The problem will not be the app, as i'm sure they will have that nailed, it will all come down to 3rd party cases and mounts, to enable people to use the app and smartphones on the bikes. Which, having tried a few, does not bowed well.

But does it allow you to plan routes?

There's already loads of free apps that track your route.

Memory-Map free app does all this with (at a charge) the option to see real time positioning on OS mapping. Mapping starts at just £15 for large chunks of Landranger, probably a better option for those venturing off-road.

To plan routes: create the route on google maps, and save the route, then open it on your phone (i do love this!).

To track: Endomondo or other free ones...

I have used SportyPal on my Android phone for almost 2 years now and it works great! As for finding a reliable mount, after breaking around 4 different "purpose built" mounts, I built my own using half of a Fendix bike flashlight mount (http://tinyurl.com/3bpjcer) and afixing it to the two top parts of a ARKON SM532 (http://tinyurl.com/3u3kew9).

Yes great, another Ant+ dongle that is incombatable with other ones, or applications.

So if you, like me, have already got a Wahoo Fitness Ant+ dongle, the Garmin app - which is pretty basic really, won't work.

So I won't be shelling out 99 cents on their app. - Garmin shares plummet at the news I am sure.

And I won't be buying another dongle just to use this rather limited app.

Sorry Garmin - I hope you can cope, without me.

I have been using another android app (Endomondo) for this for the last couple of months. I no longer pack my Garmin 705 unless I want to navigate. For tracking rides, this will be fine and battery power seems not to be an issue on my Defy tracking with the screen off for 6-8 hours but smartphone screens just don't work so well in daylight conditions, let alone bright sunlight so if I want to actually navigate, I'll take my Garmin 705.

btw, endomondo do a bike mount for smartphones which looks to have promise. Problem is that they can't fix your screen readability for you and they want 50 quid for it

so, in summary; more convergence is good but I'll not be strapping my phone to my handlebars just yet

Here's a mount i have been using for awhile, though its not waterproof it is very secure on the bike. I have only used on the road but suspect it will be fine off road too.

http://www.ravx.com/products/bags_racks/vert_x1.html

Right. for everyone looking at the smartphone vs gps debate here's a little usefull piece of information for you. In 6 days i used my entire 750mb of data that i have per month with my iphone contract whilst using mapmyride. 6 DAYS!

Using your smartphone is great to see if you enjoy being able to track/navigate while cycling but i strongly advise buying a dedicated gps if/when you do find you like it. I bought a edge800 trail package which comes with os maps for the whole of the uk and i know i don't "need" it to go riding but i honestly cant imagine not having it.

I have recently moved to a new area, great for cycling more (on or off road) but i dont know any routes or even general directions, towns, roads and being able to plan my routes in basecamp (free garmin software) and then load them to my edge has made cycling in this new area enjoyable rather than a complete ballache (i was getting very bored of doing 15miles further than i wanted or turning up at my house a hour or 2 before i wanted to.)

So yes, your iphone/android phone might work (and tbh i'm gonna buy this garmin app because it's only 69p and might help me out if my edge battery dies [never a issue so far] or i forget it) but it wont work anywhere near as well or be as easy to use as the dedicated unit.

This review doesn't seem to cover the main feature that would distinguish this from apps like Endomondo - whether or not it shows you your current location on a map, in real-time, and gives waymarker instructions, like a sat-nav.

For $50, it's not going to come with built in map data, so like mj46 says, on a long ride going far from home and back, it'll eat up your data plan, although 750MB does sound and awlful lot for what I think is googlemap data. What I like about Endomondo is that it doesn't require any data connection while on the ride. It just plots your location via GPS and once back home with a wifi connection, it figures out where you were on the map.

So, let us know the answer to my first point, and also clarify how Garmin's app calculates altitude (is it just from GPS or from map data).

sorry misread a bit - it's not $50, so possibly worth trying as it's so cheap. But only if it offers something extra that Endomondo doesn't...

Seems like there is no added value to this except if you already use their website a lot. There's plenty of other apps out there that do the same. I use mapmyride, which (contrary to runkeeper and endomondo and a bunch of others) does allow you to plan routes ahead and load them. Doesn't do spoken directions or anything like that though.

RE: data usage: It would be great if there was a cycle computer/tracking app & website that used Open Street Maps that can be saved to SD cards, like OSMand does for navigation. OSM have very good bike path info, and it's free to download. Mapmyride has OSM for planning on their site, but not in the app.

As others have pointed out ...... the main drawbacks, there's no holder that I would want to put a £600 phone in, unlimited date from phone companies is very rare or expensive, battery capabilities , reception .......... plus many other issues.

A dedicated GPS unit is the only answer.

http://www.oruxmaps.com/index_en.html

seems to me the most complete solution.

GPS altitude data is wildly inaccurate. It needs to be corrected using elevation data from a real map - which garmin connect does.

