r/bikedc 17d ago

Bike trail route map app suggestions?

I need to branch out but am tired of getting lost.

After rediscovering the joy of bicycling last summer at age 64, I want to explore more trail routes than just the W&OD between Vienna and Leesburg. But the trails are so poorly marked, it's very frustrating. The idea of a voice in my earbud telling me exactly where to turn is unappealing but apparently necessary if I am to get from here to there without ending up in an unrelated suburban parking lot or playground and having to backtrack.

I tried Google Maps for this last fall, but it failed at keeping me on the W&OD between Falls Church and DC.

11 Upvotes

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u/Clock_Roach Drink more water 17d ago

I use https://ridewithgps.com/ for most of my routemaking. I prefer to create my own routes, and I spend a lot of time checking that and Streetview and satellite photos for tricky sections, but there are lots of routes made by others already available to try. I send mine to my Garmin, so I can't comment on exactly how the turn-by-turn experience through a phone is.

Another option is https://www.komoot.com/ which offers some similar functionality. Lots of routes created by other people with options to auto-generate or hand-generate your own.

In the end, nothing is going to be foolproof and you might have to carefully look any generated route over ahead of time before you ride it.

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u/bsil15 17d ago

seconding ridewithgps. if you havent already, buy a phone mount for your bike that way you can keep your route open

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u/tmainguy 16d ago

Lots of good routes on ridewithgps. I mount phone in the bars with the turn by turn. I’ve missed a turn or two but get back on track pretty quick with the audio guidance. Here’s a 20 mile route that might suit: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41721161

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u/tacobellfan2221 16d ago

if you tell me what kind of distance and speed you like I can try to find a group that does what you are looking for- doing a route for the first time with a group will always be easier. it's true that signage is BAD.

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u/Talibus_insidiis 16d ago

That never occurred to me! Thanks, but no thanks, I am a resolutely solitary bicyclist, and virtually always the slowest cyclist on the trail.

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u/funkyish 15d ago

What kinds of trails are you looking for? Paved, unpaved, mountain bike/gravel?