How to Navigate?

[iAmiAdam]

I list all the towns I'm meant to go through or road names I'm meant to be on, then use road signs to get around, piece of paper in the jersey pocket, I've not had to stop and look where I'm going once. I do have maps on my phone as a backup though.

 

[ColinJ]

I list all the towns I'm meant to go through or road names I'm meant to be on, then use road signs to get around

I don't ride through many towns, and most of the roads I ride on don't have signs either!

 

[summerdays]

Mr Summerdays has SatNav ... but his sense of direction is hopeless ... it takes him quite a few times of doing a route before he knows where he is going. I like the SatNav now because I continually forget to give him instructions in the car because I remember/know where I'm going. And because I have a brain I have the right to override the Sat Nav.

Me - I love, Love, LOVE maps ... so I have a Dell Axim with Memory Map ... so that I can make decisions about where I'm going based on looking at full OS maps. So I usually look at several different maps before setting out and then if I'm cycling a route I will also look at the junctions where I need to turn in Streetview so that when I see that building/tree that I will remember (hopefully). That said I do get lost but usually end up learning more and sometimes finding new routes. The memory map also tracks where I've been.

 

[asterix]

Thanks for the tips Colinj I shall take a look at the posts you indicate.

 

[the snail]

GPS junkies better hope you don't get one of those solar flares on your ride, might be wise to take a map after all

http://www.tgdaily.com/space-features/54167-massive-solar-flare-hits-earth-tonight

 

[Ticktockmy]

A few years ago, I had headed out of the Campsite in Langdale aiming my merry way to Scarfell Pike, when I got to Esk hause, I decided to make a brew. When I was sitting there admiring the view, a young guy arrived looking a tad worried.

When I asked what the problem was “the batteries” in his GPS had died, that’s no problem is say to him put your spare batteries in ; “no spare batteries, no paper map, and no compass” or survival or first aid kit. And he was planning to go to Scarfell. But being a nice old chap I guided him to the Top of Scarfell and lectured him on his errors.

When I cycle or walk I use the gps firstly to log my route, and secondly if in the mountains and it hard to get a fix on the paper map due to cloud, fog etc. I use the GPS.

In Car I find them annoying, as they Yap, yap away trying to get you to turn into one way streets, often sending one the long way round to your finish point.

 

[snailracer]

How about a compass? You can get compasses built into bicycle bells. Or looking at the sun/stars?

 

[Adasta]

Or looking at the sun/stars?

"Oh brave, New World that has such people in't!"

 

[Fab Foodie]

The way to learn to navigate yourself around ...................... is to navigate - using a map at first - it does not take long to learn the basic layout of a city - once you have the basic layout embedded in the brain it becomes easy to make it up as you go along - I have not lived in London for over 25years and apart from a quick look at a map to sort out where a specific location is I am still able to find my way about with the minimum of looking at maps.

(In contrast with many people I know who use GPS and have no idea at all where they are most of the time )

+1.

 

[fossyant]

I'd set about getting lost, and use a map to get back !

I know my way round most of my part of the world, but use my GPS to find all the nice little back roads, oh and for training data.

Best way is to set out, with a rough idea, and use the map if you go wrong.

 

[ColinJ]

Me - I love, Love, LOVE maps ... so I have a Dell Axim with Memory Map ... so that I can make decisions about where I'm going based on looking at full OS maps.

I use Memory Map too. I have the entire UK (Strictly, the UK minus Northern Ireland) as one huge seamless Landranger 1:50,000 scale map. It's fantastic.

(In contrast with many people I know who use GPS and have no idea at all where they are most of the time )

Whereas I have spent hours plotting my routes from OS mapping so I know exactly where I am going, I just use my GPS to make it easier to go there!

When I asked what the problem was “the batteries” in his GPS had died, that’s no problem is say to him put your spare batteries in ; “no spare batteries, no paper map, and no compass” or survival or first aid kit. And he was planning to go to Scarfell. But being a nice old chap I guided him to the Top of Scarfell and lectured him on his errors.

Two reasons why I chose my Garmin Etrex:

1. It takes 2 AA batteries so I could swap them out if I needed to, unlike some GPS units which have internal Li-ion packs which need a long recharge when they run out of juice.
2. I can get over 24 hours use from 1 pair of NiMH batteries so any ride that I am likely to do can be done without changing batteries. If I ever went mad and decided to do a '600', I'd only need to change batteries once.
3. Oh, er, a third reason was that it was relatively cheap! You can get the GPS, a bike mount, the batteries and cables for about £100. UK Memory Map was pretty expensive but I love maps so it was worth it. You can always plot routes on Bikely or one of the other mapping sites and get some free software to upload the files to your GPS.

My Etrex has been totally reliable, but technology can always fail, or be damaged in a crash so If I am riding somewhere that I've never been before, I print out a map just-in-case.

 

[DTD]

A GPS would be perfect for anybody with that problem! As far as I know, all of them can record a 'tracklog' of where you've been. You can go out exploring and when you've had enough, just follow your tracklog home. It's like having a perfect sense of direction!

Watch out for 25% descents on the way out though because you'll have to climb them on the way back, and one-way systems can cause obvious problems because you can't backtrack the one-way bits (not usually a problem out in the countryside).

Didn't know they did that – they might be just the thing for me.

 

[summerdays]

I use Memory Map too. I have the entire UK (Strictly, the UK minus Northern Ireland) as one huge seamless Landranger 1:50,000 scale map. It's fantastic.

Me too but wish they included NI... if ever there was a place where it could be useful ... so many twisty country roads ... luckily I have a full set of NI paper maps (well almost missing a couple I think). By having the digital maps I no longer have to buy a paper map if I'm just visiting somewhere for a day, but I would still if I was staying for longer or somewhere I would go back to.

 

[rockyraccoon]

I use HTC desire (smartphone) and Google maps. I also like to plan my rides in advance. I plot it using Google maps website, save it online and access it via phone using Google Map App and show my location GPS feature. You could also use My Track from Google to record your journey. IMapMyRide app is also very good. All free to use.

The battery is very good however I always take a spare one with me just in case.

 

[joolsybools]

In reply to the OP, have you ordered the cycling maps off the TfL website?