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Navigation Advice Sought :)

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  • January 8, 2013 at 11:47 pm #17617
    02curtisb

    Hi Everyone,

    Just looking for some advice and tips on navigating. I’ve only been cycling for a year now but am finding when i go on longer routes (therefore in unknown areas) i keep having to stop and look at a map/end up on a motorway!

    Just wondered how others follow a route, find a route or make up a route as they go!

    At present ive tried taking a map but memorising key roads/features; making concise notes and a)sticking to top tube b)writing up my arm!

    Am considering a top tube case with a clear panel for my phone?

    PS I’de love a Garmin 800 (or now 810) but that just ain’t gonna happen! So “old school” tips appreciated 🙂

    Thanks All

    Ben

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  • January 16, 2013 at 6:24 pm #711041
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    CraigS

    02curtisb wrote:I have a

    02curtisb wrote:
    I have a garmin forerunner watch as far as im aware has similar GPS Functionality to the cheaper edge product…ie not turn by turn.

    Do any of you have experiance using these type of devices for navigation?

    I use the Edge 500 and I can add a course which is basically a squiggly black line and a marker to show where you are on that line.

    It’s pretty easy to relate the shape of the line to the road you’re on and figure out where you need to turn etc. and if you miss a turn it beeps at you to let you know.

    Apps are great but the battery life on smartphones is just too poor to use GPS for 4+ hour rides.

    January 16, 2013 at 10:10 am #711039
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    Tour Le Tour

    I start up the appropriate ap
    I start up the appropriate ap (and personally I prefer Sports Tracker, it is free, easy to use and well integrated with google maps, but I am sure there are a dozen aps that would do the job) stick my smartphone in my pocket (and you can get them pretty cheap these days, just make sure it has GPS), and go out and ride.

    Usually I figure out how to get home on my own, sometimes I pull out the phone and look at the map. Either way after the ride I have a look at the route I rode and figure out where the good bits were, so I can head back there in the future.

    January 14, 2013 at 6:45 pm #711037
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    robert.brady

    I find Google Street View
    I find Google Street View invaluable. Plot a route on any of the suggested sites above and then use Street View to pick out landmarks for particular turnings you don’t want to miss – turn left at the Red Lion pub, look for a house with a wooden garage door for example. Often I find I can recall images better than words.

    January 14, 2013 at 4:15 pm #711035
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    Bobbys boys

    I use bikemap.net
    Nice
    I use bikemap.net

    Nice facility to keep a training log too.

    January 10, 2013 at 3:27 pm #711033
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    Sadly Biggins

    Like the posters above, I
    Like the posters above, I look at the map and/or look on bikehike.co.uk and then memorise the key features/road names/villages as much as possible. Having said that, many of my best routes have come about through wondering “where does this go?” or “where am I?” and blundering on.

    January 10, 2013 at 3:25 pm #711031
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    Bob's Bikes

    how about…. (on dry rides)
    how about…. (on dry rides) use a pile of post-it notes (available free from most admin sections of your place of employment) work your route out then write each turn down on your post-its place them on bars then after each turn take off and put in pocket (don’t litter) thats extremely old school! 😀

    January 10, 2013 at 6:55 am #711029
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    Squiggle

    I’d second joining a club and
    I’d second joining a club and going out with local riders. Although I’ve found some amazing roads just by going out and getting lost.

    January 9, 2013 at 6:11 pm #711027
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    Gkam84

    Because you have a forerunner
    Because you have a forerunner watch. You should get Garmin’s Fit app, if it will work on your phone. Iphone and Android I think.

    That will give you maps and all should pair with your watch to give you all the info at your fingertips.

    January 9, 2013 at 5:02 pm #711025
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    notfastenough

    The other one is to get a
    The other one is to get a little compass and mount to the stem. If you know the rough layout of the area, i.e. you’re going to do about 20 miles south-east then back again, and you have a good look at the map, noting down significant roads/villages etc on the top tube, you’ll be ok. Even if you go off course, you’ll know if you’ve been heading south for the last half hour. Do this in slightly different directions a few times and you’ll end up at junctions saying “oh – THIS is where that one comes out!” If you’ve got a computer (even a cheap one) you’ll also know how far you’ve gone since you went off course.

    If you’re regularly in the same area, joining a club is a great idea as suggested by andybnk. If you find they’re a bunch of cliquey snobs that won’t wait for you if you get dropped or puncture, no worries, just move to another one, most are decent.

    January 9, 2013 at 3:20 pm #711023
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    02curtisb

    Hi Guys, Thanks for the
    Hi Guys, Thanks for the advice. Definately all sound tips.

    Seems to me like the best thing is when going manual:

    Set a nice clear route, with village names, roads etc. Main thing is being organised!

    or…

    GO electronic!

    I have a garmin forerunner watch as far as im aware has similar GPS Functionality to the cheaper edge product…ie not turn by turn.

    Do any of you have experiance using these type of devices for navigation?

    Also, Brian, im already on Strava (Just recently) and am getting to my lectures on time now thanks to the added competition!

    Cheers

    January 9, 2013 at 3:14 pm #711021
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    Anonymous

    I do the same as you Ben.
    I do the same as you Ben. Print off parts of route I don’t know from Google maps. Got lost loads of times and love the feeling of adventure during the ‘oh crud where am I stage’ then the feeling of relief when you find your way again. You can get a map holder for your handlebars too.

    January 9, 2013 at 3:09 pm #711019
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    andybnk

    I have moved to new areas a
    I have moved to new areas a couple of times over the last few years, the most helpful thing was actually joining a local club both times, as riders there will usually know good local routes for all sorts of distances and can advise on directions. The other way is to look at a map before you set off and make a mental note of the towns/villages you want to head through and keep an eye open for road signs, after a couple of hours maybe stop and check a map on how to get back! Would love a Garmin 800 myself too but have a long list of other stuff to buy first!

    January 9, 2013 at 2:52 pm #711017
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    Marauder

    Like Gkam says you could use
    Like Gkam says you could use a smartphone app (or buy a Garmin Edge 200 for £120).

    Even if you dont have a smartphone/Garmin device you could sign up with Strava and find some segments to add to your ride. Segments are basically roads which may be challenging and if you have a smartphone/Garmin device then you can upload your stats for the segments and see how you are doing over time and compared to other riders.

    January 9, 2013 at 1:19 am #711015
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    formereve

    All good suggestions from
    All good suggestions from Keith 🙂 I use http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com

    At the top of site is a link called course creator. Click on that and you can start plotting from wherever you want. Once you start plotting to the right of the screen you’ll see various options including climbing speed (if ya know it) and a useful option called auto routing which will make the route youre plotting follow the road whilst yer on the map tab.

    Above the map itself youll also see other tabs named courses map summary and cue sheet. Youll find that on the summary tab once you start making a route it will give you your height elevation and other details in the course details frame.

    I love using this mapping tool. I use it all the time. Another useful feature once youve made the route is that if you ever do get a garmin you can make a route and then download it onto a garmin or other gps unit that accepts the different file types it saves in.

    Have a play and enjoy

    January 9, 2013 at 12:19 am #711013
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    Gkam84

    Simplest form is to plot out
    Simplest form is to plot out a ride on google maps or similar, I believe there is one called Map My Ride?

    You can either print it or write down the turns and stick them inside one of those A4 polypocket things and strap it to somewhere on your bike?

    Do you have a smart phone? There are a few biking app’s where you could map out your route, then just put it into your phone as a GPX or other file format, then it will act as a sat nav for your bike, while recording speed and distance….etc.

    Hope that helps, others will come along with more idea’s I’m sure :B

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