For the majority of people new to cycling, just getting on a bike is a major first step towards a lifestyle change, especially for those who haven’t been engaging in regular physical activity for a while. However, for the individuals that do possess a core base level of fitness being able to progress and develop your capabilities as a cyclist isn’t always that easy.
Cycling equipment isn’t cheap nor is tuition, that’s why many seek cycling clubs that venture out into the unknown during the weekends to help develop their knowledge on training methodology, nutrition, recovery tips, fitness and other variable information that is essential to know.
Luckily nowadays not only cycling groups cut the costs of gaining knowledge, with the Internet being a resourceful tool for us to seek advice on almost everything. As app developers work tirelessly to solve seemingly all the world’s problems through the launch of tailor maid apps, the world of cycling also has thousands of apps for various different categories.
With EMarketer reporting that there are approximately 1.75 billion smartphone users worldwide, its no wonder there’s so many apps on the market today. Gaming Realms PLC, an affiliate to gaming portal Total Gold recently documented on how “mobile Internet is one of the most powerful trends on the Internet landscape,” hence why so many apps are at our disposal.
However, sifting through an astronomical amount of apps, even just for cycling, can be extremely laborious on a quest to find what that caters best for your needs. So, with that in mind, here are just three apps that can help you improve your training methods, record times, advice on dietary requirements and ultimately a vast array of tips.
1) Available only on the iPhone, CoachMyRide helps the user with planning training sessions with approximately 105 different sessions logged in its database. The best part of this app is the community of CoachMyRide can ask professional cyclist coach Lionel Reynaurd for information and tips through its community feature.
2) Cyclemeter GPS is compatible with most devices and is revered in the app world for its plethora of useful features. The application aids cyclists with detailed mapping and training plans amongst other things and is one of the most downloaded cycling-centric apps on the market today.
3) Undoubtably the most recognizable of the three, the Strava Running and Cycling App —available on both Android and iPhone—has a prominent feature that it is well known for. This app lets you record your time on certain segments of road and then compare it against other cyclists who have covered the same segment/path. This is done by inputting the date into the community feature of the application. It also has power and heart rate analysis tools, which can help the more advanced cyclists, monitor their progressions more closely. It’s known most for its social component that allows riders to compete for the title of “King of the Mountain” and while the recordings of GPS tracks are notoriously inaccurate, the riding community often has a love/hate outlook when it comes to this app, as the competitive element has had a strong effect on the behavior of a significant number of riders.
