Hand held compass

[roundisland]

Does anyone take a hand held Compass when touring in France? I have a gps but that could let me down. I have never used a compass before but I've been wondering about there usefulness in cycle touring.

thanks

 

[Ticktockmy]

A simple one will give you a idea of what direction North is, which can be handy at times, but a compass is best used with a topographical map more so if you are off road on some of the tracks you find in parts of France it would allow you to do a resection to pin point your location, hope that helpd

 

[ufkacbln]

Beware of compasses and bikes.

The frame can affect the compass

 

[psmiffy]

I have carried a compass for all of my touring life - first my good silva work compass and latterly an electronic one in my Suunto watch.

However, whilst I am very profficient in the use of a compass - I was taught at an early age to use one by my father who was a professional navigator and I often use one at work - I have never used one for navigation while on the bike. If I am hill walking the use of a compass - even if I have a GPS - is a given. The compass does come into its own in the evening when I am setting up my tent - so that -hopefully- I will get some early morning sun.

I think because I carry my map on a holder on the handlebars in front of me in sight all the time it enables me to have a good mental picture of where I am and are going - tend to be comparing the map all the time with features I can see on the map and the ground - other roads, rivers, the coast, railways etc - plus I am always subconsiously monitoring where the sun is (if I am so lucky) and the wind direction.

Much as I hate to agree with Cunobelin - I did experiment with a little bell with a compass (a gift) on the handle bars but after a while it soon became apparent that it could be as much as 45° difference from the true - my own mental view of which way up the world was was generally more accurate.

Nonetheless, if you think using a compass would help you then by all means take one - just be wary about how you use it

 

[paulrw]

I have carried a compass for all of my touring life - first my good silva work compass and latterly an electronic one in my Suunto watch.

However, whilst I am very profficient in the use of a compass - I was taught at an early age to use one by my father who was a professional navigator and I often use one at work - I have never used one for navigation while on the bike. If I am hill walking the use of a compass - even if I have a GPS - is a given. The compass does come into its own in the evening when I am setting up my tent - so that -hopefully- I will get some early morning sun.

I think because I carry my map on a holder on the handlebars in front of me in sight all the time it enables me to have a good mental picture of where I am and are going - tend to be comparing the map all the time with features I can see on the map and the ground - other roads, rivers, the coast, railways etc - plus I am always subconsiously monitoring where the sun is (if I am so lucky) and the wind direction.

Much as I hate to agree with Cunobelin - I did experiment with a little bell with a compass (a gift) on the handle bars but after a while it soon became apparent that it could be as much as 45° difference from the true - my own mental view of which way up the world was was generally more accurate.

Nonetheless, if you think using a compass would help you then by all means take one - just be wary about how you use it

 

[paulrw]

Always take one and have found it useful. Just a bit of added piece of mind when "lost" rurally in France. Also handy in towns when trying to get out ! Not always right though,can leadto wrong type of road etc.

 

[Danny]

A simple one will give you a idea of what direction North is, which can be handy at times, but a compass is best used with a topographical map more so if you are off road on some of the tracks you find in parts of France it would allow you to do a resection to pin point your location, hope that helped

+1

Occasionally when I've missed a turning and gone off in the wrong direction I would have found it useful to have a compass to get myself orientated. However this happens so rarely that I never think to pack one.

 

[Anthony]

I always carry a compass with me on tour. I find it useful for finding the direction to go through towns when my map doesn't have enough detail.

 

[roundisland]

Great information given by all posters thanks.

As said above I think a compass could be useful in towns if I have lost my sense of direction and in rural places.

 

[Brains]

For an outlay of about 3 quid get a 'compass bell' I have one on my tourer - useful to tell you where north is, not much use for anything else.

 

[Bodhbh]

I have one in the side pocket of my barbag, so it's easy to whip out, on the move if needed. It's for a quick sanity checks. It does want to be read a good foot or 2 above the handlebars although to avoid whatever metal is kicking around affecting the reading.

 

[snowy10]

I always carry a compass with me on tour. I find it useful for finding the direction to go through towns when my map doesn't have enough detail.

I agree!

 

[byegad]

I seem to have an inbuilt compass. When navigating unfamiliar territory it proves useful to know which way is North even if you don't have a map.

 

[snorri]

I always take a compass on tour, and have it hanging from a belt loop on my trousers this keeps it handy for getting back to the tent from the pub at night as well as for the odd check during the day.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I always take one and the relevant map with me when on the bike in case I get the urge to try a new route while out.

It's useful to remember to stand at least 6 feet away from the bike while using the compass as metal frames can effect the needle.