Garmin

[ColinJ]

If you subscribe to cycle.travel you get an OS map option. I plot my routes using the default map and check them on the OS map and StreetView.

I like my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt v2 but have had it stop navigating mid-ride a couple of times. I have not yet been able to work out what causes that. (The device obviously still knows where it is because it centres its map to the correct location but the navigation line disappears.)

 

[rualexander]

How do you get on with outdoor active. I miss viewranger as I could set it to show me all the tracks I’d ridden on the map the same as a heatmap

I quite like it now I'm used to it and don't have to pay a subscription due to Viewranger legacy features.
It still has a few things about it that were better on Viewranger though.
One of the other things I like about OutdoorActive is they have an app for Samsung Galaxy Watch (any Wear OS watch I think, or Apple Watch if you have one) so I can get all my OS mapping on my wrist, really only for walking though as the map doesn't seem to update quickly enough when on the bike.

 

[fossyant]

I still have my old 705 in a drawer, and I use my 200 every day !

 

[ianrauk]

I still have my old 705 in a drawer, and I use my 200 every day !

The 200 is so easy to change the battery once it fades.

 

[Psamathe]

It [cycle.travel] often jumps onto a convoluted route along a National cycle route when I’d prefer a more direct B road. Plus it absolutely hates A roads even if I’m deliberately trying to plot along them, because I know it fine.

(Sorry, a long post)
I think all these online route creators have to base the routes they take on weighting different considerations for any particular road. My understanding is that in the UK cycle.travel includes traffic volumes as part of it's weighting system (along with other factors) and whilst these can provide an "indication" there are also constraints eg time of day as some roads might get very busy in rush hours but be fine eg mid-morning.

I have a "test route" (just start point and end point) that I put into online route creators and some, even some dedicated cycle route sites generate a route I can only describe as "certain death" (except when you get to the slip road you'd turn round and find alternatives rather than blindly head on) eg routing you down the A14 past Ipswich.

In my experience cycle.travel has always given me excellent safe routes (ie NOT along the A14 past Ipswich!) but as with all such systems based on algorithms what you find when you get there is the deciding factor. On occasions cycle.travel has done some trivial weird stuff like in UK getting you to turn off the road onto a parallel service road for 200 yds then back onto the road you were just on.

Probably the weirdest is Garmin created routes with "popularity routing" enabled. Took me to ignoring a few routes until I discovered how to disable the option. It can route you is significant detours to get you to a road for no reason other than Garmin has recorded a lot of cyclists using that route. Near me there is a horrible B road I don't cycle on but it is popular with peloton groups (20+ mostly carbon riders out training) and then think they probably all have Garmins, all "contributing" to popularity routing so it's no surprise Garmin isn't sending you down that beautiful scenic deserted country road. BUT you can disable it and return to more sane routing.

Additionally, all these systems are dependent on the data (normally OSM) and it isn't 100%. Most errors I've come across are minor eg road classification or gates, ,etc. and how those affect created routes will vary according to the weighting system the site is using.

Ian

 

[ColinJ]

Additionally, all these systems are dependent on the data (normally OSM) and it isn't 100%. Most errors I've come across are minor eg road classification or gates, ,etc. and how those affect created routes will vary according to the weighting system the site is using.

That is true. I found a couple of mistakes on OSM in Todmorden. One was an incorrectly labelled junction which stopped turn by turn working correctly there. The other was a stretch of one-way street which had not been identified. I corrected both mistakes.

 

[Dogtrousers]

When I use mapping software to plot a route I use it for just that. I plot the route and make the decisions. That's just how I like to do things. (Not the only way, or even the best way. But it is my way).

I never allow routing software much latitude to make its own decisions, and thus I'm not annoyed or disappointed when it doesn't align with what I want. I just don't think there's an algorithm out there that will suit everyone so I'd never leave a planning algorithm in charge of a long section of one of my routes. I keep the segments between routing points short and generally direct.

I use RWGPS most of the time mainly just because that's what I've used for ages and have no complaints. I like the ease with which you can use different maps and drop into streetview. I've tried a few others, and some are pretty good. But none has been good enough to make me want to change my ways.

cycle.travel is pretty good but does have a tendency to shy at imaginary things like a nervous horse and send you off on weird detours when there's a perfectly nice direct alternative which the algorithm doesn't like for some reason. Not a problem, I just plan shorter and shorter segments until I bend it to my will. It has some other nice features but not enough to make me move from where I'm most comfortable.

 

[lazybloke]

@Dogtrousers is right to say the cycle.travel algorithm can't possible match the full majesty of chaos in his brain (I might have paraphrased).
I have the same problem to a degree, but I often start with cycle.travel as an initial stab at a route. You can right-click the route to see streetview, whcih is very handy, then tweak the route as necessary.

Also worth switching on elevation so you can see if it tries to direct you up something resembling the Matterhorn. Unless you like that sort of thing.

 

[Oldhippy]

At the risk of sounding like a five year old in an all you can eat free sweet shop, I have largely ignored all forms of gadgets for cycling but having trued out my first ever cycling sat nav today I am really impressed with it. Don't care about the heart rate, radar stuff but the map bits are great. Touring will be much easier and thanks to @chriswoody I even managed to load a gpx file on to it.

 

[MGman]

With retirement around the corner and having watched a number of travelogues on cycle touring recently I am finally considering getting a Garmin thingy and spending huge amountsoftimegettingout and about. It appears on many cycle handlebars. Some questions, is it idiot proof? Does it have to be connected to the Internet constantly? Are all routes already 'programmed' on it or do you put start point and end point? Apologies for sounding dumb but it is a whole new area for me and I go out of my way to avoid technology generally unless I have no choice. Sat nav does look useful however if the travelogues are any indication.

Well into retirement now - and with an aged brain, I've found Ride With GPS easy to use and operate. There's a free download available - give it try.