How To Plan A Bicycle Adventure Using Komoot 

Hope you found this helpful...What are some of your favorite ways to navigate?

One of my favourite functions of komoot: you can download your route on your mobile so that you can navigate without any connection or wifi...

In response to your point about distracted driving, I plead that cyclists also avoid that trap. I’ve had an accident when a fellow cyclist I was passing did not hear me when I passed her. She veered left into me, causing me to fall into a sign on the side of the road. She failed to hear my announcement of my intent to pass because she was listening to music on earphones. Fortunately the worst injuries either of us suffered were some minor road rash. Please don’t let technology or any other distractions dominate your experience of being on the road or trail. You may save yourself and others an accident.

Ryan, I’ve recently discovered your channel and applaud your campaign to encourage more people to cycle! I’m approaching 80, 20 years ago cycled a lot everyday (didn’t, however, give up my car in DC area), but haven’t cycled much since. 4 weeks ago I purchased an e-bike and, like your mother, love it. I’m getting out more and exercising more than I have in 20 years! I’m on a roll to now do the limited shopping I need to do using my bike as well as utilize our local Lynchburg, VA trails. (we recently moved into a local CCRC community)

A handy Google Maps tip: View the critical turn points (waypoints) on Street View prior to your ride and look for things like a store you will recognize, post office etc. When you are on the road, you will remember how the turn looks after seeing it on your computer screen. Most images are quite recent, and many times during a cycling outing, there's just a few turns to remember if you are out in a rural setting. When a place looks familiar, you don't need to look at the bike head unit.

I use Komoot too, besides it can download the whole ride for 'no signal' area, you can just switch on voice -for-directions only and turn off the screen to save on power.

Komoot is awesome. I used it for about 60% of my coast to coast USA trip. It has a live tracking feature so your nervous fam can keep tabs on you. My one complaint was that on more than one occasion it took me on a route that was clearly barred by no trespassing signs, so I had to backtrack and use Google.

I agree…I try to avoid busy road when riding my bike.

I've been using Komoot for several years now on my phone with navigation commands in conjunction with a pair of Aftershokz bone conduction earphones. This means I can switch the screen off on the phone saving battery life and the bone conduction earphones mean I can still hear traffic etc. With voice commands only from the navigation both phone and earphone batteries last all day. I find using the bike computer screen for navigation too challenging to read, it's an age thing, whilst also trying to keep an eye on the road ahead

Love Komoot. I have a paid subscription. So easy to make a route AND change it easily on your desktop if you wish, to share your routes with your friends, etc., and it's nice to know when the terrain changes on your route -- Komoot provides you this info.

I just got a Wahoo Roam and just beginning to play with it. Like you, I’m not very techy so I hope you’re right that it’s easy to use. I will give Kamoot a look at. If it works for you I’m sure it will do whatever I need. Thanks!

Darn good info. I have both Komoot and a Wahoo but I haven't explored their use much. You gave me some incentive.

Thanks Dr. Ryan,....great info, love it. Some of my best days was when I was lost though.🤟

Thank you for another great Duzer biking tip.

You sent me down a rabbit hole!! I'm headed to Cortez and Pagosa Springs tomorrow and you got me hooked on Komoot. Thanks for sharing.

Ryan, great vid, you are 100% on point, love it!

Great video Ryan. Practical advice. Thanks!

Ryan you are an inspiration. Thank you.

So helpful man. Thank you! Me, my bike, the road...I'm overdue.

Great advice Ryan, thanks.

Ryan- This was very helpful, thank you.

As a Mom, I appreciate the idea of “calling your Mother at the end of the day”

Cool. Thanks for sharing this with us

Thumbs up Mr. Van Duzer. I’ve been using Ride With GPS to plan my routes. Yet, it doesn’t seem to take auto traffic into account when it auto routes. I’m going to give Komoot, and the other route planners, a good look this season.

Very timely. Just bought a navigation device. Agree. I need to figure out how to use it.

Never looked into till now...I like it, and, that it tells you distances on diff surfaces...Thanks man!

Thanks Ryan, I just downloaded Komoot to my phone. All the best. Jaroslav 🙂🇨🇿

Ryan, "Get Out There" That advice of yours is just like your videos, precise and to the point! Hope to see you out there sometime! Thanks from Scottville Michigan USA 🇺🇸

Thanks for the helpful information.

