Tell the whole story with segment comments
Often the headline figures on segments don't tell the whole story. That's why we have introduced comments on segments. There is always a story behind every attempt on a segment and with segment comments you can get your story heard.
Some segments are on great climbs that make you suffer. Others may be on your regular routes. Each attempt has its own story (or excuse). Now your can tell it.
Every segment now has commenting available for Map My Tracks users. It’s a great way to get in touch with other riders covering the segment. Just like commenting around the site you can use the @name format to send mentions to other users. When you mention a user they will get a notification with an invite to get right back to you.
You can check out all the segments you have covered and also see how you stack up against others on, the recently launched, personal records page.
We look forward to hearing what you have to say on the segments you have covered.
Get the low down on all the segments you have covered
Ever wondered how you stack up against others across all the segments you have covered? Well, now it super simple to see which segments you lead and where you are place on any others you have covered.
The segment PR log breaks down the details of any segment you have covered and highlights your current position on the segment leader board. It’s makes it easy to see how close (or not) you are from the leader on any segment.
We’re loving the personal records list as it shows just how far off you might be on any segment you have covered. Some might just be within reach of the leader or you might not! Check out your PRs and see how you stack up against others.
We hope you also like the new features.
Map My Tracks Events adds GPS timing and a social focus on sports events
Map My Tracks, best known for their fitness app OutFront, has released an update to Map My Tracks Events which gives everyone a front row seat to sports events that use the app. Along with live social interactions from events the latest update includes a new GPS timing feature that lets sports event organisers set timed segments along their courses.
Timed segments for events
Unique to Map My Tracks Events is the option for event organisers to set up, event-specific, timed segments along courses and present a live leader board of results. It works from the GPS data uploaded by participants which is scanned, ranked and presented on a live leader board for the event. The introduction of GPS timing for sports events by Map My Tracks means that event organisers now have a viable alternative to costly chip timing solutions.
Live GPS tracking is at the heart of what Map My Tracks does and Map My Tracks Events takes advantage of over seven years experience in developing sports tracking apps for mobile phones. Using Map My Tracks Events in combination with Map My Tracks OutFront, for iOS and Android, participants of any outdoor event can track and share their progress live online. Map My Tracks Events pools together the live performance of participants and social buzz from spectators so that everyone can follow the action live. Pictures, videos and tweets posted to Twitter and Instagram are filtered to give online followers a front row seat at the event.
The new GPS timing option from Map My Tracks Events works in both a live mode, which shows results immediately after a participant has completed the segment, or from uploaded data. In either case, the participant data is scanned, ranked and listed according to their performance.
Map My Tracks Events lets sports event organisers set up and curate their own event web app that includes live participant tracking, event-specific social buzz and GPS timing. Sportives, marathons or sailing regattas can use Map My Tracks Events to provide an event-specific app to their participants. The app tracks the progress of participants live and provides event organisers with a suite of tools to promote and engage with their participants during the event.
Nick Tatt, Founder of Map My Tracks, said: “With this latest update to our event platform we are able to bring together all the experience we have gained by providing apps for major events like the Tour of Britain. Now, events of any size can easily set up and offer their participants an event app that has all the latest live action and social buzz.”
Since the launch of Map My Tracks Events in January cycling event organisers like Action Medical Research and Pendragon Sports have opted to use Map My Tracks to provide event-specific web apps to their participants.
More events using Map My Tracks can be viewed online.
Get Map My Tracks OutFront - with Pebble smart watch integration
From today both Android and iOS users can download an update to Map My Tracks OutFront. This latest update includes integration with a Pebble watch, an updated dashboard design for better analysis of achievements and better access to all your friends on Map My Tracks.
View your performance on a Pebble watch
The latest version of Map My Tracks OutFront includes support to connect Pebble watches with the OutFront. OutFront makes use of the Pebble’s built in sport app to present the activity time, distance, pace or speed all on the Pebble watch face. It offers a great option to avoid having to pull out your phone from your pocket when out running or riding and provides an at-a-glance review of your performance.
