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Cycling guideMatch the ride to the terrain
On a bike, the route decides how the day feels. A gentle canal path, a gravel climb and a fast road loop need different planning. This guide compares cycling planners by the decisions that matter in the saddle: gradient, surface, distance and what happens when your phone loses signal.
Start with the bike and the rider
Write down what you are riding, how much climbing feels comfortable and which surfaces you will accept. A road bike on narrow tyres should avoid rough bridleways; a loaded touring bike on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route needs water and resupply points more than speed. In the UK, the Sustrans National Cycle Network offers signed routes, though surfaces range from smooth tarmac to muddy tracks.
Cycling planners differ most in how they choose roads. Some favour popular routes recorded by other riders, others weigh quietness or surface type. None can see a fallen tree or a closed path, so treat suggestions as a starting point and look at the route closely before committing.
Cycling planners compared
| Planner | Route style | Surface data | Offline | Device export | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Komoot | Sport-specific profiles (road, gravel, MTB) | Yes, breakdown per route | Paid regions or premium | Garmin, Wahoo, GPX | Offline requires purchase |
| Ride with GPS | Detailed planner with cues | Partial | Paid tiers | Garmin, Wahoo, GPX | Best features on paid tiers |
| Strava | Routes shaped by popular rides | Limited | Subscription | Garmin, Wahoo, GPX | Route builder needs subscription |
| Garmin Connect | Popularity-based routing | Limited | On Garmin devices | Native to Garmin | Best inside Garmin’s ecosystem |
| Google Maps | Cycling directions in supported regions | Not shown | No offline cycling guidance | No | Not built for leisure rides |
Decisions on the ride
Gradient, not just ascent
Check the steepest sections. A 12% ramp on a loaded bike can mean walking, which changes arrival time.
Documented featureSurface mix
Komoot’s surface breakdown helps road riders spot unpaved sections early. Confirm on satellite imagery where data is thin.
Documented featureCafés, water and shops
Add resupply points as waypoints. On long rides, the next open café matters more than the next turn.
Documented featureOffline ride checks
Sync the route to your head unit
A Garmin or Wahoo computer keeps navigating if the phone dies. Confirm the route appears on the device before you leave.
Download maps for your device too
Some head units need region maps installed separately. Check storage and update over Wi-Fi.
Plan a shortcut home
Mark a bail-out option halfway through long loops, ideally near a railway station.
Time-limit live tracking
Strava Beacon and Komoot live tracking help family follow a ride. Switch them off afterwards.
Ride time without guesswork
Planners estimate time from an average speed that you can often adjust. Set it from your own recent rides on similar terrain, not your best day. Headwinds, traffic lights in towns and climbs can cut average speed sharply.
Privacy matters on cycling platforms because activities can reveal where you live. Use privacy zones around home and work, and check who can see your activities by default.
Our planning estimate
For hilly leisure rides, we budget one extra minute for every 10 m of climbing on top of flat-speed time. It is a rough guide that suits steady riders.
Estimate
Our practical pick
Komoot for mixed-surface and touring rides, Ride with GPS for detailed cue-based routes and club rides, Strava or Garmin Connect for training loops near home. Pair any of them with a head unit for reliable offline navigation.