Then we use Garmin Mapsource software which costs about £120 and has detailed road maps of all of the UK and most of Europe, but unfortunately not Ireland. The level of detail does vary but for example in the UK its road network is far more detailed than a 50,000 OS map. The downside, and it can be important, is that it does not show contours or off road routes.
When we are happy with our basic route we put the stops into Mapsource as waypoints and build up the route. We then carefully work out how we will cycle between each waypoint. When we are happy with this we print out the maps showing our route at a scale of about 50,000. At the speed we cycle this is easy to read but does not require constant turning of pages on the road.
On the road Ken has the GPS with the map loaded mounted on the handlebars and the printed map in an old fashioned map case. That way he can get the detailed picture on the GPS screen and the bigger picture from the paper map. Not only does he know within a hundred metres if he takes a wrong turning but he has more information about the ride at a press of a button than his brain can cope with.
Following the rebuild of the tandem this year we decided that we no longer wanted the old fashioned inconvenience of cycle computers. But the Stoker wants trip information. She decided to try the Garmin Foretrex GPS and this also works well though it does need a clear view of the sky. It cannot load maps but is very small and not too expensive.
