# Getting started

https://ridejournal.app/guides/getting-started/
Last updated: 2026-08-21


The first time you open Ride Journal it walks through a few short steps, you only see the ones your device actually needs to ask about. Nothing it asks for is compulsory, skip anything you are not sure about and turn it on later in [Settings](/guides/settings-and-integrations/).

## The walkthrough

<p class="shot-row"><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-light" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/light/06-walkthrough.png" alt="The first walkthrough step, introducing Ride Journal as your complete cycling journal."><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-dark" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/dark/06-walkthrough.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true"><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-light" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/light/08-walkthrough-location.png" alt="The walkthrough step asking for location access."><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-dark" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/dark/08-walkthrough-location.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true"></p>

**Location** is what powers the forecast on your home tab, so you know what to expect before heading out.

<p class="shot-row"><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-light" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/light/09-walkthrough-music.png" alt="The walkthrough step asking for music access."><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-dark" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/dark/09-walkthrough-music.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true"></p>

**Music** lets you attach the songs that defined a ride. You may also be asked about **Apple Health**, which works both ways: it turns cycling workouts you already have into journal entries, and writes your rides back so they count towards your fitness rings.

## Where you land

<p class="shot-row"><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-light" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/light/10-home-empty.png" alt="The home tab with no journal entries yet."><img eleventy:pictureattr:class="shot shot-dark" eleventy:widths="260,520" sizes="260px" src="/assets/guides/dark/10-home-empty.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true"></p>

An empty journal. Next: [adding a ride](/guides/adding-a-ride/).


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Ride Journal — https://ridejournal.app/
Site index for language models: https://ridejournal.app/llms.txt