I have a commute in Phoenix, AZ that is about 11-12miles. My first day I printed directions out. Missed a turn and added a few miles :/ Not that it's a bad thing. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a GPS app for a phone that might give you turn by turn directions. I tried the Google maps app (android phone) but there is no option for bicycle. I take a zig-zag pattern through the city to avoid the major streets. I did have to reference my directions a few times. I would also think it would be handy to have so I can go other places too. Lastly, I used my front brakes too much and had the back tire lift up a bit. When it came down the chain on the front gears came off. What caused this? Great website here!

Google maps on Android does have bicycle directions.

Make sure you're updated to 6.0.0
Open Maps
Click Menu
Click Directions
An address drop-down should appear with various addresses you've previously entered
Underneath that address box should be four buttons (left to right): car, bus, bike, walking

Your simply rock sir! Not sure how the hell I missed that one. Anyone know how Google maps does while using the program Endmondo? Also I know Navigation does turn by turn. Does Google Maps or does Navigation have a bike option?

Android does have it but it doesnt speak to you. Maybe in time!

I mapped it out with paper and then mapped it at mapmyride.com and printed out a cue sheet and use that. I am in the same boat as you. Take it slow, take the cue sheet and go for it!

Never used that site. New this this biking world. What does the cue sheet do for ya? What info. does it have on it?

Use Walking in Navigation because it's based on walking and bike paths.
I'm not sure if it vibrates or talks, though, I haven't used it.

When you click on Navigation there should be a little "Driving" up in the top left corner. That's actually a drop-down list that you can press and select "Walking"

Well done on your first commute! I have a feeling that you will only need directions for another few days, I have always found that I develop a more meaningful memory of my paths when I am biking rather than driving.

I would suggest riding your commute route down and back several times this weekend, I constantly tweak my route on the fly. Meaning that when I get stuck in traffic or I don't want to climb a particular hill, I can switch things up.

My commute path is dynamic and is always evolving, even after 4 years at the same job. I have lots of choices to extend or shorten my ride depending on my mood and the time of year and construction conditions.

Found this:
https://market.android.com/details?i...heep.bikeroute

It's an app that states that it has turn by turn. I am going to try it out tomorrow on my commute I will report back and let everyone know how it goes.

Ryanwood. I am lucky to live in Phoenix so weather is not an issue. Except for summer, but I work the night shift. Basically right now I am looking for the quickest way between A and B. I am 273lbs. so doing this for weight loss too/general health. Along with money savings and being better on the environment. Currently down 15 lbs. form doing light workouts and eating right. Though I do look forward to the day I can tweak my ride to get more miles in. Since you seem like you ride a lot. What do you do when you ride to a new place you have never been before?

Thanks for the pat on the back. Coming into work was easy. Going home was the hard part, legs felt like they had no power lol. As for a bike. I got a Cannondale Adventure 5, how did I do?

mapmyride.com is pretty neat. Its like a map of your town thats online that allows you to plan your own route. I still like to plan it street by street with pen and paper and then go to mapmyride.com and map the route out and then print out the cue sheet (which are directions if you will turn by turn). I think keep it in my jersey pocket or my cue sheet holder on my bike.

Over time you will master the route and wont need directions but mapmyride.com is solid because I can plan out other routes like grocery stores, etc. I am just learning to use it.

hope this helps!

What do you use for your que sheet holder? I found it a pain to get into my pocket on my sweats to check the google maps directions I printed out.

Write it on the back of your hand, duh. Just don't sweat and wipe your forehead. Honestly though after a few more trips you won't need a map at all. That's part of the fun, you don't have to ride like a car. Maps? We don't need no stinkin' maps. As for your braking issue, always apply that rear first even though most of your braking power comes from the front. Lock up that front one without touching the back and you will likely go flying over the handlebars!

+1. Rather than turn-by-turn directions (which can hose you after missing one turn), play around with Google Maps and form an overall impression of where you will be. Print out a map (or use gadgets) and do some "exploring" over the weekend, if you can. It's a lot more fun to get off-track and discover new routes.