We’ve included options to set up and configure the Pebble watch’s display and button behaviour. The standard Pebble sport app can be configured to show either speed or pace. The middle button behaviour can also be configured to suit your preference. It can be set to stop an activity, toggle between pause and un-pause or to switch the display between speed and pace. The Pebble watch face will automatically use distance units set in OutFront’s settings.
To use OutFront with a Pebble watch first pair the watch according to Pebble’s instructions. Once your phone is paired with Pebble’s app then each time you start an activity with OutFront the Pebble watch face will show you the latest time, distance, speed or pace.
OutFront for Android is available to download from Google Play.
OutFront for iOS is available to download from App Store.
Leaderboards for clubs just got serious
Today we're thrilled to be releasing a significant update for teams and clubs on Map My Tracks. From today, both the Hub and Segment leader board can be filter by teams. If you belong to a team, or club, it's super simple to see how you stack up against just your club members.
A club hub features a hall of fame leader board showcasing who has completed the most distance or elevation in any given period. The segment’s leader board for clubs features a breakdown of only club members over that segment, on any given period. It’s a great way to answer the question of who was fastest up the climb or on the sprint on a weekend club run.
Using the new club filter is simple. When you are logged in both hubs and segments include a option to filter by any club you belong to. If you don’t belong to a club yet then request to join one or set one up yourself.
We hope you like the new options. Let us know what you think.
Map My Tracks OutFront now optimised for iOS7
From today cyclists, runners and fitness enthusiasts using the Map My Tracks OutFront app or Cycling OutFront app for iPhone can download a major new update that is iOS 7 optimised.
The latest update of the popular live sports tracking app provides users with an all-new achievements panel, improvements to the app’s menu to make it easier to get around and a quick start option to start an activity. The update also includes an improved search bar that makes it easier to find nearby routes to use in training or to find other users on Map My Tracks.
Achievements
The all-new achievements panel breaks down performances by day, by week, by month or across all time and includes in the display the total distance, calories burned, duration and pace for each period. The achievements panel comes with a sports specific wall paper background that can be customised according to the sport type set as default.
App navigation
New in this update is a slide out menu for better access to each section. The slide out menu provides easy access to start an activity, activity history, saved routes, achievements and the online activities from the Map My Tracks community.
Quick start
The quick start option makes starting a tracking session easier and faster. Now it’s possible to start an activity direct from the app’s home screen or from within any section of the app.
iOS 7 friendly
A suite of design changes have been included to make better use of iOS 7 and to provide a more integrated feel. The iphone version of the app is compatible with iOS 5, iOS6 and iOS 7.
This update is the first in a series of app updates that will see closer integration with any sports event using Map My Tracks to track their participants. Map My Tracks provides sport event organisers with a suite of tools to promote their events, track all their participants and broadcast live tracking online.
Since launching in 2007 Map My Tracks has pioneered the use of mobile phones to broadcast sports performance data live across the web. Today, Map My Tracks is used around the world by people passionate about fitness, cycling and running to track, compare and share their outdoor activities.
Map My Tracks launches the official Tour of Britain Tracker app
We're thrilled to announce that Map My Tracks is, yet again, providing the Tour of Britain with live tracking and the official tour tracking app. The Tour of Britain is the first sports event to benefit from the Map My Tracks Event Tracker app and we can't wait to see how the fans use it. The official announcement is in full below.
Map My Tracks launches the official Tour of Britain Tracker app
Map My Tracks, the official tour tracking supplier to The Tour of Britain, is once again set to provide live online and mobile coverage of this year’s Tour of Britain. Map My Tracks has launched the official Tour of Britain Tracker app which will feature live tracking of each of the eight stages, latest news from the race, results of the day’s action and all the social buzz from around the web.
Starting from Peebles on 15th September, The Tour of Britain is the UK’s largest professional bicycle race and is one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar, being the country’s largest free-to-watch live sporting event. With the addition of an iOS/Android and web app from Map My Tracks the tour can now be followed by fans on any connected device.
