How do you navigate.

[mgs315]

Wing it mostly. Road signs, follow buses/read bus stops, pay attention to the direction of shadows and time of day, that kinda thing. I get my phone out when time is of the essence but it’s great fun suddenly cycling from somewhere you don’t recognise into somewhere you do. Good for working out alternative routes to the main drag.

 

[pawl]

Follow my nose 90% of the time. Garmin Etrex backed up with a good old fashioned map if I'm in an unknown area.

My nose has a bend in it.Could this be the reason I keep riding round in circles.Perhaps I should find a velodrome to ride on

 

[HLaB]

Depends what time constraints are or familiarity. If I am wanting to get somewhere fast I'll put the route in my garmin and follow. Similarly if its in a brand new area I'll follow the garmin (I may take a paper map too). But if I'm not time constrained and its an area I'm familiar with I tend to follow my nose.

 

[GuyBoden]

What do you use to navigate while on the bike?
Cannot edit the nosw one.
Local club rides i know all the routes so no problem, Have a few 100 milers in my head, but am planning new routes, so am using gps for them.

You've not listed paper maps, the most commonly used navigation aid.

 

[bigjim]

Take a paper map but use Osmand on smartphone in or near towns to take me out the other side. Google maps won't work offline using cycle routes. Osmand is great for turn by turn directions, but it does use a lot of battery. I used to use an old Garmin Legend which works fine, but I struggle to see the screen on the move. I've noticed a lot of road signs seem to be disappearing lately which is I suppose due to Authority's assuming everybody is using satnav.

 

[Gixxerman]

If it is a local route then I generally know the roads well enough to just wing it, and extend / shorten the route depending on weather, inclanation and energy.
If I am planning a longer route on unknown roads, I plan the route using bikehike / OS maps and make a route card using my own version of shorthand, and write it down on a scrap of paper. I then either stick it in my pocket or attach it in a plastic wallet to my stem using a bulldog clip. I used the latter method for my C2C and it worked like a charm.

 

[the stupid one]

Online maps and Streetview to plan a route, a small piece of card with a list of roads/junctions/turnings in my pocket.

I live on the coast in Wirral, so I'm familiar-ish with most places as far as Chester, and beyond that isn't yet within my capabilities. A few wrong turnings won't get me into too much trouble.

 

[JhnBssll]

To date I've relied on local knowledge and a good sense of direction Back in November I caved and ordered a Hammerhead Karoo on pre-order. The first units are now out in the wild (and getting a mixed reception due to software bugs and glitches!) but mine isn't likely to arrive for another month or so. It's a new device and I'm confident it will be great once the software matures

Hopefully

 

[steveindenmark]

I use Garmin, Wahoo, phone and paper maps. The Wahoo is a game changer though. So simple to use either by plotting on the PC at home or out in the field on the phone using Komoot.

 

[GilesM]

If I'm on unfamiliar roads, I use OS maps downloaded on my Android phone, works really well, paper maps have lots of advantages, but a phone you can hold in one hand is much easier to look at while you're riding along, especially if its windy.

 

[gom]

Paper maps (OS 1:50K) for me, on the handlebars all the time. That way I can see what I’m near and plan the next 5, 10, 20 miles any time I choose. Always loved following my way on a map.
Use a Garmin for recording the route and it or phone if I fear I’m lost, but if I could only take one, it would be the map. Just like old times, though I fear my map reading skill has faded through lake of practice in this gps era.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Paper maps.

 

[confusedcyclist]

I find it helps by not caring about where you go, or how or when you get there. Haven't been late yet. A man is only truly happy when firmly rooted in place. And yet I still appreciate the gentle irony of using a cycle as a form of transportation.

 

[jefmcg]

You've not listed paper maps, the most commonly used navigation aid.

Is it? Still? I personally discarded my last street Atlas when it got wet a decade ago and did not replace it, and haven't even printed out a google maps page for 4 or 5 years.

This is not a criticism of maps, just a question of whether they are the commonest anymore.

 

[Milkfloat]

You've not listed paper maps, the most commonly used navigation aid.

Unfortunately this is not true, at least not in the developed world. I make maps for a living and sometimes rue the loss of paper maps, whilst being wowed by the latest digital maps.