Gear

Eight of the best cycling smartphone apps for Microsoft Lumia

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Cyclists love technology and data – and that means there are countless smartphone apps out there to track rides, log training, plan routes, and plenty more besides.

As demand from cyclists for data on-the-go grows, so too does the number of quality smartphone apps out there – including for the Windows 10 operating system, meaning you can have a wealth of ride data tucked safely away in your jersey pocket.

So if you have a Microsoft Lumia smartphone and want to know how you can turn into your very own cycling or fitness computer, here are eight of the best apps, all available from the Microsoft Store for PC, Phone and Tablet apps.

The number of fitness apps for Microsoft Lumia smartphones is growing

Runtastic PRO

Despite its name, Runtastic PRO is – like many running apps out there – equally useful to cyclists; simply select the sport type and change it to cycling.

A free version is available, but if you want full functionality – which on Microsoft Lumia and the Windows 10 operating system includes live tracking, geotagging and heart rate monitoring (with separate hardware) – you need to go ‘pro’.

Runtastic also offers GPS tracking, training history, social sharing on Facebook, Twitter and email, and the ability to manually add other sporting activities you have done off the bike to make it a comprehensive training diary.

The app is also capable of displaying routes, while you can use Runtastic.com to flag one of thousands of routes and automatically sync it with your smartphone. Again, duration, distance, calories burned, speed and elevation change are among the fingertip metrics available to view on the app.

Price: £3.89

Cyclometer

Designed by cyclists, Cyclometer has audio readouts of ride stats to allow you to keep the phone screen off when riding and the ability to race against your own previous records.

Again, you can track your ride and view routes, which also means Microsoft Lumia users can also cache their maps offline. Other vital ride statistics included are average speed, peak speed, current speed, ride time and calories burned.

Possible future developments according to the man behind the app include cadence/speed sensor support. Still not convinced? Rides can be exported to Strava via a plug-in, compensating for the fact there is no Windows 10 app for Strava.

Price: free (plus add-ons)

Heart Rate

Not all useful fitness apps are about tracking your routes. Step forward Heart Rate – a free, and very simple app, which does exactly what it says on the tin.

Using your phone’s camera, the app works by you placing your index finger so it completely covers the lens and then simply pressing start.

Its accuracy can waver if your environment is not well-lit, but feedback is generally positive and you can also save and display your history, and add comments.

Heart Rate is no replacement for a HR monitor, but if you just want a quick and easy way to read your heart rate, then this allows you to do it on your phone without the need for any external hardware.

Price: free

Cycle Tracks GPS

Cycle Tracks is another route-mapping and tracking app which can be connected directly to Strava for a one-time purchase.

Ease-of-use is where Cycle Tracks comes into its own though, thanks to a well-designed user interface and large buttons for easy touchscreen use (handy if you’re wrapped up to beat the winter).

Additional purchases also include voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation, while routes can be created on Ride With GPS and downloaded to your phone.

The app also displays plenty of real-time statistics, while a battery indicator and advance warnings of turns during navigation are all useful extras.

Price: free (plus add-ons)

Endomondo Sports Tracker

Another all-encompassing sports tracker available on Microsoft Luma is Endomondo, which can keep track of almost any distance-based sport. The list of sports you can track is huge.

With Endomondo you can keep track of almost any distance-based sport

Endomondo, which claims to have more than 25 million users, offers audio feedback and the ability to track your heart rate with external hardware, while you can also use the app to keep a full training diary and set workout goals.

Upgrade to premium, and a personal training plan, low-power mode and more online motivation features are thrown into the mix.

Price: free (premium via subscription)

Free GPS Speedometer

Live tracking? Heart rate? Training zones? Pah, all you really want to do is get faster, right? No prizes for guessing what Free GPS Speedometer does – it’s erm, a free, GPS-enabled speedometer.

There’s not an awful lot to report – it’s free, it’s a speedometer, and it tracks your speed using GPS, exactly what it says on the tin.

However, you can switch between kph and mph, and also see your altitude and distance for each ride, as well as record top and average speeds and trip time for every activity.

It’s simple, but if all you really want to know is how fast you got from A to B then there’s not really an awful lot more than you need.

Price: free

Sports Tracker

Sports Tracker was one of the original Microsoft Lumia mobile sports tracking apps and it’s still one of the leaders today. Available on all major phone platforms, the latest update to the app comes with heart rate monitoring features to add to its already award-winning ride tracking capabilities.

The free app can be paired with a Sports Tracker heart rate belt to help you train more effectively, while you can also store all of your training data in a personal workout diary. Calories burned, average training speed and altitude can all be tracked, while maps, time and distance calculators are also included.

Plus, at www.sports-tracker.com you can automatically back-up your workouts, view detailed maps and analysis, see friends’ progress and more.

Price: free

Microsoft Health

As well as tracking your routes and rides, you can also use your Microsoft Lumia phone to track your general health and wellbeing using the Microsoft Health app.

The free app allows you to set wellness goals and track calories burned per day, monitor your sleep and record your number of steps, while you can also set fitness goals for a range of sports, including cycling, running, golf, while you’re in the gym and more.

The app also allows you to stay connected to day-to-day life via email, text, calendar and call alerts, plus social media updates.