Go Back   Two Wheel Fix > Riding > GPS Data

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-16-2008, 12:16 AM   #1
No Worries
Keyboard Racer
 
No Worries's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mile High City
Moto: Old Superbikes
Posts: 1,016
Default GPS versus Maps

I used topo maps to find my way around wilderness areas for 20 years. there were several times in a forest, desert, or canyon lands where I wish I had some type of satellite navigation. But I still use and like maps, not GPS.

Is GPS like Mapquest? I drove up to Mount Evans on Monday. Mount Evans is the highest paved road in North America, but the roads leading up to the entrance (Echo Lake Campground) are more fun than the actual road up to the peak. I came up from Morrison, just southwest of Denver, through the back way with tons of curves: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/7-Sn1Z.

But if you type Echo Lake Campground into Mapquest, it sends you up I-70 so you only get twisty roads near the end: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/1-IstKbZU1jtTafaHy8nIk. Mapquest picked the easiest and fastest way, but not the best way. Does GPS give you a choice?
No Worries is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2008, 04:20 AM   #2
Phenix_Rider
WERA White Plate
 
Phenix_Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Renton, WA
Moto: Ninja 650R
Posts: 1,920
Default

You can set different map programs (google maps, MS streets and trips) to take a more scenic route- even to avoid interstates and main roads. I usually tug the lines onto whatever looks interesting after I get a general idea where I'm going. Hate Interstates!
__________________
Quote:
So you think you're ready to ride? So if i ran up to you with a belt sander would you feel safe????
Phenix_Rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2008, 10:08 AM   #3
Gas Man
Trip's Assistant
 
Gas Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Imported from Detroit
Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic
Posts: 12,149
Default

I think Google is the best way if you want to customize your route as far as online maps with turn by turn directions.

GPS is a different animal all together. I got my wife a Garmin for x-mas and its great. But don't try to outsmart it. There is an option to do anything. You can avoid toll roads, highways, dirt roads, ect...

For example, going to my father in laws earlier this year. I know how to get there... and it requires dirt roads..PERIOD... but I didn't know the garmin had selected to avoid them. So it took us 10 miles out of the way so that we had 1 mile of dirt instead of 3 miles. But when you're following those damn things... you just have a habbit of going on auto pilot... follow the purple line! It was night and we blew right past the damn dirt road we usually take. OH WELL.
__________________
-Chris



"Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?"
Run Amsoil Product
Gas Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2008, 10:48 AM   #4
sfarson
On a Ride
 
sfarson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Rockies
Moto: Two Wheels
Posts: 104
Default

John,

Used topos for years when hiking/climbing Colorado. Added a handheld GPS to the backpack later on. When parking the car at the trailhead I'd have the GPS store the car's location. Sometimes I'd plot in the lat/long of the summit. In either case I'd have the GPS keep me updated on time-to-destination, direction (especially if I was off the trail), etc.

For two wheeled riding I prefer maps, online and paper, but a GPS supplements both well. Several examples:

- On the group ride to the WSBK's in Utah our seven rider pack descended the north side of the Grand Mesa. Had never been on this sweet road. I was leading and from the GPS scrolling map could tell the layout and tightness of the upcoming curve before I entered it.

- We had hotel reservations along the way, and about an hour from our destination I'd ask the GPS to take us to the "Best Western North Salt Lake".

- If the gang was up for a BBQ dinner, could have the GPS tells us which BBQ restaurants were in the vicinity, with address and phone #'s, and have it take us there.

See maps and GPS as complementary, and not either/or.

Last edited by sfarson; 08-16-2008 at 11:01 AM..
sfarson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2008, 12:25 PM   #5
Phenix_Rider
WERA White Plate
 
Phenix_Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Renton, WA
Moto: Ninja 650R
Posts: 1,920
Default

I always carry paper maps- whether it's an old school fold-up or a printout I don't want some bossy little electronic bitch telling me where to go. Just feels too much like cell phones and PDAs and bluetooth and whatever- people are addicted, and lose the ability to think or problem solve or remember. Getting lost and finding your own way back is fun.
__________________
Quote:
So you think you're ready to ride? So if i ran up to you with a belt sander would you feel safe????
Phenix_Rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2008, 11:02 PM   #6
Mr Lefty
TWFix Legend
 
Mr Lefty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Denver CO
Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar
Posts: 15,677
Default

sfarson has it exactly right... they're complementry... not either or... my GPS I use to track my speed, time to destination, time to next stop (usually put that as a gas station) trip od, total od, and current time...

I use the map to actually find my way... durring the day... that is.

at night... I flip my GPS back to map mode... cause I can just glance and see what I need... instead of turning on a map light... or on my bike... stopping and finding a flash light
Mr Lefty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2008, 05:16 PM   #7
Captain Morgan
Let's do another U-turn
 
Captain Morgan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Indiana
Moto: 2009 V-Strom
Posts: 3,816
Default

Hmm, I made a wrong turn on the way to the Indy speedway and stopped to pull out the map. The map said to go a certain way. I started going that way and Drewpy's VZNavigator said to do a u-turn. We did said u-turn and the damn thing said to do another u-turn. We finally said fuck it, and just went the way the map said to go. Once we got moving, his navigator caught up and said we were going the right way.
Captain Morgan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2008, 05:18 PM   #8
Trip
Hold mah beer!
 
Trip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: 80 Miles South of Moto Heaven
Moto: 08 R1200GS
Posts: 23,268
Default

I tried to lead on the way up using maps, but fatburg's GPS was so much more effective. I vote GPS
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebbs15 View Post
according to the article tell him to drink ginger tea...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tigger
Whatever,Stoner is a bitch! O.J. Simpson has TWO fucked knees and a severe hang nail on his left index finger but he still managed to kill two younger adults,sprint 200 feet to his car (wearing very expensive,yet uncomfortable Italian shoes) and make his get a way!!!
Trip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2008, 05:22 PM   #9
fatburg
Grill Master
 
fatburg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO
Moto: Yamaha FZ6
Posts: 960
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trip View Post
I tried to lead on the way up using maps, but fatburg's GPS was so much more effective. I vote GPS
but let me add, that you need to look at the route still, as it might take you straight through the heart of indianapolis through 58 stoplights instead of zipping you around via highways.
fatburg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2008, 05:49 PM   #10
Trip
Hold mah beer!
 
Trip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: 80 Miles South of Moto Heaven
Moto: 08 R1200GS
Posts: 23,268
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fatburg View Post
but let me add, that you need to look at the route still, as it might take you straight through the heart of indianapolis through 58 stoplights instead of zipping you around via highways.
true, plus you can't find pancakes on the gps as easy

so a mix of both is best
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by ebbs15 View Post
according to the article tell him to drink ginger tea...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tigger
Whatever,Stoner is a bitch! O.J. Simpson has TWO fucked knees and a severe hang nail on his left index finger but he still managed to kill two younger adults,sprint 200 feet to his car (wearing very expensive,yet uncomfortable Italian shoes) and make his get a way!!!
Trip is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:44 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.