Do you ride differently with a GPS?

[Corkus]

Forgetting two obvious advantages of using a GPS, knowing where your destination is and not getting lost, do you ride differently with a GPS than you do without one?

 

Do you enjoy the ride more? Do you travel different roads than you would have without a GPS? Do you end up riding a different route? Has the GPS changed your actual riding?

 

My impression is many riders enjoy the gagetry and like knowing where they are going but don't really ride a different ride with a GPS vs without one. Are my impressions right? Wrong?

 

The reason I ask is I would not use a GPS very often on a bike unless it changed my riding for the better, beyond knowing my location and destination. If I could use a GPS to ride a different ride, to see things I wouldn't see, that would be reason to use one. Is this realistic?

[DogGone]

Yes...

 

When I'm commuting, I use the gps ETA function to tell me how much time I can afford to goof off and still get to work on time. I actually enjoy making my commute longer.

 

When riding purely for pleasure, I know that I can try out any interesting road and not have to backtrack in order to get myself home or to my destination. I also don't worry about finding gas or an interesting restaurant.

 

And, I'll admit to being rather lazy and saving some interesting routes for when I just want to get out for a 200-300 mile ride without really thinking about where to go. I figure this is much the same as pulling out a particular CD when I'm in the mood for a certain kind of music.

 

Mostly, the GPS allows me to ride without putting much planning into it. It also allows me to be more spontaneous about tacking on sidetrips or diversions when I'm out.

[MadDuck]

All of my rides are now more relaxing. The worry is gone. The map rolls out ahead of you, major intersections are displayed showing where the next gas is likely to be and when the trooper appears , a quick glance gives you reasuarance that yes indeed I am traveling at the posted speed. The stress reduction factor in having the gps is amazing. It is also something to fiddle with while you are gassing up.

[randy]

first I have no sense of direction. I have no sense of distance. i.e. i can get lost going from my kitchen to the bedroom IN MY RANCH HOME.

 

With that said yes I think it changed my riding. All of a sudden I am somwhere, and I think, there is a road around here that I really like. I hit the waypoint list on Ique 3600, click on closests to location, and a list of waypoints that I have entered comes up. Sure enough warwomen road is only 4.8 miles away. I hit route too, and off I go. I get to the end of warwomen, I think it dead ends into hwy 28 or hwy 23, and I quickly hit the waypoint for home and I am good to go.

 

so for me, yes, many times I think I am close to some road, but not sure and my GPS gives me the points of interests to expand my riding.

 

However non of this is to say you can not do this with a map. I just feel a person needs a certain sense of direction and distance to work with maps. Or better said to make using maps easier.

[MG37221]

Oh yeah, when LEOs are visible, my GPS lets me know how fast I'm really going

[Mike]

Personally the big difference comes down to how I spend day rides around my general area. First, I'm a little compulsive about wanting to know where I'm at and that I can get back home, so the GPS eliminates that anxiety for me. If I see an interesting road, I just go for it, knowing that I can get back on route very easily.

 

I also start scanning the upcoming roads on the GPS screen if I find myself on a boring (straight) road. Looking at the map allows me to figure out, on the fly, where I might be able to find a more challenging and interesting road.

 

So, yes, it's made a big difference to me. Not necessarily as a turn-by-turn navigational aid, but in expanding my horizons. It's made riding more fun for me.

[kudzu]

Makes at least two big differences to me:

 

1. When on trips, I take side trips to see or do things that I wouldn't bother to do if navigation was an issue or a potential problem. Just being able to easily go from one address to another address in a strange city is wonderful.

 

2. Allows me much more flexibility and convenience when just exploring. You have some info about roads before you turn down them and you are not going to get lost. When you've had as much fun as you can stand, the GPS will figure out the quickest route to your destination.

[ChrisE]

I definately expore more roads that I would normally just ignore.

 

Having the ability to get back to where I started is a nice comfort feature.

