Finally, a GPS app that I like

I was using paper cue sheets until this year. I did not want to purchase a separate device for ride directions- since I always have my iPhone with me I wanted an app instead so I had one less thing to carry, charge and upgrade. But I found all the other gps apps inadequate including map my ride. I like to create routes online and download them, and map my ride never seemed to do what I wanted it to.
Ride with gps is almost perfect ( the almost part is an iPhone peculiarity I will explain). The online route planner is accurate, intuitive, and reasonably easy to edit existing routes. Its a popular enough app that there are lots of local routes by other people to explore, and Ive had lots of fun trying out some new routes Ive found. A huge bonus is that my local cycling club posts links to ridewithgps files of the club rides so I can download them before the ride.
Let me say that compared to using a cue sheet, the ridewithgps screen is faster, more accurate, and most important lets me keep my eyes on the road more. I was concerned about putting a screen on my handlebars but trying to read a cue sheet takes much more effort than glancing at a screen for a fraction of a second to see the little blue dot on the map (me) approaching the clearly marked turn. If you upgrade to paid membership you get turn by turn spoken directions that you can hear unless you are screaming down a hill with the wind in your ears. This app has definitely made my riding safer, I can concentrate more on whats around me and worry less about finding the next turn.
You have your choice of a few info bars under the map, including upcoming directions, or a speedometer/odometer display, or my favorite the ride profile. This is the elevation profile of your entire ride with a blue dot showing where you are. In unfamiliar territory you can see which are going to be the big climbs and which are the molehills, so you can have your strategy for the next hill even if its your first time down that road. I find it really helpful to know whats coming and when Ive conquered the worst climb on the route.
There is a feature to take photos and attach them to your ride uploads which I havent used yet.
A word about battery life: a gps app will drain your phones battery. Ridewithgps has an option to download the maps in advance, which lets you turn off cell data and navigate using cell tower gps alone. This helps but you still have the screen on the whole time. I find depending on cell signal strength you can use up to 2% of the iPhone 5 battery per mile. I found a battery case and a handlebar phone holder that the phone with battery case fits in and I completed a century with 8% of my battery left- so Im all set.
The iPhone glitch is for some reason turn by turn directions will occasionally stop working. Support told me I have to be sure that the ride is being recorded to keep it working. Some days there isnt an issue, some days I have to stop and play around with the app to get it working again. I hope to see an update that removes this occasional annoyance. Nevertheless Im giving it five stars for the added enjoyment it has brought to my riding this year. I can load up a route and just ride, enjoy the scenery, and not really care where I am. And its a safer way to ride. Awesome.

Lost1140 about Ride with GPS: Bike Navigation