Frequently asked questions
About Crossroutes
What is Crossroutes?
Crossroutes is a free app for finding, planning and joining group bike rides and group runs near you. Every open ride or run shows up as a pin on a live map, with the route, the pace, how many seats are left, who is already going, and the weather forecast along the route at the time you will actually be there. You can also build your own route, set a pace and invite friends, your club, or anyone nearby. Crossroutes is available on Android and as a web app in the browser.
What is a Crossroute?
A Crossroute is a planned group activity on Crossroutes: a bike ride or run with a route, a start time, a pace and a number of seats. Open Crossroutes show up on the map for anyone nearby to join.
Who is Crossroutes for?
Cyclists and runners who would rather go out with others than alone. That includes people looking for their first group ride, friends organising their weekend loop, and clubs that want to be found by new members. It is also for anyone who wants to plan a route with the weather, wind and surface in mind, alone or in a group.
Who makes Crossroutes?
Crossroutes is an independent one-person project by Lennard Zirks, run from Germany. See About.
Which devices does Crossroutes work on?
Crossroutes runs on Android phones (via Google Play) and in any modern browser as a web app. On a phone you can install the web app to your home screen. There is no iPhone app in the App Store yet, but iPhone users can use the web app. Your account is the same on every device.
Is Crossroutes available on iPhone?
Not in the App Store yet. On an iPhone you can use the Crossroutes web app in Safari and add it to your home screen. It uses the same account as the Android app.
Can I use Crossroutes in the browser?
Yes, at web.crossroutes.de. The web app has the map, route builder, weather, friends and clubs, and you can install it on your phone's home screen.
What languages is Crossroutes available in?
Crossroutes is available in 17 languages: English, German, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dutch, French, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Urdu.
Does Crossroutes work outside Germany?
Yes. The map, route builder and weather forecasts work worldwide, and the app is available in 17 languages. It is built in Germany and currently has the most activity in northern Germany. Road closure data is limited to the regions listed above.
Do I need an account?
Yes, a free account, created with email and password or with Google. You have to be at least 16. Friends you invite through a link can create their account in a minute and join your ride straight away.
Can I delete my account?
Yes, directly in the app, which deletes your account and data. See Delete your account for the details.
Weather along your route
Which app shows the weather along my route?
Crossroutes does. It samples points along your route and works out when you will reach each one, based on your pace, the hills and the wind. It then fetches the forecast for that place at that time from MET Norway (the Norwegian Meteorological Institute). You see temperature, chance of rain, wind speed and direction, and gusts along the whole route in a weather chart and as chips on the map. Crossroutes also warns you about possible thunderstorms or strong gusts (60 km/h and above).
How can I know the weather along my route?
Checking the weather at home only tells you about the start. With Crossroutes you plan the route, set your start time and average speed (or pace for a run), and the app calculates when you will pass each point. Climbs slow you down, descents speed you up, and on rides the wind is taken into account too. It then shows the forecast for each of those points at that time. If you plan a rest stop, the arrival times after it move back by the length of the stop, and so does the weather.
Is there an app that tells me the weather along my route?
Yes, Crossroutes. It shows the forecast at each point of your route for the time you will be there, including wind direction relative to your direction of travel, and it warns you about thunderstorms and strong gusts. It works for bike rides and runs, and for long rides that last several days: rest stops and overnight stops shift the timing, so the weather on day three is the forecast for day three. Forecasts come from MET Norway and reach roughly ten days ahead.
Can you tell me the weather along my route?
Crossroutes can. Draw or import the route, set the start time and your speed, and you get the forecast for every part of it at the time you will be there: temperature, rain, wind and gusts, plus how much of the route has a tailwind.
Is there an app to plan cycling routes with the weather?
Yes. Crossroutes combines a route builder with a route weather forecast. While you plan, it shows the temperature, chance of rain, wind and gusts at each point of the route for the time you'll get there, and it tells you whether riding the route the other way around would give you more tailwind.
