Originally Posted by
indyfabz
I still make paper cue sheets for touring in unfamiliar areas after using things like RWGPS to help lan the routes.
The nice thing about GPS is they make cue sheets unnecessary and they work better too. If you can follow the route line on the device map, you can see turns ahead of time and recover from missed turns. And you don't have to look for street signs (which might not even exist). Cue sheets typically require the use of a cycle computer (so they don't keep you from using "technology").
People can do what they like but you aren't getting much for the extra effort of creating cue sheets. Lots of people manage to use GPS devices without cue sheets.
Originally Posted by
indyfabz
I use the phone for things like on the fly detours. I like not having to deal with the phone, and not having to use it lengthens battery life. That's critical in cases where I maight not have access to power for a couple of days.
The phone is a cheap backup even if you prefer not to use it.
Originally Posted by
indyfabz
RWGPS sometimes does funky stuff when I make maps. Sometimes I have to add points every inch or even half inch to keep it from taking some round about route. Drives me crazy.
Some of this "funky stuff" might be due to missing map data. Note that RWGPS lets you use different maps (for routing) and you can flip between them. The newer Garmins come with maps based on Openstreetmap (OSM) data. If "you" are using OSM maps on your device, it might make sense to choose OSM in RWGPS.
Originally Posted by
indyfabz
A couple of times I have mapped multi-day routes assuming it would "do the right thing". Then I looked at the entire route when finished only to see that it took some odd "detours."
"Assuming it would do the right thing"
and not looking at the route is really a case of "not using the tool carefully".