Love them or hate them, mobile apps and platforms of all kinds have had a huge impact on our cycling \u2013 and have muted the disconnected sense of adventure and exploration for many riders.<\/p>\n
The vices of devices\u2026 it\u2019s an app trap, and we\u2019ve been caught. If it\u2019s not on Strava or Instagram, it didn\u2019t happen. First, a warning: this is an opinion-based article, and contains sensitive (to some) content. A sense of humour and some chill are both recommended before reading!<\/p>\n
Although this kicked in with a twist on an ironic Boomtown Rats songline, which will be lost in vinyl history to many, ironically, these are often the most likely to be \u201capp-trapped\u201d, having grown up in a digital and device-led world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I guess some don\u2019t realise (or for us older folk, remember) just how much those evil devices in our pockets have taken their toll in where and how many ride, not to mention sedating the very spirit of adventure and exploration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That good old analogue business of simply picking up a paper map or just following your sense of curiosity into the wilds of the great unknown \u2013 and, of course, getting lost, taking wrong turns, coming unstuck; that\u2019s a comparative rarity these days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But hey, that was all part of the experience in the pre-digital device era. If there were any pictures taken along the way, they were usually on a point-and-shoot film camera, which you could get developed a few months later. There was no social media pressure for the selfie \u2013 and most definitely not for the TikTok selfie dance, let alone to post every last watt and mile of that (now) over-trodden, and funnelled and \u201cover-grammed \u201c line \u2013 the one where others pass en masse chasing false social media dreams &\u00a0 virtual trophies (though, each to their own).<\/p>\n
I, too, have been unwittingly app trapped, and I hate it<\/p>\n
This story is in no way, shape or form decrying anyone for using the many and varied apps out there, or for posting everything on social media platforms; that\u2019s their choice. Out of semi-self-enforced and perceived necessity, I, too, get \u201capp trapped\u201d at times, unfortunately.<\/p>\n
I also fully acknowledge the benefits and use case potential for many of the apps, but for me, they mostly impact and limit the whole ride experience negatively, which is why I try to limit any reliance on them.<\/p>\n
There are several cycling-friendly map and stat apps out there, and some are very useful too. Unfortunately, many riders almost seem to wholeheartedly rely and trust on their mixed user-ai laid lines. And yet, with living in a relatively bike \u201cun-apped\u201d area, when I do see routes plotted locally, or in other areas I know well, I often get that Trip Advisor review sensation. You may know the kind: \u201cThat was the best Hawaiian pizza in all of Italy\u201d, says Magic Mike, who passed Milan airport\u2019s transit lounge and visited Pizza Hut on his first day in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Quite often, I do see some very bland and dangerous routes, and two-wheeled pilgrims do seem to unquestioningly follow that same questionable trail over and again, often chasing those virtual trophies along the way (mostly on road). All too often, these are ridden without a second glance around or a curious thought as to what may lie beyond if they just follow that twisted trail into the great (app) unknown. I do get it, some riders want that guaranteed fix, but that\u2019s not me.<\/p>\n
This is in no way anti-map apps, with the lack of paper options available, I do often find myself taking overviews from the likes of Komoot, and then side tracking the pre-laid lines; that\u2019s what it\u2019s mostly about for me.<\/p>\n
Antisocial riding<\/p>\n
As for the social media apps and platforms and their dastardly impact on cycling, that\u2019s a much more ferocious one, and a thought or three for another day. Though in my opinion, in so many ways, these have become the ultimate reality and passion killers when it comes to simply disconnecting and enjoying the purity of the ride for sanity and soul\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n
In the often-over-nannied world we now live in, some see it as irresponsible to venture out without a fully connected mobile device; after all, bad things and evil demons await when you do.<\/p>\n
Funny one that; I can remember the paper magazine backlash decades ago when I wrote a feature on potential safety benefits of those new-fangled mobile phones; \u201cThey\u2019ll kill the whole sense of adventure, they will take away the freedoms and the art of self-reliance\u201d came the responses \u2013 and I largely agreed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That said, I do feel somewhat naked when riding out alone without a phone these days, yet I do know some old times who refuse to even consider slipping one in their back pocket \u2013 kudos to them.<\/p>\n
You know what? Those unconnected demons are largely made up, like the bogey man and free beer \u2013 unless they\u2019re digital demons that simply didn\u2019t exist years ago, that is.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a lot to be said for \u201capp-less\u201d (not hapless) riding. I think I\u2019ll have a crack at it again soon; those totally disconnected and disjointed trail rides of old were the stuff of true freedom and unshared memories.<\/p>\n
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