How to plan your heart-shaped route

While we've done everything we can to make this as easy as possible, we know that not everyone has designed and followed a GPS route before.

Komoot is our navigation partner for Spell It Out (thanks Komoot!) and they have an extensive Support section on their website. But don't hesitate to email georgie@thighsofsteel.com if you're having trouble.

1. Create your Komoot account
2. Go to the regions area and claim your free maps. Komoot will propose regions near you, based on your location, but you can enter anywhere you like in the search bar so make sure you choose the same area that you're going to be riding your heart!
3. Follow Komoot's awesome route planning guide to design your heart shaped route. It can be super tricky to get something that looks proper heart-shaped, but persevere. With GPS art, the route planning is half the fun!

How to get the route onto your navigation device

How are you going to navigate?

Smartphone

GPS Computer (Wahoo, Garmin, etc.)

1. Download Komoot onto your smartphone from Google Play or iPhone App Store and log in to your account
   
2. BOOM! Your planned tour should magically appear under your profile, in your pile of planned tours. It'll be the only one if you've only just joined Komoot!
   
3. When you're ready to roll, select your heart-shaped tour and hit the green button that says 'NAVIGATION' :))
   

PRO TIP: We'd recommend flipping the pin toggle 'Store for offline use' so that you can have your phone on airplane mode during the ride to save battery.

1. Follow Komoot's instructions for syncing up with your GPS device
2. BOOM! Your tour should automagically appear on your synced GPS device
   

If it doesn't, you can do it manually:

1. On your Komoot tour page, click the button that says 'Export to GPS Device'
   
2. This will download a GPX file
3. Follow your usual rigmarole for getting a GPX file onto your GPS computer

How to record your ride

Smartphone with Komoot

1. Please make sure that you are at the start of your planned heart route, otherwise Komoot will be clever and navigate to the start for you and the heart will come out looking weird.
   
2. When you're at the start, press NAVIGATION. Komoot will automatically start recording your ride.
3. If you're spreading the ride over more than one day, that's totally fine. Just press STOP when you've finished for the day or (IMPORTANT) when you go off route because your campsite is 5km away.
4. When you come back to the tour the next day, resume the recording. It's no problem for us if you end up with two or more recorded tours.
5. Press STOP when you get to the finish line!

GPS Computer (Wahoo, Garmin, etc)

This will obviously depend on your device so please refer to the user manual / Youtube. :)

Double check that your device really is synced with Komoot - that'll make the next phase super easy!

How to upload your ride when you've finished 🏁

CONGRATULATIONS! You did it!

Whether you recorded using Komoot on your smartphone or using a GPS computer connected to Komoot, the process is the same.

1. Follow Thighs of Steel on Komoot if you're not already!
2. Go to your finished tour page on Komoot
   
3. Click 'Tag participants' - or 'Edit participants' if you've already tagged your team mates
4. Search for your new friend 'Thighs of Steel' and tag us in the tour
5. Repeat steps 2-4 if you've got more than one tour to share
   
6. That's it!
   

What happens next? We'll upload your route to a massive map and you'll be able to see, quite literally, how you have helped make refugees welcome!

If you recorded your ride without using Komoot, that's also fine. Just send the GPX file to hello@thighsofsteel.com and we'll do the clever stuff.

Fancy a cycle ride?

Join our monthly London not-so-serious cycle club

Get fundraising! 

Tips 'n' tricks for your fundraising adventure

Past Rides & Testimonials

First-hand experiences, anecdotes and accolades from past riders