The Map My Tracks Tour of Britain Tracker will be an essential tool for fans and spectators to stay up to date on the riders’ real-time progress over each of the stages. The app features interactive route maps, details of all the climbs and sprints and is a great way to work out where the best road-side vantage points are. For the duration of the event, Map My Tracks will be tracking the race live and broadcasting the riders’ progress for spectators to follow on the app.
Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain Race Director, said: “We are very happy to be continuing our partnership with Map My Tracks and excited by the launch of the new app. This will allow fans to follow the action in the tenth anniversary Tour wherever they are.”
Nick Tatt, Founder of Map My Tracks, said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting such a prestigious event for the second year running. Last year was a great success so we wanted to come back again with something new for fans. The all-new Map My Tracks Tour of Britain Tracker has something for everyone - all the facts and figures from the race together with live tracking and also a KoM challenge.”
First launched in 2007, Map My Tracks has pioneered the use of mobile phones to stream live performance telemetry for sports like cycling and running. Avid cyclists and runners use Map My Tracks around the world to log their rides. With the introduction of the Map My Tracks Event Tracker, at this year’s Tour of Britain, sports event organisers now have a viable app solution to use at any sports event to help bring their event alive online.
Tatt added: “It’s long been our aim to provide sports event organisers with an event tracker that is flexible, robust and easy to set up and we can’t wait to see how the fans use the Tour of Britain Tracker.”
Map My Tracks OutFront, the same app as used by amateur cyclists around the world, will be used to track the pro bunch live throughout the Tour of Britain. This year Map My Tracks are also challenging cyclists around the UK to ride the climbs of the tour to then compare their performance against the pro riders in the race.
Segments of each SKODA King of the Mountains climbs have been created on Map My Tracks for amateurs to cover before the pro riders pass over them. Map My Tracks will be timing the pro riders covering the same climbs at race pace and posting the times for fans to compare against. A full list of the climbs covered during the Tour of Britain is on Map My Tracks.
To download the official app search for ‘Tour of Britain 2013’ in the App Store and Google Play or visit the web app online for more information and download links.
Segment curators required
Following the introduction of segments to Map My Tracks last week we've been thrilled at the feedback from our the Map My Tracks community.
There are plenty of features to come that relate to segments and GPS timing in general and we’ll keep you up to date on all new features through the Map My Tracks blog but for now we are looking for segment curators.
To make segments more relevant to your local area we are looking for segment curators. As a segment curator you’ll know your local area inside out. You’ll know what routes are popular and what routes are safe for others to cover and set them up on Map My Tracks.
We have already started to create popular segments based around our HQ in Canterbury, UK and with the help of segment curators we want to provide relevant segments where you are.
If you are keen to get involved post a comment below or send us an email to support [at] mapmytracks.com
Compete against yourself, your friends and others on Map My Tracks segments
We are super excited to be able to peel back the covers on another new feature on Map My Tracks. Today we are launching Map My Tracks segments. Segments let you measure and compare your own performance or compete against your friends over any stretch of ground. Segments can be thought of as virtual speed traps that measure the time taken to cover them. Any time you cover a segment your performance is ranked against your previous efforts and also against anyone else that has covered it.
Segments are timed sections on roads, off-road or over water and are great for sports like cycling, running, swimming, rowing, sailing and many others. They provide an easy way to time your progress over a set route and compare your performance against others.
One of the great features of Map My Tracks segments is that they can be used to cover simple short sections like sprints and climbs or long complex courses like time trial courses or regular training routes. In both cases a full leader board of everyone’s performance it automatically created to compare your performance.
Segments come with their own set of achievements. Achievements are gained for personal bests, pole positions for both men and women across different sports. Each time you cover a segment your relative position in the leader board is measured and ranked. At a glance, you can see how you performed against your own previous efforts and everyone else who has covered the segment.
It wouldn’t be fair to compare a running activity against a cycling activity across a segment so the leader boards are split across different sports. Each leader board also ranks your performance against just your friends. It’s a great way to help keep you motivated to try harder.
