Route Building 101

[troy]

I'm curious--give some feedback fellow riders. Let's learn from each other's experience. I know when I started building routes, I was clueless! Thanks to fellow riders like safiri and others, the learning curve was short.

A few questions:

How many of you don't know how or are uncomfortable building a route?

If and when you do build a route? What methods and tools do you use? I know there are a lot of very different and very effective tools out there.

Do you prefer to execute a route using GPS or paper maps? Both? Why?

When I and others post GPS files, do those of you with GPS units know what to do with these files? Or are you confused and need a little guidance?

Would anyone be interested in a Route Building 101: Share the knowledge seminar?

[tim]

I have no clue bro. I dont own a GPS and dont have time to learn one. Time is the key here. It just not a priority. I'd rather ride than plan a DS route. Not that I discount the value route planning brings to the table, I appreciate it and the fact we simply followed you Monday.

So count me as a happy sheep when it comes to DS rides.

Now, the off road and road racing stuff, if you get interested in that, look me up, that's what I spend time planning and scheming for

[troy]

I have no clue bro. I dont own a GPS and dont have time to learn one. Time is the key here. It just not a priority. I'd rather ride than plan a DS route. Not that I discount the value route planning brings to the table, I appreciate it and the fact we simply followed you Monday.

So count me as a happy sheep when it comes to DS rides.

Thanks for the feedback, Tim. Good point--there will be plenty of people I'm sure who either just don't have time or simply do not want to build routes or host a ride for the group--and that's OK. We don't need everyone to lead rides, but I'm hoping to find more people willing to put together a route and invite people along. I know last year, I put on a lot of the rides. Safiri has led many rides. Daryl led a ride last year to Holt--great route, btw. Then we have guys over Lawrence and Topeka way who lead rides. David Hemphill comes to mind for sure. Out in Manhattan, Larry has led some good rides.

I'm thinking about some of the various riding "groups" I've been involved in and the biggest complaint I hear (and have myself) is that "the group doesn't actually RIDE enough". After all, that's really what we want to do! With my first child (daughter Rachel) on the way, I won't be able to lead as many rides this year. So I'm hoping to see a very active group with lots of people posting up ride details!

Let's be creative. A ride can be a 200 mile all day adventure or maybe just a lunch ride. Perhaps a geocache hunt, etc. Just don't hesitate to invite us along on your next ride.

[carlrf]

I would love to learn to build routes. But don't have a GPS and couldn't use it if I did, probably. I would like to be able to get Mondays route from you and go ride it when I get a chance????

[tp_cracker]

Just don't hesitate to invite us along on your next ride.

Your all invited to ride with me on my way to work tomorrow morning.

[troy]

I would love to learn to build routes. But don't have a GPS and couldn't use it if I did, probably. I would like to be able to get Mondays route from you and go ride it when I get a chance????

OK, so here is one case of a rider who does not have a GPS and probably does not have a plan to buy one in the near future. However, he would like to be able to use the routes that are posted.

So how can a person without a GPS use a GPS file to follow a route while riding? Like skinning cats, there is more than one way. (Actually, I'm not familiar with even one way to skin a cat and I do not want to know, thank you.)

Carl, this will be a bit tedious, but once you get the hang of it, it's really not that hard!

First, you'll need a printed map of the route area so you can highlight the route and place it in your map sleeve or tank bag on your motorcycle.

For routes in Kansas, these free PDF downloads work great and even indicate the road surface type.
http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/Mapscounties.asp
Our own safiri has conveniently zipped all the KS PDF maps into a single zip file you can download at http://home.everestkc.net/malsin/Motorc ... tymaps.zip

For Missouri routes, there are many options, but I kind of prefer the under $20 Delorme Missouri book available at Walmart and bookstores. I removed the staples and actually fold up the pages and put in my map sleeve. Other people prefer to photocopy the pages so as not to mess the book up.

Now that you have paper that you can put the route on, you need a way to view the route. Here are the steps:

1. Right-click the posted GPX route file and save it to your computer.
2. Open the file in Notepad. (If you are not a Windows user, any text editor will do.)
3. Copy the entire text.
4. Open your browser to http://www.marengo-ltd.com/map/
5. Click the "Load" button at the top which will open a text box.
6. Paste the route text into the box and click OK.
7. You can now see the route waypoints. To see a line along the route, click "Tools" and then "Lines".

Now you simply need to transpose the route you see in the Marengo GPS Route Planner to your paper map.

Let me know if you find this information useful.

[troy]

Just don't hesitate to invite us along on your next ride.

Your all invited to ride with me on my way to work tomorrow morning.

Not exactly what I had in mind, but thankyou, ToiletPaper_Cracker.

[ajayhawkfan]

For routes in Kansas, these free PDF downloads work great and even indicate the road surface type.
http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/Mapscounties.asp
Our own safiri has conveniently zipped all the KS PDF maps into a single zip file you can download at http://home.everestkc.net/malsin/Motorc ... tymaps.zip

Another good source for KS is the Walk In Hunting Atlas that you can get online at http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/kdwp_info/l ... nting_maps
Or get pick up a bound Atlas at any KS Wildlife and Parks office. They probably will even send you one if requested.

