Originally Posted by
Steve B.
I find the best way to navigate with the assorted Garmins I've owned is to create a course on RideWithGPS (or Garmin Connect), create the route/course and download to the device. Not using the device and using Connect or an alternative route creation program, gives me excellent control over where the course takes me. Its easy to select a bike path as example, or take an appropriate road. I never let the device create the route as I do not trust it to be smart enough to make good route choices. If I am unfamiliar with an area I will be riding, I actually sometimes use the bicycle route that Google Maps can generate, then I'll check with satellite view to determine if the route looks viable (good shoulders, etc... ). Then I'll draw that route in RWGPS. I find the device is very reliable at giving me good turn-by-turn directions, so use this often.
I agree with trying to plan a route in advance in RWGPS, and that's the way I mostly do it when going point to point. That said, the Garmin cycle maps with popularity routing can be fun as well. If in an unfamiliar area with high road densities as in Europe, what I have done is find a list of towns and have the device route to each. I will link a group of towns say 15km or so apart in a circular pattern. The routes can end up being amazing and a lot of fun.