Map your rides
I have been playing around with a couple of websites that allow you to map out your favorite training routes. There are quite a few out there, but the one I found easiest to use and prefer is TopoRoute.com. The routes are easy to create and will actually follow the roads you choose. I have tried using several others and even after clicking on what I think should work the route will either stay a straight line or take an alternate route. As you know we cyclists don't always take the shortest route to our destination.
I have a couple of software programs like Topo and Streets Atlas loaded on my computer as well as a Delorme product that's supposed to help me map out routes. I even have a BlueLogger device that I can carry with me to then upload to my computer with all the data points. I have yet to get that thing to work in a manner that makes sense to even take the time to use it anymore. So if anyone out there knows how to use them effectively and wants to make me a deal then make an offer! In the meantime I'll stick to these websites.
A couple of others I checked out were MapMyRide.com and Bikely.com, both of which essentially do the same thing as TopoRoute. I simply didn't find them as easy to navigate and use as TopoRoute, which is the no frills version compared to the others. TopoRoute allows you to create a route and save the URL, and then you can forward the link to all your friends. The mapping program allows you to zoom in or out so you can get down to the smallest of details. All the roads on each of the programs are marked with many landmarks to help you navigate.
What is cool about MapMyRide is that you can save the routes on the site for all others to share, and by using their search function one can find a route just about anywhere. There are quite a few in Tennessee listed that will be familiar to you, and I even see some familiar names listed who have gone in and posted their favorites.
How I see this helping me and anyone else is not only in the ability to share routes with friends, but also have the opportunity to learn new roads and how they connect with those we already ride. I was scrolling N-S-E-W looking for alternative roads to some of the same-ole same-ole and found several in an instant. Let's face it, we really don't want to pull out road maps on the hood of a car, but we will go online and become Lewis & Clark.
The Bikely.com site led me to BikeRadar.com, which is based out of England. BikeRadar.com is loaded with a lot of news and relevant cycling articles. From there I found some things worth keeping on eye on in the future.
So back to TopoRoute.com. Here are couple of routes I created as starters just playing around, but they're ones I've ridden myself quite a few times. Over the next few weeks I'll create a few more and likely end up adding them to my website. The lack of maps and routes on NC.com is due to my inability to get the BlueLogger to work and my not knowing about sites such as TopoRoute.com.
Stay tuned for more, but in the meantime enjoy these two:
Lebanon-Statesville-Watertown-Norene-Cedars
Airplane Field-Bear Creek-Fernvale-Hwy100
I have a couple of software programs like Topo and Streets Atlas loaded on my computer as well as a Delorme product that's supposed to help me map out routes. I even have a BlueLogger device that I can carry with me to then upload to my computer with all the data points. I have yet to get that thing to work in a manner that makes sense to even take the time to use it anymore. So if anyone out there knows how to use them effectively and wants to make me a deal then make an offer! In the meantime I'll stick to these websites.
A couple of others I checked out were MapMyRide.com and Bikely.com, both of which essentially do the same thing as TopoRoute. I simply didn't find them as easy to navigate and use as TopoRoute, which is the no frills version compared to the others. TopoRoute allows you to create a route and save the URL, and then you can forward the link to all your friends. The mapping program allows you to zoom in or out so you can get down to the smallest of details. All the roads on each of the programs are marked with many landmarks to help you navigate.
What is cool about MapMyRide is that you can save the routes on the site for all others to share, and by using their search function one can find a route just about anywhere. There are quite a few in Tennessee listed that will be familiar to you, and I even see some familiar names listed who have gone in and posted their favorites.
How I see this helping me and anyone else is not only in the ability to share routes with friends, but also have the opportunity to learn new roads and how they connect with those we already ride. I was scrolling N-S-E-W looking for alternative roads to some of the same-ole same-ole and found several in an instant. Let's face it, we really don't want to pull out road maps on the hood of a car, but we will go online and become Lewis & Clark.
The Bikely.com site led me to BikeRadar.com, which is based out of England. BikeRadar.com is loaded with a lot of news and relevant cycling articles. From there I found some things worth keeping on eye on in the future.
So back to TopoRoute.com. Here are couple of routes I created as starters just playing around, but they're ones I've ridden myself quite a few times. Over the next few weeks I'll create a few more and likely end up adding them to my website. The lack of maps and routes on NC.com is due to my inability to get the BlueLogger to work and my not knowing about sites such as TopoRoute.com.
Stay tuned for more, but in the meantime enjoy these two:
Lebanon-Statesville-Watertown-Norene-Cedars
Airplane Field-Bear Creek-Fernvale-Hwy100
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 10/25/2007 08:54:00 AM
1 Comments:
I presume you're familiar with Gmaps Pedometer (gmap-pedometer.com).
Easy to use, save and share routes.
Also has elevation profiles.
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