Originally Posted by
staehpj1
Generally I can point N, S, E, or W within 10-15 degrees without the need for one at least in daylight hours cloudy or not or at night with a clear sky. That is typically good enough, so if you have a reasonable sense of direction a compass may not be necessary.
+1
The sun and stars will generally tell you what you need to know. Landmarks and a good idea of how fast you generally ride can fill in the rest of the details.