Delorme's new GPS with interesting touring features
 

http://blog.delorme.com/2010/01/06/d...communication/

The GPS they announced can send text messages, check in your location with family/friends, send emergency signal without cell phone coverage (it sounds like there is a $100 or so subscription with Spot for this). Elevation profile of routes created on the GPS. These two features that don't seem too compelling to normal people really to me seem to be what a touring cyclist might want. It looks to be a few months out from release still, but if it gets out by the summer I'll have to take a serious look at it.

$100 a year isn't bad and being able to send text messages via satellite is the ultimate geekness!!! I wonder what are the limits on text messages. Wow, I have to read more about this. I hope this won't cost $1,000.

Adam

When I started touring in the 1980s -
one of the joys was being disconnected.

I have had to fight diligently to preserve this.
Since friends and family members now want 24/7 connectivity.

Yes, having a link is important in an emergency -
But wasn't that what people said about cell phones 15 years ago?
"I'll just use it for emergencies."
Now you can't bike down the street without dealling with drivers on cell phones.

Call me a Luddite if you will.
But there is a certain charm in a quiet, reflective tour.

PS - I am a map addict and love any and all map formats.
But I'd just get the map feature and leave the other bells and whistles in the big city.

You're absolutely correct. I'm not talking about text chatting with everybody I know and my corporate Blackberry stays home turned off. But being able to send a text message once a day telling your family that you're fine and having fun when you're out of range of cellphone towers is really nice IMHO. I'd love to be able to send them a "picture of the day" as well. Maybe I'm too much of a geek, but I think this is neat:D

Adam

This GPS is very interesting!

I like the fact it breaks the limitation on the number of Waypoints and Routes you can store. This is a huge issue with Garmin since a 75 mile route can come close to filling the route limit. I also like the fact you can download maps from around the world on the go from any location. No more having to buy expensive maps anymore!

Too bad it's going to cost over 5 hundred dollars! Also, does it come with a handlebar mount?

Slightly off topic: I'm looking for a tour to do at the end of March/early April. I downloaded the maps for ACA's Utah Cliffs Loop. It sounds perfect! But then I got to the end and it says something to the effect that: "This route is ridiculously dangerous and only a fool would try it alone. We recommend groups of at least three people. 1 to ride off a cliff, the second to ride for help, and the 3rd to say a prayer over the graves of the first two who are killed." Okay, I'm paraphrasing.

I'd still like to try it, but have thought about getting the SPOT gadget to be able to contact rescuers in case I have a mishap. I doubt my cell phone will have any bars there. (My T-mobile phone works great where I live, but whenever I go on a bike tour it's worthless."

I've also contemplated purchasing a gps for general bike touring. This DeLorme sounds intriguing. Comments?

BBT,

The ACA GDMBR maps have the same sorts of disclaimers, but there are several journals on CGOAB of people who have successfully done that route solo - some IMHO very poorly prepared. OTOH, people always seem to be falling off their bikes and if you are unfortunate enough to seriously injure yourself in the middle of nowhere, well, SPOT seems like a cheap insurance policy even at $150 for the (better) unit plus $100 annual subscription.

It would be nice to have GPS and texting capabilities too, but not at any price. I mean, deep in the recesses of drawers all over my house I have Palm Pilots from the '90s, diving computers, cell phones the size of bricks - yada yada - that cost a ton of money when new, that are now toxic electronic waste. Best to wait until prices come down.

Just Vapor until you can actually buy it. Looks interesting though.