I am thinking about doing a very long commute to work now that the weather is warming up. Also just commuting more in general although I don’t know the “bike safe” routes where I’m now living (downtown chicago). Using google maps, I can (relatively) quickly figure out “bike safe” routes to get from A to B. I’d like to connect this info to my Edge 500. I realize I can make courses in Garmin Connect, but frankly I find it excruciatingly tedious, since it appears the only way to do this is by clicking the entire route over and over. Also, it would be nice if there were some way to “copy” a route (I couldn’t find this either) and then modify it slightly (in the event of a small change in plans or whatever) without having to input the entire route again. Anyhow, just seems that in the year 2013 this should be easy and I’m not finding that to be the case.
also, a bit off topic, but can you wirelessly transmit data to/from the edge 500 using the ant+ stick (don’t currently own one). thanks in advance.
yeah i’m basically looking at going from the south loop to waterfall glenn–through many pretty bad neighborhoods but in addition it’d be nice to have some idea of routes if i went north–e.g., to meet up with a training group for a weekend drive. i think google maps w/phone would be pretty worthless since it would tell me to take i-55 for example which is obviously not feasible. any ideas welcome!
I don’t think there is an easy way with the edge 500.
The way I do it is to make course in either bikeroutetoaster, mapmyride or garmin connect and convert it to a .crs file in GPSies.com. Then I use Garmin Training Center to put waypoints with symbols and streetnames. Takes about an hour. And yes, it is a pain.
I only do this if I am trying out a new route where I don’t know directions. If I get lost, then I have to stop and whip out the iPhone. The edge 500 does not re-calculate.
Also, the ant+ stick is only useful for outputting your sensors to another device. The edge 500 does not have output capability, only receive. It’s not like the Garmin 310xt which you can use to connect wirelessly to your computer.
If you use google maps on a smartphone there is an option to set it to car/bus/bike/walk and will give you an appropriate route/bus schedule for where you want to go.
if you have an android phone you can do turn-by-turn navigation. you’ll just need to buy a handlebar mount so that you can se it clearly.
even with a .gpx course loaded into a garmin 500, the course directions aren’t very reliable (it get’s thrown off by slight changes in satellite reception)
This ‘might’ not be too much help, as we really built it around the needs of a motorcyclist, but we spent the last couple of years working alongside one of Google’s own maps developers to create a mapping system that:
Utilises the same Google Maps’ interface which many are already familiar with
Provides a quick & simple Export to GPS function to send your routes to your Garmin/TomTom
Here’s the link:
MotoGoLoco Maps
You’ll need to create a user account to be able to save routes and then export them onto your GPS, but it’s free, takes 30 seconds and I promise not to spam the hell out of your inbox afterwards!!
but in addition it’d be nice to have some idea of routes if i went north–e.g., to meet up with a training group for a weekend drive. i think google maps w/phone would be pretty worthless since it would tell me to take i-55 for example which is obviously not feasible. any ideas welcome!