jman wrote on 07/18/14 at 06:52:29:I have a well-developed mind that is very good at remembering where I am and where I have to go to get to where I want to be. I rarely get lost, especially if I have any sort of directional marker, like the sun or moon being visible.
What's wrong with a tank bag with a map in a transparency compartment?
People these days are too reliant on electronic gizmos (I say as I'm typing on a computer...). Map navigation has almost entirely become a thing of the past, and it's kinda sad.
Why do we use these things, use pre-programed in route layouts, etc?
Blacklining up in the mountains (chasing obscure very curvy ridge running roads, hunting them out and running them) has become our mountain riding obsession.
Easily visible readable GPS on the handle bars has become a real aid in this effort, and having the ability to punch "home" and get guided back to the campground with no waste effort is a REAL ASSET at the end of the day.
Not that I use it, I just run like a bat out of hell down whatever road we are on and just stop and wait for everybody else at the next intersection.
Me, I am not the pathfinder, just the road runner.
But I do realize each riding group needs to have at least one good working GPS unit. Maps, yes I can read them, yes I can but the map only comes out once we admit we are lost and are already all screwed up -- and of late what comes out of my pocket isn't the map but my Galaxy S3 cell phone with Google Maps on it.
Actually, MM tends to play guide leader, so if he needs a better tool, well, we'll see if we can find him one. Or invent him one.
He currently has two Garmins, one on the bike and one in his bags (seems like one is always off the bike being programmed).
Garmins are like 95% effective which is like 20% better than a bare map ever was for what we are trying to do (blacklining).
Paper maps don't even list a lot of the little donkey trails between where we are and where we want to get to, much less keep track of the various turns for you.
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