This is all such good information. I think I prefer to ride on my own but being able to meet up with familiar faces in the evenings would be awesome. Especially since camping alone is still one of my things to get over. I don't yet know how many miles I would do on average but some of it depends on how hilly it is that day.
I'll check out Crazy Guy on A Bike. So far during my training I've found that meeting others has been one of the best parts and look forward to that continuing.
I hadn't considered getting to the start and riding back. Interesting concept.
I am finishing gathering the rest of what I need and hope to start within 2 weeks - or less if I can.
Is using Ride with GPS enough for navigation or should I buy something like the Garmin Edge?
As a solo traveller I have never had a problem meeting friendly people along the way or in campgrounds. I think a single person on a bike is far more approachable to a lot of people. I often think one of the most important things to pack is a smile.
As regards navigation perhaps start a new thread as there are lots of different opinions and experiences and this thread title suggests routes.
I'm sure you could use RWGPS exclusively but be aware of the limitations. It cannot reroute you if offline. Battery life can be an issue, especially if using the phone to take photos (powerbank?). Attaching the phone to the bike, especially for bumpy surfaces is important. Display can suffer or be damaged (sun and rain). Phone charging sockets are not usually designed for the bouncing a phone can get on the road so topping up could damage your phone. Finally, for the solo tourist there is always the question of a fall or crash and the need for a phone. A phone on the handlebars may not survive.
If you go down the gps route I'd advise you to have a good think about what you need and how you will use it. People are different, units are different. Remember, a bike gps unit is not the same as a car unit. Most units work best with a separate planner, like RWGPS, since a unit rarely has the capacity to plan a good route. Depending on where you go and the road options that may not be a big deal.
It's not clear how long you are going for, but based on not having a route I assume you will need to create routes "on the road". For that you will probably need an internet accessing phone, tablet or laptop for the planning to send to the unit. (Osmand, an app will work totally offline).
Wahoo units work with a phone app.
If it sounds complicated, sorry. It's really not when you can figure out how you will use it.
If you're leaving in two weeks I wouldn't bother too much. A couple of weeks on the road will tell you a lot about what you want and need. No reason you can't pick up a unit on the road if you decide you want one.
There are a couple of advantages for a unit -
Dedicated, weather proof and decent battery life.
For me, a huge advantage is the ability to record my daily journey, add photos, comments etc. and have a great memory of each day. Great fir family and friends to follow too. Also possible to do on your phone (RWGPS & Strava).
Good luck!
