Northern California - Bike Route Elevation Programs

Does anyone know how to find elevation programs listing routes in areas of the U.S.? I'm doing the MS150 in the Tahoe area and would like to know how steep and sustained the climbing is on the route. I've seen clubs post an elevation profile of their rides, but don't know how to find that out myself. Thanks.

I've been using "Bikely.com", but it's kind of a pain to use, sicne you have to map out the route piece by piece - it looks at simple point-to-point linear distance and elevation, so on a curvy road you have to build it up from tiny segments.

Still, it's better than nothing. I dream of a program that would let you input the roads and turns and draw it out for you. If somebody knows of one, speak up!

I've been using "Bikely.com", but it's kind of a pain to use, sicne you have to map out the route piece by piece - it looks at simple point-to-point linear distance and elevation, so on a curvy road you have to build it up from tiny segments.

Still, it's better than nothing. I dream of a program that would let you input the roads and turns and draw it out for you. If somebody knows of one, speak up!

I guess routeslip.com is similar to bikely.com, but when you "draw" the route it has an "auto route" function that usually does pretty good in following the street. Off-road, bike route or very small streets are not supported by the auto route function.

http://www.routeslip.com

Thanks. I'll have to try routeslip. I tried Bikely, and when I try to go back on an "out and back" section, a green "teardrop" appears. I can't seem to get rid of the teardrop, and when going around curved areas it cuts "cross country".

Thanks. I'll have to try routeslip. I tried Bikely, and when I try to go back on an "out and back" section, a green "teardrop" appears. I can't seem to get rid of the teardrop, and when going around curved areas it cuts "cross country".The auto route function gets confused when you do out and back sections. I recommend switching it off for the back section. For a true out and back route they supposedly have a special function, but I haven't tried that, yet.

For mapping out rides in the Bay Area, check out Don Axtell's excellent BikeMaster program.

http://home.att.net/~bikemaster/index.htm

You can download an evaluation copy for free, and for $30 you can get the full-function version.

The program contains a pre-loaded map with most of the commonly bicycled roads in the greater Bay Area. To draw a route using this program you simply click on the roads on the map, or click on the names of the roads shown on the side of the map.

When you're finished mapping out your route you can save it, and you'll get the mileage, elevation profile, total elevation gain, and you can print out a cuesheet with all that info. Also, you can get an idea of how long it should take you to ride the route, based on your ability level (per the ACTC's ride classification system) and how long are your breaks.

The program also comes pre-loaded with lots of routes.

The only downside to this program is that not every possible Bay Area road is included, but as far as I can tell it has most of the major roads that one would ride. It also doesn't provide the % grade on climbs. So it goes.

I use this program a lot for mapping out routes and getting an idea of elevation gain. Two thumbs up.

- Jo.

Thanks everyone. This was for a ride near Lake Tahoe. Routeslip kept locking up my computer until I finally got the first day route in. It actually shows an extra climb since the road goes up and over, while we will be cycling on the trail next to the lake. I'm trying to find out what the percent grade is for the climbs, and they look a bit steep on the graph. I may have to suffer on the Trek instead of my recumbent.

Motionbased has these profiles and more.

BR

Are you sure routeslip was locking up? Sometimes it takes quite a while to do the climb calculation, but it's still working. I had to wait almost a half hour the other day for it to finish.

Are you sure routeslip was locking up? Sometimes it takes quite a while to do the climb calculation, but it's still working. I had to wait almost a half hour the other day for it to finish.


That would deefinitely explain it. Thanks.