Favorite bike route planning website

bboti

I am wondering which bike route planning website do you guys use. If it is not in the list, leave it as a comment...

rockmonkeysc

An OS map.
I hate using gps I've had some great rides when lost.

bboti

RockmonkeySC wrote:

An OS map.
I hate using gps I've had some great rides when lost.

I agree that GPS-less rides are much better, I am using these sites just for an overall pre-planning.

kickaxe

What if I always just plan in my head?

bboti

Kickaxe wrote:

What if I always just plan in my head?

That is really cool to do. I guess I need a few more years to achieve that freedom
Unfortunately, there cannot be more than 10 choices for the poll and I cannot edit it -- tell if possible and I add the "www.planinmyhead.com" option as well

oodboo

I don't get out as often as I'd like so I don't get to know the areas I ride well enough to just head out and wing it and still get a decent ride. So I tend to use gpsies.com to get mbr's routes or get routes from viewranger, either way I then study maps and the route on viewranger and often use that to navigate as I can get a direction arrow on my watch to keep me on track without stopping to check maps all the time.

reformedfatty

bikehike.co.uk

also use wheresthepath sometimes

oh and also opencyclemap comes in handy

larkim

I like the heatmap function particularly on Strava, though that's more for road cycling when I'm away from home. Gives a decent indication of which are likely to be the better roads to ride on on the basis that if lots of cyclists use it, it can't be terrible. Helps to get a feeling of "If loads go down that dual carraigeway, I bet there's a cycle lane at the side" vs "That dual carriage way is the ideal fastest route, but I wonder if anyone actually cycles on it"?

schmako

Local hills I use my brain, further afield a combination of OS map/compass and .gpx app on my phone. Does the job!

cooldad

I follow the ass in front of me.

Angus Young

cooldad wrote:

I follow the ass in front of me.

Does he know that's what you think of him?

cooldad

Why do you think it's a him? Bit sexist really.

rockmonkeysc

cooldad wrote:

Why do you think it's a him? Bit sexist really.

Sexist, but correct?

cooldad

We have a number of girls ride with our group regularly. Most of them are better and faster than me.
I'm quite happy to take up the rear gunner / sweeper position.

rockmonkeysc

I know technology is theoretically better for route navigation but there's been so many times I've stopped to look at a map on a route and spotted a really great looking bridleway which has turned out to be heaps better than the planned route.
OS maps are particularly good in places like Lake District, Exmoor and Quantocks where all the trails are bridleways anyway and some of them are completely brilliant.

Angus Young

cooldad wrote:

I'm quite happy to take up the rear gunner / sweeper position.

Fnarr, fnarr...