Following a route the old fashioned way.

Big Hairy Wallapers

Hi I'm planning on getting some good rides in new areas.
A google search often throws up recommended routes on Bikely and other such google maps tools.

What's the best way of using this information?

Does everyone else have a Garmin device to direct them?
Is it possible to print a list of junctions and distances to follow without hundreds of pounds of technology?
Please help!

Lucky Douglas

Yes - most have an option to print directions. Without checking, I think it's often termed as a route card or similar

Bobbinogs

I make my own route cards every now and then following the format for the route cards provided for audaxes:

http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/audax/cotsw ... t_100C.pdf

On these routes and (or when actually doing audaxes), I attach a small route card holder to the bars:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/polaris-mapt ... prod18910/

I also have a printed map in my back pocket for the times when I drift off for a few minutes and miss a turn

Big Hairy Wallapers

Magic, thanks for that. I'll take a look.

Which site would you recommend for building your own routes and printing them in the route card format?
Any tips for pros and cons of each site would be great.
Many thanks for your help.

Lucky Douglas

Big Hairy Wallapers wrote:

Magic, thanks for that. I'll take a look.

Which site would you recommend for building your own routes and printing them in the route card format?
Any tips for pros and cons of each site would be great.
Many thanks for your help.

Bikeroutetoaster is good - the route card stuff is on the cue sheet tab.

Big Hairy Wallapers

Thanks very much, I've had a play with bikeroutetoaster and it's brill.
Gonna make a route card and try it out on the road.

Thanks once again for pointing me in the right direction ( so to speak )!!

captain_tiara

One of the best things i bought last year was one of these;

http://www.nokia.co.uk/find-products/ac ... ules/ld-4w Approx £20.

Works with my non GPS Nokia 6303i, will work with any bluetooth phone that can take maps of any description. Hell of a lot cheaper & smaller than a garmin. [Presuming everyone takes their phone with them anyway]. And a tiny ball £3 compass for orientation. Probably better cos apparently the reciever is better & battery life as well. [Than a GPS phone, no idea about garmin/similar].

Have been following some posted routes that I never would have followed otherwise, & boy have i been enjoying my riding so much more on quiet country lanes. And going further- once you've started there's no point chickening out half way, as it will take even longer to find your own way home on horrid main roads.


Ok first time round you're stopping at most junctions to check you're going in the right direction, but you seem to remember straight off the bat 2nd time round.

Big Hairy Wallapers

Oooh that could be exciting, don't really know how it works, would that be compatible with an iPhone4?
Can you bar mount it?

Cheers

Ollieda

I just have a look round on the map before going and remember it in my head.

For any really complicated routes I sometimes make a little note of things.

To be honest though the furthest straight line distance I've been from home on the bike is about 20 miles but by doing weaving around a big loop of town like that you can easily do lots of miles without straying too far from home, and if you ever get lost it doesn't take long before you pick up a sign for home or a sign to somewhere that you know how to get home from - and this is in the cotswolds!