- Scott

I love map reading. Old fashioned paper maps... I am not talking about GPS'es and Google maps. I just love looking at paper maps and planning my routes.

I like the paper maps too. Although I look over google earth and maps as well. Satellite view can tell you more than a road map about terrain conditions. But sometimes it is fun to discover new territory too.

To the OP, just familiarize yourself with the area. Most of Phoenix is easily navigated. You can miss one turn and catch the next one, usually.

It's impossible to get totally lost. Just learn the various mountains around you and use them as landmarks. I've missed a few turns in my day as well. As my Dad used to say when we were off the main track (not lost), "We're taking the scenic route!"

android gmaps has turn-by-turn for driving and walking but not biking. for bike directions you can only see the route mapped out.

so I would just set it to walking directions. only two potential problems: 1) the view shifts to satellite, which is a little harder to see 2) it might send you backwards down a one-way street!

of course you could put it in turn-by-turn driving mode, which will probably be fine for an urban commute. just don't get on any highways :-)

Not to discount the power of technology... but commuting by bicycle often offers routes not known to any computing device, because the information isn`t official.
Take cul-de-sac`s for instance... obviously a dead end for any 4 wheel monstrosity - but neighborhood kids have a way of paving trails between those normally sequestered stretches of quite pavement.

I can actually move from one end of town to the other (about 7 miles) without ever touching a main surface street, using this method (and only be about 10 mins slower than a stressful, albeit more direct, route).

Thanks everyone for the information. Today I used Google Maps but had the route down fairly good. Thanks again everyone one.

cue sheet holder..... I used a plastic one I got at a bike shop that connects to my handbars. Works great.

I use an Android phone with Google Maps and it does have a bike option. However I don't always care for the bike directions as they seem to unnecessarily extend one's trip. Such as this past Sunday I wanted to go to the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center for a concert. I went straight up 62nd Ave. N. to 49th St. N. For a total of 6.03 miles. If I'd used the Google Maps biking directions it would have add an extra mile or two to my trip.

Not that under normal circumstances that that would have been a bad thing, but given that I had a particular destination in mind for a particular event and I didn't want to arrive all hot and sweaty (this is Florida after all and even though it has cooled off it's still warm enough to easy work up a sweat). I wanted the shortest route possible. Which turned out to be a slightly modified car route.

My version of Google maps has a drop down box that includes:

driving
biking
walking
mass transit i.e. public bus

With either the driving or walking option giving the better route.

Another example of the biking directions taking one out of their way to get somewhere. If I were to use it to route my trip to my g/f's it would take me out down to 1st St. N. and then to 77th Ave. N. and then into her apartment complex.

Whereas with my route I go out to 4th St. N. to 77th St. N. and into her apartment complex. It is shorter and more direct. I think that the reason that Google Maps takes the route(s) that it does for biking is that it places roads with a bike lane at a higher priority, even if they take the rider out of their way to get there.

By bike it has me going 1 mile to get to my g/f's house but by walking or driving it's .7 of a mile. The bike directions takes me through several small twists and turns. Whereas the driving/walking directions have me taking the same route up 4th St. N.

Not true, on my version of Google Maps on my HTC Android the bike directions has turn-by-turn directions as well.

Nice going on the commute. It gets better and better every year. Enjoy.

Thanks everyone for the good info. Did a 2nd day yesterday. Went very well and I am starting to learn where stuff is. Also starting to notice a few back ally ways that I might be able to take.

Not worth it for a commute (you will be doing the same route over and over, and before long, you won't need any help with navigation), but I have a Garmin Edge 800. The edge allows you to plot out a course in advance and it will give you turn by turn directions, or just give it a final address and it will find that, as well as being able to search for close by things like restaurants.

I use the Garmin on my fun bike as a bike computer, and if I am travelling to unfamiliar areas, I use it to help with navigation.