Cycling App of the Week: Kappo! For those who find Strava too serious

What is it? 

Kappo! is the brainchild of Chilean app developers/cycling enthusiasts, and brings a light-hearted element to tracking your ride if you're finding Strava too serious (it could also be a good shout for budding young cyclists as it's a colourful and entertaining format). It essentially records your ride with a GPS tracker, but going far beyond recording speed and distance, Kappo rewards you for the amount of ascent you take on, what kind of weather you're riding in and even for performing jumps if BMX is your thing. You can amass virtual coins after each ride and use them to buy boosters which increase the number of points earned on your next ride. Kappo users are ranked weekly and on an all-time list. As I type it's telling me there are only 50 active players in the UK but nearly 20,000 worldwide, suggesting it's yet to fully take off in Blighty yet! 

What makes it unique?

The inclusion of 'powers' to earn more points on your rides creates a more level playing field between weaker and stronger riders somewhat, and the idea of racking up more points for riding in inclement weather is a good one that encourages users to get out more whatever the conditions. Kappo also sell rider data to city authorities to help them improve cycling facilities, by tracking sections of rider routes that don't include adequate surfaces for cycling. 
 

You can use powers to increase number of points earned on your rides, including the wonderfully controversial 'Armstrongnina'...

How can it help me? 

Kappo, like any other app with a competitive element, encourages you to get out and ride - with the extra points for riding in sub zero temperatures, rain and taking on lots of ascent as a few examples. There are also levels going from 1 to 10, the more you ride the more you move up. 
 

Where can I get it? 

Kappo is available on Android and iOS, and is free to download.  You can get free coins by liking Kappo on social media or rating it in the app store if you get really hooked.