 

The other thing I like is the track log, if I find good twisty roads, I can relocate them back in front of my PC rather than having to take notes while I'm riding.

 

All my vehicles have GPS of one sort or another.

 

Not that I've had need to do this, but it's great in emergencies when contacting 911 services, being able to pin point your exact location, especially when you might be in foreign territory.

[Claudio]

I just rented a GPS (Quest 2) for a 2week, 5K mile trip through the Appalachians.

 

What I found better/different about riding with a GPS...

 

1. I was more willing to explore uncharted/unknown areas because I knew I could always just route myself back to a known location or main center. I found some really great low traffic roads as a result.

 

2. Less time "riding in circles" or retracing my steps after a missed turn. Less wasted time means more fun on a trip riding the routes you really want to.

 

3. I could ride longer into the day before finding a place to camp or lodge for the night. Around 4:00 pm, I'd predict the area I'd likely be in, do a find for a campground in that area then save it. Come 6:00, I'd simply route to the campground and be set for the night.

 

I don't live in an area where I would need a GPS daily so I plan to rent one for trips. In Canada, you can rent from http://www.gpsmart.ca

[Ken H.]

Yeah, I get lost more!

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Yes...

 

With the GPS set for a route, I typically blindly follow it and never really explore or go off the path previously chosen, usually by the GPS. I think it's because I don't usually program a route unless I'm trying to get somewhere specific or I want to see the ETA's.

 

By map, or without a route in the GPS, I tend to go where ever it "looks good" and am more likely to explore. The GPS is more like additional information to me, since I tend to be able to find my way around without either the map or the GPS. Perhaps if I had a better GPS and better map information, my style might change.

[BobFV1]

I really like my GPS and use it when travelling out of town on my RT. Never use it on my sport bikes.

[Corkus]

I really like my GPS and use it when travelling out of town on my RT. Never use it on my sport bikes

 

Bob, I'll use one in our cars, for hiking and later for touring when I get another touring bike, but not on the sport bike, unless I want to ring up a glossy top speed but I'm not really into that.

[BudH]

I like to add waypoints of interesting looking places I read about or pass by. A covered bridge, neat restaurants, every BMW motorcycle shop, etc. That way, no matter where I find myself, I always have some great destinations .

 

I also love how my 2610 will always point me in the right direction no matter what interesting road I wander down.

 

My GPS is hugely important to how I ride. I've discovered many interesting roads that I never knew about. The other day I rode from Delaware to Bob's BMW. Usually, an extremely boring ride. However, my GPS found some decent roads when I told it to calculate a custom route that favored back roads.

[dsl]

... to see things I wouldn't see .....

Like a nasty hairpin coming up?

 

 

This was a blindish, unmarked, decreasing radius, right hander, and way out of character from the last 6 miles of the road we were on. It took out the rider in front of me.... I saw it coming up on the GPS but had no way of warning him. What's that worth?

 

(Waypointed the spot to give the ambulance GPS coordinates.)

[Woodstock400]

Answer for me is definitely yes, for eight main reasons.

 

1) I like to find backroads and the GPS shows them to me - roads I never would have even found without it. Also lets me see dead-ends and loops that would be a waste if I took them.

 

2) If you define a destination (even if it is home), then you can just ride wherever you want and the unit will always re-route you back to your destination. Worries about getting completely lost are gone, and you still have the advantage of getting lost in a good way.

 

3) The ability to program waypoints in advance (Garmin 276C) means I can easily call up a destination on the fly (friends house, favorite places to eat, great sites, intersections I want to try to get to). In the middle of a ride I sometimes decide to try to go someplace, and I have no idea idea how to get there from where I am.

 

4) The unit allows me to find gas and food quickly when I need to.

 

5) I've programmed ETA destination time so I can alwasy tell if I am going to push the boundary on a time commitment. Also programmed sunset time so I can try to be home before dark.

 

6) I program in great routes that others know or I read about and then am able to call them up and follow them easiy.