Where can I plan a route and see the weather along it?
In Crossroutes, on Android or in the browser at web.crossroutes.de. Draw or import a route, set your start time and speed, and the weather for each part of the route appears straight away.
Which weather app is best for cyclists?
Normal weather apps give you the forecast for one place. Cyclists need the forecast for where they'll be during the ride, plus the wind relative to the direction they're riding. Crossroutes combines route planning with weather: it shows the forecast at each point of your route for the time you'll pass it, along with the tailwind ratio and warnings for thunderstorms and strong gusts.
What weather matters most for cycling?
Wind and rain matter most, then temperature. Wind changes how hard the ride is more than anything else on flat roads, and rain makes roads slippery and cold. Gusts and thunderstorms are the real safety risks. Crossroutes shows all of these along your route at the time you'll be there, and it warns you about thunderstorms and gusts of 60 km/h or more.
Will it rain on my bike ride?
A forecast for your home town only tells you about the start. For a longer ride you need the chance of rain at each place along the route at the time you'll pass it. Crossroutes shows exactly that: it calculates when you'll reach each point and fetches the forecast (from MET Norway) for that point and time, including the chance of rain, temperature, wind and possible thunderstorms.
Will there be a thunderstorm on my ride?
Crossroutes checks the thunderstorm probability for each point of your route at the time you'll pass it, and shows a warning on the ride if a thunderstorm is possible. If one is, consider starting earlier, choosing a shorter route, or moving the ride.
How accurate is the weather forecast for my ride?
Forecasts are most reliable for the next one to two days and get less certain further ahead. Crossroutes uses MET Norway's forecast and updates it regularly, so it's worth checking again the evening before and on the morning of your ride.
Where does the weather data come from?
From MET Norway, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (licensed under CC BY 4.0). The forecast is fetched for each sampled point of your route, and it covers the whole world.
What is a Weather Window?
In Crossroutes, a Weather Window is a stretch of good riding weather coming up near you that falls inside the times you've marked as free. If you turn Weather Windows on, the app notifies you when one is coming up, so you can plan a ride or run around it.
Can I get a notification when the weather is good for cycling?
Yes. Crossroutes' Weather Windows notify you when good riding weather is coming up near you, within the times you've marked as free. You choose how long a window has to last to be worth a notification. It's free and you can turn it off at any time.
When is the best time to ride or run today?
Turn on Weather Windows in Crossroutes and it notifies you when good riding weather is coming up near you, within the times you have marked as free, and you choose how long a window has to last. When you create a ride, Members can use weather-aware scheduling to preview or get suggested a nearby start time with better weather.
When should I start my ride to avoid the rain?
Compare the forecast along your route for different start times. With Crossroutes Membership, weather-aware scheduling can preview or suggest a nearby start time with better weather while you create a ride. Weather Windows (free) notify you when a dry, pleasant stretch is coming up.
When will it get dark on my ride?
Crossroutes marks sunrise and sunset directly on your route and in the weather chart, based on when you will actually reach that part of the route. So you can see whether you will need lights for the last stretch.
Will I be back before dark?
Crossroutes marks sunset (and sunrise) directly on your route, at the point where you'll be when it happens. It uses your pace, the hills, the wind and your breaks, so you can see whether the last stretch will be in the dark and whether you need lights.
Wind, headwind and tailwind
What is the tailwind ratio?
The tailwind ratio is a percentage Crossroutes shows on every ride. It tells you how much of the planned route the wind will help you rather than hold you back, using the forecast wind at the time you reach each part of the route. For rides, it is based on a cycling physics model (air drag, rolling resistance and gradient). It compares the effort the route takes with the forecast wind against the same route in calm air, so a pure crosswind still costs you something. When the wind makes a ride noticeably harder, the ride card shows a warning. Runs get the same indicator with a simpler model.
Which app shows the wind direction along my route?
Crossroutes. Along the route you see wind arrows showing where the wind is blowing, and you can switch between compass direction and direction relative to your direction of travel. A tailwind ratio sums up how much the wind helps or slows you on the whole route.