Hello Ryan.. hope you are still well.. :). you might mention that Komoot routes are not set up for Road cycle touring.. Expecially when you are riding a recumbent trike.. Komoot will often direct you to a path with flights of stairs (without waning about stairs). Most bicycle riders simply pick up the bike and carry it on the flights of steps.. So warnings are not necessary.. But after riding 100 miles, to find a flight of steps on a recumbent trike, that is called a dead end.. Komoot has road conditions: gravel, single track, paved etc.. So why not stairs or stair avoidance settings.? just something to be aware of. :). PEACE

Thanks for the navigation advice!

thankyou ryan fo your advice.....

Google Maps really is a good option for commuting. It's what I used to setup my work commute. I still have to drive my Jeep 2.7 miles from home to the trail that I use for my commute. But 6.7 miles are dirt and paved greenways. I look forward to trying Komoot for my next adventure. Thanks Ryan, You rock brother!

Great Stuff.. Distracted drivers will always be a concern.. I love gravel roads.. Always wanting to improve my navigation skills.. Komoot has lots of options.. I'll have to take a look..

Thanks, I was curious about this.

Thanks for sharing! I’m in the Denver metro area and always wanted to check out some long rides!

Wow! Amazing! Thank you 😊

Very good presentation

Thanks Ryan. Burrito supply often overlooked, but necessary.👍

Very helpful Ryan, cheers. There are so many good resources these days.

Totally agree with everything and I have just used a Komoot/Garmin combination for Lejog. A really key point is phone battery life which really makes a phone highly unsuitable for long rides. However, like Ryan I would briefly open Komoot on my phone to look at a better map if I was unsure. I also used Google Maps on my phone to navigate to off route points e.g. a bike shop or a camp site. Much easier than messing about with my Garmin

Books are good! I liked the Cuba trip so much that I found a used copy of the book you read on the plane ride. LOL

Good to hear from you, what is the books for 2022 as far as your adventures?

I have had a few close calls while running where I was on the side of a narrow road and a bicyclist was going past me and a car decided to pass the cyclist and I was thinking about stepping into the road and there was no space so I always look before I jump and still the thought of having not paying attention shocked me. You have to be vigilant and look around the same as you would cross at a light. I see a lot of people holding their cell phones while driving and I don't understand why they don't drive and pay attention. And I see bicyclists texting, hands off the handlebars, no way of Immediately braking if a dog or cat should dart in front. I won't pass a bicycle if I think it is not safe. I don't want to surprise people and when I ride I won't ride in the middle of the lane. I also ride with flat pedals, no clipless, just because traffic conditions are precarious. I think some people who ride road bikes don't want to risk flats and stay off the bike paths. I read bicycle deaths are increasing within the last few years and I believe Ebikes are a problem because a lot, not all, are new to cycling and ride too fast for the conditions of the path, road, etc. It can be a war zone just getting out but at age 56, years of bicycle commuting, I have focused on commuting and not competing. A lot of people, driving cars, bicycling, walking like zombies with cell phones, ear buds, and not paying attention, are at risk of getting hurt, severely at times. I bike tour, also, and respecting every type of traffic, and paying attention, will save lives. A nice bell is important. Ching Ching .

Hello Ryan. I would like to thank your videos. Your videos gave me a lot of confidence in Biking solo and I would like to thank you for that. THANK YOU! your friend here in the Philippines MABUHAY! 🇵🇭

Thanks for the tip Ryan. I’m a garmin guy so I never gave a chance to komoot. Definitely I should give it a try for touring or bike packing into the Andes

Lovvve komoot.... can't get enough...

Thank you

NIce.. Thanks for sharing. I just downloaded the app and signed up. You know what I will use it for :)

Thanks Ryan for another awesome video! I have a quick question‼️: have you ever heard of bamboo bikes? I just found out about them and seems like a fun DIY project to look into. They sell kits online and in the future I may buy one since my current bike is probably going to break soon. Seems more sustainable to have a bike made of bamboo! Have a great day 😁!

