Navigation for long trips

[P675]

Hi all, I'd like to do something like the NC500 next year. From doing the Wales fun roads put together in a thread in the Roads section, using Google Maps for that isn't great when you can't touch the screen to move to the next way point.

I have the phone in a handlebar bag with plastic over the front, I can just about touch it with my perforated summer gloves, but all weather gloves no chance. Its quite a pain to have to stop, remove glove, press what I need, glove back on and get going again. I've read one suggestion of having a touchscreen stylus on a string for this problem but I'm skeptical of doing that on the move.

I'm thinking it would be better to get a satnav with a resistive screen that I can press through the plastic window, will have the maps on it without needing Internet, and also upload gpx routes to.

Does anyone know if I using a gpx file with let's say the cheapest Garmin Drive 52 satnav, can I start the route at any point or will it insist on taking me to the beginning?

[Dog Star]

If you’re after a bike satnav cheap do a Google on Garmin Zumo 346 and there’s refurbed ones going for £164 which is very cheap. Not the latest model but it’s still a well featured unit. Comes with the necessary gubbins to attach it to your bars etc.

Not sure what “refurbed” actually means - I got one and it was obviously brand new, still all properly sealed inside etc.

[GSA_fattie]

only speak for tom tom just now

though the forth one failed again so i have just bought a garmin (but not used to it yet)

when using planned routes on the tom tom there was a feature - go to start or nearest point

i found creating a - b routes was fine on the tt but circular routes just seemed to be a problem with sections missed out

[snagzie]

Just use google maps?

Use something like this to create a GPX https://www.myrouteapp.com/routelab

Then import the GPX into google maps (via my maps)

Download the offline map in google maps before you go

Thats what I'm doing next year to go to the Pyrenees

[black-k1]

MyRouteApp is the best for planning routes and there routing application is pretty good too.

[Steve_H80]

Whg not just look at a paper map before you set off? There aren't many roads up that part of Scotland, you can comfortably rely on the road signs. The only place a sat nav might be useful is for finding your hotel in Inverness!

[hiccy18]

You don't need satnav for the NC500: outside of urban areas there aren't that many roads in Scotland, especially further north, so navigation is simple. Stick a decent map in your tank bag and have a quick look in the morning before you set off.

[Triaguar]

BeeLine Moto. Serves me well. Fraction of price of full sat nav

[hiccy18]

Steve_H80 said:

Whg not just look at a paper map before you set off? There aren't many roads up that part of Scotland, you can comfortably rely on the road signs. The only place a sat nav might be useful is for finding your hotel in Inverness!

Did it really take me 15 minutes to type two sentences?

[P675]

Steve_H80 said:

Whg not just look at a paper map before you set off? There aren't many roads up that part of Scotland, you can comfortably rely on the road signs. The only place a sat nav might be useful is for finding your hotel in Inverness!

Basically I'm an idiot and if I try to navigate by myself, whatever is my gut feeling is the wrong turn and I get pissed off having to pull over and get my phone out. It was very annoying when I didn't have something to hold the phone and would have to stop each time I was unsure.

[CoreyDog]

hiccy18 said:

You don't need satnav for the NC500: outside of urban areas there aren't that many roads in Scotland, especially further north, so navigation is simple. Stick a decent map in your tank bag and have a quick look in the morning before you set off.

This takes me back!

Heading over Northern Scotland once dropping down towards Skye, fairly early into the trip phone loses signal and I stupidly hadn’t downloaded the map for offline. Just followed my nose for about 3 hours on the same road hoping to get my signal back but popped out at my exact destination! I suspect it would have been harder to get lost than to actually end up where I needed to be.

[hiccy18]

P675 said:

Basically I'm an idiot and if I try to navigate by myself, whatever is my gut feeling is the wrong turn and I get pissed off having to pull over and get my phone out. It was very annoying when I didn't have something to hold the phone and would have to stop each time I was unsure.

NC500 amounts to:

A835 out of Inverness
Turn left onto A832
Turn left at roundabout
Turn left to Applecross
Follow coast to Inverness

If you take a "wrong" turn you get to Inverness earlier

[Bob_Defly]

Steve_H80 said:

Whg not just look at a paper map before you set off? There aren't many roads up that part of Scotland, you can comfortably rely on the road signs. The only place a sat nav might be useful is for finding your hotel in Inverness!