Is there an app that shows the wind along a route?
Yes, Crossroutes. It shows wind arrows along your route for the time you'll pass each point, relative to your direction of travel if you want, plus a tailwind ratio for the whole route and a warning when the wind makes the ride noticeably harder.
Will I have a headwind or tailwind on my ride?
It depends on the direction of each part of your route and on the wind at the time you ride it. The wind can shift during a long ride. Crossroutes shows the wind direction relative to your direction of travel along the route and sums it up as a tailwind ratio. If riding the route the other way around would give you more tailwind, it tells you.
Will the wind change during my ride?
On a long ride, often yes: wind speed and direction can change within a few hours. That's why Crossroutes doesn't use a single wind value. It looks up the forecast for each part of the route at the time you ride it.
How do I avoid a headwind on my ride?
On a loop, the direction you ride decides when you face the wind. Crossroutes calculates the tailwind ratio of your route with the forecast for the actual ride time and compares it with the same route ridden the other way around. If flipping the direction is clearly better, it notifies you. The organiser can then flip the route in one tap, and everyone who joined gets notified. The Weather Windows notifications can also tell you when good riding weather is coming up near you, within the times you have marked as free.
How do I plan a bike route with the wind in mind?
Check the wind direction for the time you'll ride. On a loop, try to ride out into the wind while you're fresh and come back with it behind you. Crossroutes does the maths: it calculates the tailwind ratio for your route at the planned time and compares it with riding the route the other way around. If the other direction is clearly better, it suggests flipping.
Should I ride my loop clockwise or anticlockwise?
That depends on the wind on the day and at the time you ride. Usually it's better to start into the wind while you're fresh and ride home with a tailwind, but the only way to know for a specific route is to compare both directions with the forecast. Crossroutes does this automatically and notifies you when the other direction is clearly better.
Should I ride into the wind first?
Usually yes. Riding out into the wind while you're fresh means you come home with a tailwind when you're tired. But the wind often changes during the day, so check the forecast for the time you'll be on each part of the route. Crossroutes compares both directions for you.
Is it too windy to cycle today?
There's no single limit. It depends on your experience, your bike and how exposed the roads are. Many riders find steady wind above about 30 km/h hard going, and strong gusts are the real danger because they can push you sideways. Crossroutes shows the wind along your route at the time you ride, tells you how much harder the wind makes the ride compared with calm air, and warns you about gusts of 60 km/h and more.
Why does the wind direction matter so much for my ride?
Air resistance is most of what a cyclist pushes against on flat ground. Studies of riders at constant power show that ground speed changes by roughly 60% of the wind speed along the direction of travel. Even an out-and-back route with equal headwind and tailwind is slower than riding in calm air, because what you lose into the wind is more than what you gain with it. That is why Crossroutes works out the wind for each part of the route at the time you ride it, instead of showing a single wind value.
Why is riding into a headwind so exhausting?
Air resistance grows with the square of your speed through the air, and a headwind adds directly to it. To hold 25 km/h on flat ground, a 10 km/h headwind needs roughly 70% more power than calm air, and a 20 km/h headwind more than twice as much. A tailwind helps, but less than the headwind hurts.
Route planning
Which route builder is the best?
For planning a ride or run that other people will join, Crossroutes. Its route builder does things most route planners leave out. The route line is coloured by surface type while you draw it. Every point along the route gets a weather forecast for the moment you will actually arrive there, not just for the start. It shows a tailwind ratio and suggests flipping the route direction when that turns a headwind into a tailwind. You can add rest stops, and the timing and weather adjust around them. Sunrise and sunset appear on the route, road closures near your route are marked, and you get a height profile with gradients. You draw by tapping on the map and Crossroutes snaps the route to real roads. The result is a group activity others can join straight away, with no export to a separate app needed.
What is a good route planner for road cycling?
