By Michael Verdon Steering by the Stars THE NEW BREED OF GPS MAKE PAPER MAPS SEEMS DOWNRIGHT OLD FASHIONED
In 1991, when the Defense Department opened its Global Positioning System (GPS) to civilians, the cheapest units were 10-pound boxes that cost thousands of dollars--not exactly ideal for most handlebars. Since then, the satellite navigation system has come a long way. With seven-ounce handheld units going for $99 at Wal Mart, more and more cyclists are jumping on the GPS bandwagon. And by spending a few hundred bucks more, you can get a midrange model with an electronic map that shows you where you are, where you need to go and how to get home again. Sound good? Well, yes and no. Not all cyclists have embraced GPS the way, say, boaters or back country hikers have. "Roadies wouldn't really use it," says Bill Cotton, who has employed a GPS on his bike for two years now. "Even a ten-ounce unit would be too heavy. Most readies don't even carry tools anymore." But for cyclists like Cotton, for whom weight isn't the primary issue, a GPS has proven a good replacement for paper maps. Last summer, Cotton rode from Philadelphia to Boston and back (a round-trip of 750 miles), using his sub-two-pound laptop computer,DeLorme Street Atlas 5.0 software and a Garmin GPS II+. "it's a lot less hassle than maps," says Cotton. "I don't need a bike computer anymore because this shows speed and distance." GPS technology has been moving so fast that several months after his trip, it's now possible for cyclists like Cotton to leave the laptop behind. Two new GPS units, Garmin's III+ and Magellan’s 410, let you download detailed maps from its own CD- ROMs or software like Street Atlas into the units, so you can customize any trip. What's more, Garmin (which makes a GPS handlebar mount) is planning a topographical-map CD-ROM, which should appeal to mountain bikers and other off-road users. This download capability is the piece of the information puzzle that's been missing for many cyclists, and why it may now make sense to invest in GPS. Before the advent of these latest units (slated to debut this winter), GPS units only had built-in state map. They lacked accuracy when you were trying pin point your position. Now it's possible toan head into the woods or onto a remote county road and know your exact location. With prices dropping (these units list for$349 but have lower "street" prices) every six month, GPS is cheaper and easier than amassing a collection of detailed paper maps--and it's a lot less cumbersome. Garnin, 800/800-1020, KS; www.garmin.com. Magellen,800/707-5221 ,CA www. magellangps.com.
Philadelphia to Wellsley, MA using Street Atlas ver 5 and a Garmin II+ GPSand a Toshiba Libretto 50CT Window 95 computer that weighs less than two pounds. This is about a thousand dollars worth of guidance equipment.I directed the Street Atlas to plot a route flavoring local roads, at an average speed of 12 miles per hour. I had the route displayed as a bold redline on the computer screen.I had it to print out using “Quick Print Directions” under File menu. The output is like a bicycle cue sheet with riding times based on average speed.This was very useful when I lost GPS contact in the canyons of cities and the wrong side of the hills in a valley. Sometime it was my body between the satellites and the receiver that cause the loss, the rain clouds of the day in the rain and a heavy overcast the morning of the Long Island ride also blocked the signal. The total miles was over 750, however, the GPS recorded only 585 miles.The total weight of front and read pannier and front handlebar bag, Bicycle and myself is 285. I weigh 200. Monday August 10, I left home in Philadelphia, PA at 6:30 AM and arrived in Ft Lee NJ about 6:30 PM and 109 miles. The route to Washington crossing use Rt. 532, after entering NJ, the same road is Rt. 546. I used several named Roads toward Princeton to get to Rt. 27. I stayed on RT. 27 until I reached Elizabeth NJ.From that point the program picked local streets to reach Ft Lee where I found a motel for the night.I was able to log on to Email from my hotel in Ft Lee. I had to unplug the jack from the back of the phone and insert my modem jack .I crossed the George Washington Bridge the next day, rode through the Bronx and White Plains on local streets, Broadway, (I got a glass flat on upper Broadway), Fordham Rd. etc. The program placed me on Rt. 1 from Marrorneck NY to Darien Connecticut; There I was put on Rt.136, a road that dipped to the coast, passing