Preferred way to navigate?

[classic33]

Well pardon me for not having perfect eyesight like you

Edit: and my colour namer app says they're "warm purple" not pink. I'll go check the paper version now.

ETA: the 1991 and 1993 paper maps I have identify them as a purple and the same shade as the road under construction. The cover is identified as "strong pink".

OS refer to them as pink.

 

[mjr]

If having to lose one or other to a thief, I know which would be relatively cheap and easy to replace.

I agree: maps are now nearly £10 a sheet and shops for them are very rare, while there's several phone shops on most high streets

 

[mjr]

OS refer to them as pink.

OS also refer to routes which don't always exist. They can call the colour whatever they like and it still doesn't change reality. Sorry for being a bit short about this - I have enough trouble identifying colours without the likes of OS calling purple "pink"!

 

[old soup]

Thanks for all the insights and recommendations, ill probably have a combination of paper maps and using a smart phone to help navigate. But I was hoping more to find a reliable system that doesn't cost much to download, etc for the android. I'll try OSMand out.

 

[psmiffy]

And while we are on the subject of maps - top touring tip - if you are buying maps as you go along always buy the one you need next before you get there - invariably if you wait till you get there - the shops where you are will have sold out of the ones for where you are

 

[bigjim]

Road under construction, why would you be riding on a road under construction?

Ridden/walked/humped my way through a few closed/under construction roads. You are on a bike. Not many places you can't go IMO.

 

[psmiffy]

Ridden/walked/humped my way through a few closed/under construction roads. You are on a bike. Not many places you can't go IMO.

ditto - but replacement bridges tends to be a bit to be a bit tricky

 

[bigjim]

ditto - but replacement bridges tends to be a bit to be a bit tricky

Did I not mention the rope?

 

[MarkF]

All paper for me, I buy them used from Ebay if I can. Spreading out a big map in front of me, opening a cold beer and letting my imagination run riot is a big part of tourings enjoyment for me.

 

[growingvegetables]

^^^ This.

And having followed sound advice above, and bought the map for the next section of your ride as well ...... open a second cold beer.

 

[MarkF]

^^^ This.

And having followed sound advice above, and bought the map for the next section of your ride as well ...... open a second cold beer.

They can be heavy if you have 5 or 6 on you, which I do, but wow, the pleasure they give. I get the same maps out at home when I am bored and re-ride the trips sat in the garden, with more beer!

 

[Blue Hills]

All paper for me, I buy them used from Ebay if I can..

a yorkshireman

Bit hit and miss of course but I can recommend the Oxfam shop in Skipton (anywhere your way?) if you are looking for decently priced secondhand maps. Also it's one of the best charity bookshops I know.

 

[jay clock]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pcability.biketracker&hl=en_GB is the app I referred to

My top tip for France (and a lesser extent other places) is buy a secondhand atlas like this for pennies and cut out the relatively small number of pages needed http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Good-MOT-...461809?hash=item58f240e731:g:qYsAAOSwopRYhyI5 a few years old is fine

 

[mjr]

They can be heavy if you have 5 or 6 on you, which I do, but wow, the pleasure they give. I get the same maps out at home when I am bored and re-ride the trips sat in the garden, with more beer!

So paper maps are preferred by people who sit about dreaming about riding more than actually riding?

 

[psmiffy]

So paper maps are preferred by people who sit about dreaming about riding more than actually riding?

As opposed to people who are too busy to ride anywhere because they are planning metre by metre, junction by junction rides on google streetview and compiling gpx tracks to be used in the "next" tour

I see your and raise you