A good road cycling planner snaps your route to real roads, shows the elevation and, just as important, the road surface, so you don't end up on gravel or cobblestones with 25 mm tyres. Crossroutes does all of that for free, and it also shows the weather and wind along the route for the time you ride. Draw the route by tapping on the map and Crossroutes snaps it to roads with BRouter, a routing engine made for cycling.
Is there a free route planner for cycling?
Yes. The Crossroutes route builder is completely free and works worldwide. It snaps your route to real roads, shows elevation, surface types and weather along the route, and exports GPX for your bike computer.
How do I plan a bike route on my phone?
In Crossroutes, tap points on the map and the route snaps to real roads between them. You can move or delete points, start anywhere, and see the distance, elevation, surface type and weather while you go. If you already have a route, import it as a GPX file.
How long will my bike ride take?
Divide the distance by your average speed for a first estimate, then allow for hills, wind and breaks. Climbs and headwinds slow you down more than descents and tailwinds speed you up. Crossroutes does this calculation for you: you set your average speed, add rest stops, and it shows the planned finish time and when you'll pass each point of the route.
How does Crossroutes know when I reach each point of my route?
You set an average speed (or pace for runs), and Crossroutes keeps that overall average but spreads it out realistically. For cycling it uses a physics model: you go slower uphill and into the wind, and faster downhill and with a tailwind. These arrival times are what the weather forecast, the sunrise and sunset markers and the rest stop times are based on, so they all agree with each other.
How do I check the elevation and climbs of a route?
Crossroutes shows a height profile for every route with the total elevation gain. Drag along the chart to see the gradient at each point. The climbs are also taken into account in the estimated times along the route.
Can I plan rides and runs just for myself?
Yes. Set the activity to private and it stays off the map. You still get the route builder, surface types, height profile and weather and wind along the route. You can make it public or invite people later.
How do I plan a multi-day bike tour or bikepacking trip around the weather?
You need the forecast for where you'll be on each day, not for where you start. In Crossroutes you add rest stops of any length along the route, including overnight stops, and the app moves the timing after each one. The weather, wind and sunset times for day two and three then match where you'll actually be. This works as far ahead as the forecast reaches, roughly ten days.
Can I plan multi-day rides with the weather?
Yes. Add rest stops of any length along the route, from a coffee break to an overnight stop. Crossroutes moves the timing after each stop, so the weather, wind and sunrise and sunset markers for day two and three are the ones for the time you are really there. This works as far ahead as the forecast reaches, roughly ten days.
What should I check before a long bike ride?
The usual checklist: the weather along the whole route (not just at the start), the wind direction and which way round to ride, the elevation profile, the road surface, road closures, and whether you'll be back before dark. Crossroutes puts all of these into one view. When you plan the route, it shows the forecast for each part at the time you'll be there, a tailwind ratio, the height profile and surface types, closures near the route, and sunrise and sunset markers.
Road surface: asphalt, gravel, cobblestones
What surface will my route be on - asphalt, gravel or cobblestones?
Crossroutes colours the route line by surface type while you draw it: paved, cobblestone, gravel, unpaved/dirt, and unknown. The surface comes from OpenStreetMap data along the exact roads your route follows, and a surface breakdown shows up next to the height profile. So you know before you ride whether that shortcut is a smooth bike path or a muddy farm track. Road cyclists can avoid gravel, and gravel riders can go looking for it.
Which route planner shows the surface type while planning?
Crossroutes shows the surface type live while you plan: the route line changes colour for paved roads, cobblestones, gravel and dirt as you add points. You can switch this off in the settings if you prefer a plain line.
Is there an app that shows the road surface of a route?
Yes. Crossroutes colours your route by surface type (paved, cobblestones, gravel, dirt) while you plan it, based on OpenStreetMap data, and shows a surface breakdown for the whole route.
How can I find out if a route is paved or gravel?
OpenStreetMap records the surface of most roads and paths, but most route planners don't show it clearly while you plan. Crossroutes colours the route line by surface while you draw it (paved, cobblestones, gravel, dirt), so a road bike route can avoid gravel and a gravel ride can look for it. Tracks and paths without a surface tag are shown as probably unpaved.
