Messages

1

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: GPS, Garmin 800 - getting ACA Waypoints & routes into Edge

« on: July 23, 2011, 10:29:34 pm »

As you see from reading here, the Edge series emphasizes training on routes that you have already ridden, not navigating in new terrain. Unlike the units made for touring, they cannot load the route files from Adventure Cycling. Steve wrote upthread about getting them into his Edge with third-party software. I hope he will tell us how, as this would be useful to many of us.

Fred

I have been able to open the downloaded file with MapSource, City Nav 2009, trip and waypoiint mgr v5 and then transfer the waypoints and routes to my edge 705.  How well I will be able to use them when I ride remains to be seen as previous attempts with a CS60 resulted is spurious turn indications as I passed by waypoints.   

2

Pacific Northwest / Re: Porttland Or, to Denver

« on: May 16, 2011, 01:58:19 pm »

Hi smrachek and tomdett:

You might want to get in touch with the bicycle coordinators for the states in which you will be traveling through and need routing. Most have resources of some sort as well as printed materials. The coordinators
have a wealth of information that they can distribute for no charge. Most every state publishes a bicycle map of their state that they will send out for free. And while the maps aren't as detailed as ours, they generally offer suggested roads for cycling through their state. Here is a link to the contact information for all of the bicycle coordinators: 

http://www.walkinginfo.org/assistance/contacts.cfm


When you get back, I'm sure others would love to hear what routing you came up with and how it went for you.

Hope this helps with your planning.

.Jennifer.

Have contacted the bicycle coordinators with less than great success.  The particular states of interest do not publish bicycling maps with recommended routes (I think for legal reasons).   Some have maps showing shoulder width but it is not combined with traffic volume and in some cases does not have the route identified with the lines so much is left to the user.   I found the standard state issued highway maps to be the most worthwhile resource for both Idaho and Utah. 

I am (also) very disappointed that the I-84 corridor with the Columbia and Snake rivers and major cycling cities is not on the US Bike Route System planning map as I think it makes a lot of sense.   

3

Routes / Re: Portland to Boise

« on: May 14, 2011, 04:22:34 pm »

Planning to ride Portland to Boise self contained but not camping so need lodging.  Thinking of staying nearer I-84 (but hopefully not too much on I-84).   Route advice?

Shouldn't be a problem. Just take the nice downwind ride along the north side of the Columbia River, cross over to Umatilla on the bridge (Ignore the "no pedestrians or bicycles" sign) and head southeast alongside I84. Where there is no parallel or frontage road or "old highway" ride the shoulder. I don't see any really long stretches without a town.

That's what I was hoping would work.   Also planning to continue from Boise to Salt Lake City and one to Heber UT to pick up US 40.      Look like there are good alternatives to I-84 until I am close to the ID/UT line.   Any thoughts on that portion?   

4

Pacific Northwest / Re: Porttland Or, to Denver

« on: May 14, 2011, 11:33:51 am »

I was contemplating the Transamerica Trail, you're way seems to be shorter, did you have any idea on how long your trip would take

I am thinking 3 weeks from Portland to Longmont, then 2 weeks to W. Michigan via ferry from Milwalkee, then 2 weeks via the Lake Erie connector and N. Tier to Ticonderoga NY and a bee line to Ogunquit ME.   7 weeks on the road plus a couple of weeks off in Longmont and L. Michigan beach. 

5

Routes / Re: Portland to Boise

« on: May 14, 2011, 11:28:48 am »

Planning to ride Portland to Boise self contained but not camping so need lodging.  Thinking of staying nearer I-84 (but hopefully not too much on I-84).   Route advice?

6

Rocky Mountain / Bosie to Salt Lake City (Heber UT) route help

« on: May 11, 2011, 03:24:17 pm »

I plan to do Credit Card touring from Portland to the Denver area starting about June 8.   I need some help in routing from the point where I leave the Columbia to Salt Lake City (Heber).   Since I will need motels (or Warm Showers people) I am planning to stay near the I-84 corridor.   Any advice on this routing would be appreciated. 

Tom - Longmont, CO

7

Pacific Northwest / Re: Porttland Or, to Denver

« on: May 11, 2011, 03:17:28 pm »

I'm looking to do my first solo unsupported trip hopefully from Portland to Denver or Denver to Portland if that is the best way to go.  Any advice on routes, time of year and which direction (east or west) would be appreciated.  Thanks

I am planning to do the same leaving Portland (or perhaps Astoria) on June 8.  Planning on following the approximate corridor of I-84 (as I don't plan to carry camping gear) to Salt Lake City and then connect with US-40 at Heber UT to traverse east to the Denver area.    So far I have not received much help in actual routing from the Columbia River valley to the SLC area.  Hope someone posts some help with that soon. 

