iphone GPS tracking, anyone?

[amithereyet]

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.

[HillSlugger]

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.

[7rider]

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.

[amithereyet]

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.

[Mr. Bloom]

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

[HillSlugger]

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

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.