If the website does elevation correction on the route then it's head and shoulders above most other apps.

Standalone GPS units will never cease to exist. You can compare it to the Smartphone/Camera/Videocamera situation. The smartphone will not replace these things.

It's seems to me that there are two different markets. One for the keen cyclist who would buy the standalone unit anyways, because it does everything better and more reliable.

And the less keen cyclist, who would never buy the standalone unit, but likes the idea if he can have it for less.

kasperbs - I'm a keen cyclist and use a smartphone rather than a dedicated gps device.

My smartphone does everything a dedicated gps can and more. Its easily as reliable. The only problem is finding a decent mount - I ended up buying a mount and modifying it - works a treat!

The smartphone route is definately the way forward!

Also regarding data usage - use an app that allows you to pre-download maps over wifi, I use 'Motion X'.

Battery - turn off non essentials such as wifi, bluetooth and 3g whilst riding and you'll significantly increase battery life.

Don't forget to knock your screen brightness down too

I personally use CycleMeter from Abvio. The app does cost a fiver, but I links to social networking and google maps so you can see you route afterwards.

Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/obkfx2

If you care about accuracy in climbing stats only a barometric GPS will do. I've tested Garmin connect's correction feature and found exaggerated climbing stats. If you're riding across a slope any deviation (left or right) gives a false rise or fall. All errors in altitude end up adding to the net gain.

Smartphone apps are only useful for tracking where you've been, how many miles etc. and on shortish rides If you need to navigate or keep an eye on your heart rate for training, then this is not much use. If it rains then one of the custom units is a must and the 500 is now reasonably affordable - especially compared with an expensive smartphone.

I used an app for a while on the iPhone but the battery drained very quickly, not very useful if you're on a 100miles sportive and need to make a call.

Plug for Viewranger follows. i have been using Viewranger (first on a nokia-symbian ver.) and now Motorola Defy..batterylife on the Defy is fine for the half day rides I do..accuracy is excellent, both on the ground to navigate (I ride in the Cheviots where navigation is an issue, a heather covered hill looks like most other heather covered hill) and back home when uploaded to my O/S based Mapyx on the PC. OK I had to buy the maps but they are O/S..(best in the world) and when I went to NZ I purchases maps for there which also worked just fine. I've tried Open streets and Open cycle but niether is reliable when it comes to rights of way..I haven't tried buying credits so that if I go off my current set of maps I can get an automatic download, but understand this works fine..Ony draw back is now I've invested in some mapsI don't want to waste these by installing something else which uses different mapping...

I use a Garmin Forerunner 305 (on the wrist - no handlebar mount problem) and it seems to be remarkably accurate on altitude, within a few metres over a rise and fall of several hundred. After a ride you can view the whole track on Google Earth - fascinating, and also great for skiing. Very easy to split the ride into different sectors, and has heart monitor incuded in package.

I use TurboGPS - you can download routes and follow them and record where you're going over the top of them - and it uses open street map - free on android

Nobody has mentioned the short battery life - these 'apps' are no good if you are out for more than a few hours. No phone and no GPS!

Don't forget there is also a app for your phone from the guys at STRAVA

Strava can be used with your garmin or other GPS system. The Strava platform is an excellent way to compare your rides to other riders. I won't go into too much detail but if you do have an Iphone or garmin then STRAVA is the best way to record your rides in my opinion.

http://www.strava.com

Some bike events in the UK are already making this system available to it's entrants to record and compare their rides.

For example the ON THE RIVET RELIABILITY TRIAL 19TH FEBRUARY 2012

http://www.srs-events.cc

There is one issue though battery life of your mobile phone like Mike Cooper above says. I have a Iphone and also a gamin so I am ok but using the iphone alone without an extra battery pack only last up to about a 50 mile ride for me.

Any serious rider has to have a stand alone gps device like a garmin for the extra battery life and durability but saying that we can't be that far away now form mobile smart phones being the way forward and the growth of different housings to fit them safely to your handelbars which also protects them from the rain. I hope Garmin are prepared for this !

Interesting stuff on here. I used to use Motion x on Iphone (3g) I always have my ipod playing as well..2 hour max for a full charge and if I kept the screen on I could do a battery in less than an hour..even with brightness turned down..then I went to mapmyride..love the tie up and info with the web but it also used to do my battery..I recently went over to android with a galaxy note but have kept my Iphone for Strava and Ipod for the road..I just cable tie it to the top tube! Battery life is up to 3 hours so it seems to be way more efficient.

I was interested in the data usage though..I run my Iphone without a sim card so how does it know! I am not sure I have ever been charged for data usage by O2 or am I missing something...I just presumed without the sim installed it would run as a stand alone GPS device? Strava gets my vote so far...also love the competitive time tables and your position compared to others...turns out I am really quite slow...lol