Apps with Which to Pedal On

What did we do in the Dark Ages before bicycle computers and phone apps changed the way we ride? I don’t know about you, but I tracked my rides in spiral-bound notebooks, relied on street maps designed for motorists, and asked my local bike mechanic for advice or went to the library to copy pages from bicycle repair manuals.

I’m going to confess right here and now that Strava and BikeMap are the only bicycle apps I’m using regularly. I ride several thousand miles each year, and I’ve spent time playing with and exploring others, but they haven’t found their way to the home screen on my phone. Here are my thoughts on some cycling apps.

Bike Repair HD: When you got on your bike this morning to ride to UCSB, were the gears clanking and not shifting smoothly? Are your brakes rubbing on the front wheel or making loud squealing noises every time you stop at a crosswalk on State Street? You’re late for Bike Moves – front tire’s flat and you have no idea what to do? Bike Repair HD is a user-friendly app for phone or tablet that takes you step by step through many basic bike repairs. At your fingertips are 73 of the most common bike repair problems with over 250 photo illustrations.