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  Last modified on: Friday, September 23, 2011

 

With 204 GPS tracks & over 1,900 miles of trails available on this site, GeoBiking,

like geocaching, takes you to unknown places easily.

Hundreds of other trails are available on the internet (most for free).

 

  1. It's Interesting!
    • You see a lot of places you can't see from the street!
    • Don't have to worry about being lost!
    • You can easily vary routes to keep things interesting.
  2. Low Impact Fun Exercise
    • You can plan routes that match your fitness level, both length & grade.
    • Since you aren't part of a group ride, you don't have to worry about keeping up or falling behind.
    • More time off city streets helps you to relax
  3. So much easier & better than using paper maps
  4. Commute to work and improve your health while saving resources.

 

Disadvantages of conventional maps for biking:
  • Paper maps are out of date before they are printed
    • Public maps are often years out of date
    • Public maps are very often low quality/detail
    • Many public maps are low resolution scans of paper maps that don't provide enough information to follow a trail.
    • Most printed maps are not waterproof
  •  A pain to use on the trail:
    • You have to stop
    • Get the map out & unfold
    • Figure out where you are on the map
    • Fold, put away
    • Try to keep dry, clean and not torn
  • You must know where you are on the map!
    • This is not always an easy task.
    • It doesn't take a big error to get you lost or miss a turn
    • How do you know if you made the correct turn?
  • Maps are usually not at a scale of detail that you need
    • Maps with enough street level detail to be useful are large.
    • Maps that cover an entire metro area can't guide you at street level
  • Maps always lie!
    • Map features are offset from actual locations to increase readability.
    • A static map can't show actual trail locations
    • Paper maps have a fixed level of detail, a GPS adds detail as you zoom in

  • None of the maps I've seen connect available trails into a network

    • Knowing how to get from one trail to another allows longer, more interesting trips.
    • Trails are often poorly marked and often start and stop with no indication of where the trail continues or where other nearby trails start.


Advantages of using a GPS while biking:

  • Maps are easily and quickly created
    • GPS trails can be released on line within a few days of being mapped.
    • Trails can be easily modified to show extensions, new trail crossings etc
  • Easy to use enroute
    • A GPS can easily be attached to a bicycle handlebar.
    • A quick glance at the screen can usually let you know if you are on the course or if a turn is approaching.
    • Most GPS receivers are waterproof
  • You know where you are on the map!
    • You can easily change the scale of the display zooming in or out to show your position in relation to any map feature of interest.
    • Easily see upcoming turns or that you missed one.
    • GPS recievers can usually place you within 20-50 feet of your location.
    • Depending on the GPS, you can view local street detail or elevation profiles
    • With a GPS, nothing is offset, you see where the trails really are.
    • My trails include connections to other trails.
  • Map Quality is up to you
    • Many software applications available to view or modify maps.
      • Google Earth => FREE!
        • My favorite for viewing trails and for planning new rides
        • Allows you to view the trails using free satellite imagery
        • You can zoom, pan or rotate the image
        • You can even tilt the image and view in 3D
        • Can automatically follow your tracks or visit spots in order
        • Can be used to plan trips and familiarize yourself with area and trails
      • DeLorme Topo USA or Topo North America => $100 (free with GPS purchase)
        • Great mapping and planning tool for use with a GPS
        • Allows you to create a track on the PC & transfer to GPS
        • Create or modify GPS map overlays of your trails
        • View, edit or create new trails to follow on a variety of maps including aerial imagery.
        •  
          Imports/Exports .gpx files
      • National Geographic TOPO! => $50
        • Easy to use mapping application
        • Scanned USGS 7.5 degree "quad" maps.
        • Imports/Exports .gpx files
      • Garmin MapSource => $100 - $130
        • Allows you to put a map on a Garmin GPS
        • Allows you to save, view, print & modify GPS data
        • Interfaces with Google Earth
        • Reads/Writes .gpx files
      • Lowrance MapCreate => $100 - (older Lowrance units only)
        • Allows you to put a map on a Lowrance GPS
        • Allows you to save, print & modify GPS data
      • Magellan MapSend => $100 - $130 - (older Magellan units only)
        • Allows you to put a map on a Magellan GPS
        • Allows you to save, print & modify GPS data
      • GPSbabel => FREE
        • Open Source GPS format conversion tool
        • To or from many possible formats
        • I use this tool all the time to convert KML to GPX and GPX to USR

 

    • National Geographic Adventure Paper
      • Waterproof Inkjet or Laserjet paper for maps
      • Tear resistant, you can use both sides
  • GPS keeps statistics for you.
    • Great for exercising
    • How far, how fast, how long did I peddle?
    • Where exactly did I go?
    • How high am I now, how much elevation have I gained or lost?
    • Some units can also record heart rate & cycling cadence

Pre-programmed mapcards are available for some units.
There are some free programs that can be used to create maps for these units, but you need data to work with and a non-trivial amount of effort to create your own maps!