GPS Route planning - at last something for Bikers

I have used motorbike versions of Garmin and TomTom GPS systems over the last few years. However, these generally assume you want to take the quickest A-B route, so they are not ideal for recreational bikers, who are looking to find the sort of scenic, twisty, and quiet routes which can make touring on a VFR such a pleasure. The biggest problem is that the tiny screen makes it very difficult to create a custom route, or share it with other riders.

Fortunately I recently came across a programe called Tyre which can be downloaded for free here - Tyre Basically the programme allows you to plan routes simply on your home PC using Google Earth - the satellite view gives you a birds eye view of the countryside, and allows you to spot any interesting points to include on the route. Once you have created a route you are happy with, Tyre allows you to export the results in GPS compatible formats. You can then upload them to your own GPS and email the planned route to anyone else taking part in the ride, who can save it to their own Garmin/TomTom unit. So far I think its the best add-on to your GPS unit ever, and its free!

Skimad4x4
6th Gen Militia #218

 

Nice find!

I believe this is contingent upon your GPS being able to accept custom routing.

FYI if someone is looking to buy a GPS with this feature, I believe the Garmin Nuvi 7xx series are the most affordable with this feature (I have a Nuvi 750)

 

hey...
if u are using BIKE gps's from garmin you get mapsource which is a program that lets you do just that.. my dad had a quest 2. which has been out for a long time... and thats what he used now has a zumo it does the same thing i use the quest 2 as well now its freakin great.... your looking for Mapsource. City Navigator 2009 or whatever ..

 

I do my route planning with Garmin MapSource. I use a routable map base to quickly ID route options, and then a topographical map for context ... and then the MapSource 'View in Google Earth...' function to further investigate against Google's imagery (especially if its younger than the publication date of my topographical maps ). I'm often keen to try to determine whether unfamiliar routes are sealed or not. My Viffer handles sweetly on gravel surfaces, but some of my riding buddies are ' tar babies ' ... or at least expect a warning before I lead them into that kind of back country. You can save routes that are displayed in Google Earth into KML / KMZ file formats ... so that these can be shared with others ( without GPS's ) who also want to view the routes in Google Maps or in Google Earth. I also use GPS Visualizer to convert GPS files / formats etc.

 

I've been using MapSource with my Nuvi750 to create custom routes. It's a nice program, but I find it a little lacking in the interface. It behaves more like a GIS than Google Earth or Google Maps which are more aimed at the "layperson" user.

I'm looking forward to giving Tyre a shot - downloaded it yesterday and it seems to have some neat features!

 

not to threadjack, but there is a great source for POI (point of interest) files for free that work with most GPS
POI Files for United States & Elsewhere | POI Factory

tons of cool stuff, locations of Bed/Breakfasts, MC dealers, Great Rib Joints... all free

 

+1. Great site; I grab stuff from them all the time.

 

I assume you have the infamous 'Muffler Shop' file?

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/14034

 

I called them "rest stops" but yes

 

Sorry to Hijack the thread but hopefully somebody can point me the way forward

Where can I find out what I need to do to get "free" TomTom maps (Western Europe) on to my GPS.

I bought the GPS cheap and don't wan't to spend more for the map than I paid for the GPS :wink:

Cheers

Tris

 

I don't understand. I have a Zumo 550 and all it understands is the shortest route or the quickest route between two waypoints. If I want the scenic route, I have to put a waypoint (or several) on the route. That's true whether I am entering the route directly into the Zumo or whether I am using the Garmin map program on my computer.

So this program Tyre, is that what it does? Insert waypoints on the route to force something other than the shortest route?

Perhaps what I need is an explanation of a "custom route". What is that? I don't think my Zumo 550 has that feature.

 

The Zumo does have that feature. You can "shape" your routes on the Garmin program called Mapsource on the PC and load it into the Zumo.

 

That's right. Using the MapSource Route Tool. Assumes you have a 'routable' map base to use with MapSource. Then just click on the roads on the map that you wanna run and the MapSource Route Tool will automatically plot the route and produce the stats. for it. All you gotta do then is download the routes to your GPS. My Garmin GPSMap76C doesn't have audio, so for me its then a matter of ' following the line ' on the GPS map i.e. ... I just glance the map screen when I'm anticipating an intersection coming-up sometime soon. I also setup info. fields to display with the map ... like distance to destination, ETA, etc. I find that dividing a day's run into separate route files helps me plan a day or a group of touring days better. Helps the GPS do recalcs faster ... smaller route files to handle. Just have to pick the appropriate custom route that I'm about to ride from the list on the Routes Page on my GPS before I begin the next 'stage'. With the Route Tool you do not create ' waypoints ' per se. The route algorithm works with ' via ' points to do its stuff. Though you can calc. routes to Waypoints if you want to. But, if you're riding on mapped roads then Waypoints are redundant for MapSource routing purposes.

 

Well put viferpilot!

 

Does any one know how to read a .gpx file on Garmin 285w.

I make a trip with mapquest then send it to the garmin as a .gpx. Computer said it saved it ok. I can not find it on the gps unit so I can drive the route. But if I connect to computer I see it is loaded on gps. NOw I need to know how to access the file?
ANY HELP HERE!

 

Not very familiar with that model, but if it's like my 750 nuvi:

Go to tools, my data, import route from file.

You have to tell the GPS that you want it to do something with that route once it's in its memory.

 

TakItWithMe - TakItWithMe - Google MyMaps Converter
anybody use this?

 

Tried it in the past.. couldn't get it to work. I'd like to give it a shot again.

 

Don't have import routes....

This site I found is good not sure if I found it here but here is link
Garmin Nuvi GPS Tricks, Tips, Work Arounds, Hints, Secrets and Ideas -- Page 1

Description of site:
Garmin GPS

Tricks, Tips, Work Arounds, Hints, Secrets and Ideas

for the Garmin nüvi GPS (and others)

[many ideas may also apply to various nüvi 200, 300, 500, 600, 700,
800, 2X5, 7X5, 8X5, 1200, 1300, 1400 series units, the nüvi 1690, & 5000
and possibly other Garmin road GPSs.
A nüvi 650 was used for testing. As of 12/12/08 a nüvi 755T is also being used for testing.
A separate section for 7X5/8X5 devices has been established.
Other articles are being updated, where necessary, to include 7X5/8X5 instructions.]