FIT E-BIKE AND KOMOOT
ROUTE PLANING MADE EASY
HOW TO COMBINE THE KOMOOT PLANNING TOOL WITH THE FIT E-BIKE CONTROL APP
You suddenly reach a fork in the road and don’t know which way to turn – a lot of tour-ing cyclists are all too familiar with this situation. But one that is becoming much less common if you are out and about on an e-bike these days thanks to state-of-the-art navigation technologies on the e-bike display. However, route planning still plays a cru-cial role if you want to avoid unnecessary and nerve-racking detours on you tour. One of the most popular route planning tools is the Komoot software, which we would like to introduce to you in detail below.
WHAT IS KOMOOT AND WHAT CAN I USE IT FOR?
Komoot was founded in Germany in 2010 and has since become the market leader for outdoor route planning. The main purpose of the portal, which is available in both a desktop version and as an app, can be found in its name: Komoot is a word in the Kleinwalsertal dialect and means something like «practical», «helpful» and «simple.» Which is exactly what Komoot wants to be: a practical, helpful and simple tour guide that keeps you on track all the way – no matter where you might find yourself.
The great thing about Komoot is that the software is very easy to use, even without a great deal of prior knowledge. After all, route planning with Komoot is very similar to other map services. The big difference is that with Komoot, everything is tailored to your needs as a cyclist – whether you’re traveling on foot, on a racing bike or even on an e-bike. The latest figures reflect just how well it has adapted to the needs of its us-ers: by the end of 2020, Komoot already had more than 15 million registered users. You can use Komoot as both a desktop version via the website www.komoot.com or as an app. If you have not yet registered with Komoot, you will need to create a user pro-file before you can make full use of the tool.
ROUTE PLANING WITH KOMOOT
DEFINING THE STARTING AND END POINT
All routes planned with Komoot begin by specifying a starting and end point. Start by selecting the “Route planner” option on the Komoot website, then click at that point on the Komoot map where you would like to start your e-bike tour and select «Start here». Komoot will then create a starting point on which your further route will be based. You can then add your desired destination in exactly the same way. Click on the map and select “Take me there” in the following window. Komoot will now automatically generate a bike-friendly route between the starting point and your end point. If selecting a point on the map is too inaccurate for you, you can of course choose to enter the respective start or destination address manually in the search field.
At the same time, you can also define the framework conditions for your tour. Choose from various options under «Sport», such as road cycling or mountain biking, which de-scribe the terrain and the profile of your tour. There is box beneath this that you can tick to optimize your tour for “e-bikes.” If you are riding a mountain e-bike, we recom-mend that you select the mountain bike option and tick the e-bike box. You can also set your fitness level directly below this. This changes the estimated ride time – an im-portant point that makes it easier for you to plan how long it will take you to complete the tour.
KOMOOT ROUTE PLANNING
OPTIMIZING THE ROUTE
You have now set the starting and end points. Theoretically, you could simply rely on Komoot and follow the suggested tour. The special thing about Komoot, however, is that the map often contains suggestions about particularly beautiful sections of the route or cultural highlights. You can add these waypoints to your route by selecting them on the map. Komoot automatically adjusts the route – even if you select multiple waypoints. One example could be a particularly quiet cycle path with a great view that another Komoot user has marked on the map. This lets you gradually compile your preferred route from a number of different suggestions.
In addition to special sections of the route and highlights, you can also use the search function to search for bike-specific waypoints. These include places where you can refill your water bottle, camping sites, supermarkets etc., so that you can quickly find your way around even on tours lasting several days.
But that’s not all: in addition to the route, Komoot also shows you the expected eleva-tion profile of your chosen route directly. And the exact surface conditions along the selected route. So if you only want to ride on asphalt, for example, you can see how much of your planned route will actually be on proper roads. This allows you to make additional adjustments to help you find your perfect route.
NAVIGATION WITH FIT AND KOMOOT
Once you have saved your tour on Komoot, you can then synchronize it with the FIT E-Bike Control app. Not only can you enter settings more comfortably in the FIT app, manage multiple bikes and optionally use it as a drive screen, it can also be used as a naviga-tion unit in combination with Komoot. This means you can easily follow your Komoot-generated tour with FIT.
08.07.2021