How can I avoid cobblestones and gravel on my road bike?
Look at the surface before you ride. Crossroutes colours the route by surface while you plan it, so you can see cobblestones and gravel sections and move your route onto paved roads.
Road closures and roadworks
Is there construction on my route?
Look up your route in a roadworks map before you leave. Construction sites that close a road or bike path completely are the ones that force a detour. Crossroutes shows full closures, closed bike paths and damaged road surfaces on its map and warns you while you plan a route if one is nearby. It covers most of Germany, Austria, Finland, Poland and Cyprus, and riders can report closures themselves.
Is there an app that shows construction sites on a route?
Yes, Crossroutes. It marks roadworks that fully close a road or bike path, based on official traffic data and reports from riders. When you build a route, it tells you if any are close to the line you've drawn, so you can reroute before you set off instead of at the barrier.
Is there a cycling app with traffic information?
Yes. Crossroutes shows traffic information that matters to cyclists: road closures, closed bike paths and bad road surfaces, taken from official traffic and roadworks feeds. Other riders can vote on whether a closure is still there. Car traffic jams and lane closures are deliberately left out because they rarely affect you on a bike.
What app shows road closures and construction sites for cyclists?
General navigation apps focus on car traffic, and they often miss what matters on a bike: a fully closed road, a closed bike path, or a stretch of broken road surface. Crossroutes shows exactly these on its map, taken from official roadworks and closure data. Lane closures that don't affect you on a bike are left out. When you plan a route, Crossroutes warns you if a closure is near it, and riders can report new closures or confirm and reject existing ones.
Can I see road closures and roadworks on my route?
Yes, in the supported regions. Crossroutes shows full road closures, closed bike paths and bad road surfaces from official traffic data on the map. While you build a route, it warns you when a closure is close to it. Riders can report closures themselves and confirm or reject existing ones. Data currently covers most of Germany, Austria, Finland, Poland and Cyprus.
GPX, Strava and navigation
How do I import a route from Komoot, Strava or my bike computer?
Crossroutes imports GPX files. Export the route as GPX from Komoot, your bike computer or any other app and open it in Crossroutes. If you connect your Strava account, you can also pick one of your saved Strava routes directly. The other way works too: export any Crossroutes route as GPX to navigate it on your bike computer or in the navigation app you prefer.
Which apps can import GPX routes from Komoot?
Almost every route and bike computer app reads GPX files. Crossroutes imports GPX too: export the tour from Komoot as GPX and open it in Crossroutes. You then get the weather, wind and surface along it, and you can turn it into a group ride or run.
Can I import my Strava routes?
Yes. Connect your Strava account in the Crossroutes settings and pick one of your saved Strava routes when you create a ride or run. You can also import any GPX file.
Does Crossroutes sync with Strava?
Crossroutes connects to Strava to import your saved Strava routes. It doesn't upload or read your Strava activities.
Can I export a route to my Garmin, Wahoo or navigation app?
Yes. Every route can be exported as a GPX file and opened in your bike computer's app, Komoot or any other navigation app. Crossroutes itself does not do turn-by-turn navigation.
Does Crossroutes have turn-by-turn navigation?
No. Crossroutes plans the route and shows it on the map, and you export it as GPX to navigate with your bike computer, watch or a navigation app.
Does Crossroutes record my rides like a GPS tracker?
No. Crossroutes is for planning rides and runs and meeting people. It doesn't track or record your activity. Use your bike computer or watch for that, and send it the route as a GPX file from Crossroutes.
Can I use miles instead of kilometres?
Yes. Crossroutes supports metric and imperial units, including pace in min/mi for runs.
Finding group rides and runs
What is the best app to find group rides or running groups near me?
