iphone GPS tracking, anyone?

Has anyone used the Apple iphone with any of the bicycle tracking applications? For example, Imapmyride is a free application that uses the iphone gps to provide "real time tracking with distance, time, pace, and speed display" and lets you view your training history with maps. Other applications, such as cychosis, are also out there.

I like the idea of being able to move from bicycle to bicycle easily and track my mileage seamlessly. The phone is tempting, but I want some feedback first, if possible.

I've tried a few but I have the older iPhone and they don't work too well on it. I also tried one on my partner's new iPhone (don't remember which) but it seemed to have many missed points.

Since they are free, download some and give them a try. Then, come back and let us know what work and what didn't.

One of the guys on the shop ride uses his phone to track his bike rides via GPS. I think he's got a Blackberry, however, and not an I-Phone. Some limitations to the programming and I don't recall what they were...However, he seems to like it. It's kind of funny to see him ride with this great big phone-thing snapped to his handlebars (esp. compared to other more traditional bike computers), but he says it works fine.

It seems as if the smartphone software/hardware may not be ready yet for reliable, accurate, simple-minded distance/speed logging.

Darn.

I am still looking for reasons to upgrade my old phone.

I have the iPhone 3G and installed iMapMyRide on it. My Garmin is preferable for many reasons:

- until they improve the iMapMyRide software, the phone must be actively "on"...and that's a major power drain on an already limited iPhone battery supply
- I have reason to believe (but do not know) that it uses cellular towers for positioning which may be challenging in rural areas
- the iPhone is large and probably not easily mountable on the handlebars for reference
- the iPhone is considerably more fragile than any alternative.

I think the idea is neat, but not "ready for prime time" in cycling yet.

IMHO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

I have the iPhone 3G and installed iMapMyRide on it. My Garmin is preferable for many reasons:

- until they improve the iMapMyRide software, the phone must be actively "on"...and that's a major power drain on an already limited iPhone battery supply
- I have reason to believe (but do not know) that it uses cellular towers for positioning which may be challenging in rural areas
- the iPhone is large and probably not easily mountable on the handlebars for reference
- the iPhone is considerably more fragile than any alternative.

I think the idea is neat, but not "ready for prime time" in cycling yet.

IMHO

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I carry my iPhone with me when I ride so it's pretty easy to just turn on one of these programs and give it a try. I've used Trail Guru and Every Trail and neither worked well with my older iPhone. I have "The Bike Computer" but when I tried to use it on Sunday it couldn't locate my starting point even though I had decent signal. I'd expect the new iPhone with GPS to work better, but I'm sure they've got a long way to go to match a Garmin.

Mr. S. has a good point about the battery life. DH doesn't use any of the fitness software on his iPhone, but when he turns the location services on for car navigation, traffic, etc.,, he's lucky to get a full day out of the battery.

I have Trailguru on my 3G iPhone and it works pretty well. You can upload your data to the Trailguru website and track your trips. I've only used it on longer walks, and I'm planning to try it on my bike if I can ever manage to get rid of this cold that I've had forever.

For kicks, I took the iphone on a 13 mile ride today using iMapMyRide.

It was very accurate relative to the Garmin.

It used 60% of the phone's battery life in 13 miles.

The "Locator" services are apparently real power hogs. Plus I was in a 3G area which uses more power.

Finally, it was in my jacket pocket, so it didn't help much on gauging speed, etc.

I'll only use it as a backup to the Garmin on those rare times where I forget to charge it up...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

those rare times where I forget to charge it up...

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The Garmin charges just fine from a battery power source. I've charged both the Forerunner and the Edge from my 4-AA battery pack on two-day tours. In a pinch you could do it on-bike from a bento box, if you have one, or even from your jersey pocket with a long USB cable. You could start a new fashion trend... :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

The Garmin charges just fine from a battery power source. I've charged both the Forerunner and the Edge from my 4-AA battery pack on two-day tours. In a pinch you could do it on-bike from a bento box, if you have one, or even from your jersey pocket with a long USB cable. You could start a new fashion trend... :rolleyes:

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Which Forerunner do you have? For my 305 I would have to figure out how to attach the Garmin securely to its cradle to be able to use this trick.

yeah, lol, I thought the Edge port would be accessible but it actually isn't now that I look at it. I knew the Forerunner's wouldn't be. Still in a pinch it could be done, just the GPS would have to ride in a pocket or box until it was charged, only an hour or two.