 

7) It keeps track of where I've been and I then download the good routes for future use. Sometimes I do get lost (intentionally) and just ride. Learn a lot about the area by downloading the track and then seeing where the heck I was.

 

8) And perhaps most important, I can take my wife out for a ride and be confident that I never ever have to stop and ask directions!

 

Highly recommend it - riding without it is actually a lot less fun.

 

Dan

[Shaman97]

Hey Cory,

 

Yeah, I do. Let me explain a little. After I first got my bike, not having the GPS, I took off in the early AM, heading East to the Sierras (10 minutes away). I would generally then take whatever road popped up along the way. Some of these roads take you waaay away from civilization. One day I was riding down into a canyon after not having seen a car, person or driveway for the last 15 minutes. I then heard a slight 'pop' from my front tire which turned out to be nothing but a pebble being squeezed against the road like a watermelon seed. That got me to thinking "Where in hell AM I". If the tire actually did pop, or if I had another malfunction that I couldn't fix myself, which way would I even start walking to get to a main road? Do I take the known: 15 miles back to a main road? Or the unknown: straight ahead where the main road could be 1/4 mile away or 30 miles away - who knows? Printed maps didn't have the road I was on.

 

When I got back home, I looked at a number of GPS units, settling on the 2610. Very happy with the GPS, and now after I setup a general route, I know if I get off route or stuck, at least I know which way to go.

 

End result: added peace of mind at the start of the trip knowing I've done about as much as I can to ensure a safe return home, and another day of riding. The added features of ETA (where I always say "That can't be right" but is always dead-nuts on) elapsed miles and time just add to the 'gee-whiz' factor of these devices. I don't use the 'bitch-in-the-box' voice feature while on the bike, though.

 

Bob

[BEEMRBUM]

Although I have a good sense of direction, I utilize it on long trips. Usually set a destination, and route to it, enabling me to take alternate roads, and get back on course, without difficulty. Although, I haven't found all nearest restuarants or gas stop info up to date, I've never gotten lost. Well except for the one time coming home, and it showed my house on the opposite side of the road. After passing the stop, and hearing, " make a U turn in 500 feet ", I made it. Only kidding. I have the SP 3 and have used it on my tours of the Southwest, Canada, and Southeast, without any major problems. Will probably upgrade to the 2600 series, when the price comes down slightly.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

The reason I ask is I would not use a GPS very often on a bike unless it changed my riding for the better, beyond knowing my location and destination. If I could use a GPS to ride a different ride, to see things I wouldn't see, that would be reason to use one. Is this realistic?

 

Not just location and destination, but a specific route to your destination - to me, that third piece of info is at least as valuable as the other two.

 

I have a route that I ride from Madison, Wisconsin to Minneapolis, Minnesota, entirely on tiny, lightly-trafficked county roads. If I printed out a route sheet for myself, it would look like this:

 

9:00 AM 0.0 Depart University Ave on US-12 (North) 0.3 mi

9:00 AM 0.3 Turn LEFT (South-West) onto Ramp 0.3 mi

9:00 AM 0.6 Turn RIGHT (West) onto US-14 7.5 mi

9:09 AM 8.1 At 1700 US-14, Cross Plains, WI 53528, stay on US-14 [Main St] (West) 0.8 mi

9:11 AM 8.9 Turn RIGHT (North-East) onto CR-KP 1.7 mi

9:16 AM 10.6 Turn LEFT to stay on CR-KP 1.8 mi

9:21 AM 12.4 At near Marxville, stay on CR-KP (North-West) 2.5 mi

9:29 AM 14.9 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-19 4.4 mi

9:37 AM 19.3 Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-78 3.5 mi

9:43 AM 22.8 At near Sauk City, return South-West on SR-78 3.5 mi

9:50 AM 26.4 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-19 2.0 mi

9:53 AM 28.4 At near Marxville, return West on SR-19 2.0 mi

9:57 AM 30.4 Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-78 6.5 mi

10:09 AM 36.9 Bear LEFT (North) onto US-12 [sR-78] 2.1 mi

10:12 AM 39.0 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-60 1.7 mi

10:15 AM 40.8 Rest break (15 mins)

