I just loaded an app called "My Tracks" for my Android phone. The reason for this is we see a lot of people asking why they are not seeing great fuel economy and we end up directing them to a questioner and/or asking a bunch of questions. With an app like this, or one available from many GPS devices, we can easily determine if the reason for someone's poor fuel economy is based on their commute or not. It is very simple to use and since most of us have smartphones now this could be very useful in diagnosing fuel economy issues. The program on your phone has a bit more information like a speed vs. elevation map which is handy. Here is a sample of what my work commute (both ways) looks like. I stopped tracking a few miles from my house for security reasons. On this commute I will normally average between 46-48mpg depending on weather conditions. On my flatland commute (to the girlfriend's house) I easily see 50-53mpg average. *NOTE - elevation map is X10ft. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=e...d=202129938733970886848.00049a3f08539f01eac75 Created by My Tracks on Android. Total Distance: 35.43 km (22.0 mi) Total Time: 23:37 Moving Time: 23:10 Average Speed: 90.00 km/h (55.9 mi/h) Average Moving Speed: 91.70 km/h (57.0 mi/h) Max Speed: 117.75 km/h (73.2 mi/h) Min Elevation: 71 m (233 ft) Max Elevation: 340 m (1115 ft) Elevation Gain: 272 m (894 ft) Max Grade: 5 % Min Grade: -5 % Recorded: Wed Jan 19 19:23:41 PST 2011 Activity type: - Driving
Jason Holder, panelist on WhatDrivesUs podcast, showed me the app he uses on his iPhone to log average mph and elevation maps. I thought some of you might be interested. Seems like another good alternative to my Android app. Cyclemeter GPS Bike Computer for Road & Mountain Biking for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store Here is another iPhone alternative: Map My Tracks OutFront: All-sports GPS training computer for cycling, running, walking and more for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad on the iTunes App Store __________________
I will try this today already and report, let me know if you have any tips? My hilly terrain is much more complicated than that and I'll also be using it on the way to DC tomorrow.
Tried it today and liked it. The accuracy settings need refinement depending on gps signal strength. How do you get the program to export the graph and what program do you use to produce a graph?
Look in the programs menu. There is an option to export to google mymaps. It will create the graph for you. from there you can copy the graph to your desktop then resave it as a jpg.
I live on flat coastal plains so this app is pretty much irrelevant but cool nonetheless; thanks. What really affects my MPG is wind, wind, wind.
Is there any way to export speed and show them in a graph similar to what's displayed on the smartphone display? I wonder if there's a way we can plot the data in any of the offered export formats (GPX, KML, CSV, TCX). Because that google graph is ugly and has relative units (0-100) on both axes. I guess I can always photograph the display... Here's where I am at: Created by My Tracks on Android. Total Distance: 12.29 km (7.6 mi) Total Time: 18:17 Moving Time: 15:11 Average Speed: 40.33 km/h (25.1 mi/h) Average Moving Speed: 48.52 km/h (30.1 mi/h) Max Speed: 88.34 km/h (54.9 mi/h) Min Elevation: 18 m (59 ft) Max Elevation: 82 m (268 ft) Elevation Gain: 82 m (269 ft) Max Grade: 4 % Min Grade: -5 % Recorded: Tue May 10 19:28:02 EDT 2011 http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?...P2H1u1K0r0V0M0J0Cz7z5z6z8zvzXy7ydyAxoxYxEw0wr
Is that your one way commute? I don't know if you can change the way the graphs are presented but since it is an app we can always email the creator and ask for additional graphing options.
It's my trip from work to the swimming pool, and the reverse holds backwards. I get about 53 mpg on the whole upwards terrain about 73 mpg on the return. Just took a photo of the app screen showing speed (mph) in blue and elevation (feet) in green. Total Distance: 12.29 km (7.6 mi) Total Time: 18:17 Moving Time: 15:11 Average Speed: 40.33 km/h (25.1 mi/h) Average Moving Speed: 48.52 km/h (30.1 mi/h) Max Speed: 88.34 km/h (54.9 mi/h) Min Elevation: 18 m (59 ft) Max Elevation: 82 m (268 ft) Elevation Gain: 82 m (269 ft) Max Grade: 4 % Min Grade: -5 % Recorded: Tue May 10 19:28:02 EDT 2011
Since you've previously posted your cell # here we already know where you live, it's your girlfriend's info we really want. (kidding) And for those 3 people without a smart phone you can get similar results by looking at the trip stats from Delorme Street Atlas USA and by viewing downloaded Garmin device routes in MapSource.
I'll just add another option: Mobile Cycling App, Bicycle GPS Tracking, Cycling Training Apps | MapMyRIDE
