Can you imagine riding through the mountains and receiving audio instructions like those provided by your car's navigation system? And, when you're exploring new territory, having a tour guide by your side to explain all the interesting things you'll find along the way? Well, you can experience this with Tracks Tour, because we've incorporated the SPEAKTRACKS audio guide into our customer service. You can try this experience for free on Tracks Tour MTB routes with audio commentary. You'll soon be able to download all the stages of our Tracks.
HOW SPEAKTRACKS WORKS
You can install Tracks Tour on your Android devices and enhance your experience. As you travel along the route, this app will detect a series of geotagged points that will trigger audio messages. It will indicate the route to follow, warning you 50 to 100 meters in advance so you can prepare to choose the right path.
No more traveling extra miles due to choosing the wrong route, or in more complicated and technical areas, ignoring the GPS and ending up having to turn around and retrace your route. On the other hand, for those more curious and wondering: What is this river we are crossing? Or what is the town we see in the background and how many inhabitants does it have? Or what is the history of this monastery? Or what is the origin of this peculiar rock formation? These questions will be answered through audio clips that the user will automatically hear.
Finally, you'll receive audio recordings with logistics information about the route, such as how far away the next watering point is, where you can eat, how many kilometers are left to go, and more.
The SPEAKTRACKS app is a free download from the Play Store and works in conjunction with the website www.speaktracks.com. This is where you can view the routes available on SPEAKTRACKS. Once registered, you can choose the route you want to follow and add it to "Your Routes." From this point on, the route will appear in the app for you to enjoy.
QUALITY ON THE ROAD SPEAKTRACKS
To create quality audio guides, it's essential to thoroughly understand the area where the route runs. For this reason, SPEAKTRACKS is building a network of collaborators made up of companies, organizations, and individuals with experience in cycle tourism. This is the case with TRACKS TOUR, the largest network of mountain biking, road, and trekking tracks in Spain. It boasts highly qualified professionals, passionate about nature, who have spent years creating routes through some of the most incredible places. It's understandable that some doubts may arise when faced with this project.
The battery life of mobile devices. Obviously, this depends on the quality of the battery itself and the usage of the phone, but SPEAKTRACKS tests indicate that power consumption ranges between 4% and 15% per hour with the screen normally off. Optionally, the app allows you to keep the screen always on or turn it on whenever you find a point to discuss. In these cases, power consumption is higher, although it should be noted that once you get used to it, it's common to leave the screen off and follow the route only with the audio. In any case, it's advisable to carry a portable battery just in case.
Coverage. SPEAKTRACKS only requires data at the time of download; after that, it's stored. From that point on, coverage is no longer required to receive audio messages. You might need it if you wanted to view the map, although this is unlikely in mountainous areas.
Regarding the GPS: SPEAKTRACKS works perfectly and surprises everyone who tries it, but it's clear that the more modern and high-quality the mobile phone's GPS chip is, the better the audio guide will work. Occasionally, the GPS may miss a point, resulting in the user missing some directions. For this reason, it's recommended that at least two members of the group follow the route with SPEAKTRACKS. GPS coverage may also be weak in some cases. This can happen in urban areas with narrow streets and tall buildings. In these cases, the user will be prompted to view the map for better orientation.
In any case, the routes we find on SPEAKTRACKS mostly take place outside urban areas. Logically, future technological advances will increasingly be invaluable in the implementation of SPEAKTRACKS. More precise and energy-efficient GPS chips, dust- and water-resistant mobile phones, longer-lasting batteries, etc. All of this will contribute to maximum enjoyment of SPEAKTRACKS routes. For many, the first time they listened to a navigator in their car was a surprising and satisfying experience.
With SPEAKTRACKS, you'll experience these sensations on a bike, enjoying the places you visit on your trips even more. Tracks Tour creates unique experiences that combine sport, nature, and tourism. We have 28 franchises that manage 43 routes.
