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Post by jondxxx on Jun 26, 2014 18:12:14 GMT
Call me old fashioned but all this technology seem a bit OTT. With a little practice a quick glance at an Ordnance Survey map will tell you all you need to know.
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 26, 2014 19:33:48 GMT
Perhaps he's just searching for a better GPS option?
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 26, 2014 19:45:52 GMT
Call me old fashioned but all this technology seem a bit OTT. With a little practice a quick glance at an Ordnance Survey map will tell you all you need to know. Yes and no - freeriding is cool as flook! ...but whilst you can limit yourself with some technologies, with creativity, you can also open up all sorts of opportunities if you use the tool correctly. With a pre-plotted route and a little nous, you can suss the whole thing in your head before you go out ... I do this on occasions, I know where I'll struggle on any ride and where I can whizz along, just by looking at a profile these days; it's not for everyone and a bit geeky I know but it's how the successful pros work and whilst this isn't necessary for leisure cycling, it can help masssively. I'm going to wind up one of our longer termers now (in a nice friendly way) - seeing Rocket out in new terrain last week was great ... but similarly, seeing he's liked your post makes me chuckle; our 'wearing a groove' man, the one who rides the same route several thousand times to judge his stat's and progress but also doesn't fully understand gradients and gearing issues, could also apply himself to understanding all this techy stuff a little better and then the world is his Oyster !
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Post by acd1055 on Jun 26, 2014 19:57:55 GMT
Call me old fashioned but all this technology seem a bit OTT. With a little practice a quick glance at an Ordnance Survey map will tell you all you need to know. That plus if your only going in a 30 mile loop from your house how can you get lost? Do you really need to plot and follow a route
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2014 20:35:11 GMT
Hey thanks for all the replies.
Looks like I will give the Strava jobber a go.
Getting lost wasn't the issue I just wanted to plan a route so it would take me pretty much 30 miles. For me 30 miles is like climbing everest so I want to plan it just right. Plenty of bus stops and railway station may come in handy too!
Regards
Mark.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2014 21:09:56 GMT
Hey thanks for all the replies. Looks like I will give the Strava jobber a go. Getting lost wasn't the issue I just wanted to plan a route so it would take me pretty much 30 miles. For me 30 miles is like climbing everest so I want to plan it just right. Plenty of bus stops and railway station may come in handy too! Regards Mark. I think im in pretty much the same boat as you. I hadnt ridden a bike for over 13years. I bought my bike 4weeks ago and have my first 30+mile ride planned for Sunday. I have used strava to plan my routes so far which has really helped as I dont know the area where I live at all. Although the 30mark seems daunting at first im sure you will achieve it without much problem then be aiming for the 50+ rides. Keep us posted with how you get on.
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Post by captslog on Jun 27, 2014 10:05:40 GMT
Hey thanks for all the replies. Looks like I will give the Strava jobber a go. Getting lost wasn't the issue I just wanted to plan a route so it would take me pretty much 30 miles. For me 30 miles is like climbing everest so I want to plan it just right. Plenty of bus stops and railway station may come in handy too! Regards Mark. i remember doing my first 30 mile too, but I didn't plan it. As I said earlier, I just rode out for 15 miles and then came back the same way (almost). As luck would have it, there was a nice cafe at around 15 miles. When i got back I found it was 36 miles. It feels very vulnerable the first couple of times, but don't worry too much and don't over-think it. As long as you have the right kit and feel comfortable on the bike it will be a doddle, and you'll wonder why you made a fuss.
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Post by jondxxx on Jun 27, 2014 10:55:23 GMT
Call me old fashioned but all this technology seem a bit OTT. With a little practice a quick glance at an Ordnance Survey map will tell you all you need to know. ...but whilst you can limit yourself with some technologies, with creativity, you can also open up all sorts of opportunities if you use the tool correctly. With a pre-plotted route and a little nous, you can suss the whole thing in your head before you go out ... I do this on occasions, I know where I'll struggle on any ride and where I can whizz along, just by looking at a profile these days; it's not for everyone and a bit geeky I know but it's how the successful pros work and whilst this isn't necessary for leisure cycling, it can help masssively. Essentially we're dealing with two different ways of presenting the same data. In my view the analogue way gives you a richer more subtle experience. It is my contention that while you are waiting for the computer to boot and the software to load you can spread out a landranger OS map, have a complete overview of multiple routes in their entirety and gain a better picture of the terrain than you will get from a profile. Once I have the route fixed in my head I then set off on my bike change my mind and end up going somewhere else entirely. I do see that plotting the selected route and using the analytical tools available to plan the ride would be useful to people who take things more seriously than I do but not me.
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 27, 2014 11:54:15 GMT
You can do all that and more - you don't head out into the unknown and Wales or the Cotswolds on really long ones without data if you can avoid it, although I have been doing fairly blind rides with my buddy guiding, which put me into a world of trouble at times. I use bread crumb trails on my Garmin but sometimes depart from it, as anyone wandering does - you can also load a few variants or departures and switch to them if you really wanted to. These days I don't need the tool so much but when you're developing it's good to know what challenges lie ahead, particularly hills (and with a Garmin or similar you don't have to stop at all if you don't want to as the trail indicator just works it out).
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2014 14:16:35 GMT
Well I did it yesterday 32.1 miles in 2 hours and 4 seconds. Last ten miles went on forever and my backside felt like it had taken part in some kind of Japanese endurance game show.
Any seat recommendations for a bit of added comfort would be appreciated?
Regards.
Mark.
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Post by Radchenister on Jun 30, 2014 20:17:04 GMT
Seat - Rule #5.
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Post by jondxxx on Jul 1, 2014 7:56:15 GMT
Small adjustments of height, fore & aft position and angle can make a huge difference. For a good value upgrade there is the ever popular spoon
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Post by denkfaul on Jul 1, 2014 8:38:18 GMT
Also don't underestimate the value of a good quality padded shorts.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 12:27:01 GMT
Hey Radchenister, what's rule # 5?
Thanks.....!!
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 1, 2014 12:40:36 GMT
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