MAPPING SOFTWARE
FREE ON-LINE SOFTWARE
Map My Ride
For Bikers, another easy to use FREE & Subscription mapping software.
Map Your Bike Ride. This FULL feature Web Site is our favorite and is rela-tively easy to use. Quickly plot routes and add Cue Sheet notes. Show a satellite, a combo, a topo, or on Google Earth. With a mouse click display an elevation profile. Set up a Group Club site or share with friends. Track training history and progress using My Training feature. Integrate cycling routes in training calendar and view key stats like calories, total mileage, speed, power, and more. Its tool that provides for easy addition to a blog made it our default standard. (Once was www.RouteSlip.com)
Used to be completely free, but now they charge BIG BUCKS to print maps & cue sheets. Some users have had a lot of trouble with their new Mapping Tools, which are very buggy. Reports say it doesn't work with Linux FoxFire.
PROBLEMS WITH FREE MAPPING SOFTWARE
The greatest problem we have with the FREE stuff, is it is buggy. You can spend hours creating a detailed plan only to have the program crash when you attempt to save or edit it. So remember, you get what you paid for.
Another serious problem for those who like to ride over 10 miles is these maps either give too much detail or too little detail. When you try to map the whole ride, it never fits on a single printable page. Then when you try to reduce the magnification to see your entire route, it looses street detail.
Bikely
For Bikers, this On-Line software is FREE and easiest to use.
Bikely.com is a new website for cycling enthusiasts. You can map out your favorite bike rides, include Cue Sheets, and interact with other cyclists. No where near the features of MapMyRide and lacks Group collaboration.
Google Maps
Map your route with simple drag and drop.
Google Maps sets a new standard for FREE on-line mapping software. Note this is NOT Google Earth! You can't draw on Google Earth. Type in your start and destination address and Google Map lays in the route. Want to take a different road? No problem just draw the route to your alternate. You can also Profile the elevation with a 3'rd party Add-in.
Toporoute
Another Mapping System based on Google Map
Toporoute, lets you trace your route on the map and display the elevation change. You can create links to the map and share it by mailing the link.
Sanoodi
A new way to record and share details of all your favourite outdoor activities.
Sanoodi is for you, whether you are a triathlete or somebody that enjoys walking on a Sunday afternoon. Use Sanoodi to explore new places and draw or upload unlimited routes. Create a FREE Sanoodi account today.
GMAP-Pedometer
Map your route and the program logs your miles and elevation changes.
GMAP is an extension of Google Maps. Use FREE for walking, jogging, or biking.
SMART2GO
Explore the world with FREE maps on your mobile.
Smart2go is a compact programme for your mobile that allows you to load maps from around the world. Discover interesting places with ease, highlight them and get the route.
Map your route and the program logs your miles and elevation changes.
DETAILED COUNTY MAPS
Click here for access of TDOT's detailed maps of county roads in PDF format. They provide great detail suit-able for documenting rides on non-city roads.
1) Select a county
2) Open in Acrobat Reader
3) Expand on your screen and then print using "current view" option.
As an alternative use camera tool to copy to clip-board and paste into your photo-editing program. "Paint" your route.
How to Create Great Ride Maps
If you are on the mailing list for Bikers' Choice rides, you have seen some great maps. Generally, the ride leader has been able to put an entire metric ride on a single 8-1/2x11 page and retain sufficient detail to minimize getting lost. So we asked how he does it.
1) Using Microsoft Maps & Streets display the route in sections at a magnification that retains the street name detail.
2) Capture the screen and transfer the images to a photoediting program.
3) Stitch the sections together in the editor and "paint your route."
4) Crop the section needed for the ride, adjusted the resolution to print on a single sheet, and save it.
We have used a technique similar to the above and achieved similar results:
1) Using Garmin GPS we display the route in sections at a magnification that retains street name detail. With Garmin we have been able to get 25% to 50% larger maps than Microsoft Maps & Streets.
2) Cature the screen and transfer the images to the editor Photo Impact.
3) Stitch the sections together in the editor and "paint our route."
4) Crop the section needed and save as a GIF (rather than JPEG) to minimize distortion of street names.
If most of your ride is in the county, outside city limits, you can yourself a lot of effort by starting with County Maps referenced above. The maps are the most accurate, are up to date, and have sufficient street level detail.
TDOT Map of BIKE Routes
Click here for an old TDOT Map (PDF) showing the suitability of TN roads for bicycling.