I stuck a couple of post its on my dash for a place in the USA I was riding to that has no phone or GPS signal, it was a bit weird not knowing exactly where you are after relying on google maps for so long.

[Freakuk]

I've been through similar with Google Maps.

I ended up buying Calimoto which allows me to plot routes on my computer which then sync to the phone app. I also download offline maps in the Calimoto app just in case, if you buy the subscription you also get speed camera warnings, but no traffic as of yet unfortunately. Not that you should hit much traffic on the NC500.

Best thing with Calimoto is you can great waypoints and dictate the type of ride you want, i.e. fastest possible to super twisty, so great for getting you to the places you want to have fun.

[black-k1]

While the NC500 is pretty easy to navigate without electronic or even paper support, going anywhere else, even in the UK, without the ability to define specific way points/routes, risks riding the roads that get you there, not the roads that are fun getting there. All too often I used to ride somewhere because I'd heard that it was a great road, only to be disappointed, However, I'd then find my disappointment was because I'd chosen the "boring road" rather than the interesting one without realising it.

I now plan my routes on MyRouteApp, with waypoints that ensure I will ride the actual roads I want to ride, some of which would otherwise be difficult to find. That also works the other way, allowing me to avoid specific roads that I know will not be good, but ones which "get me there" navigation is likely to select.

[Birky_41]

The 'old boy' of our group has always used bike specific Garmin navs - typically the latest version/model

I have always used my phone with a specific phone mount - typically a quadlock and then use Detecht and download google maps offline for the area/country as a backup if I lose reception

My Android phone is waterproof, my bike has USB to charge itn and tbh because of where the phone is on the bars when it does rain the screen deflects most of it unless I stop at traffic lights

I've done 4-5 tours, probably circa 60k+ miles since 2016 when I first went abroad and its never failed yet

[black-k1]

As posted in the bargain crazy thread ...

TomTom Go has a free 12 month subscription (with code gonavpromo) - if you do not have an existing live subscription (or create an account with a different email address)

N.B. Auto-renews at £19.99 at the end of the 12 months if not cancelled. Can cancel immediately.

Do not select free trial - use the code . https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/tomtom-go-navigat...

[anonymous-user]

The bike Garmins/TomToms are the only ones easy to interact with while on the bike and riding for pressing buttons etc, but have the worst capabilities like route planning.

I've got a 7" tablet setup through quadlock, and also use my phone a lot - overall a lot better but when you do need to press buttons it can get interesting. I did buy this material you stick to your glove fingertips that does help, but it does see to wear a bit. If you use an app like MRA route planner, it's all easy - no import/export etc.

If you are going the phone mount option, just factor in some vibration damping options. Fortnine did a good video on this.

I actually got a Garmin Navigator 5 with a bike I bought that will be looking for a new home.

[HairyMaclary]

I do ironbutt rallying so usually use two satnavs. A garmin 346 for my main route and my phone for bonus locations.

I was using Calimoto on the phone as it was good at tracking the route but it's expensive so when the sub ran out I tried Waze. That has better speedcamera info and the search is easier to use than the garmin but not as good as Google.

If I'm out and about I tend to use my phone.

BTW if you get a garmin you'll need to learn how to use basecamp which is an absolute pig.

[SteveKTMer]

HairyMaclary said:

BTW if you get a garmin you'll need to learn how to use basecamp which is an absolute pig.

I've got a Garmin Zumo XT as primary nav and I use MyRouteApp to create routes, I'd not want to go near Basecamp ! . Very easy download using the Garmin drive app.

Also, despite comments above, you can create a route very quickly and easily using just the Zumo. Often when I'm traveling alone I'll create the route over breakfast after I've checked the weather, the Zumo has an easy interface for doing this, you don't get re-useable way points and all that but you can zoom the map and add shaping points. Very effective and very fast.

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-E024D...

In India even the Garmin official India map didn't know about some of the roads, and in the Himalayas there aren't many roads to start with, but Google Maps was perfect, phone on a wireless charging holder with the vibration damper. Apple Maps was also good with roads but had fewer points of interest.