Tom
Longmont CO   

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GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: GPS, Garmin 800

« on: May 08, 2011, 11:17:11 pm »

Hi, Tom:  Either the 705 or the 800 can be used for navigation purposes.  The 800 is touch screen (not a big deal, but I like it).  The 800 also has more pages of information; however, if you are using it strictly for navigation, there is no real advantage to the extra pages.  Both track every conceivable data you would ever need for training or races or events or whatever.  Most of that information is not necessary for a tour, but some of it is pretty good to have.  Both have heart monitors (and I like the HM on the 800 better than the 705).  As someone pointed out above, they are not primarily made for navigating across country; however, I was able to take Adv. Cycling's maps and using www.mapmyride.com, create the route for NAVIGATION PURPOSES.  It took me about an hour to create one section (400 miles).
The problem is waypoints aren't created on MapMyRide; however, with a smart phone that's not a big deal.  I looked at MapSource (as recommended by AC); however, the mapping in Map Source is very klutzy.  I don't recommend it at all...nor does Garmin for navigating across country on regular U.S. hwys/rds, etc.
The BIG ADVANTAGE to using either Edge is you don't have to look at the printed maps as you ride.  I would still want to carry them with me just in case you run into a road outage; however, Garmin (both versions) will take you to the next town or around whatever you encounter.
Back to your original question:  705 vs. 800.  I used the 705 for 3 years and found it to be a great unit and I have been using the 800 for 5 months.  I would get the 800 because it is later technology and seems very reliable.
Both units (the 705 more often than the 800) will indicate you are "off course" when you are not.  You need to be aware of that because it might "scare" you at first; however, if you are on the right road, it will indicate "course found" pretty quickly. 
Let me know you have any other questions.

Steve Varnum

Thanks Steve.   I have used a hiking type GPS (GPSmap 60CS) with City Nav on a laptop doing daily downloads of map and routing on a previous tour so I have some experience with those false turn things.   Would like to have something that includes heart rate and cadence for training and less mass to be dealing with road shocks.  705's are discounted more than 800s since they are older so I want to be sure the 800 is better in order to save.   Perhaps the more important question is what package of mapping software should I get as the price varies widely as one loads up a 705 (or 800). 

9

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: GPS, Garmin 800

« on: May 06, 2011, 02:44:05 pm »

Any thoughts on the 800 vs. 705?   I plan to tour using a GPS and a notebook computer along so that I don't have to put the whole tour in the GPS unit at one time.    Software?

10

Pacific Northwest / Portland OR to Salt Lake City route?

« on: May 04, 2011, 11:19:44 pm »

Plan to do Credit card touring from Portland OR to SLC (Heber UT) starting June 7.   Would like routing suggestions.

11

Gear Talk / Re: front/rear pannier loading for credit card touring

« on: March 04, 2010, 12:55:24 pm »

Thank you both for responding to my query post. 

I will drop down to a 3 lb netbook (w/charger) and will be traveling in warmer weather so I do plan to reduce my packed weight considerably.  On the other hand the route will include ACA Western Express so I expect to need to carry a lot of water (at times) and more parts/tools than my previous experience.   

12

Gear Talk / front/rear pannier loading for credit card touring

« on: March 04, 2010, 10:44:41 am »

On my first self-supported non-camping bike tour I found I could put all my stuff in my rear panniers and trunk bag.  I was packed relatively heavily due to a 6 lb computer and cold weather clothes.  This resulted in a significant degradation in bike handling when descending.  Plan to do my next tour with front panniers on a low rider rack and pack less in the rear.  Do you have any suggestions to help me get this optimized?

13

California / Re: San Luis Obispo to Palm Springs

« on: March 04, 2010, 10:34:40 am »

Changed the route to stay on the coast using the ACA route.  Went very well.  LA was a breeze with the extensive bike paths.   

Planning a tour from SF to Palm Springs starting later this month (October).   Somewhere we need to head inland to an eventual destination of Palm Springs.  Might do so at San Luis Obispo or much closer to LA, perhaps as far as Santa Monica.   One of our riders is older and riding an recumbent so avoiding a lot of steep, long climbs would be good.   Advice? Palm Springs Hotels   

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How did you get on with your tour?  I am interested in doing something similar but have not done my homework on it yet and am hoping you can give me some suggestions/tips.
Many Thanks!

14

Routes / Re: Western Express - NV - early June

« on: January 20, 2010, 10:39:18 am »

Want to thank those that have responded to my original post on this subject.   Every post increased my knowledge.  Have modified my plan to start earlier to allow for extra days to deal with lodging spacing and get a little cooler weather.   Would still like to hear more so please share anything relevant to this subject.   
Tom Dettloff
tomdett@yahoo.com
Longmont, CO

15

Routes / Re: Western Express - NV - early June

« on: January 17, 2010, 01:09:57 pm »

I found this was really helpful.   Hope to hear more, especially about the NV portion especially as it related to heat in June and huge distances between lodging.

I rode from SF to Carson City (and back) on the ACA's Western Express route as a credit card tour in order to save the weight of camping gear.  This was a mistake.  While the climb up Carson Pass (from Placerville to Kirkwood, really) is truly a killer, having camping gear would have allowed me to wild camp when I got tired instead of having to keep pedaling to a place to stay.  In the end, I had to get a ride in a truck over Carson Spur due to it being dark and me being spent and ended up spending the night on a rock floor because of Kirkwood incompetence.  You can read my journal of that trip (pictures included) here: http://www.biketouringtips.com/showJournalPages.php?jid=25 .

I went in September and it snowed on the rest day I had in Carson City.

In June, I doubt there will be any snowfall but there will likely still be snow on the ground.

If I were to do this again (which I seriously doubt), I would take camping gear (at least something to sleep in and on) and plan to do the Placerville to Kirkwood/Carson Pass section in two days.

Ray