[troy]

Another good source for KS is the Walk In Hunting Atlas that you can get online at http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/kdwp_info/l ... nting_maps

I just looked at the walk in hunting map for Atchison Co. The KS DOT PDF maps I linked to previously are much better. The walk in hunting map is smaller and does not show all the roads---which is kind of key to building a backroads route.

[ajayhawkfan]

Another good source for KS is the Walk In Hunting Atlas that you can get online at http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/kdwp_info/l ... nting_maps

I just looked at the walk in hunting map for Atchison Co. The KS DOT PDF maps I linked to previously are much better. The walk in hunting map is smaller and does not show all the roads---which is kind of key to building a backroads route.

Sorry, I was not clear. You need to download the atlas (PDF) or pick it up. My experiance is they show all the roads. Having the bound atlas from the state has been very helpful during my backroad travels.

[troy]

Having the bound atlas from the state has been very helpful during my backroad travels.

And ajayhawkfan would know--he has found over 3,000 geocaches! So you can imagine he's been on a LOT of Kansas roads! Thanks for the tip.

[Jeff620RXC]

I'm interested in learning to build routes.
I have a gps and although I am a techy....I haven't gotten into this much.
I appreciate all your advice.
Thanks

[troy]

I'm interested in learning to build routes.

Hi Jeff! The map and GPS tools are easier to demo live than they are to explain in type. What I had in mind if enough people were interested was to do weekend brunch or a weekday dinner at a restaurant---book their party room and let people demo their route building methods using laptops and a projector so everyone can see. Of course you live all the way over in Hutchinson. Probably not enough people interested anyway.

What model GPS do you have again?

[Jeff620RXC]

Oh, I see.
No prob.

I have the Garmin 60 CX.

[Jeff620RXC]

Do you have a sample gpx route I can plug into that site you listed just to check it out?
All the samples I have are gdb files.
Thx

[troy]

Do you have a sample gpx route I can plug into that site you listed just to check it out?
All the samples I have are gdb files.
Thx

First, yes--go to the Ride forum and look in the Mon 2/20 topic.
Second, you can open a GDB file in your MapSource software and save as a GPX.

[Jeff620RXC]

Cool! Thanks man!

[safiri]

I'm interested in learning to build routes.
I have a gps and although I am a techy....I haven't gotten into this much.
I appreciate all your advice.
Thanks

Do you have Garmin MapSource software? Although not the best written or easy to use, it does work and is made to work with your 60Cx.
MapSource is what I use. Sometimes happily, sometimes not so happily.

My route building method in a nutshell:

1. Download and print out KS county maps. For MO, I use my Dept of Conservation Atlas and photocopy the pages.
KS: http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=41
MO: http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=40

2. With a highlighter, mark the sections of road that are unimproved and/or twisty and/or that seem to have lots of water crossings.

3. If using multiple counties, tape together as best as possible as the scaling may be slightly off. Attempt to connect these highlighted sections with as much gravel as possible.

4. Use Garmin MapSource to plot out the route so that it can be loaded onto a GPS.

Warning: DeLorme Gazeteers, MO DOT County maps, and Garmin MS are very out of date when it comes to roads (surface type, existence, etc) and bridges. That is why I use the maps outlined above for route planning.

As to how to use MapSource ... start playing with it. next time we get together, somebody bring a laptop and those of us with knowledge can show some tips and tricks to those who are just starting the learning process.

Hope this helps.

[katbeanz]

Thanks to Troy and Safiri I loaded the mapsource topo discs onto my hard drive and have practiced with mapsouce a little bit.
You guys that are experienced route builders, how do you decide how many intermediate points, not actual waypoints, to include so your gps always points you in the right direction? Say you are riding long switchbacks up a mountainside I guess the gps is still going to send you in the general direction?
I just need to get out and get used to mine, make sure I can read it with middle aged eyes and not crash. Dean

[troy]

...how do you decide how many intermediate points, not actual waypoints, to include so your gps always points you in the right direction?

Your welcome, Dean. That is a good question. When I started building routes, I was very careful to put a point at every little corner and bend so that my route line was exactly on the road. I quickly learned that with a series of S curves, you don't need your route line to follow exactly the road surface. You learn to follow the road and only use your route line when you don't know which way to turn--something like that.

Now I've known people (Luc) who build GPS routes but do not have detailed road maps on their GPS! So all they had was the route to follow. In that case, I'd want my route to mirror every curve if possible so I would have more assurance that I was on route.

Another thing that used to annoy me when I put too many route points in was my GPS would go into turn navigation mode where it would zoom the map into the waypoint area and try to show me which way to turn. This was VERY annoying when riding a series of S curves. Safiri quickly set me straight, though, and turned that feature of my GPSMap 60CS off. For dualsport riding, I don't want the GPS to lead me on the ride with all its fancy features--I just want it for reference.