10:30 AM 40.8 Stay on SR-60 (West) 7.1 mi

10:42 AM 47.9 At Cassell, stay on SR-60 (South-West) 6.3 mi

10:53 AM 54.2 At SR-60, Spring Green, WI 53588, turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-C 4.7 mi

11:02 AM 58.9 Turn RIGHT (East) onto CR-B [CR-C] 0.7 mi

11:03 AM 59.7 Turn LEFT (North) onto CR-C 2.2 mi

11:07 AM 61.9 Bear LEFT (North-West) onto CR-C [Piotraschke Rd] 0.6 mi

11:08 AM 62.5 Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-C 0.6 mi

11:09 AM 63.1 Turn LEFT to stay on CR-C 2.7 mi

11:14 AM 65.8 At 8662 Cr Calle, Plain, WI 53577, stay on CR-C (North) 76 yds

11:15 AM 65.9 Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-PF 3.9 mi

11:22 AM 69.8 Bear LEFT (North-West) onto CR-D 1.6 mi

11:25 AM 71.4 Keep STRAIGHT onto County Rd W 2.6 mi

11:30 AM 74.0 At County Rd W, turn LEFT (South) onto SR-23 3.7 mi

11:36 AM 77.7 Turn RIGHT (West) onto CR-GG 2.0 mi

11:40 AM 79.7 At 4303 CR-Gg, Hillpoint, WI 53937, turn LEFT (South) onto CR-G 2.4 mi

11:45 AM 82.1 Rest break (15 mins)

12:00 PM 82.1 Stay on CR-G (South) 1.4 mi

12:04 PM 83.5 Turn LEFT to stay on CR-G 3.8 mi

12:15 PM 87.3 At 4246 CR-B, Spring Green, WI 53588, turn RIGHT (West) onto CR-B [CR-G] 0.1 mi

12:16 PM 87.4 Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-B 6.0 mi

12:34 PM 93.4 Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-130 1.5 mi

12:37 PM 94.9 At 29939 CR-B, Lone Rock, WI 53556, turn LEFT (West) onto CR-B 3.6 mi

12:43 PM 98.5 At 29080 CR-B, Lone Rock, WI 53556, turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-BB 0.4 mi

12:44 PM 98.9 At 28720 CR-Bb, Lone Rock, WI 53556, stay on CR-BB (West) 0.7 mi

12:47 PM 99.5 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-B 1.6 mi

12:50 PM 101.2 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-58 1.2 mi

12:52 PM 102.4 At 25400 SR-58, Richland Center, WI 53581, turn LEFT (North) onto CR-NN 0.3 mi

12:53 PM 102.7 Road name changes to County Hwy N [CR-NN] 21 yds

12:53 PM 102.7 Turn LEFT to stay on County Hwy N [CR-NN] 21 yds

12:54 PM 102.7 Road name changes to CR-NN 1.2 mi

12:58 PM 103.9 Turn LEFT (West) onto County Hwy N 2.2 mi

1:05 PM 106.2 At 26425 County Hwy N, Richland Center, WI 53581, stay on County Hwy N (South) 2.3 mi

1:12 PM 108.4 At 808 County Hwy N, Richland Center, WI 53581, road name changes to CR-N [ithaca Rd] 164 yds

1:12 PM 108.5 Bear RIGHT (West) onto (E) Haseltine St 0.5 mi

1:15 PM 109.0 Turn RIGHT (North) onto US-14 [s Main St] 0.3 mi

1:15 PM 109.2 Rest break (15 mins)

1:30 PM 109.2 Stay on US-14 [N Main St] (North) 0.4 mi

1:31 PM 109.6 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-56 [N Main St] 98 yds

