of things similar to the Garmin which doesn’t sound favoured towards mtb.....normal trails etc you’d probably look daft GPS’ing routes you can’t really got lost in if its trail parks but I’m thinking more like the Quarry’s or Moors etc, minimise the corrections

 

[Tonytank]

For trail planning i use O/S maps and transfer the file to garmin. Thats for all the natural trails i go to. Only been to a bike park twice and didnt really feel it was for me (no skills). I bought the good mountain bike guide which covers all england and wales, it gives detailed routes that you can easily plan on O/S maps. Well worth the £15 i paid for it as you can pretty much go to any area that you dont know and have trails ready to ride.
As for strava i only use it to record mileage and elevation for the year, really dont get the leaderboards thing or any other features.

 

[Mteam]

amazing stuff thanks for that. What would you say is the best resource for gpx files?

There isnt really a single best resource.

But here's some that might be useful

Best mountain biking trails in England

Explore the most popular mountain biking trails in England with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.

www.alltrails.com

MBR Magazine

www.alltrails.com

Bike Routes – pedalnorth

pedalnorth.com

GPX Files - Mountain Bike Rides

Mountain Bike Rides - routes, videos, photographs, bike maintenance

www.mountainbikerides.co.uk

JustGoRide

www.justgoride.co.uk

 

[carlbiker]

There isnt really a single best resource.

But here's some that might be useful

Best mountain biking trails in England

Explore the most popular mountain biking trails in England with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.

www.alltrails.com

MBR Magazine

www.alltrails.com

Bike Routes – pedalnorth

pedalnorth.com

GPX Files - Mountain Bike Rides

Mountain Bike Rides - routes, videos, photographs, bike maintenance

www.mountainbikerides.co.uk

JustGoRide

www.justgoride.co.uk

Great appreciate the heads up on this stuff ill have a good nosey!

I'd just like to add a nice resource I found too recently, in fact I'm trying to plan 50 trails to take on and this has really cut my research time down, it gives an insight into each trail:

Latest Mountain bike routes Articles, Galleries & Videos - MBR - has 100 trails and each one also has a download link for the Alltrails file, sometimes theres a video made about the trail too

 

[carlbiker]

So my plan was to download TF and AllTrails on the Garmin, AT doesn’t have an app for connect IQ, didn’t expect that and was hoping to basically ‘prep’ on the iphone, save then download to the Garmin and off you go.....

Im atm using mbr top 100 trails as it documents loads of decent places but ofc as people say you can’t beat local knowledge and I want to tap into this, just via what hopefully some kind souls have uploaded already (then if votes etc great....). The issue is all the mbr routes are AT files....maybe it’s standard gpx that I can port into TF and then to Garmin.....all via mobile

So I’ve just installed TF on my phone abs what a fabulous onboarding process, I’m encouraged to see user interactions being promoted by way of user live updates on conditions etc but then the first thing your slapped with is this:

Cracking start......I’m guessing I pick my route, save then cloudify the route to the Garmin, this should be possible on the fly which is what I’m after; preserve the phone battery and allow the Garmin to do the donkey work.

Off out for the day so just trying to get planned in....meant to be nice weather! ?

 

[Mteam]

Don't use the ebike filter in trail forks, it's inaccurate in th uk, just use mtb.

 

[carlbiker]

Don't use the ebike filter in trail forks, it's inaccurate in th uk, just use mtb.

cheers I quickly noticed that! We’re all canal riders hey!

So TF it doesn’t offer navigation as per say does it? It easily sends to the Garmin but it doesn’t seem to have all the trail data, like I’ve got one route that combines all the major loops into one but on the Garmin it seems to lose the red, black trail data, is that normal and if so is there another way to get the metadata to show up in a navigation too, even if it’s on the mobile?

thanks

 

[Mteam]

cheers I quickly noticed that! We’re all canal riders hey!

So TF it doesn’t offer navigation as per say does it? It easily sends to the Garmin but it doesn’t seem to have all the trail data, like I’ve got one route that combines all the major loops into one but on the Garmin it seems to lose the red, black trail data, is that normal and if so is there another way to get the metadata to show up in a navigation too, even if it’s on the mobile?

thanks

dont think you can get the meta data into the garmin, its just a set of gpx files from a garmin point of view - most of the 'trails' in trail forks relates to just small sections of trail - rather than entire routes. You then have to assemble those trails into an entire route manually.

This is what I was referring to higher up this thread when I was saying you need to work out the route you want to take - unless you download preprepared routes like the MBR ones, or routes that others have put together

 

[carlbiker]

dont think you can get the meta data into the garmin, its just a set of gpx files from a garmin point of view - most of the 'trails' in trail forks relates to just small sections of trail - rather than entire routes. You then have to assemble those trails into an entire route manually.