Hi Ryan, I found one thing in your video misleading. You said that komoot was free and does the trick w/o Premium. Planning indeed is free, but I think that turn-by-turn navigation or export to a GPS device are paid services, which are included in the Premium subscription, or alternatively, can be unlocked permanently in specific regions for a small fee. Nevertheless, I am a big fan of komoot (I use it with Garmin), I recommend it to everyone. The best investment I made there was permanently unlocking navigation in the whole world (for a single payment), but I do not know if this option is still offered since the introduction of Premium.

i refuse to ride on the road these days unless it is an extremely rural and low traffic road. it just is not worth the risk. the biggest issue is that drivers dont care, even if they hit a cyclist they most likely wont stop to help.

You had me sold when you said it'll tell me where Mexican restaurants are!!🤣🤣❤❤❤

Perfect.

Hi Ryan, have you made a video on how you recharge your electronic devices etc.

My current navigation setup: Garmin Edge Explore GPS, Garmin Varia Rear Tailight+Radar. Auxiliary: My cell phone with Kamoot, Maps etc and a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. The cell phone is good but when I used to drive, I always had a dedicated gps unit like a Garmin "Nuvi" or similar. Freeing up my phone for more "phone" tasks and not having to worry about running out of data or a cell signal, slow connection speeds etc. My dedicated gps links up in seconds and so far has never had a problem finding a link. The radar is also a nice addition, I don't have to keep turning my head around to see what's behind me. I won't ever trust it 100% but it helps.

Nice vid.

Really hope this is a hint for a Sweden trip! Even if that route would miss some cool places :)

My Wahoo died after 3-4 years. Wahoo Element Bolt noted that this is about the life span. I am reluctant to get another.

I’m surprised you don’t use a mirror. I love having reference to what’s coming up behind me on my ebike tours.

hello sir i love biking also and using my navigation where im going to bike ilove bike adventure and travel

Gracias, aprendiendo mucho 😉👍 I’m recently brought another bike and prepare for bike packing and Start with short trip around neighborhood 😀 Que sigan tus videos para aprender más 💪

I 2nd that rant.

In the intro you mentioned distracted driving and the phone, along with too many cyclists getting killed these days. I agree with you. In San Diego I had a period of almost getting hit every week. I was on my touring bike, yellow highway vest, daylight visible blinkers, yellow helmet, and I used to be an LCI trainer. The "I didn't see you" immediate response was so common that I delved into reading NHTSA and GHSA reports on traffic deaths in the U.S. I also spoke with Highway Patrol, SDPD, and Sheriffs, all of which told me they no longer perform regularly scheduled traffic patrols, "We only respond to emergencies" I was told bluntly. According to the reports not only cyclists, but pedestrians, and driver deaths have all increased by 10% in recent years. Recalling the number, around 41,000 deaths for 2021. Reasons: increased miles driven due to better economy, distracted driving, high speeds, aggressive driving, and reduced traffic law enforcement. Reports stated that DUI has increased after years of decline. Practically speaking, we need more traffic cops writing tickets to reduce the mayhem on our public roads. But that's just my opinion.

Komoot #1.... instead Ryan #1!!!

Thanks Ryan this was useful and giving me more confidence to start bikepacking! Short question is it correct that you have to start on the path, to activate the Wahoo, in my case Sigma Evo? You are not being navigated to the route are you? So you have to start from the start locations or somewhere on the route? Thanks, you explain things well!

Haha I too have some planned routes on the app which I am hoping to ride one day.

Years ago a guy I know broke his neck mountain biking. When he was in the hospital, he asked the nurse which she thought was safer: road or mountain biking. Her response was mountain biking by far, because you end up here (the hospital floor) from an MTB wreck. Road riders get sent downstairs to the morgue. And that was in the simple days before cell phones, when all you had to worry about was drunks.

Hey! We saw that Sweden route!

I stick to the bike paths in Ohio and I'm not that trusting on the street with traffic. Ohio has miles and miles of paths but out and backs can be boring unless you can loop. I don't let by bike sit anywhere when I'm not around because it can be stolen with ease.

Great stuff as always Ryan. Quick question: What’s the best way to charge your electronics, phone, bike computer, etc.. WHILE on the bike? I know solar is an option. What about chargers that generate the change from your bike wheel? And experience with those?

I haven’t tried Komoot, but I do use Ride With GPS. I’m surprised you didn’t mention RWGPS as it is the most like Komoot. I pair it with a Garmin 830 for on the bike navigation.

¡Gracias!

"Realising his mistake as she passed, he swung round and joined Lael. “Why don’t we finish together?” he suggested. Lael smiled and simply responded, “this is a race” and accelerated away with all her might."