1:31 PM 109.7 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-56 [sR-80] 0.5 mi

1:32 PM 110.2 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-56 [Allison Park Dr] 0.5 mi

1:33 PM 110.7 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-56 [sR-80] 1.1 mi

1:35 PM 111.7 At 22691 SR-56, Richland Center, WI 53581, turn LEFT (West) onto CR-A 4.8 mi

1:43 PM 116.6 Bear LEFT (West) onto CR-Z 0.5 mi

1:45 PM 117.0 At 21548 CR-Z, Richland Center, WI 53581, stay on CR-Z (West) 3.7 mi

1:56 PM 120.7 At 24497 CR-Z, Richland Center, WI 53581, turn RIGHT (West) onto US-14 0.5 mi

1:57 PM 121.2 At 18250 US-14, Richland Center, WI 53581, turn RIGHT (North-West) onto County Hwy E 4.8 mi

2:05 PM 126.0 At County Hwy E, stay on County Hwy E (North) 0.8 mi

2:06 PM 126.8 Turn LEFT to stay on County Hwy E 4.2 mi

2:14 PM 131.1 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-G 3.5 mi

2:20 PM 134.6 At 13030 CR-I, Viola, WI 54664, turn LEFT (West) onto CR-I 0.9 mi

2:21 PM 135.5 At 15497 CR-G, Viola, WI 54664, turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-G 2.0 mi

2:28 PM 137.5 At 13505 CR-G, Viola, WI 54664, turn LEFT (West) onto SR-56 1.8 mi

2:31 PM 139.3 Bear RIGHT (North-West) onto SR-56 [Main St], then immediately bear LEFT (West) onto SR-131 [E Commercial St] 0.3 mi

2:32 PM 139.6 At SR-56, Viola, WI 54664, turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-56 [W Commercial St] 0.3 mi

2:32 PM 139.9 Bear LEFT (West) onto SR-56 1.9 mi

2:35 PM 141.7 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-56 [CR-SS] 1.2 mi

2:37 PM 142.9 At Liberty, stay on SR-56 [CR-S] (West) 21 yds

2:37 PM 143.0 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-56 [CR-SS] 0.7 mi

2:38 PM 143.6 Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-56 3.9 mi

2:45 PM 147.5 Rest break (15 mins)

3:00 PM 147.5 Stay on SR-56 (West) 0.5 mi

3:01 PM 148.0 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-56 [sR-82] 3.8 mi

3:07 PM 151.8 Bear LEFT (West) onto SR-56 [E Decker St] 0.6 mi

3:09 PM 152.4 At 103 SR-56, Viroqua, WI 54665, stay on SR-56 [W Decker St] (West) 0.5 mi

3:09 PM 152.9 Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-56 [Hillyer St] 0.1 mi

3:10 PM 153.0 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-56 [W Broadway St] 0.4 mi

3:11 PM 153.4 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-B 4.6 mi

3:19 PM 158.0 At CR-B, Viroqua, WI 54665, stay on CR-B (West) 5.7 mi

3:28 PM 163.7 Turn RIGHT to stay on CR-B 2.0 mi

3:32 PM 165.7 At US-14, Westby, WI 54667, turn LEFT (West) onto US-14 [uS-61] 1.5 mi

3:34 PM 167.2 At US-14, Coon Valley, WI 54623, turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-162 2.5 mi

3:38 PM 169.7 At 2311 County Hwy N, Coon Valley, WI 54623, turn LEFT (West) onto CR-N [County Rd N] 0.8 mi

3:40 PM 170.5 Turn RIGHT to stay on CR-N [County Rd N] 1.1 mi

3:44 PM 171.6 At 3092 County Hwy N, Coon Valley, WI 54623, stay on CR-N [County Rd N] (West) 1.4 mi

3:48 PM 173.0 At US-14, Westby, WI 54667, turn RIGHT (West) onto US-14 [uS-61] 2.3 mi

