Questions and answers
Everything important about Cyclan, the route planner for road bikes. The help page explains how to use it step by step.
About Cyclan
What is Cyclan?
Cyclan is a route planner for bike rides that runs in your browser. It calculates routes from A to B and loops that end where they started. Sliders decide how strongly the route favours small roads, tarmac and nature. Paved roads, street photos and satellite images show you in advance what the route really looks like.
Who is Cyclan made for?
Cyclan was developed for road cycling, but you can plan any bike ride with it. The goal is routes that ride well and have little traffic. That is why planning avoids main roads and, if you want, unpaved tracks too.
What kind of routes can I plan with Cyclan?
You can plan rides from A to B through as many points as you like, loops with your own points, and automatic loops from 5 to 300 km from a starting point. That covers after-work rides, long days out and tours through specific places.
Can I also use Cyclan for gravel, touring or e-bikes?
Yes. Cyclan was developed for road bikes, but with the sliders you can plan any bike ride. Set the surface to “any” and unpaved tracks are included, which suits gravel and touring bikes. You can enter your own average speed for the time estimate. Only difficult mountain paths and demanding mountain bike trails are closed.
Which countries does Cyclan work in?
The map and routing data come from OpenStreetMap and reach far beyond Germany. So far Cyclan has been tested mainly in Germany and the Alps. How good a route turns out depends on how complete the local data is.
What does Cyclan cost?
Using it is currently free. You do not need an account to try it, and the account itself is free too.
Do I need an account?
Not to try it. Without an account you can plan routes with up to 5 points and search for loops 3 times a day. To save, share, export GPX and use satellite images, sign in for free with Google or a code by email. There is no password. Shared tours can be viewed without an account.
Is there an app?
An app for iPhone and Android is in the works but not in the app stores yet. The website already works in your phone’s browser.
Routes and loops
How do I plan a road bike loop?
Switch to “Loop” mode, set the start, choose the length you want and click “Find loops”. Cyclan suggests up to three loops. With “+ Add point” you can pick up to five places the loop should pass through.
Does Cyclan create loops automatically to suit me?
Yes. You give the start and the length, and Cyclan works out the rest from your settings: surface, small roads, nature and climbing. If you want, the loop passes through places you choose. You do not have to set a single waypoint yourself, and Cyclan sorts out loops with a lot of doubled road or dead ends.
Can I change a suggested loop?
Yes. “Edit loop” moves it into route mode. There you add, move and remove points, and the route recalculates.
How does Cyclan avoid busy roads?
Main roads are always avoided. With the “Prefer small roads” slider the route also avoids secondary and minor roads and prefers paved farm roads, cycle paths and local streets. Live traffic data is not used.
Can I ride on tarmac only?
Yes. Set the “Surface” slider to “paved only” and unpaved tracks are closed. This applies to routes and automatic loops. How reliable that is depends on the information in OpenStreetMap. Where the surface is missing, it can only be estimated.
Can I plan flat or hilly loops?
Yes, with the “Climbing” slider. For loops it deliberately picks flatter or hillier rides. For routes it sets how strongly climbs are avoided.
How accurate are climbing and riding time?
Climbing is calculated and can differ from your bike computer’s figures. The riding time is a cautious estimate from length and climbing. With your own average speed it gets more accurate.
Why does a route sometimes use a bad track?
Routes are made automatically from open map data, which can be patchy or out of date. Cyclan warns about mountain paths and ferries. Check for yourself on the road whether a way is rideable and allowed. If in doubt, street images and the “Paved” and “Unpaved” layers help.
Features
Can I export routes as GPX?
Yes, with a free account. The “GPX” button downloads any route as a file you can transfer to your bike computer or its app. There is no direct connection to Garmin, Wahoo or Strava yet.
Can I import GPX files?
Yes. Use the same button to load a file, and the route is shown exactly as it is. If you change a point, it is recalculated with your settings.
Can I see which roads are paved?
Yes. The “Paved” and “Unpaved” map layers colour the roads by surface once you zoom in far enough. That shows at a glance whether a shortcut is rideable on a road bike. The data comes from OpenStreetMap.
Can I look at pictures of the route?
Yes. With street images you click on a road and see real photos from Panoramax, wherever it has coverage. That lets you check the surface and surroundings before you ride.
Are there satellite images?
Yes, with a free account. Under “Map”, switch to “Satellite”. It makes planning much easier because you can see tracks, woods and fields directly. You can make the route transparent to see what lies beneath it.
Does Cyclan show weather and wind for my ride?
Yes. For the next seven days Cyclan shows temperature, rain and wind along the route, plus the share of headwind and tailwind. It suggests better start times and, on loops, the more favourable direction.
Can I find drinking water and food along the route?
Yes. The “Along the way” section lists drinking water, bakeries, cafés, supermarkets, bike shops, train stations and more along the route. Opening hours are not included.
Can I save and share tours?
Yes. Saved tours live in your account and are on all your devices. “Share” creates a link that appears in chats with a map image and that recipients can open without an account.
Is there navigation with turn-by-turn directions?
Not on the website. To follow a route, load it onto your bike computer as GPX. Navigation is planned for the app.
Does Cyclan work offline?
The website needs an internet connection. For rides without reception, load the route onto your device as GPX beforehand.
Data and privacy
Where do the maps and routes come from?
Map and road data come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Routes are calculated by the open routing software BRouter with a custom profile, the weather comes from Open-Meteo and the street images from Panoramax.
Is my location or behaviour tracked?
There are no ads, no analytics and no tracking. The site only asks for your location when you use the button for it. For the map and routing to work, the services involved see your IP address and the places requested. More in the privacy policy (in German).
Is Cyclan connected to komoot, Strava or Garmin?
No. Cyclan is an independent project and is not affiliated with these providers.
How can I contact Cyclan?
Send questions and bug reports to kontakt@cyclan.app.