Machka 

Have any of you used Microsoft Streets and Trips to plan a route for an organized cycling event?

I'm finding it pretty good as long as I stick to main roads, but if I want to head off onto small country roads .... some of them don't exist!

So here's my question ... how do you draw in a road to use? Or force the program to head off across country where you KNOW a road really does exist?



There are some beautiful little country roads out there which I want to use ... but Streets and Trips won't seem to let me.

Dahon.Steve

I hate to tell you this but Streets and Trips won't create a route on non-roads or wooded areas. On the other hand, Garmin's Mapsource software will allow you to place a "Way Point" anywhere on a map and you can have your GPS to lead you to that point. However, the software won't allow you to create a route out of these "Way Points" placed on wooded areas.

It's quite cumbersome not being able to create a route but this is your only option

Regards.

Machka 

There's something to be said for the old paper and pencil method!


I'll have to figure out a work-around.

Machka 

OK, here's another question .... can you do one route, then stop it, then create a second route (or more routes) all on one map?

If so, I might be able to use that as a work-around ... take the route up to where the Streets and Trips says my road ends, stop that route, then start another route when the road resumes. I'd get a pretty close distance measurement, and then I might be able to just draw a pretty green line across the gap(s).

Dahon.Steve

Streets and Trips won't allow this feature because it combines all routes into one once you press the button for directions. The Garmin software will allow you to have more than one route on screne so it is possible. I still think if you're going to go with Streets and Trips, why not buy a used GPS. They're practically going for nothing on Ebay.

Streets and Trips comes with a location sensor displaying Longititude and Lattitude coordinates. Those coordinates can be entered by hand to any GPS. This is how I used to navigate before I went all out and purchased the software. It can be very helpful along with maps.

Otherwise, you'll have to print out maps and/or directions each time you create a route.

Machka 

The thing is, I have to print out maps and directions for each route anyway ... that's how we ride brevets ... each of us carries a cue sheet, brevet card, and map. As far as I know, in my club, only one of us has a GPS. Randonneurs often tend to avoid carrying a lot of technology in case of heavy rains, hail, and exciting stuff like that.


However, I have successfully created my route over 3 maps. I'll figure out some way to sort of merge them.

Pity Streets and Trips won't let me create my own roads.

supcom

Delorme's TopoUSA (and probably Delome's Street Atlas) will allow you to create new roads.

Machka 

I kinda doubt TopoUSA will help me at all. In fact, that's part of the problem. All these computer mapping programs are US based .... some are completely useless for the rest of the world, some are only moderately useless. Up till just recently, for example, the new Google mapping thing barely recognized the existance of Canada at all, and had absolutely nothing on any other country.

I've got a heap of paper maps ... not just provincial maps, but land ordinance maps, which are extremely detailed and very good. That's not a problem. I can (and did) create a route on paper just fine.

However, my club has decided that we use Streets and Trips to create our routes for when we post them online. My hands are tied. But I think I can kind of "fudge" it.