3:51 PM 175.3 At 4026 US-14, Coon Valley, WI 54623, stay on US-14 [uS-14 61] (North) 1.8 mi

3:53 PM 177.2 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-Yy 1.6 mi

3:58 PM 178.8 Turn RIGHT to stay on CR-Yy 2.0 mi

4:04 PM 180.7 At near St. Joseph, turn LEFT (North-West) onto SR-33 1.7 mi

4:08 PM 182.5 Bear RIGHT (North) onto CR-Oa 1.5 mi

4:12 PM 184.0 Turn RIGHT to stay on CR-Oa 1.5 mi

4:17 PM 185.5 Rest break (15 mins)

4:32 PM 185.5 Stay on CR-Oa (North) 0.8 mi

4:34 PM 186.3 At near Barre Mills, stay on CR-Oa (North) 0.2 mi

4:35 PM 186.5 Turn RIGHT (East) onto CR-O 0.4 mi

4:37 PM 186.9 Turn LEFT (North) onto CR-M 2.6 mi

4:45 PM 189.6 Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-B [CR-M] 1.3 mi

4:50 PM 190.9 Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-M 0.3 mi

4:51 PM 191.2 Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-16 [W City HWY-16] 1.3 mi

4:55 PM 192.5 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-16 [CR-C] 0.3 mi

4:56 PM 192.8 Keep LEFT onto SR-108 [CR-C] 0.5 mi

4:57 PM 193.3 Bear LEFT (North) onto SR-108 0.4 mi

4:58 PM 193.7 Turn RIGHT to stay on SR-108 1.5 mi

5:00 PM 195.3 Turn LEFT to stay on SR-108 7.0 mi

5:13 PM 202.3 Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-T 0.3 mi

5:13 PM 202.6 At near Mindoro, stay on CR-T (West) 10.0 mi

5:31 PM 212.6 Turn RIGHT (North) onto US-53 [sR-93] 4.3 mi

5:36 PM 216.9 Turn RIGHT (North) onto US-53 [Main St], then immediately turn LEFT (West) onto Ramp 0.1 mi

5:36 PM 217.0 Merge onto SR-54 [sR-93] 5.1 mi

5:45 PM 222.1 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-35 [sR-54] 1.1 mi

5:47 PM 223.2 Rest break (15 mins)

6:02 PM 223.2 Stay on SR-35 [sR-54] (West) 2.4 mi

6:07 PM 225.7 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-G 4.0 mi

6:14 PM 229.7 Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-J 1.7 mi

6:17 PM 231.3 Arrive near Dodge

End of day

DAY 2

9:00 AM 231.3 Depart near Dodge on CR-J (North) 13.0 mi

9:22 AM 244.3 Road name changes to S Saint Joseph Ave [st Josephs Ave] 0.2 mi

9:23 AM 244.5 At near Arcadia, stay on S Saint Joseph Ave (North) 0.2 mi

9:24 AM 244.8 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-95 [E Main St] 0.1 mi

9:24 AM 244.9 Bear LEFT (West) onto SR-95 [Main St E] 54 yds

9:24 AM 244.9 Bear RIGHT (West) onto SR-95 [E Main St] 0.4 mi

9:24 AM 245.3 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-95 [W Main St] 0.3 mi

9:25 AM 245.6 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-95 1.9 mi

9:29 AM 247.6 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-C 3.7 mi

9:35 AM 251.3 Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-C [RR-1] 2.5 mi

9:39 AM 253.8 Bear RIGHT (North-West) onto CR-C 4.8 mi

9:48 AM 258.6 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-U 0.6 mi

9:49 AM 259.2 At near Montana, stay on CR-U (North) 1.9 mi

9:53 AM 261.1 Road name changes to CR-X [CR-U] 153 yds

9:54 AM 261.1 Turn LEFT (North-West) onto CR-U 3.4 mi

10:00 AM 264.5 Bear RIGHT (North-East) onto SR-88 4.6 mi

10:08 AM 269.1 Turn LEFT (North-West) onto Brixen Rd 0.4 mi

10:10 AM 269.5 Turn LEFT (West) onto RR-2 1.4 mi

10:13 AM 270.9 Turn RIGHT (North) onto RR-3 0.8 mi

10:15 AM 271.7 Rest break (15 mins)