This is what I was referring to higher up this thread when I was saying you need to work out the route you want to take - unless you download preprepared routes like the MBR ones, or routes that others have put together

I like the mbr ones, I’m assuming the AllTrails is a gpx that can be ported to the Garmin. Sadly I had some sync issues so had to abandon testing it today. As for TF metadata is there anything phone wise that can offer navigation with that kind of metadata? It’s not so much needing step by step, my eyes do work but it’s when at a glance trail types are all there and if you needed to just have a bit of guidance then it’s there if ever needed. That meta data is quality, I could prep ofc and plan the route but most of the stuff is there already....just the detail

 

[carlbiker]

dont think you can get the meta data into the garmin, its just a set of gpx files from a garmin point of view - most of the 'trails' in trail forks relates to just small sections of trail - rather than entire routes. You then have to assemble those trails into an entire route manually.

This is what I was referring to higher up this thread when I was saying you need to work out the route you want to take - unless you download preprepared routes like the MBR ones, or routes that others have put together

just off topic but yester I tried someone elses 27.5 inch bike out and I could turn the thing on a six pence! On my 29.5 inch orbea wild it’s like trying to turn the titanic in comparison, I feel like a 30% difference if I had to out a number on it but it’s too much to ignore, could it simply be the handlebars need chopping down or something?

 

[Mteam]

just off topic but yester I tried someone elses 27.5 inch bike out and I could turn the thing on a six pence! On my 29.5 inch orbea wild it’s like trying to turn the titanic in comparison, I feel like a 30% difference if I had to out a number on it but it’s too much to ignore, could it simply be the handlebars need chopping down or something?

Don't think it was the difference in wheel size that is significant in your comparison. I've got a 27.5 yt capra from 2018 and the orbea wild fs with 29 inch wheel, they don't feel much different to turn. The orbea is smoother rolling over rocks, the yt is easier to hop and lift the front.

What other differences were there between the two bikes? What actualbike was the other 27.5 bike?

And when you say it turned ona sixpence do you literally mean it has a small turning circle, or just that it felt agile?

The orbea has that steering angle limiter so it will have a wider ultimate turning circle. But you rarely be turning your bars that tightly in normal riding.

 

[carlbiker]

Don't think it was the difference in wheel size that is significant in your comparison. I've got a 27.5 yt capra from 2018 and the orbea wild fs with 29 inch wheel, they don't feel much different to turn. The orbea is smoother rolling over rocks, the yt is easier to hop and lift the front.

What other differences were there between the two bikes? What actualbike was the other 27.5 bike?

And when you say it turned ona sixpence do you literally mean it has a small turning circle, or just that it felt agile?

The orbea has that steering angle limiter so it will have a wider ultimate turning circle. But you rarely be turning your bars that tightly in normal riding.

Voodoo Zobop E-Shimano Full Suspension Electric Mountain Bike - 16", 18", 20" Frames | Halfords UK I believe it’s this one, its rare I can move to full range on mine but his was so much easier, felt rougher on the trail but I prefer the easier steering

 

[Mteam]

The zobop has a steeper head angle, narrower handlebars and shorter chainstays. It may also have a shorter reach (but their geo table doesnt list that measurement) . All those things combined with smaller wheels will make it feel a bit more agile on flatter terrain, but will feel a bit more nervous on really steep terrain/at higher speeds.

You can fairly easily play with handlebar width without buying new bars, just by moving your grips and controls further inwards on your current bars , headangle can be altered fairly cheaply by installing an angle headset (Works Components - Angle Headsets | CNC Bicycle Components | Made in the UK) - although not many people use these to make their head angle more steep. Theres not much you can do to alter chainstay length.

 

[Akiwi]

I scanned this thread and hope I got the gist of it.
I guess the answer to your question also depends on where you live.
I am in Germany, and TrailForks is useless here.
I haven't used Strava for mountain biking.
I am a huge Komoot fan, and with the eMTB I can plug my phone into my bike to top up the battery if it is getting low.
I often put my phone in a seethrough bag on the top tube when it needs protection or it is raining.
If I am on long complicated rides, I put a bluetooth earpiece in, and then you don't have to keep looking at your phone as Komoot notifies you before each intersection.
It is well supported in Germany and has almost every trail in it. If it doesn't you can easily add missing trails over open street maps.

 

[MrSimmo]

I like the mbr ones, I’m assuming the AllTrails is a gpx that can be ported to the Garmin. Sadly I had some sync issues so had to abandon testing it today. As for TF metadata is there anything phone wise that can offer navigation with that kind of metadata? It’s not so much needing step by step, my eyes do work but it’s when at a glance trail types are all there and if you needed to just have a bit of guidance then it’s there if ever needed. That meta data is quality, I could prep ofc and plan the route but most of the stuff is there already....just the detail

Yes thats what I do ref AllTrails - use the website and export 'GPX Track' then import that .gpx file to whichever nav app/device Im using.


