Combined Shape Bike IQ

Navigation & Routes

Plan routes before you ride, follow turn-by-turn directions on the road, and import courses from GPX files, Strava, or RideWithGPS. Navigation lives on the same screen as all your ride metrics — no swiping, no switching apps.

Navigation and route planning require Bike IQ Pro.

Free users can record rides, view the live map, and access all core metrics without a subscription. Route planning, turn-by-turn navigation, and route imports are Pro features.

Route Planner

The route planner lets you build and browse routes before you clip in. Open it from the main screen and you have several options:

  • Saved routes: Browse your route library of previously ridden or imported routes. Select one to preview the course and elevation profile before starting.
  • Waypoint builder: Center the map crosshair on your target location and tap Add Waypoint, or search for a place by name. Bike IQ calculates a cycling-friendly route between your waypoints automatically. See the Route Builder guide for the full workflow.
  • Search: Type a destination — an address, a landmark, a town — and Bike IQ routes you there from your current location.
  • Elevation preview: Every route shows an elevation profile before you start. See total climbing, major hills, and gradient distribution so there are no surprises on the road.

Turn-by-Turn Navigation

Bike IQ turn-by-turn navigation showing route polyline, turn instruction banner, and live ride metrics
Turn-by-turn navigation with route, turn instructions, and all ride metrics on one screen

Once you start a route, Bike IQ provides real-time navigation that stays out of your way until you need it.

  • Visual instruction banners: Upcoming turns appear as clear banners at the top of the ride screen, showing the maneuver, distance to the turn, and street name.
  • Voice directions: Audible turn-by-turn guidance so you can keep your eyes on the road. Voice works alongside music or podcasts without interrupting playback.
  • Route on the live map: Your planned route is drawn on the map in real time, with your position tracked along it. You always know where you are on the course.
  • All metrics, one screen: Navigation overlays sit alongside speed, power, grade, heart rate, and every other metric. No dedicated "navigation page" — everything is visible at a glance, consistent with Bike IQ's one-screen philosophy.

Importing Routes

Bring routes from other platforms and file formats directly into Bike IQ. Imported routes become part of your saved route library and work with full turn-by-turn navigation.

File Imports

  • GPX files: The universal route exchange format. Export a GPX from any cycling platform (Komoot, Garmin Connect, RideWithGPS, etc.) and open it in Bike IQ.
  • FIT files: Garmin's native format. Import FIT courses or past ride files to follow the same route with navigation.

To import, open a GPX or FIT file on your iPhone and select Bike IQ from the share sheet, or use the import option within the route planner.

Strava Routes

Connect your Strava account in Strava settings to access your saved Strava routes directly inside Bike IQ. Starred routes sync automatically, so your go-to courses are always available without manual file transfers.

RideWithGPS

Import routes from RideWithGPS by exporting them as GPX files or sharing them directly to Bike IQ from the RideWithGPS app.

Route Display During Rides

Whether you are following navigation or just previewing a loaded route, the ride screen shows your progress in several ways:

  • Route polyline: The full course is drawn on the map so you can see the road ahead and the path behind you.
  • Progress indicator: A marker shows your current position on the route, making it easy to gauge how far along you are.
  • Elevation profile: The route's elevation profile can be displayed during the ride, showing your current position relative to upcoming climbs and descents. Enable this in map display settings.
  • Climb-ahead detection: When Bike IQ detects a significant climb on your route, the elevation profile overlay appears on the map showing gradient, distance, and elevation gain. This lets you see what is ahead and pace yourself. See Safety Features for details.

Navigation and Metrics Together

One of Bike IQ's core design principles applies to navigation: everything stays on one screen. When navigation is active, the turn instruction banner overlays the top of the ride screen while your speed, power, heart rate, cadence, grade, and all other metrics remain visible below. You never have to choose between seeing your route and seeing your performance data.

Voice directions supplement the visual banners so you can keep your eyes on the road. Voice guidance plays alongside any music or podcast audio through your headphones without interrupting playback.

Offline Navigation

Bike IQ is built for roads where cell service is unreliable. Once a route is loaded, navigation works fully offline:

  • Turn-by-turn directions: All navigation instructions are computed locally. No internet required after the route is set.
  • Map tiles: The map may need an initial network connection to cache tiles for your route area. Once cached, tiles are available offline.
  • GPS tracking: Your iPhone's GPS works independently of cell service. Ride recording and position tracking continue with zero connectivity.

For remote rides, load your route and let the map render your area before you lose signal. Everything else just works.

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