Hi Everybody! I hope this information was useful for you? If you have any suggestions for a better navigation experience while out and about please leave them in the comments! Have a great day!
Hey guys thank you for the insights on your planing and apps. I would recommend having a look into Brouter in combination with osmand. Brouter is a free project that allows for extremely versatile bike routing as you can customize the routing rules in an unmatched degree (you dont have to - there are also presets). As a result you will get fantastic routing which can even be done only on a smart phone. brouter.de/ for Infos Definitely check the website version brouter.de/brouter-web or brouter.m11n.de/ which are great tool for planning a journey Ina very simple way. (It is also possible to run a local version on your own PC) You can use the Brouter app on your phone in combination with osmand. You will need to add the Brouter routing in osmand. After this you will get unbelievable good routing results completely offline - no connection needed. Yes it is a bit tricky to setup but I it's worth it. If you have questions I will try to help as good as I can.
Mapy cz , is pretty good it's on the play store for android also iphone and pc are covered , all map downloads for everywhere are free.....and its standalone gps mapping that doesn't need a connection to operate once the parts of the world your after are downloaded....covers cycling hiking cars and boating , details good as well.
@@b57ecv mapy.cz jsou dobré, ale nejde kombinovat dopravu, tj kousek na kole, kousek autem, kousek pěšky. Můsí se k vůli tomu zadat mnoho bodů, v mobilu blbost, na PC to jde. Mapy.cz mají výborné mapové podklady, na větší trasy pro plánování v mobilu používám ale Locus map pro - 200kč.
Nice video. But hey, you've got an older geezer here who only has used paper maps touring for 35 years now since 1986. I've just completed 22,000 kms around Europe this year using pages ripped out of an old road atlas I bought in a flea-market for €1. I travel without technology, never had a mobile device, and still have great fun. I'll let you into a secret: When you stop in a village or town square and take out your paper map it's guaranteed someone will come to you to offer help, and this usually leads to a great experience staying with that person. Younger bikepackers using tech rarely get this happening. When you are staring at a iphone nobody is going to intrude in your private moment. Tech may be good, but it alienates you from the locals and the experiences they are willing to share with you. That's what I've experienced anyway ;-)
Great to hear about your experience, we've been using paper maps in the past on hiking expeditions. We love to gaze at a map, and fantasize about the beautiful landscapes that we will encounter... We can imagine when using paper maps that people even more feel like helping out. Thanks for the secret tip! 😉 We did though also experience that quite often, as many people like to start up a conversation just because we look like we're on a big tour (all packed & bagged).
Nice video and helpful! I have a small tour coming up. Fifty years ago I trimmed off the parts of heavy paper maps that I didn't need. Thanks for your insights on using a smartphone. I have been using that around where I live quite a bit.
Yet another outstanding video. When I ran a road group C. 2009, the best we could find was Ride W/GPS, it was still in Beta, but it was fast for route planning and had good detail . I still use it at home . One issue was that sometimes the satellite would mess up the turns on the direction (cue) sheet. Ex., A right turn would become a left . So not cool. BUT we audited the map before sending it to the riders, some would just print the cue sheet. God forbid we messed up, oh the screaming!!! They acted like we were in Vietnam , crossing the Laotian border, about to die. And this was CT, USA. I wonder if the current apps still have that satellite glitch , as it's still an offshoot version of Google technology.. I have resisted the smartphone thing so far, but if I toured like you guys, I'd have to cave. I worked in the cellular industry for 8 years and it drove me crazy , even before smartphones. I cringe when I think about hearing Siri on a bike. Most of my tours are local overnighters right now. Oh and I still think you guys should come here to USA and do the Continental Divide dirt road tour. Rave reviews .
Interesting to read, we haven't experienced anything like that with any of the apps we've used. Beyond a doubt, technology has improved immensly since then. We've heard great things about the CDT, it will certainly be high on our list if we'll ever make it there 😊
Thank you so very very much for this all-new information for me! So valuable to get the right maps and how to find them and use them safely! Wishing you safe bike touring and please stay blessed every new day! Best regards from Sweden! 💯👍👍👍❤
Great video, very helpful, thank you, Maudi. I just have two questions: Why do you transfer the route from bikemap to maps.me instead of using the bikemap app directly, are there any reasons beside the price of the premium account of bikemap? Do you have any experience with komoot? thx
Hi Roman, I got this question earlier in the comments... And to be honest, I never knew there was an application of bikemap, that's why! I don't know if the premium version offers any additional features... I have no experience with Komoot but we've just downloaded it and it looks interesting! That's great about youtube, so many new ideas & suggestions 😀
Many thanks guys for your detailed information , do you also know if there is an app that can calculated automatic routes from A 2 B by only using national bicycle routes or avoid main roads. Veel suc6 & nogmaals bedankt.
Hi Lars! Coincidentally we've just talked to someone who recommended us this app: 'Naviki' He said it's a good app to select only cycling routes. You do have to pay for the maps and we haven't tried it ourselves. Remember that a lot of countries don't have dedicated cycling lanes so they might suggest a route where cars are riding too. In bikemap, if you zoom in and select 'bike paths' in the top right corner many of the Eurovelo routes are highlighted and also some other cycling routes... On Bikemap you can also download other people's routes and use them for your own adventure. Maybe that's something to try out? Mooie dag :-)
@@WheelstoWander Thank you very much for your help. This is app is a nice tool. The bikemap ill try out with my next vacation, will let you know how it goes. take care, hope to see you guys on the road again. Fijne dag verder.
Nice production again guys 👍🏻 not a fan of maps.me myself, prefer OSMAnd, so much more powerful imo. Bike map looks decent and similar to ride with gps, will have a look.
OsmAnd is so good. I've used that thing also for navigation in remote areas while working on Canadian-US border. It's super useful to start tracking or providing directions. It relatively convenient for in the field editing and sharing too. Gotta love the fact that you can save as much data as you want directly on your phone in regards to raster maps such as satellite and the fact that everything works offline, even search option.
I use MapOut (~ $ 5) for accurate offline bike maps (OSM based). Ideal for quickly modify the current route. My phone is in airplane mode most of the time, or even turned off. I use a Wahoo roam to display the route: decent autonomy, works when it rains, when it snows, when you sweat like a pig. The Strava route planner is also quite useful: it shows where the local cyclists - if any - are actually going. Usually it is not the highway. I used paper maps in Iceland, Scotland and France. It was highly sketchy with the rain and wind. It's heavy too. If a portion of the map is missing, you often see yourself pushed on the heavy traffic road. Never do that.
Great tips, thanks for sharing. Having a solid route plan must be really important for out of town touring. I usually just use Google maps bike for simplicity, but I mostly ride in my home city. If anything for a new route far from home I'll check street view to get an idea for the high traffic areas.
If you’re not passing through another country everyday 🙄 it can be worth looking out for local maps and guides. Most countries have a national mapping agency, and at least provide some level of mapping with contours. IGN in 🇫🇷, OS in 🇬🇧 (also available on Bing Maps), Swiss Topo 🇨🇭 etc. Regional groups like RAVeL in Wallonia 🇧🇪 or Sustrans in 🇬🇧. In Southern California 🇺🇸, I productively utilised the routes of the Santa Barbara Motorcycle Club to find low traffic solutions!
I've ridden through Europe, North Africa and across the whole U.S. using only pages torn out of a road atlas. Did I ever get lost? - resounding YES...and that was half the fun! But everyone is different. I used a racing frame with eyelets brazed on and 31 pounds of gear, total. Candles and no flashlight, a Peak One stove and 100% home cooked food - cellphones hadn't come out yet but I'm certain I would not have carried one, had they been available. After Morocco I gave up TP. To each...
I have been using Maps.me for years and now moved to Magic Earth because it is more privacy friendly and doing the same job in a better way. OSMand is also good but sacrifices user friendliness for the sake of functionality. In terms of paid apps, Komoot has no rival in western Europe at the moment.
Hi Maudi, that was a very interesting video about navigation thanks. Right at the end of the video you show a wet-weather scene. I am interested to know how you guys handled wet days, how to stay dry, is it even possible, setting up camp at the end of a wet day on wet ground, etc. Would be interesting to know the tips and tricks which you developed during your travels! Best from Munich, Oschi
Hi Oschi, great suggestion. We will add it to our 'video ideas list'... In short... With really bad weather we try to shelter somewhere... and depending on the temperature we just cycle on, sometimes it's nice to cool off... But definitely some proper rainwear with good ventilation possibilities is something we would recommend for a long tour!
Battery saving tip: If you know where you are going, but still want to record your trip, turn your phone off and use a GPS logger. GPS loggers (www.whywelikethis-ca.com/top-9-best-canmore-gps-trackers/) record your tracks on a small usb device which uses much less energy and can record for days (e.g. 1000km) without needing a charge or depleting your cell phone. When you arrive at your destination, you can then download the track to your computer in kml or gpx format. This also good as a backup and when you want to mark a point on a map (by pressing the button on the logger). You can install it on the bike or on your helmet, so that the signal reception is good. I can save weeks rides on my Canmore logger without charging or running out of space because I can configure the frequency points it records (e.g. once very 1- 100m).
Hi Eric and Maudi. Thank you again for another very informative and useful video. I had been meaning to ask you about which mapping apps you use, especially after watching one of your more recent videos when I was very impressed by the really beautiful cycle routes you were using. By chance this video randomly appeared on my RU-vid list today So now I'm looking forward to trying out your recommendations.
Very helpful. Thanks. I like using an Android tablet because you can see more context, legibly, than on the small phone screen. I keep the same map files on my phone, as backup, which I generally keep turned off. Samsung tablets for delivery people, which have great GPS, are rugged, waterproof and have replaceable batteries. See you on the road!
Thank you for this very interesting video! I was waiting for a long time to see this!! You make it sound so easy :-). I cycle a lot in Germany and have done so in the Netherlands. Always with my phone and the App Komoot, which is similar to what you showed. BUT, wenn I think back to some of the places you went to.... WOW.... just with a phone....I think that is very brave. There are some interesting solutions from Garmin and others, that you can steer from the phone, but have a more "weather resistant" and rugged device for your Bike. But then ... I guess it's one more piece of equipment to take care of, to charge, and to learn and remember how to best use. Thanks again, Frank
You sum it up quite nicely Frank, as you say, it's another piece of equipment... But I certainly agree that, if you want a rugged and reliable device, a GPS is the way to go.
An excellent explanation. However, I think there are advantages in having a GPS device when cycling in a very hot country. When the temps get towards 40c and it's sunny it can be very difficult to read a smartphone screen even at full brightness. Additionally, in extreme heat a smartphone may keep switching the brightness down, making it impossible to read, of can even switch off to stop overheating.
If you download a map check that it is not corrupted and works. You can download OSM maps for free to your phone app or GPS. I've also used Ride With GPS.
In addition: proper gps device (garmin montana as example) have photoreflective screen, so you can use it under direct sunlight with light off. More sun - brighter image. It also much more rugged, reliable, and tolerant to water and elements. And also important can work from AA cells you can buy virtually everywhere, and complete offline. In negative side you need to work under your proper mapset, a good combination of maps. You maybe need customised firmware to install custom satellite maps - google\yandex\bing\ESRI +hybrid. It all can be tricky, and need side software, so if you are "linux type person" (no need linux actually, just skill to learn unintuitive software) you will be ok, others can experience serious suffer with custom maps.
hi🌷 You did a great job & made it look too easy!? I’m PC Stupid so I’m still struggling with all the information ℹ️ U guys shud bike this way Sturgis, Sd. USA 💕🥳
I use Komoot and then sync it to my wahoo and sometimes to my garmin watch. What I like about Komoot is you choose the terrain based on the type of ride your doing. It also tends to keep you away from busy roads 👌
Komoot is just amazing and I happily pay the yearly fee. I love the day by day planner for longer trips and I also like that it shows you restaurants/shops etc including public water fountains. The weather predictions I also find very accurate. 👍
Ditto here..we used Komoot on a Rhone River tour last year. When using turn-by-turn navigation, it occasionally got confused ("turn left-turn right-make a u-turn") but only in complicated intersections where GPS precision was probably an issue. We paid for the world map offline upgrade but not the premium service and it works fine.
Hi Modi Thank you for the useful information. Could you please share with us which sim card do you use in Europe?? Because as far as I know sim cards in a European country give you normally 6 to 10 Gig internet download in total in countries other than the one you bought the sim card from. Is there a sim card which has more than 100 gig internet capacity in all the european countries??
every piece of electronic equipment that you choose to carry will add weight to your ride, and none of it is necessary if you want to travel light. Cyclists have been touring way before the internet made everyone want to document their travels. the technolgy now is of course very useful and you could use a smartphone and an app, or you could navigate by simply knowing what direction you are going and finding out what is around the next bend in the road....there is no app for motivation and a sense of adventure. Try it, I dare you, ...disconnect from your smart gadget and your social media, go for a ride and feel the freedom.
hello, I have a problem, I installed the mobile application, I registered, and now when I enter the destination, it shows me the car I need to reach the destination and to press start to start the guidance, it asks me to pay, what is it about?
Wonderful video Mau Di. Thank you so much. A pleasure to watch with the music and background, and was giving me helpful information that I desperately needed. You have a wonderful personality and your boyfriend is very lucky! Good journeys to you wherever your life takes you.
Ik navigeer met windy maps en google maps , en mijn telefoon is aangesloten op de naafdinamo maar daar moet ik juist nog een hele soepele draad voor vinden want heb al een paar maal voorgehad dat de draad stuk ging en dan krijg ik geen stroom en is de telefoon snel leeg .
thank you so much for sharing, very usefull for me, as we did Singapore to London in 2019 driving old landrover, but this year I hope we can Cycling from Jakarta to Paris, any good suggestion for us pls, thanks
a gps divise is better with the battery becouse it uses les electrisety, also it is more dureble as a phone and mote resistent to falling or bounsing around on the devise its atacht to do wat you think is best
Thank you for this! In the UK where routes are shorter and more complex, my navigation aids flat batteries quickly. How did you manage to see your smartphone screen in bright sunlight without going through too much battery? I use a Garmin to extend battery life and provide visibility but I'd rather use my smartphone.
Hi Trevor! We are not riding those complex short routes and a lot of the times the phone is off because the route is so obvious or we wing it. We do have problems with battery life but that's due to the poor battery on one of the phones. We have a power bank charging when needed. All the Best
Maudie, I've watched quite a few of the great videos that you and Eric have provided! They're wonderful to watch! This video was interesting in the way you put your trips together. Carry on & Happy Trails to you both!!
I also use bike maps as well as, here in the UK, Journey planner on the Cycling UK app. I also find Google handy for street view, it gives you an idea of what to expect. Thanks for the informative vid 👍
Thank you! That's very helpful. We've been using Google Maps so far and it's pretty good, but often underestimates the distance and sometimes chases us up mountains to avoid tunnels or wants to send us on highways. We'll try out the app you recommended for our next ride! It's also good to know that you did all this cycling without a gps device, as we thought about it, but they're just so expensive...
Hi. Your videos have been absolutely fascinating and informative. Thankyou. I'm thinking of cycling to Thailand from UK, and have been enquiring about visa requirements. Did you have to apply for visas before you left home, or did you manage some other system?
Thanks!! Every visa we managed out on the road. There are many countries with e-visas now which make it much more easier. I would list al the countries I want to cycle through and check in advance what the requirements are and than plan out the purchase strategy for the needed visas. 🍀
I tried Garmin GPS devices before but just got very frustrated - compared with a smartphone it was so slow and not user friendly, even the more expensive models. With a smartphone I can quickly scroll through a map, plan a day route within seconds, find POIs, etc. So, I also made the switch to smartphone navigation years ago. I've been using Osmand mostly and since I have an iPhone I use MapOut too, which is best for seeing elevation profiles (even in 3D) and quickly drawing (literally) a route. Downsides to smartphones are indeed: battery and seeing the screen in bright sun light. Battery life hasn't been an issue for me though. I use airplane mode and switch off the screen most of the time. When you are on the same road for say 20km, you don't need to see it. And most of the time, I can see the screen well enough. Yes, when going to remote places, I would probably take a back up: a paper map or extra GPS device / smartphone. Thanks for sharing the tips, I'm going to try bikemap for my upcoming tour through Norway.
Thanks for the detailed feedback! There are some tips we have to try out like being able to see the elevation. Hope your trip in Norway is going to be great 👍🏼 All the best, E&M
I personally use Garmin edge explorer. I bought this last year because I also cycle for sport on road, but I'm in no way serious about it so I don't really need advanced software for training. But having access to speed and cadence sensors is really nice, along with more accurate heart beat sensor by strap. And Garmin is just really good at producing reliable devices for navigation and monitoring. I think it's much more handy for point to point navigation, while phone is really good for overall planning. Explorer also happens to be more inexpensive than most of their other cycling computers and geared for touring. I have my phone on my top tube bag that has transparent touch screen cover if I need to figure something out, but most navigation happens with cycling computer. Overall, I would definitely recommend if you are looking for cycling computer and gps navigator. It's 300€, which is not bad for what it does. Cadence to me is pretty important since keeping relatively stable cadence helps your performance. And it's just WAY more reliable in all conditions than smartphone. If you have money, just get it. There's other functions that are specific to cycling and touring too that are helpful.
We never tried a dedicated GPS device for cycling. They are expensive and the apps on the phone are so good that we don't see the real benefit. We sure would like to try and see what it is all about and compare. Perhaps somewhere down the road... All the best!
I enjoyed watching - nicely put together and well presented. My wife and I use maps.me and map my ride in combination. Map my ride to pre-plan each day and get an accurate fix on the terrain and climbs involved then maps.me on the road. But we have a GPS device too as sometimes the phone gets too hot or is impossible to read in bright sunshine. We are itching to get on the road again - as you are I am sure. All the best from Scotland.
Hi Maudi, thanks for nice video and sharing good information, for future trips if you two think about Asia you may consider Hainan Island, it is in South China and best time for biking is winter time from November to February, around 20 degrees (positive), island has beautiful beaches and countryside, no factories so very clean air and flat roads.
When we entering one from another country by cycling. Do we need to pay or it’s free ? Like European countries. Thank you so much your answer. I use to watch your RU-vid. Specially your husband encouraging me.
I will be touring soon. I am wondering however how you manage internet? You can't always find wifi and for the gps on phone you need internet. Do you buy a SIM in every country? Or what do you recommand? I will be touring in Europe only, so there is free roaming, but even to find a data only sim card at a reasonable price, it is hard. Do you have any tips? Thanks for saving me a lot of time with you vids!
Hi Terra, the app, and also GPS, can be used offline. You just have to download the maps upfront, when you're connected to the internet. We do buy a simcard in some countries, we go to the shop of the main provider to ask about pricing etc. In Europe we mostly use the free wifi of supermarkets!
At 8.38 you say 'I will now just open this into my phone' but even though my phone is paired I only get asked which program I wish to use to open the download.
Bikemap sight doesn't seem to be maintained as it didn't send me an email to confirm when it said it would. This seem like poor management of a sight so not recommend to pay for it.
Hi Gary! We only use the free options with Bikemap. We hear lots of good stories about Komoot for a paid app. We are looking into that as well to broaden our horizon. But always great to have a good free solution. All the Best!
Hi does Bikemap avoid busy A roads and do safe route as possible for cycling? Also lovely bicycle you got mind me asking what make is it? Surly? Cheers
Great video maudi thank you 😊, I always use my Samsung galaxy s10 plus, I have a waterproof cover that does similar to quad lock, on my handlebar paper is not brilliant but for a overview I do like them tho I still seldom carry them l😀l .
I'm really enjoying what you guys are doing😊 and I'm planning soon my biketour also. I only have a question. How many kilos a bike would be normally for a biketour?
very vise explanation regarding navigation, got Teasi GPS but on phone is quicker where is good reception , my tip would be to that lightweight flex solar panel and power bank, thank you
Hi does the phone app show your speed, time and miles travelled when navigating? I like those features from a normal odometer, I also wonder If the app has voice guidance for when not mounted?
Handige verhandeling over navigatie. Er zijn best veel goede gratis apps voor navigatie, maar toch prefereer ik nog altijd de betaalde versie van Tomtom Go.. Die heeft me, in tegenstelling tot de standalone versie, nog nooit in de steek gelaten, maar toegegeven, ik gebruik navigatie bijna alleen met de auto en sporadisch op de fiets. Hoe dan ook, je kan je bijna niet meer voorstellen dat je alles zonder navigatie apps zou moeten doen. Ik vind het een zegen in het algemeen!! Kees
It,ll take me a while to figure out how to use various navigational apps in the best way for me. There are so many to choose from for starters. Currently looking at those you mentioned and a few others. So far, it looks like I’ll be sticking with a few as each app has something slightly different to offer.
cheers W2W ...to think that I paid for Grib Files From a Buddy recently ...Have you utilised [Garmin InReaCh] ..SAT text - Teamed with Earthmate Maps ...? I Am Lands end to Jon O Groats [LejoG] next month and I was Wondering what maps you Used for the Route? thanks for some great Tips !🐞
That's a hard question to answer... I guess Turkey or Iran, because it was such a transition into another type of culture that I had never seen before.
