“Ride With GPS” app review
I recently rode with the “Ride with GPS” app. I asked a buddy what app he used to track a ride he was recently on and that was what he was using. I downloaded nearly a dozen of apps so it was already on my phone. I shot a short video with it to try it out.
First of all, what is it?
Ride with GPS is an app for bicycle riders. It includes a route planner, turn by turn directions, route tracker, location sharing and so many more options. It is free to download and try out but has a lot of features that are locked behind a paywall. As of this writing, the app has 4.7 stars with 3.8 k ratings.
First Launch
I deleted the app and then reinstalled it so I can get a feeling for what a fresh download is like.
For starters, there is no on-boarding screen. It launches you straight into the home screen. From there, the prominent functions are “Record a Ride” and “Find Routes & Events”. They also have a “Sign Up” and “Log In” options to sync rides and so on. Finally, there is an option to “Open Shortcut”. From there, you can scan a QR code or type in a shortcut.
Hint: Click on the images below to see the full screenshot. (Use the arrow keys or swipe to go between images)
The Map
The main purpose of using a GPS tracking app is the map. This is where Ride with GPS shines. I mentioned that the app does not have any onboarding screens for the main app however it does for the map. When you tap on “Go Ride” for the first time, you are presented some screens that help you navigate everything that you see.
The onboarding for the map is impressive and really walks you through all the functions that you need to be able to use the app. The available options and customization of the map screen is great. I was also impressed with the number of available map types. It seems that the map types, on the iphone, are tiles that sit on top of the default apple maps map. It can change how you see the world. It’s well done!
Overall Impression
It is an app that was developed with bicyclists in mind. I think that is important. If you watched the video, you can see that there is a small delay in all the updates to the screen. I think they would not be so prominent if you were on a bicycle. If you need things like real time speed, this may not be the app for you. Their website is an amazing place to track all your rides and keep everything organized. It is really well designed and you can tell that they put a lot of love into it.
If I was asked to rate it on a star system, as a motorcyclist, I would give it 4/5 stars! ★★★★☆
Pros:
Well designed, highly polished app and website
A lot of settings and options available
Use of various maps to help you see the world better
Downloading tracks in a lot of different formats, including images.
Cons (for Motorcycle Riders):
The pay tiers are a bit expensive.
It’s designed for cyclists, not motorcyclists.
The community consists mainly of bicyclists.
The slight delay in the map updates makes real time data difficult.
Conclusion
I am a cheapskate. I don’t think I would be if I had more money to spend but the cost, as of writing this, is $80 / yr for premium or $50 / yr for basic. If you ride a lot, it is worth it to be able to save all your rides and memories. If you are a casual user like me, the free tier is suitable. The app is really customizable. There are a lot of great functions, even in the free tier. Download access to the ride files makes me happy.
I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what this app is capable of. I should try the free trial of the full app one of these days. I might fall in love and it might make the hefty price tag worth it.
As a wannabe developer, wannabe entrepreneur, I was impressed to see that they have been in business for 10 years without the need for outside capital. I think that is one of the coolest things of all. Keep up the good work guys!
If you have used Ride with GPS for motorcycling, please leave a comment and tell me what you like and do not like about it.
I am, still trying the find the best app for motorcycle riders, so if you have any suggestions, please leave a comment!
This is not sponsored. I have been on a quest to find the route tracking app that suits my needs best. This is some information and my opinion about the app.
