Tourtagebuch

1. Getting started

What is Tourtagebuch?

Tourtagebuch is a digital tour diary for anyone who wants to systematically record their outdoor activities. Unlike pure tracking apps, it focuses on documentation in a broader sense: distance and duration are part of it, but so are notes, photos, weather conditions, partners, voice notes and GPS markers at notable points. The app is deliberately sport-agnostic — cycling, hiking, running, motorcycling, paddling, ski touring, cross-country skiing, inline skating, SUP, horseback riding and anything else are treated the same way.

Two apps, one data base

Tourtagebuch consists of two coordinated apps that share the same data. The web app runs in the browser on PC, tablet or phone and contains the full feature set including master data management and analytics. The mobile app is built as a Progressive Web App (PWA) and is optimized for capturing tours on the go — also offline.

Requirements and address

For the web app, a current browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari) on a PC, tablet or notebook is enough. The mobile app runs on any smartphone with a modern browser — installation happens directly from the browser, no app store required. Both apps are reachable at tourtagebuch.online. The mobile app additionally at tourtagebuch.online/app/ — this URL is needed for the first setup on your phone.

2. Sign-in and profile

Create an account

On the start page, click Register to create a new account. First name, last name, login name, email address and a password are required. A confirmation email is sent immediately; the link in the email activates the account. No payment details are collected — the first 30 days are free. See chapter 12 for details on the price model.

Sign in

When opening Tourtagebuch, the sign-in screen appears. Login name and password are required. After successful sign-in, you go straight to the tour overview.

Note. Passwords are stored as BCrypt hashes in the database. Neither the server operator nor other users can read the password.

Edit your profile

The user menu in the top right (web) or the user icon in the brand bar (mobile) takes you to the profile. You can edit profile picture, first name, last name, email address, password, language (de/en/fr), units (km/mi) and email notifications.

Sign out

Sign-out happens via the user menu. In the mobile app, a bottom sheet opens with avatar, name, login name and a red sign-out button. If pending tours (not yet synchronized) exist, a confirmation dialog appears — the tours stay on the device in any case and reappear at the next sign-in.

Delete your account permanently

If you no longer want to use Tourtagebuch, you can delete your account via the user menu in the web app. Two confirmation prompts appear; in the second you must enter your own email address. A confirmation link is then sent by email, which finally triggers the deletion.

Warning. Account deletion is permanent. All your own tours, photos, attachments, voice notes and markers are completely removed from the database and cloud storage.

3. The web app

The web app is the full Tourtagebuch cockpit. It covers all features — from tour entry through master data management to analytics and account administration.

Layout

• Top bar: logo, main menu, user menu top right
• Main area: changes per menu item — tour list, form, analytics
• Footer: version info, imprint, privacy

Main menu entries

• Overview — list of all your tours with filter and search
• Quick view — yearly totals, previous-year comparison, top values
• Analytics — charts by month, equipment, equipment group, season
• Configuration — master data: equipment, equipment groups, favorites and tournaments
• Help — this manual right inside the app
• Profile & sign-out — via the user menu top right: personal data, password, settings

Tour overview

The tour overview is the central page: it shows all your tours sorted by date (newest on top) as a list with the most important metrics. The filter bar at the top combines period, equipment, equipment group, favorite and a free-text search. A click on a tour opens the edit view with all fields, photos, attachments, voice notes and GPS markers.

Quick view

Quick view is a compact dashboard with the main numbers of the current year compared to the previous one: number of tours, kilometers, average speed, elevation, points. Useful to get a quick read on the current season.

Analytics

Analytics provide a year comparison (monthly bars), season comparison (two seasons side by side), equipment comparison (share per item), personal bests (longest, fastest, highest tour) and breakdown by equipment groups.

4. The mobile app

Tourtagebuch is already available as a mobile app: a Progressive Web App (PWA) that is not loaded from an app store but installed directly from the browser onto your phone and then used like a native app. In addition, the native apps for iOS and Android are about to be released in the stores. They offer the same range of functions and use the same data and account; on top of that they capture steps and temperature automatically and record your route reliably in the background.

Installation on iPhone

1. Open Safari and go to tourtagebuch.online/app/
2. Tap the share icon at the bottom center
3. Choose ‘Add to Home Screen’ in the menu
4. Confirm — the Tourtagebuch icon appears on the home screen

Installation on Android

1. Open Chrome and go to tourtagebuch.online/app/
2. Tap the install banner or choose ‘Install app’ in the menu
3. Confirm — the Tourtagebuch icon appears in the app drawer

App layout

• Brand bar (top): Tourtagebuch logo, online/offline indicator, user icon on the right
• Main area: list of your tours with pending markers
• FAB button (bottom right): big ‘New tour’ button

What the mobile app can and cannot do

5. Capturing a tour

Creating a new tour is very similar in both apps. The difference is mainly the input — touch or mouse — and the availability of camera and GPS on the phone.

