Bicycle navigation on the Apple Watch
Are you taking the bike, but you don’t know exactly which route to take? It is forbidden in the Netherlands to cycle with your iPhone in your hand and navigating with Apple Maps on the Apple Watch is of course a piece of cake. Still, not all cycling apps work with the Apple Watch. We have listed a few bicycle navigation apps for you so that you can cycle undisturbed. For
- Google Maps
- Komoot
- CycleMaps
- MagicEarth
- Naviki
- Apple Maps
It is of course an open door, but always keep your eyes on the traffic when navigating. The Apple Watch can help you quickly check your wrist for the next turn while cycling. If you are unsure about the exit or the direction you need to go, put your bike aside and don’t hinder traffic. Or put in an earpiece so that you can hear the spoken instructions clearly.
Google Maps bicycle navigation
After a three-year absence, Google Maps is back on the Apple Watch since September 2020. As a result, it is again possible to receive instructions on your wrist while you are walking, driving or cycling. To receive these directions, start a route on your iPhone. If you have set your favorite places, you can immediately start cycling the route from your Apple Watch. You will then see step by step in which direction you should cycle. The Apple Watch also provides haptic feedback for navigation steps, but does not provide different taps when you need to turn left or right. That only happens while walking.
You can read how setting cycling routes in Google Maps works in the article below.
Komoot bike navigation
With Komoot you can create useful cycling routes yourself, but you can also use the app for navigation. The app offers various route packages for a fee. The first region you choose is free, so choose wisely! Are you planning to cycle only in your own region? Then there are no costs involved. With Komoot you can track your route on your Apple Watch and get information about your speed. The app can also be used offline and can be linked to Apple Health.
CycleMaps bicycle navigation
CycleMaps offers you clear and well-arranged route information on your Apple Watch. However, there is a disadvantage and that is that you have to pay a premium subscription of 10 euros per month to use the Apple Watch app. If you are an avid cyclist, you might consider this. With CycleMaps you can also save your route as a workout and use vibrations to tell you which way to go. You can also choose to receive spoken instructions via your Apple Watch, but then it will be in English.
Magic Earth bicycle navigation
Magic Earth is one of the clearest apps for navigating via your Apple Watch. In addition to the clear instructions, the app also has complications that you can put on your watch face. This way you can see at a glance what your arrival time is. You can also easily select previously traveled routes via your Apple Watch, after which navigation starts immediately. The app can be used offline, provided you download the map of the Netherlands for free. Are you going to cycle abroad? Then you can download maps of various countries completely free of charge.
Naviki bicycle navigation
The Naviki app is an app without too much fuss, but with some useful functions. For example, you can enter a location or the name of a contact as a destination. You can also turn on the bicycle service. This will show you where the nearest bike shops are or places to inflate your tire if needed. The free app is already very extensive, but also offers numerous paid packages to get mountain bike routes or recreational routes, for example. You will see clear instructions on your Apple Watch. Not only from the first possible turn, but also from the one immediately following. This way you know a little more and you have to look a little less often.
Apple Maps bicycle navigation
Since iOS 14, it is also possible to plan and read cycling routes with Apple Maps on your Apple Watch. An ideal function, but unfortunately it is of very little use to the world’s largest cycling country. The function cannot yet be used in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Still, it’s a great feature and we can’t wait to use it. You can enter and start a route from your Apple Watch. Do you remember that you want to make a detour while cycling to drink a cup of coffee somewhere? Then you can search for the nearest coffee shop from your wrist. Your Apple Watch will let you know when to turn with sounds and taps. You can read more about planning cycling routes in Apple Maps in our separate article.
When planning a route you can see where bike paths and bike-friendly routes can be found. You also get a preview of the height differences, so you know how much effort you have to make. You can indicate that you do not want steep slopes – or you do. To increase safety, you can see how busy a street is, so you can plan your cycling route along quieter roads. You can read general tips about using Apple Maps on the Apple Watch in a separate tip.
Do you want to go cycling with your Apple Watch and record your performance in the meantime? There are plenty of Apple Watch apps for cyclists and cyclists like Strava and Aaptiv. We’ve highlighted a few apps in our guide below.
No Apple Watch or would you rather navigate with your iPhone while cycling? Even then there are plenty of apps that you can use. Please note that it is wise to purchase a telephone holder for your bicycle.
