Learning a particularly complex commute route
 

I have a long 20+ mile commute (one-way). I've been using my bike for just about everything but the ride into work, mainly to build up enough stamina to be able to make it 40+ miles in a day.

However, when I map out my commute using Cyclopath, I need to take a large number of different streets and paths in areas that I'm unfamiliar with. Is there an easy way to learn the route or has anyone uploaded a route into a GPS that can give turn-by-turn directions? If so, what GPS?

I plan to try some of the route on the weekend, just to get familiar with it. I expect that I will experiment a lot when actually commuting.

Google Maps has bicycling directions now. Not sure if they're available in all cities (what area do you live in?), but you may want to try that as an alternative.

My first thought would be for you pay attention to the area you drive in as you're going to work (do you drive, or take bus/train?) and see if you'd be able to ride that way (you don't mention if you'd be able to duplicate it...I would guess that you're probably on a highway or some non-bike friendly part of that commute).

Yes, trying out the route beforehand is always a good idea.

Yeah, Google Maps does have a bicycling option, but I think it's still in beta testing. I think maybe using Google Maps using Street View at your intersections might help. Alternatively, you might try using Google Earth and go over your routes.

But I did have a question, though- Is it possible to just 'shadow' the primary, most direct route?

Go to google mapquest and put both the starting and ending addresses in the search. Then set the travel icon to the 'walk' mode. That will give you the most direct cycling route. My commute's 42.2 miles rt. That's what I did.

Though I was basically familiar w/most of the route there were a couple of sections I had to figure out by riding them. Then shortcuts appeared as I continued to commute. Been riding it for over 6 months now so it's 2nd nature. The only problem is that it's a 500 ft elevation drop on the way in and a 500 foot climb homeward. Would prefer the opposite. :p

I think I would sit down with the map/route and build a cue sheet like we used to use on organized rides. You know, start mile 0...ride so far, make a right on X street at this mileage. Show how far on each leg and total mileage at each turn. Clip it to the cables and ride it a time or two until you know the turns. I have only a short 8.25 one way commute, and have made some wrong turns on the way home a time or two until I learned all the sight cues....

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

It's definitely a good idea to try the route on the Weekend. You might even want to do that twice. Then you will "tweak" your route as you start riding regularly. I use http://ridewithgps.com/ to plan my bike routes (they use Google data). Then I compare them against Google Earth (although some of the satellite images are out of date as I have learned the hard way, LOL), paper maps (if I have any) and search the web for others who might be using these routes, not necessarily for commute but even for weekend or club rides.

Then I would create a track and load it to my GPS, but I would still make notes, create a paper cue sheet and bring a map along (just in case). I'd also bring a pad a pen along with me so I can take notes about possible changes to the route.

The weekend trial run is mandatory. And it's pretty typical to have a ride mature as you go along.

Don't try to go fast on the trial run. Keep it a leisurely pace. You want the time you take to reflect a worse case scenario so you can budget your time and arrive punctually with a cool off period.

+1 on the weekend trial.

Second suggestion is to drive the route.

Do a hybrid commute to first learn one half of it. e.g. Drive halfway, bike the second half. After work, bike back to your car, drive home. Or bus if that's possible. Once you've learned one half you can start learning the other.

+lots on trying it over the weekend. Make it an adventure, don't be afraid to have a little fun! :thumb:

cue sheet and try it a time or two before going to work.