Heltor Chasca
Out-riding the Black Dog
Cycle.Travel: is my out and out winner. I have rarely experienced any issues and if I was forced into saying if there was anything I didn’t like, it would be the fact it is best used on a Mac or Desktop. iPad or iPhone isn’t there yet. Maybe at a push, I would admit that I try and get it to route away from the vagaries of Sustrans routes. It is free.
Komoot: OK for route planning on tour or for simple point to point stuff. However it is dreadful for uploading set routes as it manipulates the route as it ‘thinks it knows better’. This has happened on two DIY 200 Audax events and two very long rides were corrupted to the point of stupidity. One sending me off on a very lumpy gravel track with unnecessary elevation. As I was on a road bike I had to walk. I was lucky not to get a DNF on the event I was on. Touring in remote regions with this level of unreliability could have disastrous consequences. If it wasn’t for a handy campsite option, I would have completely dumped Komoot. £20 for global maps.
Ride With GPS. I use this for uploading organiser supplied routes and for sending completed rides off to others in GPX or TPX format. Utterly reliable and never manipulates routes. I haven’t used it yet for route planning. Very expensive subscription costs. (IMO)
Strava Route Builder: I have only just started playing about with this as I am a fully paid up Strava customer. I really like the fact you can get it to choose popular routes other riders use and you can opt to route along less lumpy journeys.
I would be interested on your thoughts, particularly anyone who regularly uses the Strava Builder.
Komoot: OK for route planning on tour or for simple point to point stuff. However it is dreadful for uploading set routes as it manipulates the route as it ‘thinks it knows better’. This has happened on two DIY 200 Audax events and two very long rides were corrupted to the point of stupidity. One sending me off on a very lumpy gravel track with unnecessary elevation. As I was on a road bike I had to walk. I was lucky not to get a DNF on the event I was on. Touring in remote regions with this level of unreliability could have disastrous consequences. If it wasn’t for a handy campsite option, I would have completely dumped Komoot. £20 for global maps.
Ride With GPS. I use this for uploading organiser supplied routes and for sending completed rides off to others in GPX or TPX format. Utterly reliable and never manipulates routes. I haven’t used it yet for route planning. Very expensive subscription costs. (IMO)
Strava Route Builder: I have only just started playing about with this as I am a fully paid up Strava customer. I really like the fact you can get it to choose popular routes other riders use and you can opt to route along less lumpy journeys.
I would be interested on your thoughts, particularly anyone who regularly uses the Strava Builder.
Last edited: