Hi All:

I am currently using MapMyRide to create maps and log rides that I do on those routes but I'm only a new user to it so I don't have any issue with switching. I don't have a GPS (nor will I get one in the near future) but I can use MapMyRide without one. I would like to see what other options are available to me. I've heard of Strava and Edmondo (?) but I haven't check either out as it seems I must register to even test them. Do these sites offer the same type of service for non-GPS users? Would you recommend one over the other or another one altogether?

Thanks,

Jules

I like ridewithgps.com Not sure what features you are looking for. You can mark a route as one you have ridden

I use that one, too. You can upload your map and cue sheet to your GPS, or just print it out if you don't have a GPS.

Bikely.com worked for me when mapmyride was still trying to become functional years ago, and I've been happy with it ever since.

I use ridewithgps, but I find the printing option only gives me an overview map, and not the level of detail I want. A cue sheet isn't always enough when following an unfamiliar route. I'll do screen grabs of the route and then either print them out or store them on my phone.

screen grabs are a good idea. That would have helped on a recent ride, I knew where the problem areas were, but I didn't take a map

If you have a smart-phone (and carry it, when riding), there are a fair number of apps that will display a gpx route and your location on a map (Motion GPX is one example and there are others that are free).

This would let you use the smart-phone as a backup to get back onto the route (even if you aren't using it for navigation all the time).

I pretty much assumed the OP didn't have a smart phone but yes, if you have one you have all kinds of options. With Android all you have to do is use your navigation app which uses Google navigator. Press the "map" button and your location ( and map ) comes up on the screen. Then you can move the map any which way to see what roads you want to use.

I use "ridewithGPS" for mapping purposes but that's because I have both a smart phone and a Garmin.
On a PC you can also use Google map which also has many mapping functions. You can also use "Open Street Maps" as well. I am very partial to "ridewithGPS" but I would think "Map my ride" is about the same. One of those ( I would think ) would have to let you do enhanced screen grabs.

Just the other day I was mapping a route on ridewithGPS and the map wouldn't let me go down a certain road. I kept moving the marker points but the map just wouldn't let me go down the road I wanted. Finally I switched to the "draw" function and just drew the line down the road I wanted. Later when I was riding the route I found out that the road I had wanted was closed off and impassable. I don't know how but somehow the "ridewithGPS" map knew about the closure and was trying to reroute me. Too bad they just didn't put some kind of marker in so you knew what was going on when you were mapping. Still, real nice that it does this. It also lets you map on known bike paths as well, a very nice feature.

Yes, that's likely (but he might not be the only person reading this thread).

Smart-phones are not really useful for continuous navigation for (long) planned bicycle rides given that the battery life isn't quite there. If you are using a smart-phone as a backup, you probably want an app that doesn't rely on network access (since you might not have access where you happen to be lost).

You can do this on the iPhone. You can use Google Maps or the Apple Maps (or a bunch of others).

If you are riding on a planned route with a cue sheet, then the standard car-oriented navigation programs have limited utility.

If you have a smart-phone, then there are better options than "screen grabs" (which are a pain to select and print-out).

Over smart-phones, the Garmins have the advantage of battery life, weather proofing, and turn-announcing for planned (uploaded) routes.

With rideswithgps (and others), you can download the route to an app on a smart phone that would have allowed to to figure out how to get around the closure.

Yes, smart phones batteries are not long lasting, that is their Achilles' heel. You can however buy back-up batteries pretty cheap that should give you enough juice to last the ride. So far I've never tried to use the Navigating function in an outlaying area where phone service is poor or none. When ever I go anywhere in the car I now use only the Android for navigation whereas I used to use a Garmin Nuvi. The Google Navigator is much better than my Garmin ( Nuvi ) although it does lack some of the special features of the Garmin.

For bike use the Android has it's limitations but only because the current offerings of Apps are lacking in sophistication. I've tried the "Cue Sheet" app and it does work but as you mentioned does not give turn by turn ( audio or visual ) prompts. The "Cue Sheet" app is also "slow" in keeping with your progress via the Phone GPS. Google navigator on the other hand does not have that problem. I'm hoping that someone will create an app that will merge the "Cue Sheet" app with Google Navigator. Done right it would give all the mapping/Cue sheet functions of the "cue sheet" app but give you the fast tracking and turn by turn announcements of Google Navigator.

For now the Garmin's ( 705, 800, 810 ) are the best for bikes because they run longer, store more maps and offer the bells and whistles most people seem to want. Hopefully if better apps come along for the Smart phones that might not be for too long.

We're spoiled in Minneapolis with Bikeverywhere. https://www.bikeverywhere.com/

Yes, that's an option but not without problems.

The navigation programs on smart-phones work very well for car navigation. (Though, typically, the smart-phone screens are smaller.) Some/most/all? do some caching of maps, which means they should work with some network interruptions. I still think, for cycling, you want some off-line mapping capability. Fortunately, that's either free or cheap.

For now the Garmin's ( 705, 800, 810 ) are the best for bikes because they run longer, store more maps and offer the bells and whistles most people seem to want. Hopefully if better apps come along for the Smart phones that might not be for too long.[/QUOTE]

I knew about the "cue sheet" app but I don't have android (so I can't try it).

As far as I can tell, there are no navigation apps or car gps units that will do turn prompts from uploaded routes except for the Garmin bike units, the "cue sheet" app, and (maybe) some gps units targeted to motorcyclists.

I know there are GPS apps for my phone, but I am more comfortable with being able to compare a map to the road in front of me. I'd rather read a map than just follow turn by turn directions. Kind of odd, since I am a techie type. Maybe that is because I know how tech can fail me when I most need it.

If I eventually buy a GPS it would be a higher end unit with map functions.

Screen grabs aren't really much of a hassle to me. Your mileage may vary.

On the follow road vs line drawing issue with ridewithgps, I have had to do that myself sometimes. Once it was a case of planning out a commute and it wouldn't map the route through what was technically a parking lot in front of an office building. But it had a road and cut about 1/2 mile off the trip. If I know a road goes through, I can override it, if it won't snap to the road, there may or may not be a good reason.