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Mel_A
04-09-07, 06:25 PM
What do you all use for charting a new route? I have been using g-map pedometer but it sure has limitations if you are doing the planning for small group rides of 50-80 miles. Want to show mapping, streets and elevation gains.
rafael
04-09-07, 08:27 PM
I use Topo USA by Delorme. Great topographic software once you get the hang of it. Will let you plan routes, then it can show elevation profiles, print directions and much more. Sorry to sound like a pitchman. I use it to plan my rides as well as to prepare for a brevet: I can plot the route and get a sense of climbs and ambiguous directions. Also, I can download maps and routes onto my PDA for reference on a ride. Served me well on a recent brevet when the local maps that were available did not show road names, and when the cue sheet said turn right, but the road was on the left - I could find my place and see which was correct and how it fit with other cues.
kandnhome
04-09-07, 08:30 PM
What do you all use for charting a new route? I have been using g-map pedometer but it sure has limitations if you are doing the planning for small group rides of 50-80 miles. Want to show mapping, streets and elevation gains.

Try http://www.toporoute.com. Gives all of the above, and it's free. And you can upload the GPX files to your GPS.
ken cummings
04-09-07, 08:48 PM
Toporoute.com had the nice feature where the program forces your route line to follow the road between the points you indicate. That way you do not miss dips and hills between the points you click on. A problem is that it forces the route onto roads only. If you know a paved short-cut between two roads it will not use it.
bmclaughlin807
04-09-07, 09:27 PM
Bikely.com, Routeslip.com, bikeroutetoaster.com

I prefer Routeslip.

Edit: Routeslip seems to be having SERIOUS issues right now. :(
supcom
04-10-07, 08:04 AM
The routeslip developer could not continue active development sometime last year so it's been coasting along. Bikely.com is very similar and my choice for online route making and route sharing.
spokenword
04-10-07, 11:34 AM
What do you all use for charting a new route? I have been using g-map pedometer but it sure has limitations if you are doing the planning for small group rides of 50-80 miles. Want to show mapping, streets and elevation gains.
I use bikely, but I don't always trust its elevation numbers.
lazzarello
04-10-07, 12:18 PM
Just found a page with instructions for converting and uploading GPX waypoints to a Garmin Edge 305 (http://www.marengo-ltd.com/gps/)

And...I just got back from a short ride using the route navigation feature. Totally works! Complete with beeps at quick turns.
supcom
04-11-07, 10:29 AM
I use bikely, but I don't always trust its elevation numbers.

Bikely only calculates elevation gains between the points you enter. It does not look up elevation data in between those points. As such, unless you enter an inordinate number of points, bikely will almost always underestimate the total climbing.
kandnhome
04-12-07, 11:12 PM
Toporoute.com had the nice feature where the program forces your route line to follow the road between the points you indicate. That way you do not miss dips and hills between the points you click on. A problem is that it forces the route onto roads only. If you know a paved short-cut between two roads it will not use it.


Sorry to hit this up so late, but I've been busy.

If you uncheck the "follow road" box for the section that you want to take as an off-road shortcut, then re-tick the box when you get back to the road, it works just fine.
Gunther
04-13-07, 09:20 AM
Toporoute.com had the nice feature where the program forces your route line to follow the road between the points you indicate. That way you do not miss dips and hills between the points you click on. A problem is that it forces the route onto roads only. If you know a paved short-cut between two roads it will not use it.

How does one get Toporoute to report route statistics like mileage, total elevation gain, or a cue sheet? In a brief test drive, I couldn't find these. The auto tracking on roads was really nice and certainly speeds up the process of laying out a route.

GtB
kandnhome
04-13-07, 12:01 PM
How does one get Toporoute to report route statistics like mileage, total elevation gain, or a cue sheet? In a brief test drive, I couldn't find these. The auto tracking on roads was really nice and certainly speeds up the process of laying out a route.

GtB

You can get the GPX by clicking the GPX button at the top of the screen, then use that GPX of your route in GPS software or upload it to a GPS unit, and it should tell you all of that.

Alternately you can get a rough graph by clicking the "elevation" button at the top. That gives a Chart showing Elevation on the Y-axis and distance on the X-axis.
bmike
04-13-07, 01:58 PM
Another vote for TopoUSA.
I used it last season pre-brevet to map the route, check the cue, and get a sense of the topography. I'd make notes on my cue sheet for upcoming challenges or landmarks.

You can set it to print turn by turn directions as well as do AAA 'triptik' style maps - which I've used when exploring some routes I'm hoping to turn into RUSA permanents. Would also be great for touring.
The Buckster
04-25-07, 04:55 PM
Does the feature to print the elevation/mileage graph work on Toporoute for anyone? For me, it prints some 6.38 mile route that isn't what I input.
bloodhound
05-04-07, 01:57 AM
What do you all use for charting a new route?

I just started using http://www.mapmyride.com

I was an avid user of routeslip.com before, but as mentioned in this thread, the author has discontinued his support of the site.
tibikefor2
05-04-07, 11:27 AM
Do any of these software packages create cue sheet?

Thanks.
bmike
05-04-07, 12:10 PM
Do any of these software packages create cue sheet?

Thanks.

TopoUSA can generate turn directions with street names. I haven't found a great way to edit them though - and I don't think you can export them to a spreadsheet or any other useful program. Topo will also create "slip" maps - similar to AAA style 'TripTik' route directions / basically narrow maps that follow your route, and you can turn on the "turns" feature to have callouts along the sides of the maps. I've used the map portion before when trying a new route - they are sort of like the Adventure Cycling maps, without all the extra info.

I also like Topo as you can set a speed for each type of road - so 60mph for highways, 45 for state routes... etc.

I've set mine to avoid interstates and then set my speed at my average brevet finishing speed for all other roads. Its not 100% accurate because it doesn't account for terrain - but for planning purposes its close enough to figure rough time frames for stops, control arrival times, etc.
tibikefor2
05-04-07, 04:12 PM
Thanks.
Shadowcaver
05-08-07, 03:37 PM
If haven't seen it, might check out this thread too:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=285548

As I mentioned there, I really like the mapmyride.com version, for all the features/stability/speed that it offers. Of course, I've not messed w/ the other ones that much as of yet, but am looking at them too.