Ref TF metadata:

There isn't to my knowledge, the Garmin is the closest to what you're after with Trailforks and the experience is quite poor in my opinion.


Theres 3 options I guess:

1. Use the trailforks app (and pay for the premium subscription to enable routing while out and about)

2. Convince Komoot or a route planning service to hook into Trailforks API to 'overlay' the TF data into their mapping solution (technically its really easy to do, commercially maybe not so) (see: www.trailforks.com/about/api/)

3. Export a collection of TF trails (see: www.trailforks.com/help/view/76/) to gpx/kml file which you can import to any nav device, as you plan you can overlay/see them. Or if you're riding you can add them as an overlay to the map in most nav tools.

 

[carlbiker]

I scanned this thread and hope I got the gist of it.
I guess the answer to your question also depends on where you live.
I am in Germany, and TrailForks is useless here.
I haven't used Strava for mountain biking.
I am a huge Komoot fan, and with the eMTB I can plug my phone into my bike to top up the battery if it is getting low.
I often put my phone in a seethrough bag on the top tube when it needs protection or it is raining.
If I am on long complicated rides, I put a bluetooth earpiece in, and then you don't have to keep looking at your phone as Komoot notifies you before each intersection.
It is well supported in Germany and has almost every trail in it. If it doesn't you can easily add missing trails over open street maps.

Open street maps? Is this an app? Trail forks looks quite good in England but the easiest interface for finding trails seems to be AllTrails, Komoot would also be my navigation of choice instead of the Garmin just because it seems to lose a lot of data regarding trail types, not a deal breaker but be nice to turn up and then check where stuff is then go for it without needing assistance.

Komoot it doesn’t have a search facility, at least on the IPad I’m using? All I can do is search the curated official collections and pick from there, some are very good. I can build rides with it also, it sounds like you can find trails but how? Is it the paid version perhaps?

 

[carlbiker]

Yes thats what I do ref AllTrails - use the website and export 'GPX Track' then import that .gpx file to whichever nav app/device Im using.


Ref TF metadata:

There isn't to my knowledge, the Garmin is the closest to what you're after with Trailforks and the experience is quite poor in my opinion.


Theres 3 options I guess:

1. Use the trailforks app (and pay for the premium subscription to enable routing while out and about)

2. Convince Komoot or a route planning service to hook into Trailforks API to 'overlay' the TF data into their mapping solution (technically its really easy to do, commercially maybe not so) (see: www.trailforks.com/about/api/)

3. Export a collection of TF trails (see: www.trailforks.com/help/view/76/) to gpx/kml file which you can import to any nav device, as you plan you can overlay/see them. Or if you're riding you can add them as an overlay to the map in most nav tools.

interesting why Komoot wouldn’t already incorporate TF.....I’d literally buy premium if they did or if they didn’t force £60 yearly instead of monthly, I’ve bought TF gold, what Is enable routing?

in the end which tool do you use most for nav?

 

[highpeakrider]

Surprised no one has mentioned ViewRanger, I just plan my routes on it and allow others to download them for free.

Either use this tool on a phone or download the gpx file.

It tends to be my go to tool if I want to plan something or look for a route in the area.

I only use strava to track ride mileage which is transferred to veloviewer so I can compare each years mileage.

 

[MrSimmo]

interesting why Komoot wouldn’t already incorporate TF.....I’d literally buy premium if they did or if they didn’t force £60 yearly instead of monthly, I’ve bought TF gold, what Is enable routing?

in the end which tool do you use most for nav?

yeh I just bought TF gold as well yesterday, was only £9 for the year so cant complain. Spent more on beer yesterday!

ive flipped around between many apps and a Garmin Edge. Currently using Komoot (with the one off payment World Maps) for turn by turn navigation. I load gpx’s from AllTrails, TF as well as home made ones into Komoot ?

 

[MrSimmo]

interesting why Komoot wouldn’t already incorporate TF.....I’d literally buy premium if they did or if they didn’t force £60 yearly instead of monthly, I’ve bought TF gold, what Is enable routing?

in the end which tool do you use most for nav?

Sorry - “enable routing” means turn on turn by turn navigation- its disabled in the free version

 

[MrSimmo]

Surprised no one has mentioned ViewRanger, I just plan my routes on it and allow others to download them for free.

Either use this tool on a phone or download the gpx file.

It tends to be my go to tool if I want to plan something or look for a route in the area.

I only use strava to track ride mileage which is transferred to veloviewer so I can compare each years mileage.

I used to use Viewranger but for me the interface was so bad I gave up, plus I felt a bit ripped off having to re-buy access to OS Maps which I have separately. Personal choice though.