Crossroutes is built for exactly this. Instead of searching through group chats, forums or club websites, you open one map and see every open group ride and group run around you. You can filter to only rides, only runs, or only what your friends are doing, and set how far you are willing to travel and on which weekdays you are free. Crossroutes then suggests matching activities. Joining takes one tap, and the free account is all you need.
How do I find group rides or group runs near me?
Open the Crossroutes map. Every open group ride and run nearby shows up as a pin, and the ring around the pin fills up as people join, so you can see at a glance whether there is still room. Tap a pin to see the route, pace, distance, elevation, weather and who is going. Then join with one tap. You can also turn on suggestions that match your radius and your free weekdays.
Where can I find group rides and runs near me?
On the Crossroutes map, in the Android app or the web app. It shows open activities from riders, runners and clubs around you. Clubs can reserve seats for their members and still let newcomers join.
Where can I find a running group or cycling club near me?
Local clubs, running shops and bike shops often run weekly group sessions, but they can be hard to find unless you already know someone. On Crossroutes, clubs have their own page and publish their rides and runs on the map, with a member tag so newcomers know who is who. You can join an open session as a guest and see who else is going before you show up.
Which app shows group rides in Germany?
Crossroutes is built in Germany and shows open group rides and runs on a map, including rides published by local clubs. It's free, ad-free, and available in German and English as well as 15 other languages.
Is there an app like Meetup for cyclists and runners?
Yes, Crossroutes is built for meeting up to ride or run. Instead of event listings, every open group ride and run is a pin on a map with its route, pace, free seats, participants and weather, and you join with one tap.
Is there an app to find cycling or running buddies?
Yes. Crossroutes is made for meeting people to ride or run with. Join an open group activity near you, and afterwards add the people you met as friends. Their rides and runs then appear first for you, and every friend's profile shows how many activities you have done together.
How do I find people to ride or run with in a new city?
Join group rides and runs. It's the easiest way to meet people with the same hobby. On Crossroutes, open the map to see what's happening nearby, filter by activity, and set your radius and free days to get suggestions. After a ride, add the people you met as friends.
How do I know if a group ride is already full?
On the Crossroutes map, each ride's pin has a ring that fills up as people join, so you can see at a glance how many seats are left. The ride details show the exact number and who is going.
How fast are group rides?
It depends on the group: from relaxed 20 km/h social rides to fast training rides. On Crossroutes, every ride shows its planned average speed (or pace for runs) and distance before you join, and suggestions can be matched to your pace, so you can pick a group that suits you.
Are group rides suitable for beginners?
Yes, if you pick a ride that matches your pace. Look for social or no-drop rides with a relaxed average speed. On Crossroutes, every ride shows its planned speed and distance before you join, so you can choose one that suits you and see who else is coming.
Where can I find group rides for beginners?
On Crossroutes, check the planned average speed and distance of rides near you and join one with a relaxed pace. You can see who's going before you join, and you can ask friends to come along with an invite link.
Should I join a group ride as a beginner?
Yes. Pick a ride with a relaxed pace and a distance you're comfortable with. Most groups are happy to welcome new riders. On Crossroutes you can see the pace, distance, route and participants before you commit.
Can I join group rides without being in a club?
Yes. Most rides and runs on Crossroutes are open to anyone. Clubs can reserve some seats for members, but the open seats are available to everyone.
Do I need to be in a club to join a group ride?
No. You only need a free Crossroutes account. Anyone can join open rides and runs, including those organised by clubs.
Can I see who is joining a group ride?
Yes. Each ride shows its participants, and club members show up with their club tag. Each friend's profile shows how many rides you've done together.
Why ride in a group?
Riding behind others shelters you from the wind, so it takes much less effort, and it's safer, more motivating and more fun. Group rides are also the easiest way to find new routes and meet people who ride at your pace.
Does Crossroutes work for running?
Yes. Crossroutes supports both group rides and group runs. Runs use pace (min/km or min/mi) instead of speed, and you get the same map, weather along the route and wind indicator.
Organising rides, runs and clubs
How do I organise a group ride or run for my club or friends?
