Opting for Slow Rides
I've been using Strava for a couple of years and it's always felt a little bit...not right. I couldn't ever really place my finger on what it was until I tried Ride with GPS. It's the same kind of thing - ride tracking and planning - but it felt better.
First, it wasn't trying to upsell me with every scroll. Second, it gives a lot more functionality in the free tier (route planning, in particular). Third - and this was the game changer - nothing was in my face about how fast I was compared to other people (or myself). And that's why I'm going to switch.
The routes are front-and-center. It's easy to throw in a starting point and filter by ride type, length, and other factors - all for free. Routes have reviews, which is nice for vetting different rides as I improve and can go on longer pedals. I'm also able to plan my own routes on the desktop without having to subscribe. Everything felt focused on enjoying the ride rather than performing better. I want to improve and ride longer faster, but it's not my main focus. I'm not training for anything in particular.
I ended up subscribing at the Basic tier because it unlocks turn-by-turn navigation on my phone as well as live ride sharing so my wife can keep half an eye on me especially when I'm alone. I'm really happy to have come across Ride with GPS and I already feel much more relaxed about riding than I ever did using Strava.
If you want to connect, here's my profile.
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