Whether you’re a casual rider or a serious cyclist, finding the best cycling routes can greatly enhance your riding experience. Luckily, there are plenty of tools out there that make it easy to discover, plan, and navigate new routes. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best bang-for-the-buck options, starting with free tools, and work our way up to paid options for more advanced features.
Table of Contents:
- Free Cycling Route Tools
- Strava (Free Version)
- Komoot (Basic)
- Google Maps (Biking Mode)
- Ride with GPS (Free)
- OpenStreetMap
- Freemium Cycling Route Tools
- Komoot (Premium Features)
- MapMyRide (Free & Premium)
- Paid Tools for Advanced Users
- Strava (Premium)
- Ride with GPS (Premium)
1. Free Cycling Route Tools
1.1. Strava (Free Version)
Strava is one of the most popular tools among cyclists. With its free version, you can track your rides, discover new routes, and even see popular segments used by other cyclists. Strava’s heatmaps feature allows you to find the most commonly used routes in your area, ensuring you’re on safe, well-traveled paths.
- Best For: Tracking rides and discovering popular routes.
- Key Features: GPS tracking, social sharing, activity history, heatmaps.
- Price: Free (with optional paid upgrades).
1.2. Komoot (Basic)
Komoot is a fantastic tool for planning detailed cycling routes. The free version gives you access to one region’s maps, allowing you to plot custom routes with information about elevation and surface type. You can also sync routes to your GPS or smartphone for easy navigation.
- Best For: Custom route planning with detailed terrain insights.
- Key Features: Route planning, offline maps for one region, elevation profiles.
- Price: Free for basic users.
1.3. Google Maps (Biking Mode)
While Google Maps may not have all the bells and whistles of cycling-specific apps, its biking mode is incredibly useful for basic navigation. It highlights bike lanes and paths, making it a great tool for planning urban rides or finding the safest way through busy areas. Google Maps also integrates public transport options for multi-modal trips.
- Best For: Urban and casual riders looking for simple, reliable navigation.
- Key Features: Bike lanes, real-time traffic data, street view.
- Price: Free.
1.4. Ride with GPS (Free)
The free version of Ride with GPS is another solid option for route planning. While its paid version offers more robust features, the free version is more than sufficient for most casual cyclists. You can plot routes, check elevation, and follow them on your phone or GPS device.
- Best For: Simple route creation and basic navigation.
- Key Features: Route planner, elevation data, syncing with GPS devices.
- Price: Free (with premium options).
1.5. OpenStreetMap
An open-source, crowd-sourced platform, OpenStreetMap offers a cycling mode that can help you navigate streets, bike paths, and trails. The data is regularly updated by users, making it reliable for local rides. It doesn’t offer the same level of polish as other tools, but for a completely free service, it’s hard to beat.
- Best For: Cyclists looking for an entirely free, community-driven tool.
- Key Features: Cycling-specific maps, user-generated content.
- Price: Free.
2. Freemium Cycling Route Tools
2.1. Komoot (Premium Features)
Komoot’s free version only offers one region, but for a small fee, you can unlock additional regions or the entire world. The premium version also offers voice navigation, making it easier to follow your route while on the go, and advanced planning tools such as multi-day tours and weather forecasts.
- Best For: Cyclists who want more robust route planning features.
- Key Features: Offline maps for multiple regions, voice navigation, weather insights.
- Price: Paid region packs or an annual subscription.
2.2. MapMyRide (Free & Premium)
MapMyRide by Under Armour offers a free version with basic route planning, but upgrading to the premium version unlocks features like live tracking, advanced performance analysis, and customized training plans. It integrates with other fitness apps like MyFitnessPal, making it a good option for cyclists who want to keep track of both their rides and their overall fitness.
- Best For: Fitness-focused cyclists who want ride tracking plus health data.
- Key Features: Route mapping, fitness tracking, live tracking.
- Price: Free with optional upgrades.
3. Paid Tools for Advanced Users
3.1. Strava (Premium/Strava Summit)
Strava’s premium subscription, called Strava Summit, gives cyclists access to more advanced features like in-depth performance analysis, real-time GPS tracking, and personalized route suggestions. If you’re a competitive cyclist looking to get the most out of your training, Strava’s premium version is worth considering.
- Best For: Cyclists looking for detailed performance analytics.
- Key Features: Route planning, performance metrics, live GPS tracking.
- Price: $59.99/year or $7.99/month.
3.2. Ride with GPS (Premium)
The premium version of Ride with GPS offers more advanced navigation features, including turn-by-turn voice navigation and offline maps. It also offers detailed ride metrics and integration with cycling computers like Garmin and Wahoo. For serious cyclists who need comprehensive tools, the premium version is a great investment.
- Best For: Advanced route planning and integration with cycling computers.
- Key Features: Offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, advanced ride metrics.
- Price: $6/month or $50/year.
Conclusion
There’s no shortage of cycling route tools available, whether you’re looking for free options or willing to pay for extra features. If you’re just starting out or only need basic route planning, tools like Strava Free, Google Maps, and Komoot are excellent choices. For more advanced cyclists, upgrading to premium versions of Strava or Ride with GPS can provide additional features like performance analytics, offline maps, and custom routes.
Remember, the best tool is the one that fits your needs and riding style. So whether you’re planning a short city commute or a long-distance cycling adventure, one of these tools is sure to help you get the most out of your ride!