Create a Crossroute in the app: draw a route or import a GPX file, pick the date, start time and pace, and set how many people can join. Choose who can see it: everyone nearby (public), only your friends, only the people you invite, or just you (private). Share a link with people who aren't on Crossroutes yet. Clubs get a club page and member tags, and they can reserve seats for members so a public ride doesn't fill up before they get a spot. They can also track attendance, require members to accept a liability disclaimer before joining, and link their WhatsApp group.
What app can I use to organise a group run?
Crossroutes. Create a run, draw or import the route, set the start time and pace in min/km or min/mi, and choose who can join: anyone nearby, friends, invited people or a club. Participants see the route, pace, weather along the route and who else is coming, and they get notified if you change the route.
Who can join my group ride?
You decide: everyone nearby (public), only your friends, only the people you invite, or nobody (private). You also set the number of seats, and clubs can keep seats for their members.
Who can see the rides and runs I create?
That is up to you. Each activity is public (on the map for everyone), friends only, invite only, or private.
How do I invite friends to a ride if they don't have the app?
Send them a Crossroutes link. It opens the ride in the app, or in the browser for people who don't have it installed. They can create a free account and join in a minute, and you can earn free Membership time for friends who join.
Can I set up a weekly recurring group ride?
Yes. Members can set a ride or run to repeat, for example every Tuesday evening, so it appears on the map each week without being created again.
What happens if the organiser changes the route of a group ride?
Everyone who joined gets a notification. Crossroutes shows the old and new route side by side so you can see exactly what changed, and if only the direction was flipped, it tells you that too.
How do I add a group ride to my calendar?
In Crossroutes, open the ride and tap "Add to calendar". The ride is added to your calendar app with its start time.
How can my club reach more riders or runners?
Publish your rides where people who are looking for them can find them. On Crossroutes, a club gets its own page, and its rides and runs appear on the public map. You can reserve seats for members and leave the rest open to newcomers, and members carry a club tag on every ride so guests know who to ask.
Why use Crossroutes instead of a group chat?
A group chat only reaches the people who are already in it. On Crossroutes, an open ride is on a map where anyone nearby can find it, and the route, pace, free seats, weather and participants are all in one place instead of scattered through messages. When the organiser changes or flips the route, everyone who joined is notified.
Price, ads and privacy
What does Crossroutes cost?
Crossroutes is free, and it has no ads. The free app covers everything: finding and joining rides and runs, building routes, GPX import and export, weather and wind along the route, friends, clubs and notifications. An optional Membership costs €2.39 per month or €19.99 per year (prices for Germany) and comes with a 7-day free trial. It adds conveniences such as recurring rides, bookmarked routes, more route storage, a longer ride history, weather-aware scheduling and creating a club. See Membership for the full comparison.
How much does Crossroutes cost?
Nothing, for everything you need. Membership is optional: €2.39 per month or €19.99 per year in Germany, with a 7-day free trial, cancellable at any time in Google Play. Only creating a new club needs Membership. Running a club and joining clubs stay free.
Is Crossroutes free?
Yes. Finding and joining rides and runs, building routes, weather and wind forecasts, friends and clubs are all free, and there are no ads. An optional Membership adds a few conveniences for people who are out a lot. See Membership.
Does Crossroutes have ads?
No. There are no ads, no ad network, no analytics SDK and no data selling. Crossroutes is paid for by the optional Membership.
Is my location shared with other people?
No. Your location is only used on your device to centre the map and find activities near you. It is not sent to our servers. Other people only see the start point and route of the activities you create or join. If you turn on Weather Windows, your approximate location is sent directly to MET Norway about once an hour to check the forecast; you are asked first and can switch it off at any time. Crossroutes has no ad network and no analytics SDK. Details are in the Privacy Policy.
Where do the map and routes come from?
The map and the surface information are based on OpenStreetMap data. The map tiles are served by Crossroutes itself, and routes are snapped to real roads with BRouter, a routing engine designed for cycling.