Best iPhone Apps and Accessories for the Cyclist and Bike Commuter

A great place to get started on two wheels is SizeMyBike ($3.99), an app that takes six different body measurements to provide you with a tailor-made specification, while BikeRepair ($3.99) and Bike Doctor ($4.99) are loaded with helpful guidance for the beginners and more experienced alike, in case you hit a mechanical problem in the middle of nowhere.

London BikeShop ($1.99) is a handy guide to the nearest bike mechanic if you are cycling in the capital. As far as logging times is concerned, many apps we met in the running section have cycle-based siblings. iMapMyRide (free), Cyclemeter GPS ($2.99) and Cycle Watch Lite (Free) are just a few of the options available.

If you are planning to use the bike for practical reasons, commutes and general getting about, then Bike Hub Cycle Journey planner (free) will work out the quickest or quietest routes, depending whether getting there sooner or conducting fewer battles with motorised traffic is more important to you. The journey planner section can suggest itineraries for up to 100 miles.

The Complete National Cycle network (free) offers something for every cyclist, whether you're looking for the idyllic country trail or the speediest commute. Boasting details over 25,000 miles of route, including all 13,000 miles of the national cycle network, this app should definitely be one of your first downloads if you're a serious cyclist.

Outdoors Great Britain, (£1.99), with heaps of optional OS map add-ons, admittedly at steep prices for some maps, is ideal if you are planning to go off-road a lot. Using GPS and OS maps, it should ensure you never got lost but also keep you aware of the things worth seeing in the vicinity.

While the iPhone's own GPS works fine when moving at a pedestrian pace, once up to bicycle speed, it could be worth looking into a more sophisticated set up, such as CoPilot Live ($29.99), TomTom ($59.99), Navigon North America ($59.99) or Navigon Europe ($119.99) . Each one can be expanded to include European maps too, for those with Tourde France ambitions.

You'll need a mount to attach your iPhone to your handlebars. The BikeConsole Bike Mount for iPhone is a weatherproof clip that allows alt other attributes of the phone, such as the home and sleep buttons, the headphone jack and the camera lens, to remain functional. The same company also makes a BikeCharge, a 5v DC power unit that can attach to any spoked wheel and provide extra charge to any USB-powered device, for those who may be planning a longer ride and are worried about running out of juice. A Bike Charge Power Pack, expecting to retail around £39.95 and offering an extra 1.5 charges for your phone and perfect for the really long journeys, is due later this year.

For those really looking to pimp their ride and their iPhone at the same time, the iBike Dash Cycling Computer Deluxe (£279.95) turns your device into a very sophisticated on-handlebar computer, providing data such as speed, cadence, heart-rate, temperature, trip distance and time, and allowing you to combine it how you like with numbers, maps and graphs. A profile option means you can easily transfer it from bike to bike without losing any specific data, too.

Packed into a water- and shock-proof case, the touchscreen still allows full accessibility even with cycling gloves on and the Quick-Swap rechargeable battery provides back-up for longer rides.

With a price tag like this, the iBike Dash is obviously only for serious cyclists, and they may find many drawbacks to it. The case is unappealingly bulky and even with the extra battery pack, it can quickly drain the juice. Also, if part of the appeal for this device is being able to take calls while you ride, you will have to do it with a Blue-tooth headset as the earphone jack is inaccessible once in the case. The cheaper version of the iBike Dash is £174.95 and comes without the extra battery pack, heart-rate monitor or cadence sensors.

Cyclists may like to consider the Speed/Cadence Bike Sensor (£44.99), a cheaper, self-calibrating wireless option to keep track of your pedalling speed.

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