Some already popular segments include:
Knoll Hill
Upper Road, Dover
New Dover Road, Canterbury
Fowlmead 10m Q10/42
How to create a segment
Segments are created from activities that have route data. New segments are easy to create.
- First open the activity that includes the segment you wish to create.
- Click on Actions > Create new segment to load the create segment tools.
- Zoom into the area that includes the segment then click on the position along the route that represents the start point of the segment.
- Once a segment start has been set then set the segment finish point.
- Give the segment a useful name to help identify it and click ‘Save’.
This creates the segment and scans the activity to populate the leader board.
How to scan old activities
Activities are scanned for segments when they are first uploaded or synced to the site. If you want to scan old activities then:
- First open the activity to scan.
- Click on Actions > Scan for segments.
- This will scan the activity for any segments, including new segments, available along the route taken. All matching segments will be presented under the Achievements section on the page with links to the segment leader board.
How can you use Map My Tracks segments
Cycling time trials
Map My Tracks segment are great for time trials. A virtual leader board for the time trial course is automatically created and features anyone that has covered the course. Simply create a segment of the time trial course then any time Map My Tracks users upload their ride data it will be automatically ranked on a leader board for all time, this month, week or day. The Fowlmead 10m Q10/42 has been set up and is logging the performance of anyone on Map My Tracks that covers the course.
Cycling and running hill climbs and sprints
Map My Tracks segments making timing your progress up a climb or on a sprint section super simple. Create segments of key climbs and sprints along training routes to keep a record of your performance and compare against friends.
View example
Regular training routes for all sports
Map My Tracks segments can be used over long distance training routes. A segment of your whole route lets you keep a leader board of your own performance over that route. It’s a great way to benchmark your performance over time.
Rowing
Map My Tracks segments make is simple to monitor the performance of rowers across any stretch of water. Segments can be created for training sessions on rivers or lakes. Each time the data from the training session is uploaded the performance is added to the rowing segment’s leader board.
There are plenty of other uses for Map My Tracks segment but we’ll leave it up to you, our users, to take advantage of them as you need to.
Tips for successful segments
Segments are a great way to keep motivated and try to improve your performance. In providing segments Map My Tracks does not endorse or encourage irresponsible action on the part of our users. Map My Tracks users should obey all traffic controls and signage, comply with all applicable traffic laws and not endanger themselves or other road users.
When creating segments:
- Do not create segments with busy junctions.
- Do not create segments in built up areas with lots of traffic calming.
We can’t wait to see how you use the Map My Tracks segments and hope you like the new feature.
Follow The London-Paris 2013 live on Map My Tracks
Starting June 20 there will be 450 riders making their way by bike from London to Paris. Map My Tracks Event Tracker will be tracking the three day event and presenting live action of each group live online and also on the Map My Tracks OutFront iPhone app.
Six groups are starting out and their progress is being tracked live by Map My Tracks for spectators to follow as the riders pedal their way to Paris.
This year the Map My Tracks London Paris 2013 event tracker includes more ways to follow the event online and includes statistics highlighting the achievements of each group. Just like a standard Map My Tracks Event any rider can join the event to include their progress by using one of the Map My Tracks apps. For riders wanting to track their rides we recommend using Map My Tracks Endurance for Android or Map My Tracks OutFront for iPhone in conjunction with Wahoo extended battery pack.
Each day online spectators can follow the peloton’s progress on Map My Tracks or through the Map My Tracks OutFront app. Here’s how to get set up to follow each group on OutFront.
Follow L2P2013 live on an iPhone
First download Map My Tracks OutFront from the App Store and create a free user account via the app.
Then tap ‘Activities’ then tap the cog icon in the bottom right corner.
Then in the search bar type and search for ‘l2p2012’.
This will display a column of all the rider’s activities. To save the column tap the cog in the top right.
Then finally tap ‘Add to Wall’ to include this on the Activity Wall in the app.
Once added tap back twice and you’ll have a new option to quickly browse all the L2P2013 tagged activities. During the event the live progress of each group will be listed here each day.
From here you can follow the progress of each group live on the iPhone.
To get started and set up download Map My Tracks OutFront from the App Store.
