Are you planning to take in the Tour de France Grand Départ from Yorkshire in July? Are you keen to get on your bike and find the best spots to see the pros as they whizz by? Are you looking for hints and tips on how to ride cycle-specific sections? Then you will be interested in the new mobile phone app Cycle Yorkshire Ride The Routes. The app has been created as part of a regional safer cycling project by road safety experts from across the Yorkshire & Humber region. Kathryn Mackay, road safety project officer at City of York Council, said: “The app is aimed at all cyclists and groups who, like their professional heroes, are coming to Yorkshire to ride the Grand Départ routes. “The interest and positive feedback in the app is already phenomenal.” The app is available to download on smart phones at: bit.ly/cycleyorkshire

Four more cycling apps to download

Strava Cycling: Popular with competitive racer guys – and increasingly so with competitive racing girls – this GPS app lets you record all your times and then show off about them on-line on the Stava leaderboard. It’s easy to become addicted to beating the times of other cyclists on various hills or sections of fast, flat road. Platform: Android, iOS Cost: Free Source: iTunes or Play Google MapMyRIDE+ GPS Cycling: The GPS tracking app will record your workout data and lay it out on an interactive map so that you can track your routes or share them with others. The Plus version allows you to integrate iPod music, use a GPS camera and receive voice prompts to keep track of progress. Platform: iOS, Android, BlackBerry Price: Free Source: iTunes, Play Google or App World Bicycle Gear Calculator - Bike Gears: This app is useful if you are planning to build your own bike. It calculates all kinds of things, including gear ratios, ideal tyre size and the wear you can expect on your tyres. Platform: iOS Price: £2.99 Source: iTunes SizeMyBike: You could go for a bike fit but these tend to be pricey. Instead you can assess the most comfortable – or performance enhancing – riding position with the app SizeMyBike. Platform: Android, iOS Price: £2.99 Source: iTunes or Play Google