Technology is something that has changed the
nature of mountain biking extensively in the 30-or
so years since clunkers were king and racing was
down steep grass hills and dirt roads on fully rigid
bikes. Think about it: we went from cantilever
brakes to V-brakes to mechanical, then hydraulic
discs. From 6-speed to a mighty 12, and then
electronic: now wireless electronic! Wheels have
gone from alloy 36-spoke jobs to wide carbon
hoops and size has increased from 26” to 29”.
From fully rigid frames suspension was
developed, from the luxurious ‘flex’ stems of
the early 90s, XC racers are now riding bikes
as lighter than the clunkers, but featuring dual
suspension and dropper posts.
It’s pretty crazy when you think of how the
world, at large, has changed since the advent
of mountain biking. Our sports’ technological
advances are just a tiny drop in the ocean of what
has been developed throughout the world since
then.
We now all hold a computer in our pocket that
could do far more than the computer that sent
man to the moon.
We have more at our fingertips than ever
before; so how can you optimise this rise in
technology for good rather than evil? For the
mountain biker, the phone is now a tool to find
trails, log your training, check the weather for the
weekend ride, and even virtually race against your
mates.
Here is a non-definitive list of apps that myself
and those in my mountain biking crew have found
useful.TRAILFORKS (FREE)
Does it need to be said? Trail Forks is the app
to find your way out of the hustle and bustle of
the road and into the bush, wherever you may
be. There are hundreds of trail networks within
Australia listed, with cool features like Trail
Reports showing if trails are open or closed, and
Upcoming Events including races and trail care.STRAVA (FREE OR PREMIUM)
Are you competitive? Want to race your mates,
or even just track your training in an easy to use,
online platform? Strava may be the answer that
you need. I personally dip in and out of a Strava
account, using it as a tool to measure progress
against specific ‘segments’ that mirror upcoming
race conditions. But the fact is, for many people
Strava is the Facebook of cycling.MAPOUT ($7.99)
For the mapping nerd or budding cartographer,
MapOut is a great app to find your way around
when you’re adventuring further abroad than the
trail network. It can drop waypoints with your
longitude and latitude, draw a tour and record
your travel. The bonus? It can be used offline.WEATHERZONE (FREE)
Want to check whether next weekend’s big ride
is under sunny skies? Check out WeatherZone,
an easy to use one-stop weather shop, with a 7
day forecast, an in-depth 48hr forecast, radar and
ability to set numerous destinations, WeatherZone
is my #1 go-to for sussing out the sky before
committing to an all-day adventure.FITRWOMEN (FREE, PAID SUBSCRIPTION FOR
COACH ACCOUNT)
One for the girls, or fathers of girls, FitRwomen
is a period tracker for the sporty woman and
FitRwomen can be linked in with a coach, and has
a little more analysis and physiology on the stages
of the menstrual cycle. In addition, it’s full of
useful tips for training and recovery for the female
athlete, as well as advising how to maximise your
training for different times of the month.EMERGENCY + (FREE)
A basic latitude and longitude of your location
regardless of where you have escaped to. There
is a quick button for emergency services as well
as the SES and PoliceLink (non-emergent Police
number). This one is a no brainer!We are always keen to get on board with any
new innovation, so tell us: what are your favourite
apps to increase your on-the-bike joy?X-FACTOR
WORDS: ANNA BECK PHOTO: TIM BARDSLEY-SMITHAPP HAPPY
http://www.ambmag.com.au - 31