Komoot is helping me get back on my bike after a long hiatus

Getting into cycling successful my precocious thirties has been humbling.

I’m responsible for my ain aesculapian costs, which really makes maine see things otherwise than erstwhile I was a kid tearing done nan vicinity parkland connected a twelve-speed Huffy. I’ve besides discovered you tin walk infinite money connected motorcycle worldly if you person nan resources, which I do not.

Most of all, I’ve learned that knowing really to get from constituent A to constituent B successful a car aliases connected a autobus does not mean you cognize nan champion measurement to get location connected a bike. For this peculiar spot of cycling logistics, I’ve recovered a tremendous — and mercifully free of complaint — solution: Komoot.

Komoot helps adventurers scheme and travel routes — by bicycle aliases connected foot. There are iOS, Android, and smartwatch apps successful summation to a web portal wherever you tin find celebrated routes aliases floor plan your own. You get a batch of adjuvant accusation astir a route, for illustration wherever and really steep nan hills are, what nan surfaces are like, and really strenuous it is. Once you group out, you tin grounds your activity and get turn-by-turn navigation. Handy!

Komoot uses accusation from OpenStreetMap, but erstwhile you’re readying a route, it’ll return into relationship paths its ain users prefer. And I’ll show you what, each clip I’ve taken a different way alternatively than nan 1 Komoot suggests, I’ve regretted it. That’s really I recovered myself struggling up Second Avenue successful downtown Seattle thinking, “Yeah, this isn’t arsenic level arsenic I thought it was” aliases pedaling done West Seattle successful a autobus lane inhaling exhaust fumes. Komoot is besides alert of a ungraded way connecting 2 roads successful my vicinity that keeps maine connected broadside streets; Google Maps routes maine to a busier thoroughfare instead.

The app is free and you get 1 representation region download to usage for readying and navigation without paying anything. My region successful Washington authorities is massive, truthful I person a batch of room to research earlier I’ll person to salary Komoot thing to task retired farther.

If you haven’t done it for a agelong time, getting connected a motorcycle successful a metropolis is intimidating — aliases astatine slightest that’s been my experience. But I’ve besides discovered a ton of support: nan section motorcycle shop I rolled into pinch a level tire, serene vicinity greenways I ne'er knew existed, paths that return maine from 1 broadside of Elliott Bay to nan other. These things were location each along, but you spot your metropolis otherwise erstwhile you’re connected a bike. A adjuvant app is conscionable 1 much point that has made my cycling comeback conscionable for illustration riding a... well, you know.