GCN have the best NC500 vlog featuring Mark Beaumont incorporating more obscure roads...in case you're interested...while you're over visiting Sweden. 😜

Yes yes

Google maps can get confusing at times. I was going over a car bridge using the bike lane and it was showing me to turn right to go on the bike trail. Problem was, I was about 15 feet above a foot trial that went under the bridge and was not going to turn right and fall off the bridge. As it turned out, I had to go to the end of the bridge first and loop around until I got to the bike trail that which the foot trail went to.

A gps navigation device, as the wahoo or garmin, are very expensive and have a small screen. Why not get another phone (with a large battery and rugged) instead? That way you can navigate with your preferred app.

Hey. When is your big run? Coming up?

i really hope you are going to sweden.

Aloha Ryan. I’m loving your videos. What do you think about a dynamo hub? Is that what you’ve got? Keeping my devices charged has been an issue. Solar panels seem to work best being stationary. I’ve had some luck with an extra battery bank but still limited. What’s a good hub to get

How do you combine routes together? Thank you.

Hi Ole ole!

I am using Komoot to plan rides. I love the elevation profile, but my main frustration is that I can't see road names and numbers without zooming way in. Am I missing something?

Ryan, just wondering if you have any recommendations for charging/power banks for phones and equipment when on the trail? have you had success/positive experiences with any of the solar powered ones? I've been re-skimming your Gear videos but figured asking a question might get me there a bit quicker. thanks in advance for any insight.

Would a e-ink phone work for this. Would the battery lasts long enough ? Would I have to use mobile data or would it work with the gps and the downloaded maps ? Thanks for everyone who will answer.

Cool app but does it support maps in South Africa 🇿🇦 As most of the apps dont support worldwide countries inc Trail Forks

Thanks. Going to use Komoot for offline route for my Bike packing tour next week. I'll keep my Strava in free mode till they lower their fee. $8 a mouth is to high for this small RU-vidr.

Hey Ryan. Recently created my own Tahoe Twirl route on Komoots but when I went to sync it to my Element it said the route was too big and it couldnt give me turn by turn directions. Did I do something wrong?

How is it looking for RAGBRAI 2022?

Un giorno farai un viaggio in Europa? Per esempio da capo nord a Marzamemi (Sicilia)

Hey Ryan! I got 2 questions: 1. How is Komoot doing in terms of roads in the US? I'm planning to tour across the western US next year (Boulder CO, UT, NV, CA, OR for about 2500 miles). I've used Komoot in Europe for years, but wonder if it'll actually favor quieter roads in the US if I picked road and not gravel? Or will it potentially send me on the busier ones, since pretty much every long-distance road seems to be categorized as an interstate highway? Only thing I could think of is checking each road in street view to estimate traffic and shoulder width. 2. I've had performance issues with long distance routes on the desktop, especially when importing routes with plenty of waypoints. Browser doesn't matter. Is that something you encountered? Also, I've literally looked up flights to Kiruna last week, for a potential trip this summer. Makes me happy that you consider Sweden, in case that was a teaser rather than just an imaginary route you play around with. Rode from Östersund to Stockholm in 2016, and especially the north was fantastic and had me want do it again from further up north ever since. Thanks for all your content, I'll revisit your video on bicycling routes across the US :)

Just pulling your leg. Is it “root” or “route”?

Komoot tip: WHILE YOU HAVE WIFI: Save your Route for Offline Use: Bring up the Route; scroll down by LEARN MORE- "Store for offline use" TOGGLE ON Phone Tip: Use Airplane Mode or Battery saver. You won't have service anyway until you reach a town.

My motto for 2022 is make no plans and just allow the universe to happen to me🙏🌍🌈 (currently 4wks in sitting in BOG squat nowhere ATM and loving it, Merriwa NSW Australia 🤠) At 53 and a technophobe, that kamoot and wahoos look great 👍 but love asking locals for advice. Informative and interesting plus getting a bit over "Bonus miles" Piece 🌍 love 🌈 and beans for All 🤠 P.T Never u

do you find tha komoot, strava or other systems tend to send you along the same paths?

I'm on my 2nd bike touring

Can we see gradient in unplanned riding?

Komoot is a great tool, it will take us to interesting places and it will facilitate avoiding f car drivers

Are going to Sweden?