so just wondering what do you use to plan your route and send to your gps (if you are using one) for a trip.  Or even to share with people in the group that using one.

thanks!

I use google maps and write down trip notes (turns/intersections and gas stops).  I've never traveled in a group bigger than one bike.

 I use a Garmin 660 GPS, and use the base camp app. The newest version works great!

I used to use just Google maps, to check the distance and how long it'll take to get there. A couple of months ago I bought Tomtom for iphone and the bought Motionx for iphone. So far I prefer MotionX, it has simple tracking and sharing feature. I always ride alone and I try to share my location with my family so they know where I am. Motionx works well for this.

Garmin Zumo 660 here and Garmin's "Map Source" for route planning and uploading/downloading to/from GPS.

I had one permanently mounted on my last bike for about 6 months.  6 months and it was dead.  As most of my riding was commuting or riding roads I already knew I think I used it once during that time.

Just go where the road takes you man...


lol, just kidding. I use Google Maps. I usually construct my route ahead of time and then memorize it. If it's too complicated I'll write down a few simple notes and put them behind the clear "map holder" on my tank bag.

I am a big fan of no GPS on the bike.  Sometimes I end up finding some surprising routes found only by taking a wrong turn of course ( :

Most recently it was Skaggs Spring Rd from PCH to Dry Creek to highway 101.  The first 24 miles of which was a single lane nasty little road.  The back half of which was a road racers wet dream.
Papaermaps dont need batteries, you can read them in bright sunlight and I never worry about someone stealing my 600.00 map ( :

Quote from: Skybarney on May 07, 2013, 08:59:17 AM
I am a big fan of no GPS on the bike.  Sometimes I end up finding some surprising routes found only by taking a wrong turn of course ( :

Most recently it was Skaggs Spring Rd from PCH to Dry Creek to highway 101.  The first 24 miles of which was a single lane nasty little road.  The back half of which was a road racers wet dream.
Papaermaps dont need batteries, you can read them in bright sunlight and I never worry about someone stealing my 600.00 map ( :

So am I actually.  I was out riding in east county San Diego a few years ago on my old bike (after GPS died and I removed it from my bike) and found myself on this little road winding north toward Palomar Mtn.  The pavement ended but the unpaved road continued so I decided to keep riding, wound up a couple miles later on the back side of the Pala Casino and came out on the 76 so I rode up and did Palomar and then went home.  That was a great day.

I like to review my routes on V-Pike  It gives you road level views where you can even see road surface and driving level views of landmarks around intersections.  It has saved me a couple times in Northern Wisconsin where the map showed an improved road and with V-Pike you could see it was gravel.  Handy.

i look at Google maps before an unfamiliar ride, just to get a sense for it. but i also have an 8 year old Garmin Nuvi mounted on my bike. i set it so that i can see a few miles ahead, but rarely program a trip into it.

I just finished a multi-day road trip using my iPhone with Google Maps mounted with a Ram X. When I got out of cell range the app was still working. Since I already had the phone and the app is free, I just payed out for a mount and power plug from revzila.com

The Ram X mounting ball set to M10 fits the empty mirror hole on the bike.

i use a small map pouch mounted on my triple clamp. It folds in four. On the outside I have turn-by-turn directions, and inside an 8.5x11 map printed out. I also map the routes on google maps and plug them into my phone using the "Galileo" app, which allows you to create and store a map (up to a certain size) locally on the phone itself, so when you don't have data service, you still have map access. I try to memorize as much of the route as possible, and really only use my phone when necessary. I always like to pull it out and review the map a bit when we stop for food or gas or whatnot as well. I've found it's more fun to just try and memorize it, rather than deal with all the hassle of electronic devices.

it's been working for people for decades

Quote from: SDRider on May 07, 2013, 09:21:39 AM
So am I actually.  I was out riding in east county San Diego a few years ago on my old bike (after GPS died and I removed it from my bike) and found myself on this little road winding north toward Palomar Mtn.  The pavement ended but the unpaved road continued so I decided to keep riding, wound up a couple miles later on the back side of the Pala Casino and came out on the 76 so I rode up and did Palomar and then went home.  That was a great day.

I know that road! .. But I got cold feet when it turned to dirt.  There's another
One like that which supposedly connects the west side of temecula to fall brook ...
Also dirt the last time I checked.

I've done the map and written turn-by-turn before, which is awesome until you miss a turn or otherwise get lost.
Sometimes getting lost is OK, sometimes, not so much.

For the cage, or simply get-me-there directions, the native iphone tom-tom or google maps is fine.

I'm a motionX fanboy now for moto routes (I mean tracks). Plan the route in google maps, save, convert to gpx,
and import to motionX. Follow your custom created route which is a challenge for any GPS or program.
You can preload the map tiles so being out of cell range isn't an issue.


edit - oh yeah, ram X mount and iphone in a lifeproof case (haven't traveled with the case yet).