10:30 AM 271.7 Road name changes to CR-B 21 yds

10:30 AM 271.8 Bear LEFT (West) onto CR-D 3.6 mi

10:37 AM 275.4 At near Modena, stay on CR-D (North) 0.2 mi

10:37 AM 275.6 Turn LEFT to stay on CR-D 0.8 mi

10:39 AM 276.5 Bear RIGHT (North) onto CR-J 6.6 mi

10:50 AM 283.1 Turn LEFT to stay on CR-J 1.2 mi

10:52 AM 284.3 Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-J [RR-2] 1.5 mi

10:55 AM 285.8 Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-A [CR-J] 0.6 mi

10:57 AM 286.4 Road name changes to CR-J [RR-2] 0.2 mi

10:58 AM 286.6 Road name changes to CR-A [CR-J] 0.5 mi

10:59 AM 287.1 Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-B [CR-J] 0.4 mi

11:00 AM 287.5 Turn LEFT (West) onto US-10 6.1 mi

11:08 AM 293.6 Turn LEFT (South-West) onto US-10 [E Prospect St] 0.8 mi

11:09 AM 294.4 Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto US-10 [3rd Ave W] 1.7 mi

11:11 AM 296.1 Turn RIGHT (North-East) onto SR-25 0.7 mi

11:13 AM 296.7 Bear LEFT (North) onto CR-D 3.9 mi

11:19 AM 300.6 Turn RIGHT to stay on CR-D 2.3 mi

11:24 AM 303.0 Turn LEFT (West) onto (S) CR-P 2.5 mi

11:28 AM 305.5 Turn RIGHT to stay on S CR-P 5.8 mi

11:40 AM 311.3 Bear RIGHT (North) onto CR-P [s Public St] 0.2 mi

11:40 AM 311.5 Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-P [N Public St] 131 yds

11:41 AM 311.6 Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-72 [E Race Ave] 87 yds

11:41 AM 311.6 At Elmwood, stay on SR-72 [E Race Ave] (West) 76 yds

11:41 AM 311.7 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-72 [W Race Ave] 0.4 mi

11:41 AM 312.1 Bear RIGHT (West) onto SR-72 [W Winter Ave] 0.7 mi

11:43 AM 312.8 Bear RIGHT (West) onto CR-G 1.1 mi

11:45 AM 313.9 Rest break (15 mins)

12:00 PM 313.9 Stay on CR-G (West) 3.4 mi

12:06 PM 317.3 Turn LEFT (South) onto CR-CC [CR-G] 0.5 mi

12:08 PM 317.8 Turn RIGHT (West) onto CR-G 4.6 mi

12:16 PM 322.4 Turn LEFT to stay on CR-G 98 yds

12:16 PM 322.5 Turn RIGHT (North) onto County Rd N 7.1 mi

12:29 PM 329.6 Bear LEFT (South-West) onto CR-J 0.3 mi

12:30 PM 329.9 Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto SR-65 [CR-J] 1.0 mi

12:32 PM 330.9 At Beldenville, stay on SR-65 [CR-J] (West) 1.1 mi

12:34 PM 332.0 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-65 6.6 mi

12:46 PM 338.6 Road name changes to SR-35 [sR-65] 2.6 mi

12:51 PM 341.2 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-35 3.1 mi

12:56 PM 344.3 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-35 [HWY-35] 3.8 mi

1:02 PM 348.1 Take Ramp onto I-94 [uS-12] 0.4 mi

1:03 PM 348.4 At exit 4, turn off onto Ramp 0.2 mi

1:03 PM 348.6 Turn LEFT (North) onto US-12 [HWY-12], then immediately turn LEFT (West) onto Ramp 0.4 mi

