Using Global Positioning navigation to get lost le

[ptaylor]

I have written some information on how I have used my GPS for extended self contained touring. You can view it on my GPS Blog

This message was edited by ptaylor on 10-21-06 @ 8:03 PM

[ptaylor]

I hope some of you find this helpful or interesting.

Paul

This message was edited by ptaylor on 10-20-06 @ 4:24 PM

[FredHiltz]

Thanks for the very informative article, Paul. I think quite a few of us have fiddled with a GPS around town. Now we know how it goes after a few thousand miles.

Fred

[BrianCM]

Very good article.  I learned to use my GPS by playing geocaching games.  I also have a bicycle mount, but mine isn't as sophisticated as yours.  I use the Garmin Geko 201 model, which is plain as can be and still have a computer interface.  I leaned to carry maps which are detailed enough to have longitude/lattitude markings, and use a map grid overlay to figure out what to program into the GPS.

[ptaylor]

Thanks Brian.

The photo in my blog is of the unit on my commuter/city bike (with a flat handlebar) - not the one I rode coast-to coast (with a dropped handlebar). But on both bikes, I ran out of real estate on the handlebar.

My solution was to get a Minoura Swing Grip. This worked OK, but it is a bit flimsy. I'm hoping that someday someone will come out with something stronger, perhaps a two-level handlebar that will accommodate lights, a handlebar bag, a bell, speedometer, and GPS.

Paul

[kathy]

hi,  I read your blog and it helped orient me.  Still, my question is so basic that I didn't find the answer there. So here goes:

If I buy a GPS with room for 1000 waypoints and I need 5000 way points to define the routes on the GDR, does that mean I have to carry along my laptop to be able to load up the second 1000 waypoints when I need them?

I am looking at the Garmin GPSmap 76 CSx.
thanks kathy  

[ptaylor]

Hi Kathy.

Yes, if your unit only holds 1,000 waypoints, and you need 5,000, you have a problem. You can use one, or a combination of the following solutions.
[list=1]

• Don't load any of the waypoints unless they are on you route. For example a lot of waypoints are for food stops, libraries, etc.
• Delete some of the waypoints that are on the route. The ACA routes have extra waypoints, which are helpful for GPS units that do not have the electronic map, and aren't really necessary with the 76CSx. I got the Northern Tier down to under 2,000 waypoints with these two techniques.
• Find someone to meet you along the trip who has a laptop with the necessary software to let you update your routes and waypoints. My wife met me in Michigan.

Having said that, it is my understanding that the 76CSx has a feature my unit does not have: a removable memory card. I would think you could buy extra cards, and load just part of the trip on each of the cards. If that is true, this is the ideal solution...you simply insert the proper card for each leg of your trip. I'm hoping Fred Hiltz or someone else will chime in on this, to see if my understanding is correct.

Paul

[kathy]

Thanks for the quick reply.  
Yes there is a card that is blank.  Also I can buy 2 additional cards: Mountain No West topo and Mountain So West topo.  They will be preloaded with all the mapsource topos that I will need for the GDR trip.

Not having bought this thing yet I can't tell how/if one can move waypoints/routes from the card to 'current usage??' so I can remove that card and put in one of the 2 topo cards.

I'd like to trust that it-only-makes-sense so it must be possible.  But you know they do so many things that are counter-intuitive.  I don't want to lay down those bucks and have it not work for me.

I'm under time pressure as I leave in 5 days for AZ and I'd like to have TracBack for security on those faint desert traces.
kathy

[kathy]

Sorry to reply to myself.
But I guess the more basic question is (preloaded topo cards aside):

Can I load waypoints/routes/maps onto the blank cards (say 5 of them) and sucessfully bring them into use.

It sounds like normal waypoint/route storage is separate.  

Garmin doesn't reply.  The guys in the store ... well, you know.

So if anyone of you knows whether this works, Thank You!  
kathy

[FredHiltz]

Hi Kathy and Paul,

Unfortunately, the removable card stores only maps and tracks, not waypoints. In addition to the ways that Paul writes for reloading your receiver with waypoints, you can store them on a CD or a flash drive along with a little program like G7ToWin that can run from the CD or flash drive. Find a computer shop or a friendly cyclist to reload the receiver through your USB cable.

We have discussed this in more detail on other threads A search of this forum for G7ToWin will get them for you.

Fred

[ptaylor]

I have been asked for the waypoints and routes of my Northern Tier Expedition that I did in 2006. So I have posted them on the web. They are in the Garmin format. This is not "The Northern Tier", but rather, a (better in my opinion) combination of the Northern Tier, Great Lakes, and Erie Connector routes, to go from Anacortes to Bar Harbor, via Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario.

There are two GPS files, which worked for me since I was able to load the second half of the trip in Michigan. The western 'half' has only on-route waypoints, since I had to reduce them to 999. There are also a few days where I had to combine two days into one, because I had to limit myself to 50 routes -a limitation of my Garmin 76c (which is now discontinued in favor of more advanced units).

The eastern 'half' is complete.

I am glad to get feedback from cyclists who use (or try to use) this data. I am a strong advocate of GPS for road cyclists, and am anxious to see this technology advance.

You can access th eweb page at my web site.

Paul

[boonebikeguy]

Hey Paul?
Thanks for the GPS info on your blog.

"Love is a river where crazy people drown"--Kyrgyz proverb

[ptaylor]

Thanks Boon.

I have been following your posts with some interest. Your trip sounds quite challenging, and I wish you the best. Keep us informed!

Paul

[boonebikeguy]

Yeah, I am very excited. I am deciding to do it all self contained and as little as possible carry-on. I am eating right and training...not much training is needed as you know I raced for a zillion years...so mainly it will be preparing mentally and disciplining myself to wake up each day and put roghly 80-100 miles on my bike in a reasonable amount of time. I am taking much of your advice and really and honestly appreciate it. Back in the day, whenever the people I raced against or with would say "You're the man" that usually meant that because of your results other racers and new racers would watch your style and listen to anything you said and always considered YOU the treat in the pack. SO as far as touring goes, YOU're the man or one of them anyway. So GPS for sure, and of course all the downloading that goes along with it. 200.$ is steeep!!!!! but I'll do it anyway because it will pay-off in the long run. I am debating taking a mess-kit at all and the food thing is bothering me. I don't want to spend tons of money or carry tons of stuff. So if you have ideas on  nutrition you used then share it wioth me PM style or e-mail me Paul. I consider you pretty much an expert thus far so anything you say may be very helpful.
I do know one thing, when I hit my 60's I hope I am still riding steel like you.


"Love is a river where crazy people drown"--Kyrgyz proverb