CycleMaps

I thought I already wrote a really positive review a few years ago but can’t find any trace of this now. There’s some caveats to a full glowing endorsement however and I’d like to outline a few here and hopefully get a response please. Then I could write from a more informed perspective. 1. I can’t find how to reverse a journey anymore. I used to do this easily but I’d forgotten until I saw it mentioned in another review 2. It would be great to have alternative routes offered for journeys. Sometimes I’d prefer to avoid the cycle “superhighways” 3. I’d frequently like to give simple feedback on minor route improvements I see as I go along but it looks like one always has to writ a review of the app to do this - not the most user friendly way to communicate. 4. I’m sure I upgraded from the free version but am not sure. There’s no ads but I can’t seem to find anything in account info. (Perhaps I haven’t looked hard enough?) Also, I’m considering taking out the subscription but can’t find anything actually outlining the Ezra features available - except voice directions which I’m not particularly interested in. Is there something on this available? (Nothing in the AppStore I can find. Lastly, just thank you. It’s a great app I use almost daily as I go to different parts of town for jobs. I have seen so many new routes and parts of London which I never knew existed or where they were, and it’s just very functional as is required.

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I was originally very happy that I found an app that allows cycling navigation using the Apple Watch. Except that, unfortunately, it doesn't – and it's due to trivial problems that indicate the developers haven't really road tested their app: 1. Why do you get some random orange dots instead of a line on the watch to show your way – I assume that this for some technical reason but it's not intuitive at all 2. For some unexplainable reason, the developers have chosen each route segment to be one straight segment. So, on the watch, you will always see the route until the next crossing. That's where the last of the "orange dots" is. Then you're left to guess – right, left or straight? No, the app won't automatically show the next segment when you arrive at the crossing, it will only show that a while later. So each time you arrive at a crossing, you try to guess only for – TADANG – the app to tell you 30 seconds later that you went wrong. This app has probably caused the most frustrating cycling experience I have ever had in London. Quite frankly, it's easier to just use Google Maps and look at your phone at every crossing instead of using the Apple Watch app. Luckily I was still able to return my money.

Have used the app several times to plan long-ish point to point rides around Yorkshire (50-80 miles) and it always comes up with quiet routes that are a pleasure to ride. It finds roads I’ve never used even quite close to home. Where Google Maps is a lottery for cyclists - you often find yourself on fast A Roads or on rough tracks on a road bike - CycleMaps is extremely reliable. I like the fact that you can toggle cycle paths on and off, depending on your choice of bike. Battery usage is reasonable for an app of this type. I’m less keen on the UI which I find quite counterintuitive. Each time I come to use the app I’ve forgotten how to plan routes (ie not just starting from where I am now) and it can take several minutes to figure it out. Not sure why I get so confused, but it suggests that the app could be built better. Google Maps is *much* better at this - indeed any other Navigation app I’ve used. Finally, I’ve noticed that the app occasionally freezes while searching for routes, but I’ve not had this problem while en route. I haven’t yet paid for the ad free version, mainly because of the UI issues, but I would like to support the work the developers are doing, so I will do so now. Keep up the good work!

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Does this app know about how UK roundabouts work ? Today I was trying out the app on a really short stint. As I hadn’t used it before I was very wary as although I live in a relatively quiet area near Cardiff, Wales, there are some major link roads that have to be crossed or joined via roundabouts. I got to one such link road this morning and knew that I needed to exit the roundabout via the 3rd exit (essentially turning right). However, the voice and the map said to take the first exit. When I looked later it was because the app was trying to take me down the first exit some way, cross the road presumably on foot and then go back the way I came and straight on (the way I should have gone in the first place.) Today was okay as I am local and know where I am but I dont think I would have the confidence to use the app on adventures to places I dont know as a moments hesitation could lead to potentially life taking outcomes. On a lighter note, the voice used makes me chuckle trying to pronouce Welsh place names ! Diolch, Hywl yn fawr.

I wrote the following review back in 2015 before all the improvements were made. And now it’s even better! This is all the navigation you’ll ever need, trust me! I *love* cycle maps and always recommend it to new cyclists. I have a Garmin, but so often return to Cyclemaps because the routes it comes up with are so well chosen. I used them every day (as BikeCam) during the 2012 Olympics, and they successfully guided me through London's busy streets, avoiding the more trafficky roads. I also used the App when on holiday in Mallorca in 2015, and once again the routes were spot on. There are one or two improvements that would make the App even better (auto route following for example) but even without these I'm a big fan!