Riding with or without technology

[cyclingovereurope]

Everyday we use technology to do everything. When we are riding in a unknown place, how we find the right road to reach our goal?

I usually study in advance the route, therefore I use my sense of direction, I follow the signs, and sometime I use the map memorized in my smartphone. However often I lose the route and I have to stop to verify if my choice is right.

 

[Slioch]

Paper maps for me. I may be a luddite, but at least the batteries never run out.

 

[Milkfloat]

I make maps for a living, it would be rude of me not to use them. Sometimes I just wander and explore, other times I follow a route.

 

[burntoutbanger]

If going on a long ride I usually study a map first then make a few notes on a piece of paper which goes in my jersey pocket, I'm lucky in that I drive for a living so have a fair knowledge of the local roads.

I do tend to create a route on Strava also and download that to my phone just in case I get really lost.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Gps and road signs while riding.
Google maps and cyclestreets.net for planning.
My favorite is follow a friend

 

[classic33]

Work from an image of the map. Pulling the map out if needed. Having checked the route beforehand, on a map.

 

[Lonestar]

Signs basically plus bus routes if needed.

 

[TheDoctor]

Paper maps if I'm somewhere unfamiliar, or follow my nose / signposts.
It's not got me too seriously lost yet.
Following a waymarked route has taken me up some utterly unnecessary and unwanted hills before now.

 

[I like Skol]

I am a bit old school and still believe that OS mapping and experience are the best way. Technology is ok until it lets you down.

 

[totallyfixed]

Cardmin.

 

[ColinJ]

Digital OS map to plot the route, GPS to follow the route. I now have a backup in the form of a Landranger scale digital OS map of the UK on my phone and could use the phone's GPS to follow a route if I had to. (Referring to the backup could be slightly annoying because I do not have a bar mount for the phone.)

Top: Route as plotted on my laptop at home.

Bottom right: Route on my tablet. I would take the tablet on holidays rather than lugging the laptop.

Bottom left: Backup route on phone. I could plot routes on the phone if I wanted to but it is easier on the bigger screens.

 

[flake99please]

Whilst I take a map & compass with me and have a GPS enabled phone, to this day I have never used either. With the exception of my commutes, my routes are completely ad-hoc in terms of where I go. I enjoy my rides no matter where they take me.

 

[slowmotion]

Paper maps. It can be pain getting them out and unfolding them especially if it's raining or windy. I've started downloading free stuff from sites like MapQuest and printing the bits where I need to change direction onto A5-sized sheets on a monochrome laser printer. I keep the small sheets in a ziplock sandwich bag. I doesn't matter if they get wet because I don't keep them. If I really want to be a bit faster, I look at the route on Google Earth, before I leave, and try and memorise the views in the photographs using the silly little man. I don't mind getting lost anyway. It's quite fun and you can ask strangers the way.

 

[tallliman]

I tend to navigate village to village from a list and then using Google maps if I get lost or am unsure where I'm going.

 

[snorri]

Paper map and looking at signs when touring far from home, with compass to confirm when in doubt.
I'm surprised at the high percentage relying on 'sense of direction'. How does one develop a sense of direction when travelling in unknown territory?