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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 14:46:40 GMT
In anticipation of picking up ny 500se this week i thought i would get out on my current bike and get a bit of practice in...
Being an absolute biking novice i decided to stick google maps on bike mode and follow a route to see how it coped. Unfortuantely, whilst fine for my current hybrid/mtb the route would have been completely unsuitable for a road bike (ncn63 around leicester - lots of off road, gravely sections).
So, my question. How do people plan routes. Are there any decent, reliable websites that go through routes, terrain, suitability for road bikes etc?
Was thinking Google Maps with cars directions may be better but not comfortable on main, busy roads as of yet.
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Post by baldbloke on Sept 14, 2014 15:19:51 GMT
I use Strava's planner. (Dashboard > My Routes > Create New Route). You can plan the route and then use Google street view to check out any bits that might look dodgy. You can also opt for "Use Popularity" to follow parts that other cyclist have ridden and/or "Min Elevation" if you're not ready for a lot of climbing yet. The route can be tweaked by dragging the way points, or the line it draws, around. Once saved, you can follow it on your phone or export to a Garmin/other device.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 15:58:17 GMT
I find mapmyrun has an easy to use routing tool called create course. The system used on Garmin Connect is also easy. I tend to use those as I'm familiar with their ways of working.
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Post by baz on Sept 14, 2014 16:53:40 GMT
Ive just started planning routes since getting a garmin edge 800, currently using ride with gps (free version www.ridewithgps.com ) with open street maps and so far seems very good.
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Post by Steph on Sept 14, 2014 16:57:18 GMT
I use Strava's route planner. For the most part it's perfect. It usually sticks to roads that are suitable but like baldbloke says it's easy to use street view (or sometimes even just satellite view) to check out any dodgy looking roads. When it works I've found Garmin Connect to be good as well, but for whatever reason my PC doesn't like it and it doesn't usually work. plotaroute.com has potential. You can give it a distance and tell it to make a route for you but last time I used that it included roads that weren't suitable and/or very busy A-roads that I would prefer to avoid. May have improved since then.
Once you've ridden around an area for a while you'll get to know all the little back roads and which ones are suitable or not, then it gets a lot easier to plan routes.
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Post by baz on Sept 14, 2014 17:07:11 GMT
I use Strava's route planner. For the most part it's perfect. It usually sticks to roads that are suitable but like baldbloke says it's easy to use street view (or sometimes even just satellite view) to check out any dodgy looking roads. When it works I've found Garmin Connect to be good as well, but for whatever reason my PC doesn't like it and it doesn't usually work. plotaroute.com has potential. You can give it a distance and tell it to make a route for you but last time I used that it included roads that weren't suitable and/or very busy A-roads that I would prefer to avoid. May have improved since then.
Once you've ridden around an area for a while you'll get to know all the little back roads and which ones are suitable or not, then it gets a lot easier to plan routes. True, Garmin connect does not work for me either, its very buggy and keeps giving me an errors after saving a route, emailed them and got the automated mail back saying it will be dealt with in 5 working days
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Post by KiwiBeard on Sept 14, 2014 18:13:09 GMT
Strava routes. Best thing is that it has a huge database of rides to work out the more popular roads instead of putting you on busy roads (in theory).
One slight little thing about it is sometimes with roundabouts it appears to want to you to go the wrong way round.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2014 18:43:10 GMT
Just had a look at Strava routes and seems the best compromise between using a map and having a bit of local route knowledge. What do people do with the map? Just have it on screen and look occasionally/memorise or do you export the gpx for turn by turn?
Apologise for all the questions but this is all very new to me but extremely excited and can't wait to get properly on the road.
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Post by robertsims on Sept 14, 2014 19:08:31 GMT
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Post by baz on Sept 14, 2014 22:41:19 GMT
gpx for turn by turn
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Post by r0b1et on Sept 15, 2014 0:10:22 GMT
I learn waypoints on my route, part of the fun is getting a bit lost. I age a rather good memory for maps and sense of direction, which both help.
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Post by Paulinblack on Sept 15, 2014 5:04:29 GMT
Lots of ways in addition to those already posted:
1. When first starting out I asked a mate at work who is a very serious cyclists for some suggestions. 2. I also joined the BROC club and looked at what people near me are doing. 3. A local bike shop posts its club routes and some of the local sportives do the same. 4. When I complete my rides, I go back and replay them (using the Strava replay tool) and look to see where riders who I have encountered on the journey have been. 5. Once I have found a nice route, I check it on Strava or Garmin map facilities and look for bits that I can add on at different points of the route. That way I can 'refresh' or increase/decrease the length of decent 'courses' that I've found.
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Post by beatnik69 on Sept 15, 2014 9:36:38 GMT
I tend to go out with a vague idea of where I want go then just follow my front wheel.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2014 10:29:37 GMT
+1 drawing routes on strava (very well done software)
then I export the .gpx file and import in runtastic bike pro to follow the route on my phone while on the road (it has the offline maps and many real time indicators)
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Post by derekv4 on Sept 15, 2014 16:18:13 GMT
+1 for ridewithgps.com
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