Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005?

[MsMittens]

I've been asked what I want for Christmas (besides someone paying for a new bike) I suggested the MS Streets and Trips 2005. I was curious if anyone else has used it. Traditionally I pour over maps, campground books and variety of other sources but I wonder if this might have more in one package rather than me killing more trees so to speak. :D

[blwyn]

I've used earlier versions of it. I find that bythe time I zoom into the level of detail that I want for cycling, the scale is so small that it is nearly worthless for putting a route together with.

[oknups]

Streets and trips is worthless for riding. Check out Topo 5.0, a bit hard in the user interface, but very good for routing and very nice to know gradient information along your route, it will give you an elevation profile of the route you make.

[chieftwonuneez]

DeLorme's TOpo5 is worth the look /see. It's aboput $100 US but only $60 if you happened to have any previous versions of their Street Atlas USA or Global explorer.
The 3-D for route planning is pretty cool. Elevation profiles, mileages, and the print outs are great. I just not have converted to the GpS. The entire program is too massive for downloading to GPS, so you have to use segments. I am trying to figure out how to use it for my cross country trips, that sometimes last 6 months. Now if we can get one that tells you if the route has shoulders for cycling!

Anyway you may find it beneficial.

[gpsblake]

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.streets-trips
is the usenet discussion group for it.

A lot of them do not recommend 2005 edition as the detail has declined greatly over the 2004 version. I still use my faithful Delorme 8.0 but would like to get Delorme's Topo 5.0 when I save up the cash for it.

Cheers,
BLake

[MsMittens]

Hrmm.. the Delorme looks good but it's only USA?! There are other places to visit (like Canada), which is something I need.

[Lucky13]

I'm not a fan of mapping software...tried Streets 'n Trips along with Street Atlas USA. I just can't seem to make much use of them for cycling purposes.

[oknups]

Did not know it was USA only. Sorry about that,
Check out Garmin map source, I used it when iI had a gps, I am sure they have Canada in thier map set. I checked thier web site.

[supcom]

I'm not a fan of mapping software...tried Streets 'n Trips along with Street Atlas USA. I just can't seem to make much use of them for cycling purposes.

I use TopoUSA constantly for cycling purposes. With evey street in the US plus topographic data, it's a wonderful planning tool for cycling. Unlike web based routing tools like mapquest, you have complete control over your route. The only thing that TopoUSA lacks are the points of interest data that are in Street Atlas and other similar products. However, it's easy enough to look up restaurants, motels, etc. on the web and add them to you route map.

[gpsblake]

this is what I get when I combine my GPS with Delorme Street Atlas 8.0.
Here is an example of one of my rides. I log them all like this.

http://bellsouthpwp.net/p/a/patblakely/121004.jpg

I use the mapping program to explore roads I haven't been on before and after my rides, I upload the data to Street Atlas 8.0 via G7tonwin program. I keep track of all my rides this way. I can imagine using Topo 5.0 would even be better as I would be able to see my elevation during the ride.

[Lucky13]

I know it's a bit of a stretch, but with the mapping software, it seems that with one screen shot I'm viewing the state of Kansas and at the next screen I'm looking at the corner of 4th and Elm. If I zoom out to form a frame of reference, then all detail is lost. If I zoom in for detail, than the opposite takes place. I simply prefer paper-based maps. I feel much the same about those god-awful PDF documents.