1:04 PM 349.0 Merge onto I-94 [uS-12] 0.9 mi

1:04 PM 349.9 Arrive near Northline

 

SUMMARY

Driving distance: 349.9 miles

 

I did this a couple of times without GPS, using a highlighted map and a route sheet in my tank bag. It was very tedious to have to keep checking turn directions, odometer readings, and doing math in my head to figure out how far to the next turn, all while trying to enjoy a spirited ride. With GPS, you can put the critical data on the map display: distance to next turn, time remaining to next turn, and name of next road. One glance, and I know, OK, 25 seconds to next turn, keep my eyes peeled, etc. Much more enjoyable. LIkewise on group rides; you don't worry so much about trying to keep the rider in front of you in sight, you just go your own pace and take the GPS directions as they come.

[dukestodd]

My long distance ridding hasn’t changed much, other than I am much more willing to try and get lost, since the GPS will always help me find my way home.

 

The biggest difference to my riding has been while I am cranking it over in the tight twistys. I zoom my GPS into just a few hundred yards to get a better idea of the profile of the next corner. I know that the GPS isn’t going to tell me about the dog that is lurking around the next corner, or the next idiot with 6ft wide towing mirrors on his pickup, but it does give me a little more information about how tight the next corner is, how long it is, if there is a quick switch back .etc I feel the split second it takes me to glance at the GPS between corners makes me better prepared to enter the next corner.

 

Todd

[Jim VonBaden]

... to see things I wouldn't see .....

Like a nasty hairpin coming up?

 

 

This was a blindish, unmarked, decreasing radius, right hander, and way out of character from the last 6 miles of the road we were on. It took out the rider in front of me.... I saw it coming up on the GPS but had no way of warning him. What's that worth?

 

(Waypointed the spot to give the ambulance GPS coordinates.)

 

At the risk of bringing out the safety natzis again, I also use the GPS like that. I ride a LOT of unfamiliar roads, and in addition to paying close attention to curve clues like tree lines, power lines, road surface changes etc. I also use the GPS set at 500 feet to see what's coming. I don't rely on it exclusively, and I do not look at it during a turn, but is has warned me many times of dangerous curves ahead.

 

My friends who ride with me are always impressed by how fast I ride on unfamiliar roads, but part of it is the use of the GPS.

 

Of course I also use it for all the other things listed above.

 

Jim

[Corkus]

Wow, totally cool thread folks. Thanks a bunch.

 

You've all helped convince me to change my life by getting a GPS. I don't make these decisions easily . I've been holding out for years without any added electronics on my bikes at all so this is another reversal for me. (Bill Strang will be proud of me ) I hope this isn't the slippery slope to electronics oblivion I always thought it would be.

 

Here's my thread on which GPS to buy. Please add your advice there, I need it.

[Timmer]

Cory,

So you've already forgotten how I managed to get us all lost on the Sacramento freeways to Bill's house - with a GPS?

It is the slippery slope to electronics oblivion.

[EricJRW]

I like GPS for many of the above reasons, but at times I get so lazzzzy I don't even have a picture in my head as to where I'm going an just blidly follow the cursed device.

 

I need to keep reminding myself to bring a paper map just in case the damn thing fails...

[MotoBoy]

I hardly ever use mine to go somewhere, unless it's somewhere totally unfamiliar to me. What I use it for is to GET BACK from "wanders." I like to go out and just make random turns on a whim, or because I see a hawk flying over there or because I spot some hills which might = a fun road, or whatever.

 

After a few hours of this, I often have only a vague idea where I am - sometimes not even what State I'm in - and then I'll pull up the "Home" waypoint or that of some nice eatery and do a "go to."

 

Without the GPS, I have to at least sort of keep track of where I am or use a map or some other tedious stuff.