Looking for an iPhone app with GPS for touring

[KONUS06]

Hi,

I´m from Spain and I´m using gmaps and Garmin Montana 600 for touring but I recently found a new app for my Iphone in AppStore. Tracklander, it looks pretty useful (offline maps and pictures in crossings)....

I would like to get a feedback because they are selling routes and I´m not sure that it´s working...Anybody knows something similar?


Thanks!

 

[Cycleops]

The problem you are going to have with an iPhone or similar while touring is keeping it charged.

 

[ufkacbln]

+1

The battery life of an Iphone running a GPS App is about 4 hours maximum with everything else closed down

Why not load the OSM Maps for Spain onto the Garmin?

 

[oxford_guy]

The problem you are going to have with an iPhone or similar while touring is keeping it charged.

That's why I use a Schmidt SON dynamo hub, which goes into a Biologic ReeCharge 5V USB converter, which chargess up the Reecharge lithium battery pack - I then use the USB power output from this to charge my iPhone, which I have in Lifeproof Case and Bike mount (it's better and less bulky than the Biologic one).

NB: you can find the above things much cheaper if you shop around!

Even with GPS on, this system can keep my iPhone at 100% charge all day when cycling :-)

As for navigation software, I use the excellent ViewRanger software (which has Ordnance Survery maps for GB and equivalents for many other countires)

 

[RhythMick]

View Ranger is excellent. Use an external battery if you need more than a few hours.

 

[Cycleops]

That's why I use a Schmidt SON dynamo hub, which goes into a Biologic ReeCharge 5V USB converter, which chargess up the Reecharge lithium battery pack - I then use the USB power output from this to charge my iPhone, which I have in Lifeproof Case and Bike mount (it's better and less bulky than the Biologic one).

Phew! And how much does all that weigh!

 

[oxford_guy]

Phew! And how much does all that weigh!

The only thing with any significant weight is the dynamo hub. I use my tourer as my commuting bike too, so having dynamo powered lights is a godsend and the original reason I got the hub. The fact that I can also use it to charge my iPhone (or any USB powered product) is a bonus

 

[BigonaBianchi]

...I agree battery life is the reason I would never rely on a phone app for touring navigation.

 

[oxford_guy]

...I agree battery life is the reason I would never rely on a phone app for touring navigation.

BTW I usually carry paper maps too when touring, for emergencies and/or to get a better overview when planning the next leg, but find using dynamo hub + iPhone + Viewranger much more useful when on the bike. Even without a dynamo hub, a decent external battery would help.

You can also save some power by only having the screen on when you need to check position, but with a dynamo hub you can have the screen on at full brightness with GPS on and still stay at or near 100% charge all day :-)

 

[jags]

have you a photo of your set upplease.

 

[RhythMick]

...I agree battery life is the reason I would never rely on a phone app for touring navigation.

Without external power I agree. But I cycled the TransPennine Trail 215 miles through some horrible rain using the following ;

GALAXY S3
ViewRanger software with cached maps (no data needed)
Ultimate Addons Waterproof Case and Bar Mount
Trent 11000 mAh external battery

4 days without using a power socket. No problems. I have wifi/data/bluetooth all off and I cache the maps. All works no problem, though I did carry a spare battery in case, I didn't get close to needing it.

 

[RhythMick]

BTW I usually carry paper maps too when touring, for emergencies and/or to get a better overview when planning the next leg, but find using dynamo hub + iPhone + Viewranger much more useful when on the bike. Even without a dynamo hub, a decent external battery would help.

You can also save some power by only having the screen on when you need to check position, but with a dynamo hub you can have the screen on at full brightness with GPS on and still stay at or near 100% charge all day :-)

I'm curious about dynamo hubs. The word dynamo brings back horrible memories from my childhood of little whirry thing rubbing against the tyre and making life hard. Assume they have improved dramatically, but it must still add a fair bit of work right?

 

[oxford_guy]

I'm curious about dynamo hubs. The word dynamo brings back horrible memories from my childhood of little whirry thing rubbing against the tyre and making life hard. Assume they have improved dramatically, but it must still add a fair bit of work right?

Side-wall dynamos are horrible things, a Schmidt Hub dynamo is a completely different and wonderful beast, it disengages automatically almost completely when power is not being drawn, and even when in use, I personally can't tell the difference in drag, and bear in mind my commute involves riding up a long steep hill everyday on the way home!

 

[vernon]

I'm curious about dynamo hubs. The word dynamo brings back horrible memories from my childhood of little whirry thing rubbing against the tyre and making life hard. Assume they have improved dramatically, but it must still add a fair bit of work right?

Hub dynamos add the burden of a five feet per mile incline's worth of resistance. Not really noticeable.

 

[oxford_guy]

Hub dynamos add the burden of a five feet per mile incline's worth of resistance. Not really noticeable.

Agreed, as I said, I really can't notice the difference at all with my Schmidt Son dynamo hub. I use it with "piggy back" socket adaptors, so that I can leave both my dynamo lights and Biologic USB converter plugged in all the time