Link My Ride, the pre-ride organisational platform, is now available to download in the App Store and Google Play. The free to use platform helps connect riders looking to connect and cycle with others, on a ‘simple and easy to use smartphone app.’
Link My Ride has former and current pro cyclists Jacques Sauvagnargues and Tom Pidcock at the heart of the business. Former teammates, Sauvagnargues and Pidcock developed the idea as a way to increase cycling participation globally and to simplify the way that group rides are organised.
“Organising group rides, finding local club rides to join or connecting with other individuals to ride with has never had a simple solution,” said Jacques Sauvagnargues.
“With different groups using various other non-cycling-specific apps and forums for arranging meet ups, accessing these networks has always required laborious investigation or a degree of networking to find the right people.”
He continued, “We wanted to create a simple way for any rider to be able to explore, plan and create group rides and make connecting and socialising with other riders a more straightforward and enjoyable experience. We also wanted to create a space for clubs to be able to manage their members and rides too, therefore bringing everyone together.”
Link My Ride is free to use for riders signing up individually. There’s also a tailored clubs portal which aids the management of members and club rides, costing £240 per club, per year.
The app works by showing the rider other users on a map and highlighting rides and clubs nearby or in a defined area. When using the app users can follow other cyclists to see their activity and rides, discover and join local clubs, see activity in their area via an interactive map, interact with others and also upload their own routes to create group rides.
Link My Ride provides a number of security features within the app including privacy controls and location masking. The app also provides the user with a calendar to keep a log of all upcoming planned rides.
The Clubs Portal, accessed via a web platform, allows subscribers to organise their rides, manage memberships, as well as club kit. It serves as a marketing tool to other potential club members in the area who will be made aware of the club via the Link My Ride App.
INEOS Grenadiers rider and reigning Olympic XC MTB champion Tom Pidcock is co-launching Link My Ride after a successful year on the bike, winning a stage of the Tour de France atop Alpe d’Huez, the cyclocross World Championships and European MTB championships.
Pidcock said “I’ve been joining club rides and chain gangs since I can remember but the organisation via other apps or social networks has always been lacking. We’re really excited to finally bring the Link My Ride app to riders all around the world.
“We’re on a mission to become the only tool cyclists need to connect with other riders, clubs and cycling hubs, at the touch of a button.”
Link My Ride recently received the backing of the Dutch Sport Tech Fund, to help drive plans forward to launch and beyond. With a number of partnerships already in place and many more on the way, Link My Ride adds that it is… ‘set to quickly become the app that all cyclists should have on their smartphone.’
