Best Apps for routes & charging?

Owela

Just Joined
May 8, 2023
3
2
Hi everyone!

New to the eBike community. So new in fact, my bike doesn't get here till May 11th! Meanwhile I am trying to plan routes and see how long of a ride I could do. Unfortunately, I am having trouble with Google Maps, and several other route apps for not really being very complete or able to add criteria like "no busy roads". I also was very surprised to see that there were no good apps for places that you could charge your bike? Is there something I am missing? I live in Scotland. Any advice would be really helpful :)

Thank you!
 
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guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
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Unfortunately, I am having trouble with Google Maps, and several other route apps for not really being very complete or able to add criteria like "no busy roads".
I'm still looking for an app in which "No big roundabouts" can be specified.
 

matthewslack

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2021
1,881
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I have found charging during a ride in Scotland is really easy. Almost all cafes and pubs will let you charge while you eat and drink, if they have plug sockets in the public area. All you need is a charger and a happy, smiley face that doesn't get upset on the rare occasions that the answer is no.

Ideally you need a fast charger, at least 3A, preferably 4A.

I know of no app, but cafes and pubs are easy to track down.
 

egroover

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 12, 2016
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UK
http://cycle.travel is what you need to plan your routes - you have options to avoid busy roads, it defaults to use cycle routes where available - Once you have planned your routes, download them and then upload them to Komoot for turn by turn navigation (lifetime worldwide maps one-off £20) - That's the combo I use for multi days touring in the UK and Europe - works well for me

@matthewslack is your man for off-grid/on the fly charging, check out his threads on here for some of his tours - he should write a guide book with what he's discovered in Scotland
 
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guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
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I'm still looking for an app in which "No big roundabouts" can be specified.
Lmk if you find one, haha ;)
Dan Walker's roundabout accident:



Another Dan Walker accident:



I bought Sygic, back when I was a driver and it's one great feature (aside from head-up display for night projection onto the windshield) is specific road avoidance... which was great when I knew which roads were to be avoided. But it has no cycling mode autoroute; does have route planning for real time navigation while cycling. It leads cyclists up motorways on full auto, cyclists up one way streets on walking mode, and has no cycling mode...


http://cycle.travel is what you need to plan your routes - you have options to avoid busy roads, it defaults to use cycle routes where available - Once you have planned your routes, download them and then upload them to Komoot for turn by turn navigation (lifetime worldwide maps one-off £20) - That's the combo I use for multi days touring in the UK and Europe - works well for me
Brilliant! Hadn't heard of that one! Android app coming soon in summer 2023 too.
 

saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
6,897
3,194
Telford
Hi everyone!

New to the eBike community. So new in fact, my bike doesn't get here till May 11th! Meanwhile I am trying to plan routes and see how long of a ride I could do. Unfortunately, I am having trouble with Google Maps, and several other route apps for not really being very complete or able to add criteria like "no busy roads". I also was very surprised to see that there were no good apps for places that you could charge your bike? Is there something I am missing? I live in Scotland. Any advice would be really helpful :)

Thank you!
Did you set Google maps to "cycling"?