Memory Map - wetting myself to get started!

pneumatic

Apparently, (atlhough I am not supposed to know this) Clan Pneumatic has clubbed together to buy me not only MM northern britain but also MM alpes. I know this to be a possibility because I had to buy them myself, place them in the pneumatic festive gift cache and pretend not to know about them.

Question: just how much fun am I going to have with this extravagantly pricey new toy?

Supplementary: will Mrs Pneumatic ever be able to command my undivided attention again?

I feel like a child at Christmas!

tips for maximising pleasure from this artifact, please.

willbevan

I love memory map.

Now I have a garmin forerunner that i use on every ride, so in sporttracks for example i can see where I have gone as it links into something like google earth...

But i still love memory map, looking at routes, seeing where i can go, planning courses to ride etc

craker

Yeah, plotting a route with MM, uploading it to the GPS, sticking it on your bike and doing a 30 mile cross country ramble with having to check a map every cross in the path.

Technology can be fun..

Rob Sallnow

Memory Map and similar are great fun....especially if you like maps ...I've spent many hours planning rides all over the place and then riding them. Or just scrolling around places where I know I won't get to just to see how hilly they look with the 3D feature...places like North Wales :shock:

The only problem is that eventually you will realise that you want all this mapping when out on the road....which is why I bought a Satmap unit....the only thing wrong with that is you have to buy all the same mapping again in a slightly different format that works with it.

squired

Rob - can you create routes in Memory Map now and transfer them across to the Satmap? Last thing I heard it was suggested this wasn't possible and that some software would be developed (just checked the website and not seen anything on there).

As for Memory Map - great bit of software. Definitely better when you use the output from it in a GPS system.

Rob Sallnow

At the moment they are testing their software designed to connect Satmap to a PC....it's basically a Pocket PC and needs a program like Activesync...they say it will be out shortly.

Even though you can create routes on the Active 10 and then transfer them to your PC using a card reader you can't put a GPX file on the card using a card reader and have it recognised by the Active 10 so until the software becomes available it is a bit limiting using the Active 10 to create routes.

Once launched you will be able to upload GPX files from all the mapping software options out there using that software....you won't be able to export it using the Export To GPS function of Memory Map though.

hugo15

I have Tracklogs. I found it to be seriously addictive. Spent ages plotted my existing training routes then even more time plotting new routes.

mercurykev

With memory map you can even do a 3d fly through of your plotted route - see how hill it really is.

I like that when you upload a track from the gsp after a ride, you can actually see what side of the road you we cycling on - cool.

newbie_cyclist

memory map is fantastic
you wind up going all the leittle routes you dont know rather than sticking it out on the A roads so you dont get lost.
and the joy of not having to wrestle with a large paper map in the wind and the rain at every junction...

i thought i was a sad geek & id get bored of my toy in a month but i adore it

in case you dont already know use tracks not routes to maximise the number of trips you can save to your gps

pneumatic

Thanks folks! Sounds like I am in for a lot of fun and am definitely in the frame for a gps unit (I have been holding off until now). Garmin Edge OK? I am starting to drool over the 705.

Nothing wrong with being a sad geek. I think my wife and kids expect it of me!

willbevan

I have the 305 (not the edge, the running version, the forerunner) and love it!!!

best thing i bought, brought some extra interest to my training and also SO much structure thanks to the intervals, being able to see myself progressing etc (as long as you do listen or utilise the functions)

Now I will be upgrading to an edge 705, once I have... a better bike, and a better lighting system

newbie_cyclist

i think the edge is more training than mapping orientated (how fast did i go on that stretch of road compared to last time rather than which turn should i take at the next junction)
if you want good mapping i think youd be better of with the garmin etrex or similar

pneumatic

Well, as expected, Santa delivered the goods. MM N Britain is fabulous - had a lot of fun with it already.

However....

MM Alpes is quite obviously only a whole lot of out of date IGN's badly scanned and clumsily joined together by a Chimp on Buckfast. VERY disappointing and EXTREMELY out of date.

Shame on you, Memory Map. I wondered why Anquet didn't offer a France package and now I know. They have more self-respect.

Ah well bollox, I'm off to the Alps tomorrow morning with my virtual maps. As ever the reality will outstrip the virtual reality by magnitudes of an impressive magnitude!

But, come on MM, ffs, get your act together here! Surely you can do better!

Mayhemwmb

garmin eTrek for £49.99 I use one on my bike with Memory map on PC, good for a regular route, you can download a speed profile from the hand held to see how you compare to previous laps of a training route
http://www.fieldandtrek.com/sfile/1/cat ... -25929.htm

ColinJ

Mayhemwmb wrote:

garmin eTrek for £49.99 I use one on my bike with Memory map on PC, good for a regular route, you can download a speed profile from the hand held to see how you compare to previous laps of a training route
http://www.fieldandtrek.com/sfile/1/cat ... -25929.htm

Watch out - that might be an old version of the Etrex - the spec shown on that webpage is not the current one!

The current Etrex can store 20 routes of up to 124 waypoints not 1 of 50. Confusingly, the technical spec page indicates 20 routes. Check before buying. If the model is the current one, that's a great price - I paid over £70 for mine.