In the web app

1. Open ‘Overview’ in the main menu
2. Click the ‘New tour’ button
3. Fill the form and save

In the mobile app

1. Tap the big FAB button in the bottom right
2. Fill the form and save

Required fields and defaults

Required fields are marked with a red-orange star. The save button stays disabled while required fields are empty.

Optional fields

Duration as hh:mm:ss, elevation up, steps, temperature (low, high and average), heart rate, RPM, calories, favorite, rating (Normal/Good/Bad), partners, rain/wind/flat tire/trailer, note (see chapter 7), photos, link to external source (e.g. Strava, Komoot). Plus the accessibility details (see below).

Steps and temperature, automatic

In the native app for iOS and Android, steps and temperature are captured automatically during a GPS recording: steps via the phone's motion sensor, temperature at regular intervals via the GPS position. The tour's low, high and average temperature are stored. If a device lacks the sensor or has no connection, the fields simply stay empty — the tour can still be saved.

Accessibility: restroom, stroller, wheelchair

Three details help when planning family-friendly and low-barrier tours and are available in every tour form: a restroom available checkbox with a free note field (e.g. "at the lock, paid"), a stroller-friendly checkbox and a wheelchair-accessible checkbox. These stay permanently with the tour and can be filtered later (see chapter 8).

Automatic calculations

• Avg km/h — from distance and duration once both are filled
• Points — every completed 15 minutes counts as one point (0–14 min = 0, from 15 min = 1)

Note. Both values are shown live during input. Points are stored in the database and recalculated on edit. The formula is identical in web and mobile.

Attach photos

In the web app, photos can be added by drag-and-drop or via the file picker. In the mobile app, the photo button opens the camera or photo picker. Photos are compressed before upload to save space. Each photo can be given an optional caption; it also appears when the photo is shared as an image (see chapter 6).

Record a tour live (GPS)

In the mobile app a tour can also be recorded live instead of typed in afterwards. ‘Record tour’ starts the recording: distance, time and speed are captured via GPS — recording continues in the background even when the app is not in the foreground. While recording is running you can directly take photos and set markers: a photo is attached to the tour with the current GPS position (optionally also saved to the system gallery), a marker takes the live position and can be named optionally — also via quick-select. In the native iOS and Android apps, steps and elevation are additionally captured via the phone's sensors; for this the app asks once for access to ‘Motion & Fitness’. After stopping, the tour form opens automatically with the measured values — add name and equipment, then save.

6. Editing and deleting tours

Edit tour

A click (web) or tap (mobile) on a tour in the list opens the edit form. It is identical to the new-entry form, all fields pre-filled. The title reads ‘Edit tour’ and a red delete button appears in the footer.

Note. In the mobile app, pending tours (not yet synchronized) can also be edited offline. Already synchronized tours require an online connection.

Delete tour

The delete button only appears in edit mode and is colored red. After click, a confirmation dialog always appears with the key tour data and a note about attached photos.

Warning. Confirmation before every delete — nothing is removed without your okay. Confirmed deletes are however final: photos, attachments, voice notes and markers of the tour are removed too. This rule applies to all delete operations in web and mobile — individual photos, attachments, markers, voice notes, equipment and favorites included.

Remove single attachments

Photos, voice notes and markers can be removed individually without deleting the whole tour. Each attachment shows a delete icon in the edit form; clicking it triggers the same confirmation.

Share a tour

In the web app a tour can be shared with others via ‘Share’. A link is created through which the tour can be viewed without signing in. The link is valid for a limited time and can be extended by seven days if needed. For sharing, copy, email and WhatsApp are available. ‘Stop sharing’ invalidates the link immediately — with a confirmation prompt, like every critical action.

Share tour and photos as an image

Besides the share link, a tour can also be shared as a ready-made image — ideal for social networks like Instagram. Via ‘Share as image’ / ‘Share tour as image’, the app generates a graphic: either an overview card with the key metrics or a photo of the tour together with its caption — each with Tourtagebuch branding. The image can then be passed on or saved via the system share menu. This is available in the web app and the mobile app.

7. Notes, voice and GPS markers

The notes field is more than a text box. In both apps, tapping the field opens a full-screen sheet with three extra functions.

The notes sheet

• Microphone icon: dictation — spoken text is inserted into the notes field
• Speech-bubble icon: voice note — audio recording is stored as an attachment
• Pin icon: save current GPS position as a marker

Dictation

After tapping the microphone, the icon turns red and speech recognition runs. Recognized text appears live in the field — interim results in grey, finalized words in black. Tap again to stop.

Note. Speech recognition runs via the browser vendor (Apple or Google) and transmits short audio segments to their servers. This processing is part of the privacy policy.

Record voice note

Tap the speech bubble to start recording. The duration is shown while recording. Maximum length: 5 minutes — recording stops automatically afterwards. Voice notes can be played back later by tapping the list entry.

Set GPS marker

When you tap the pin icon, the app asks for permission to access the position and then stores latitude and longitude as a marker for the tour. Any number of markers per tour is possible. Optionally a short comment can be added. In the web app, markers are shown on a small map below the notes field. Setting or updating markers works only in the mobile app, since GPS is required.

8. Filters, search, analytics

Filters in the tour list

Note. In the mobile app, equipment and favorites open as two separate bottom sheets, making thumb selection easier.

Quick view

Quick view compares the current year directly to the previous one. A selection filter allows comparing other seasons. Main metrics: number of tours, kilometers, average speed, elevation and points.

Analytics

The analytics page bundles charts: year comparison (monthly bars, multiple years), season comparison (this vs. last), equipment comparison (share per item in total km), bests (longest, fastest, highest-point tour) and equipment group shares (e.g. cycling vs. hiking vs. motorcycle).

Tip. Filters also apply to analytics. For instance, view only the last three months of road cycling by setting period and equipment group accordingly.

9. Master data: equipment and favorites

Master data — equipment, equipment groups, favorites and tournaments — is managed via the ‘Configuration’ menu. This works both in the web app and in the mobile app. The mobile app also keeps master data locally so it is available offline for tour entry.

Equipment

An equipment item is a concrete vehicle or sports gear — e.g. ‘Road bike Cervélo’, ‘MTB hardtail’, ‘Motorcycle BMW’, ‘Hiking boots’, ‘Kayak’ or ‘XC skis’. The list is user-specific. New items are created under ‘Configuration’ → ‘Equipment’ via ‘New equipment’. The name is editable by clicking on it. Order is adjustable by drag-and-drop or sort value. An item can only be deleted if no tour references it anymore.

Equipment groups

Equipment groups bundle several items under a shared label — e.g. ‘Bikes’ (road, MTB, gravel), ‘Hiking’ (hiking boots), ‘Motorized’ (motorcycle) or ‘Water’ (kayak, SUP). An item can belong to several groups at once.

Note. Equipment groups are an additional filter in tour overview, quick view and analytics. A group can be marked as default start view so the desired selection appears automatically after login.

Favorites

Favorites are frequently used tour names — like ‘Home loop 30 km’, ‘Commute’ or ‘Black Forest tour’. When recording a new tour, you can pick a favorite to fill the name.

Confirmation when deleting

Deleting equipment, an equipment group or a favorite also triggers a confirmation. Equipment can only be removed once no tour references it — otherwise the affected tours must first be reassigned to another item.

10. Offline use and synchronization

The mobile app is built to keep working without a network. That matters because many tours happen in areas with weak coverage — mountains, forests, countryside.

Offline indicator

As soon as connectivity drops, an offline icon and a discreet banner appear in the brand bar. It clearly shows that no server access is happening at the moment.

What works offline

• Capture new tours, including photos, voice notes and markers
• Edit and delete your own pending tours
• Equipment and favorites in dropdowns (from local cache)
• Logout (will sync when you go online again)

What requires online

• Display of already synchronized tours from the server
• Editing already synchronized tours
• Sign-in with username and password
• Analytics and quick view

Pending tours and auto-sync

Offline-captured tours show a ‘Waiting for sync’ marker in the list. As soon as the app reconnects, it transmits the waiting tours in the background. A toast ‘X tours synchronized’ reports completion.

Note. If the first attempt fails — e.g. because the connection drops again — the app waits and retries shortly. Pending tours remain on the device until successful transmission.

Sign-out with pending tours

If pending tours exist at sign-out, a warning appears. The tours are not deleted — they stay on the device and reappear at the next sign-in of the same user.

11. Security and privacy

Data hosting

Tour data is stored in a database on a German server. Photos, attachments and voice notes are stored in German cloud storage (Strato HiDrive). All file access happens through the app and requires a valid sign-in.

Passwords

Passwords are stored as BCrypt hashes. Even the server operator cannot see the plain-text password. Changing the password always requires the current password for confirmation.

Auto sign-out

After extended inactivity, the user is signed out automatically for security. By default this happens after about 10 minutes without activity. On a shared device it is advisable to sign out manually after use.

GDPR and privacy

The full privacy policy is linked in both apps (footer in web, user menu in app). It lists all services and data categories in use.

Confirmation before every delete

Before every delete operation in the web and mobile apps, a confirmation appears. This applies to tours, individual photos, attachments, voice notes, GPS markers, equipment, equipment groups and favorites. Nothing is removed without confirmation.

12. Price and trial period

Tourtagebuch has a deliberately simple price model: 30 days free, then an annual subscription that renews automatically after the first year and is then cancellable monthly.

The first 30 days

From sign-up, all features are available free for 30 days. No payment details are collected at registration — no credit card, no bank account, no auto-subscription that would start unwanted after the trial.

After the 30 days

To keep using Tourtagebuch afterwards, you take out an annual subscription at €19.90. The subscription is activated inside the app; payment details are collected there. The initial term is twelve months. After that, it renews automatically for an indefinite period and is cancellable at any time with one month's notice.

Cancellation

During the renewal phase you can cancel at any time with one month's notice — directly in the app or by email. After cancellation, access expires at the end of the paid period. Your data is then kept for a few weeks in case you change your mind. After that, all personal data and tour content is automatically and completely removed from the database and cloud storage.