See previous articles: Choosing a GPS for mountain-biking (an overview), MTB and GPS - features, part I and MTB and GPS - features, part II - the trip computer.

I have been dragging my heels a little getting to this point because I wanted to give a good overview of what GPS is all about even in its simplest form. This simplest form would be where your GPS device (the bottom-end model, like the basic Garmin eTrex) essentially shows and records nothing much more exciting than your current geographical location. This however allows you to record key points on a bike ride, like where you left the car, or a turn that you need to ensure you take next time. Also, your movements are plotted in the form of a track which shows the twists and turns you have taken on your screen, and which you can use to follow back to the starting point if necessary, to track back and try a different route, or simply save it for next time you go out.

But wouldn’t it be really useful if the GPS also contained a map which would display exactly where you were, and on which your movements could be plotted?! Well, you may be bowled over to discover that of course GPS devices CAN store and display maps, all except the most basic models.

One of the reasons I have not rushed to write about GPS maps is that my part of the world (Serbia) is not very well covered, so I have actually had to largely do without this most useful GPS feature! But in most of the Western world, very detailed map data is commercially available, including in GPS compatible form.

In particular, maps for Garmin devices are published in a proprietary format and uploaded to the GPS device via Garmin’s Mapsource software. You can buy all kinds of different map packs, some more geared towards drivers, with detailed roadmaps, others are geared towards outdoor enthusiasts, with detailed topographical data and information on trails etc. The latter type is probably of more interest to bikers: in Serbia I have been lucky enough to get access to a limited number of topographical maps, made by amateur enthusiasts. It is great to be out there in the wilds on your bike and have a good handle on where you are, just by looking at your GPS. Even if there are no trails marked, you can use the configuration of the land to find a likely route through.

GPS map issues

Here are a few issues with maps:

1) GPS devices have a limited amount of memory, so you will normally have to choose which portions of a map pack you want to upload to your device before your trip. On my recent UK trip, I was travelling all over the country and there was no way I could upload even a fraction of the maps I had/needed into the device.

2) When making serious use of maps with your GPS, you really do need a colour screen ( which I do not have on my Garmin Legend) - a device like the Garmin Vista Cx will make it so much easier to distinguish different features by their different colours. On my old Legend, everything is a bit of a grey mess, and my track, when superimposed on the map, is very hard to distinguish.

3) A more powerful device will also help navigation as my old Legend can be very sloooow in rendering the map. It’s alright when you are just riding along, but if you want to manually pan around the map it can take ages to render the portion you want to look at.

Summary

Whether you are cycling out in the wilds or around town, a map uploaded to your GPS device can really revolutionise the way you see the world! Imagine always knowing where you are! Some would say that this makes the world a smaller place and that there is something to be said for NOT always knowing where you are! There is some truth in this, but I feel the advantages outweigh the disadvantages: having a GPS device with a map on it, showing your exact location in the world to within a few metres (read: a nice big arrow effectively saying, “You Are Here”!), gives you the confidence to strike out (and bike out) and explore new territories that you would not have braved before.

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Posted on November 26th, 2007 by markowe
Filed under: GPS, MTB Serbia (All)