GPS and Mapping

I’ve recently been playing with GPS and mapping with a view to using it on my bikes.

I really like Google Maps, especially since the level of detail for my home and surrounding areas has improved recently. The satellite imagery is impressive where it is available in high resolution, but unfortunately, this doesn’t include my home and main cycling routes. They’ve also got versions for mobile devices, as described below.

What’s really impressive, though, is the proliferation of enhanced 3rd party applications built upon Google Maps.

One of my favourites is http://www.marengo-ltd.com/map/development.html. This allows you to create a route using Google Maps and then export it to GPX format for use on your GPS device. So you can plan your routes in advance, download to your GPS and follow the route. Alternatively, if you upload a track from a GPX device, you can view it on the map.

A really impressive application is HeyWhatsThat. This merges the map data with elevation data, so you can view basic contour lines overlayed on the Google Maps. You can also view a profile for a route, so you can see where the big hills are, and plan your bike rides to hit them (or miss them, if your into that sort of thing). It would be the perfect application if it featured the ability to upload and download routes.

Bikely is a route sharing site. You can search for routes in your area, and download the GPX file for use on your GPS. It has a route profile feature, which I really like. You can of course share your own routes, by uploading a GPX or you can draw it manually. If your route does not contain elevation data, Bikely will automatically populate it from the USGS GISDATA servers, but it can take 24 hours to happen.

GPSBabel is useful for converting between file formats.

Mobile Applications

When you’re out on the road, there are a few applications for mobile devices.

Google have a mobile version of Google Maps which works quite well. It requires a data connection which is fine for urban cycling, but there are lots of places that I ride where there is little or no mobile coverage. And unless you’re on an unlimited / un-metered data plan, it can get expensive if used heavily. A caching feature or an offline mode would be really useful. There’s also no way to get it to talk to your GPS device.

MGMaps is a free 3rd party mobile application which uses Google Maps, as well as some other mapping providers, like Yahoo! and Ask.com. You can define the size of the cache, making you less reliant on the mobile data network. However, I haven’t been able to get it to use my 2 Gb data card as a cache.

AFTrack is quite a nice mobile application for Symbian OS / S60 (Nokia Smartphone among others). You have to pay for it after the free trial (it's about €30 as far as I can remember). It has lots of very useful GPS features like routing and tracking, and you can overlay your own maps.

Maps can be calibrated in the application or can use an external calibration file, and the application can be configured to automatically load the appropriate map for your location. It has a few quirks, and there’s no way to download maps if you’re in a new area, but it really is a superb application, and in my view it’s a keeper.

The Low Down

I’m using a Nokia E61 and a GlobalSat BT338 Bluetooth GPS receiver. I chose the E61 for work reasons (Blackberry email, QWERTY keyboard, etc), so it’s perhaps not the most appropriate choice for leisure activities, especially as it lacks a camera, but it has a nice large screen, and features wifi.

My most used application is AFTrack, and I have created maps for an approx 80 mile radius around my house. So it covers everywhere I’m likely to ride on a regular basis.

As a backup, for example if I find my self in the city, I use MGMaps as it can download maps for areas I don’t have already, or at a new detail level.

But to be honest, I find that using GPS on the road takes from the experience of cycling. It’s a bit too clinical. Most days I leave the GPS receiver at home and just ride where my mood takes me. This can yield some surprising results. One early morning recently, I took a series of random turns, just to see where it took me. I happened to find a really nice deserted road, some of it with grass growing on the centre of the road so it was really a 2 foot wide paved track. After a mile or two the gradient reached 10% (as I verified later by drawing part of the route on http://www.heywhatsthat.com/profiler.html). Soon afterwards the climb eased and the road turned into an exhilarating 60kph descent. When I arrived home I still had a huge grin on my face.

For touring, I think my solution would be the E61, BT338 with AFTrack, backed up by MGMaps for extra downloads. The BT338 can be charged by a Nokia Charger, and has decent battery life, meaning one less item to carry.

Where'd ya get that bike Mister?

If riding a Moulton is too mainstream for you, try the sideways bike.

I had seen these on TV but I was on my way home from work the other day, when I saw one of these being ridden by the inventor. I think he lives near my work place on Dublin's northside. He just seemed to glide along the footpath, moving through gaps in traffic, and managing to chat with enquisative kids with ease. Couldn't imagine doing Paris Brest Paris on it though...

Some very special Moultons

When I ride my 1964 Moulton Deluxe or my Mark 3s from 1970 and 1973, I can sense the stares from people who have never seen such bikes before. It makes me feel like I'm riding something quite rare.

But in reality, over 100,000 Moulton deluxes were made and over 3,000 Moulton Mk 3's. They are not that difficult to find. However, over the years, many very special Moultons have been made. While the BMC factory in Kirkby and later the Raleigh factory in Nottingham were churning out Moultons, the factory in Bradford On Avon was often producing limited edition or one off specials.

Below are a few examples from Ken Butterfields photos...

This Moulton S Safari had been overpainted black. The black paint was removed using Nitromors, exposing the original chrome finish.

This Mark 3 was built by Jack Lauterwasser for his own use. It features a unique 10 speed drivetrain with 3 levers. The Sturmey Archer hub (I presume originally a 4 speed) was converted to 5 speed, with 2 rear sprockets and a custom derailleur. It's got lots of special features - 531 forks with Campagnolo ends, narrow bottom bracket, Mafac cantilever brakes

Another black Mark 3 this time, but very different. This one has derailleur gearing, and a prototype rear triangle with pump mounts.

Ken has lots more photos which are worth checking out, such as this gorgeous Speedsix

New Edition of the Moultoneer

It's been a bumper couple of weeks... firstly Velovision Magazine arrived on the door, and as always it was an excellent read for bike lovers.

A few days later it was A to B Magazine.

And finally today, the issue 81 of the Moultoneer arrived. The Moultoneer is the quarterly magazine produced by the Moulton Bicycle Club. Membership of the club for 2007-2008 costs £15 for UK members, £17 if you live in Europe, and £20 for the rest of the world.

This latest issue is full of the usual Moulton goodies...

  • customised Pashley Moulton TSR30
  • the latest in a series of articles by Alex Moulton
  • an article on metal fatigue and stresses by Mike Woolf of Moulton Preservation
  • an article on the "S" range from the 1960s which is very rare and collectible these days.

The Moultoneer also has bikes for sale (at a fraction of eBay prices), product reviews, directory of products and services for old and new Moultons, events list, etc.

If you own one or more Moulton bicycles, or would like to get into Moultons, it's well worth the subscription and I'd highly recommend it. For more info see the following links: