Navigating

[Thelma]

Unsurprisingly, some scribbled directions in on a scrap of paper, tucked in a bag, weren't all that helpful. Google Maps is severely limited when it comes to route planning (I can't cut through the park). I'm nowhere near ready to venture into the land of satnav either. Any suggestions so I don't get lost on unfamiliar territory?

 

[david1701]

I spent today using google maps to tell where I was, osm browser to see the cycle routes and off road bits and having an idea from looking at a map this morning, I think I only did 6 miles I didn't need to

you can make the map on bikehike.co.uk then save it as a gpx and get to it on a phone or gps device or just take a screenshot and print it

 

[pshore]

Unsurprisingly, some scribbled directions in on a scrap of paper, tucked in a bag, weren't all that helpful. Google Maps is severely limited when it comes to route planning (I can't cut through the park). I'm nowhere near ready to venture into the land of satnav either. Any suggestions so I don't get lost on unfamiliar territory?

If its a problem of route planning software, have you tried Cycle Streets or Open Route Service ?

In more rural areas, you can quite accurately navigate with some notes and a simple cycle computer - eg turn left towards <place> after 800m. It takes a fair amount of preparation though.

 

[ashleygreen14]

What about bikehike.co.uk? Use it all the time for both before and after road and mtb rides. Good ascent/descent stats, and great linking into Google Maps for aerial and simple mapping, too.

 

[Globalti]

There are these wonderful things called maps; Britain has the best maps in the world. They don't need batteries, instructions or good satellite reception and they fit snugly in a jersey pocket: http://leisure.ordnancesurvey.co.uk...itain-os-explorer-active-map?_s_icmp=t46Ph56C

 

[david1701]

but I need 3 for my normal pootle rides

 

[pshore]

but I need 3 for my normal pootle rides

If that's because you are on the corner of one of the maps you could order one centred around your house.

If you ride on the road, get a road map with a different scale. There are a few foldable ones about.

My fave way when not GPSing is just print the map from software, fold it up and ride with it in your pocket. OpenStreetMap is quite good for that. There are commercial products like memory map if you can't tear yourself away from OS maps.

 

[HLaB]

Unsurprisingly, some scribbled directions in on a scrap of paper, tucked in a bag, weren't all that helpful. Google Maps is severely limited when it comes to route planning (I can't cut through the park). I'm nowhere near ready to venture into the land of satnav either. Any suggestions so I don't get lost on unfamiliar territory?

try www.cyclestreets.net

Edit changed to a link

 

[david1701]

If that's because you are on the corner of one of the maps you could order one centred around your house.

If you ride on the road, get a road map with a different scale. There are a few foldable ones about.

My fave way when not GPSing is just print the map from software, fold it up and ride with it in your pocket. OpenStreetMap is quite good for that. There are commercial products like memory map if you can't tear yourself away from OS maps.

thats quite a good shout

 

[Fab Foodie]

There are these wonderful things called maps; Britain has the best maps in the world. They don't need batteries, instructions or good satellite reception and they fit snugly in a jersey pocket: http://leisure.ordna...s_icmp=t46Ph56C

An alternative is to buy cheap detailed road atlasses and copy or rip-out the page you need, they're often available cheap somewhere and can be quite useful for long days out on the road.

 

[zacklaws]

Or go onto the following website and print out your OS map for the area that you are going to cycle in:-

http://www.maptasm.com/

 

[oldroadman]

When I first started, about 1,000 years ago, we would take a map and just potter about through the lanes, getting lost (often), which was quite good fun, then take a fix on said old road map, covered in sweat from a back pocket, and work out roughly where to head for. Always got home but often with a few extra kms. For more accurate direction, a list of towns/villages to pass through taped to the stem. Then, the benefits of living in London, and knowing the quick ways out always helped! Within a couple of years there was nowhere we couldn't find within about 90km with a map only as backup. Enjoy getting lost!

 

[Adasta]

Unsurprisingly, some scribbled directions in on a scrap of paper, tucked in a bag, weren't all that helpful. Google Maps is severely limited when it comes to route planning (I can't cut through the park). I'm nowhere near ready to venture into the land of satnav either. Any suggestions so I don't get lost on unfamiliar territory?

Don't forget about the forum search function - it's a useful tool.

Here's a thread I started which garnered a lot of excellent information.

 

[Zoof]

An alternative is to buy cheap detailed road atlasses and copy or rip-out the page you need, they're often available cheap somewhere and can be quite useful for long days out on the road.

For the ultimate map why not get a tattoo.

Water proof & wind proof, and never get lost.

Small ones on wrist, big one on chest; as long as you do not move house, you will be fine.

Zoof

 

[snorri]

Any suggestions so I don't get lost on unfamiliar territory?

A compass that hooks on a belt loop can be handy for assisting when used with a map.

One like this perhaps....

http://www.navanti.co.uk/detail_SLCOMP001A-Silva-Field-7-Compass.html