Tips for Ride with GPS
Tips for Using Ride with GPS
Navigate Using the Map
When you’re ready to begin your ride, make sure the ride guide is open in the Ride with GPS app. Also, make sure your location is turned on so the map can determine where you are. Then click the orange “Navigate” button in the bottom-left corner of the screen. If you’re not at the route’s starting point, select “Route to Start” to have the app navigate you there.
The app gives directions well before you need to execute them. If you hear “Turn right on Chestnut St,” for example, the turn will be a little ways ahead. It may take a little getting used to.
Once you begin your ride, turn-by-turn navigation instructions will appear both on the screen and audibly. You can turn off your screen if you wish to navigate entirely by sound. Alternatively, you can turn down the volume and navigate using just the visual cues.
When you’re approaching a point of interest, the app will notify you to “take notice.” This is a good time to stop your bike and read the information provided for that point of interest.
If you are navigating by sound, there are two alerts you may hear. If you hear a dreadful two-note sequence (da-duh), you’ve traveled off-route. The app will sense when you’re back on course and give you with a cheery four-note signal (da-da-da-dah!) to let you know you’re back on route. Keep in mind that if you walk too far from the route — for example, going inside a restaurant — the app may sound the two-note da-duh alert. If you’re intentionally off route, these alerts can get annoying, so you may want to turn down the volume. Just remember to turn it back up when you’re ready to resume your ride.
If you’re navigating visually, the route is blue. As you ride the route, the portion of the route you’ve completed turns red. Remember: red = ridden.
View Points of Interest
When you’re approaching a point of interest, the app will notify you to “take notice.” When you hear this, stop your bike, look at the map in the Ride with GPS app, and click the appropriate icon to learn more. You’ll find a short write-up about the stop, and sometimes additional information such as photos or links to videos, news articles, or other online resources.
Save the Ride Guide for Later Use
When you send the ride guide to the Ride with GPS app on your phone, you’ll have the option to save it. If you’ve just downloaded the guide and are riding the route immediately, you don’t need to save it — the route will already be open in the app. However, if you accidentally close the app, the route will disappear.
You may want to save the route for later use or prevent if from disappearing if you accidentally close the app while navigating. After you’ve sent the guide to your device, click the “Save” button at the bottom of the ride guide, then select “Download for Offline.” This saves the route to your app and allows you to use and navigate the ride guide without a WiFi or cellular connection.
Even if you have a ride guide saved in your app, we recommended downloading a fresh version before you ride. Ride guides are frequently updated to reflect changes to routes, stops, and other information.
Open a Saved Ride Guide
To open a ride guide you previously saved, open the Ride with GPS app, and click the “Library” icon in the menu at the bottom of the screen. Then select the “Routes” menu tab at the top of the screen to see the ride guide(s) you previously downloaded. Click on the name of the ride guide to begin navigating.
End a Ride
When you’ve finished your ride, you need to tell the Ride with GPS app that you’ve done; otherwise, it will keep navigating as you go about your day.
If you follow the route all the way to the end, the app may automatically recognize that you’ve finished and ask if you’d like to save the ride. If you’re not prompted to end your ride, press and hold the orange pause button at the bottom of the screen until the “Finish Ride” option appears. You can then choose to save the ride or delete it.
Begin the Route at a Different Starting Point
The routes are all loops that start and end at the same place. Technically, you can begin your ride anywhere along the route, as the Ride with GPS app will determine you location and begin navigation from there. Keep in mind, though, that the navigation and points of interest are designed around the designated starting point. Depending on the route, some stops may make less sense if you begin elsewhere along the route. You’ll also need to restart navigation when you reach the designated starting point, since that’s where the route officially begins.
Troubleshoot
If you are experiencing other problems while using the app, consider doing a Google search to troubleshoot.