Who uses what for ride tracking?

[JustinW]

The recent thread about Strava use spurred some curiosity about who uses which forms of tracking. I am aware of a few but may have missed some key players. Please indicate which tracking utility you use, and what is the single most critical reason that you chose that utility.

• Strava
• MapMyRide
• RideWithGPS
• Cyclemeter
• Bikely
• A homegrown spreadsheet
• Your fingers and toes
• Other – do tell

Topic

[GuyContinental]

@Justin Antos 39721 wrote:

My phone is my tracker. I now use Strava.

After using Cyclemeter for 1.5 years, I recently switched to Strava (prompted by Freezing Saddles) and really like it so far. CycleMeter was great at tracking my progress, but Strava adds the ability to see and talk about other people’s rides – which I find both inspirational and a great way to learn about new routes around the city.

No reason why you can’t do both- Cyclemeter is the best and most flexible app I’ve found but I do ride management/social stuff on Strava. At the end of a Cyclemeter ride just email the .tcx file to uploads@strava.com from the app 2 clicks.

[Dirt]

@Greenbelt 39809 wrote:

I so need how to learn how to do all this! I’ve been using my Garmin as a ride tracker, but haven’t started tapping the navigation and information features at all.

I can try and do a write-up some time soon… probably do it as a blog entry and cross post it here. I’ve got a few other things I need to write first, but I’ll get to it soon. I’ve been meaning to do this for a awhile.

[americancyclo]

I got the Edge 705 specifically because I wanted to be able to load up cuesheets/maps and follow them. I haven’t found a phone app that will do this in a satisfactory manner. Granted I haven’t been out on a lot of crazy unknown rides in a while, but it makes lunch rides much more interesting when I can plot out the ride beforehand and tinker with elevation and distance, then load it up on the bike and go!

[culimerc]

I’ve got a garmin 800

I use Garmin Connect primarily for logging mileage.
I’ve started using Strava more because of Freezing Saddles.
BikeJournal, because I have friends who prefer that site, that and it was the first site I started using,so its the most complete over time.

and MapMyRide for checking out potential routes.

[creadinger]

I use a Garmin Edge 200 as my cycle-computer. I then upload the ride results to garminconnect and strava and enter the distance/time into my homemade spreadsheet.

My home grown spreadsheet is what I use for mileage tracking for my 2 bikes as well as noting when I’ve gone to yoga practice etc. I also have a list of goal rides, track YTD mileage compared to my annual goal, 100+ rides, and have my 10 year annual mileage history.

I primarily use ridewithgps and mapmyride for ride planning. When I’m bored at work I’ll pop one open to search for rides or create my own from scratch. They’re pretty useful for printing cue sheets too. I currently have a couple of long rides I mapped last year that I have yet to do = motivation. I used to use mapmyride exclusively but it looks like ridewithgps has better elevation resolution (not sure if the actual data are better), although it’s somewhat worse at other things, which is why I still use mapmyride primarily. It’s stupid, but I also like the categorized climb feature of mapmyride. It’s nice when you can put a number on a climb, even if it’s based on sketchy data analyzed for arbitrary lengths/grades.

Strava is strictly for social purposes. I don’t even use my garmin for all of my rides (grocery trips, commutes), but that information still gets put into my all inclusive spreadsheet. I’m still not even sure what garminconnect is for.

[americancyclo]

To answer the question a bit better than my original post:

I take the Garmin every time I get on a bike from my house. If I’m on vacation, I’ll use the Strava app on my phone. I still upload to Garmin Connect once a month before clearing the history on my Garmin, but it’s only to have a backup if Strava ever shuts down.

I like the fact that I can tell strava which bike I’m using and what equipment it has on it. Although I’m mostly tracking tires and pedals at the moment. I’m planning on being a bit better about it in the future, so I can keep track of my chain/componenet wear.

I used to keep a google spreadsheet with a friend, comparing our mileage, but that became a bit of an obsession, so I’m forgoing that this year, and just letting Garmin and Strava take care of all the tracking for me.

[consularrider]

@creadinger 39874 wrote:

… I’m still not even sure what garminconnect is for.

Like Mapmyride and Ridewithgps, you can find published routes on garminconnect (expore tab). However, there are fewer posted. For my Garmin Edge 500, I can create and download routes to follow (plan tab). I don’t believe the 200 has that capability. The 500 doesn’t show you a map like the 700/800 or some of the smartphone apps I’ve seen, but you get a line to follow and the display beeps at you and tells you if you are off course. I just started using that feature late last fall after having the 500 for just over two years. Still trying to figure it out.

[Author]

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