Maps or GPS?

[psmiffy]

When you are buying maps its also a good idea to buy ones printed in the country you are going to - the foreign maps not only have differrent spelling for places but different names to that which you will see on the signposts - add in that there may be more than one "official" name (a bit like Wales -though unlike wales often only one version on the signpost) plus there is also potentially different scripts - which when several nearby places have very similar names can become a little confusing sometimes

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[Andy in Sig]

In my experience the best thing to do is buy maps as you go along (always buy one or two maps ahead so that you don't come to the end of one in the middle of nowhere and not have a replacement). Then, as Rhythm Thief says, post them home once you've done with them. The only other things you need are a waterproof map holder (usually built into a bar bag) and a robust compass. The latter is particularly useful for checking general direction of travel and working out which road to take at complex junctions. 100,000 is the smallest scale I would use. 50,000 has the best amount of detail. Remember that the smaller the scale, the bigger the roads depicted. if you want to get away from traffic you will need the extra detail.

 

[ASC1951]

For me, K.., the whole point of touring is to avoid an obsession with detail. I really couldn't be checking with a satellite at every verse end.

I found a map at 1:300k or 400k perfectly adequate for route planning, then do the detail with signposts, commonsense, a compass for dull days, and interaction with the locals. You soon get a feel for the topography and which roads will suit your route - for instance, any road more than a hundred years old is going to get you over a mountain by a sensible gradient, because its first traffic will have been horse-drawn.

If you do need more control than that, I would go for the Michelin maps. Even at small scale they have a lot of detail once you get used to reading the terrain; and the yellow ones give as much as you could sensibly need.

 

[srw]

They don't have maps on the site between these - it would have been interesting to compare a 1:150,000 or 1:200,000.

The 1:150k and 1:200k I've seen (yellow series) are just the 1:100k maps printed smaller. Which is great for detail, but (I'm told) makes them very difficult to read when on the back of the person in front of you.

 

[hubbike]

Any road map will do. If all you can get is 1:1,000,000 use it. In uk, don't be afraid to head off mapless. Just make a list of the towns and villages you want to travel through and follow the signs which are usually excellent, even on back roads, canal paths, etc. In complex topography, i.e. scotland, cumbria, wales, etc. take OS 1:50,000 and look for landrover tracks that connect between roads.

GPS is for wimps and archivists!

 

[andym]

hubbike

On the subject of maps - have you found any decent maps in Argentina and Chile? I've got a couple of 1:1,000,000 maps of the Camino Austral and the Ruta de los Jesuitos (the brand is Mapas JLM I think) which are OK. Have you found anything better locally?

PS yesterday I was sorting through my papers maps and packing them away into three good-size boxes. I don't think being an archivist is restricted to GPS users.

 

[psmiffy]

I think there is not too much point about getting too hung up about maps in advance if you are travelling any distance in Europe - just have to go into a book shop where you are and buy what you can - The maps I used recently in the baltic states were definetly less than ideal but they were all I could find in Tallin - Similarly in Greece for long periods I used the free maps from petrol stations - less than ideal but work.

Most maps after I have used them for a week are pretty well wrecked - as I said above my principle is to trash them when I have I have finished with them - however I find it very difficult to keep to this all the time. They get tucked down in the base of a pannier and as a consequence I have a filing cabinet drawer full of extremly tatty dirty maps.

 

[hubbike]

hubbike

On the subject of maps - have you found any decent maps in Argentina and Chile? I've got a couple of 1:1,000,000 maps of the Camino Austral and the Ruta de los Jesuitos (the brand is Mapas JLM I think) which are OK. Have you found anything better locally?

I have about 1:1,000,000 maps which generally do ok. Most tourist information places give away free maps of the local area which are usually more detailed and in some cases are pretty decent. The one for the Carreterra Austral is great. Its unlikely you can get these in advance but you don't need to. I have also bought a few excellent topographical maps for trekking. 1:40,000. but this extra detail is not really necessary for cycling...

I love maps. I think they are things of great beauty. I'm going to have several of mine framed and hang them on my walls at home!!! Funnily enough I don't feel the same way towards GPSs....

 

[PpPete]

Michelin Road Atlas of France is at 1:200,000. Perfect for finding back roads. I once used one to drive from Boulougne to St.Nazaire - avoiding all Autoroutes, Route Nationales, or anything resembling any major arterial route, and also avoiding all significant centres of population ....during one of those truckers strikes in the early 90's....
Took nine hours instead of the usual seven - including navigation stops.

Expect they do same scale elsewhere. Buy the ring binder atlas for each country. AA shop do them I think. Rip out the pages you want. Discard remainder. But take a good overview map for strategic planning/re-planning en route.

 

[TheDoctor]

Maps. How else can you play the 'Silliest Place Name' game?

 

[Brains]

GPS AND Maps

I use the GPS to where I am
I use the Map to see where I'm going

I have both mounted on the handlebars are read between them whilst on the move.

 

[aqaleigh]

Hi K

Last year I done Ascot to Portsmouth - ferry to St Malo then through France and over the Pyrenees and ended up in Costa Blanca Spain
I took both maps and gps but even though I had loaded all the latest software, found the GPS to be quite innacurate at times and after the second time it sent me onto a French mototrway (not fun) I resorted to maps only - I never missed the GPS and never got lost
A good tip though is to mark on the map yourself any points that could be helpful - i.e campsites - bike shops etc - mainly just in the remote parts
I only had a 2 litre water supply and found myself running out constantly, with no where to fill up except knocking on peoples doors

1 TO 400,000 SCALE MAP WILL BE FINE IN MY OPINION

Anyway hope its of some use and have a great time

cheers

leigh

 

[aqaleigh]

GPS AND Maps

I use the GPS to where I am
I use the Map to see where I'm going

I have both mounted on the handlebars are read between them whilst on the move.

GOOD CALL

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Michelin Road Atlas of France is at 1:200,000. Perfect for finding back roads. I once used one to drive from Boulougne to St.Nazaire - avoiding all Autoroutes, Route Nationales, or anything resembling any major arterial route, and also avoiding all significant centres of population ....during one of those truckers strikes in the early 90's....
Took nine hours instead of the usual seven - including navigation stops.

Expect they do same scale elsewhere. Buy the ring binder atlas for each country. AA shop do them I think. Rip out the pages you want. Discard remainder. But take a good overview map for strategic planning/re-planning en route.

+1 ...I also have a gps for town navigation mostly

 

[scraynes]

For those of you toying with the idea of a GPS. I'd been trying to get a Garmin Oregon 300 for the last few weeks, but most of the cheaper sources have ben out of stock. I now see why, they replaced it with the 450 which has a couple of improvements:

Better screen for use in direct sunlight
More Waypoint - 1000 up from 500
and tilt comp. compass

Will give a couple of weeks before I order mine - just to see what reviews show up on the Internet. Release date is tomorrow (Sunday) 14 Feb, acording to the 'big river' site.