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[graham@reading]

I'm wondering how to approach finding new routes on the bike.

I already have a Dell Axim 50v & BT GPS unit as I use Tomtom in the car so I'm considering getting an Otterbox and Memory Map to keep using the same kit on the bike. The necessary bits will cost about a ton though (Box, handlebar mount, Memory Map software) and I'm conscious I've already spent a fair bit on accessories (as is usually the way when you get involved in a new hobby/passtime )

Is GPS actually that useful on a bike? I didn't think Tomtom would be nearly as handy as it has been in the car so I'm willing to give it a shot but I can't help feeling a decent O/S map and compass would do the trick But then I do like my toys

I'm not looking for trails or anything but roads, bridleways, cycle network stuff etc and doing medium distance "exploring" but on established routes (ie 1-3 day trips - funnily enough given my other thread )

I thought it might prompt a useful thread for ideas and suggestions (n a purely selfish way ), so, what does everyone else use?

Edited by graham@reading on Tuesday 22 August 21:19

[ewenm]

O/S maps (1:25000 scale best as they have walls marked. 1:50000 scale OK), compass if you want. Plan your route first, take the maps with you. GPS is a backup (never rely totally on something that is battery powered!).

[saddle bum]

I use a Garmin Etrex "bolted" to the 'bar extension.

Cycling mainly involves planned routes, so the info (in the form of waypoints and routes) can be fed into the GPS unit and away you go.

[orgasmicliving!!]

saddle bum said:

I use a Garmin Etrex "bolted" to the 'bar extension.

Mind posting a pic of your setup? Thanks!

[saddle bum]

orgasmicliving!! said:

saddle bum said:

I use a Garmin Etrex "bolted" to the 'bar extension.

Mind posting a pic of your setup? Thanks!

Ok, I'll take a pickie and post. Its a Garmin handlebar (£25) mount, cut up and adapted to fit on an ITT "Race" extension. Previously, when fitted, offset on the bars, it tended to get in the way of my hands when climbing, it also fouled the Campag cable set up.

[Parrot of Doom]

I've done a few trips around, recording my GPS position. The results aren't nearly as accurate as you might hope for:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tom.jeff

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tom.jeff

[Locoblade]

If you've got a Symbian based mobile phone (Nokia N70 etc) then Viewranger seems to be absolutely ideal. Ive only used the trial version so far but a mate has it for walking and he says its excellent so will be ordering mine in the next week or so. Rather than buy one of the two main packages, for £20 you can use their map selector tool to order the application and around 6,000 square miles of 1:50k Explorer (proper) OS maps of your choice which for me is most of Hants, West Sussex, Surrey and Berkshire with a few other bits too. You can plan routes on the app itself or use Memory Map etc to upload pre-planned routes to it, and it will give you details of the route, total distance, amount of climb/descent etc. You can also use it to record your ride and then upload the trace to Memory Map or even Google Earth, so you can see exactly where you went, and you can take pictures with your phone camera and it will record the exact location etc of where the pic was taken which is a nice touch.

To mount it on the bike Im probably going to use a Krussell phone case and bike mount, like this, although Im not yet convinced it will be an all weather / severe terrain solution!

Parrot of Doom, what GPS unit do you use? Ive plotted my route using Viewranger with my SIRF3 Holux and it seems to be very accurate, you can even see two seperate plots for the outward and inward journeys where Im on either side of the road.

Chris

Edited by Locoblade on Wednesday 23 August 22:25