several seaside communities. Years ago I was on a ride by a professional day tour company with a friend from New York City that uses the same roads. When Rt. 136 cross Rt. 1 at Westport, I elected to detour from the route to look for a motel. Between the flat tire and another stop I had lost about an hour. I stayed in Fairfield CT. 75 miles the second day, I stopping about 4 PM. The phone in this hotel has a data plug in the phone base. The next day I followed Rt. 1 to where the program route intersection with Rt. 1 in Bridgeport CT. I had a second flat, but not from a puncture. After I installed a new tube that was defective, I began to think that I was to be annoyed with flats on this trip. However, one more two days later from a fold of the tube inside the tire was all the flats that I had on the trip. Four tire changes total. Before leaving Bridgeport, the route chooses Rt.162, New Haven Rd. This is truly a coast Rd. named Ocean Drive in places. This road led to downtown New Haven and Yale. The route turned north after leaving New Haven. It picked up Rt. 17, which was a road marked with bicycle lanes, as was many of the roads that the program choose. I spent the night in Middletown after only 40 miles the third day. Only one hotel in town and it had poor phone service. The next day, I followed Rt. 17 across the Connecticut River and north to the Rocky Hill area. The route used several name roads to get to Rt. 83 and then Rt. 30. This road crossed I84 near Vernon. I felt that I was heading north after seeing I84. Rt. 30 led to Rt. 140, On Rt. 140 was the town of Crystal Lake with the coolest looking lake. Here I wished that it was hot so that I could’ve taken a dip. The natives were enjoying it. Then it used Rt. 190 and 171 into Biglow State park valley, and the toughest hill of the trip. I stopped about four times to rest. Rt. 197 brought me over the Massachusetts State line into Webster MA. The motel that I had planned to stay in Webster MA was closed so I had a choice,detour to Auburn MA 18 miles for a hotel and Internet or 40 miles on Rt. 16 to Wellesley. No choice, I wanted to get to my Email. I still have the same 40 miles to Wellesley the next day. This hotel had a double wall jack for data. I arrived in Gear about Noon Friday I found about 16 BCP and SCU members.Most had been on the Concord, Wanden Pond ride that day, the one I did Saturday.Sunday, I joined several BCP members for “the Mean Streets of Boston ride”Over railroad ballistics rocks, cobblestone, under a park arch with a fountain and through a train station and the post office, the leader, Charles Hansen,did a track stand to get the automatic door to open as about thirty bicyclist to follow. The same Charles is a tourist and gave a presentation on “Planning your own European Bicycle tour” .My return was by New London Ferry to Orient point Long Island.I left GEAR about 7:30 am with a report of rain that day. The route tha tthe program picked, were the many of the same roads that GEAR used for its rides.However, after two hours of riding, I saw a road marking for a 31 miles ride. Iwondered if I had used the long way to get there .About 10:30 a few drops of rain fell. I close the computer and rode on. The rain became a downpour. After riding for about an hour, I stopped at a Dunkin Donut for an hour. I left there as the rain continued, looking for a place to stay at that time. Using the cue sheet, which began to run ,(should've made a copy of my inkjet printout), I arrived in Providence about 2 PM and 40 miles for the day. I located a Holiday Inn in the center oftown.The GPS had stopped acquiring signals and the computer was damp and would not bootup. Truly a fair weather system. I place the computer on top of the TV and the next morning it booted. The keyboard didn't work until the heat of the processor dried it .I left Providence about 7 am for New London. My plans to make Greenport L Ifo rthat night stop.(I own the Bicentennial map for Philadelphia to Florida and they used the roads that the Revolutionary soldiers used. I don’t have the Boston to Philadelphia. However, along the roads that was chosen by the Delorme map,there were many marker for the route that the Washington army used, also there were markers on Long Island. I feel that many of my roads are the same that the Bicentennial map uses. I feel that Greenport is unfinished business. One thought was to stay the night in Greenport, but I wanted to be at least 40 miles down the island and Greenport is about ten from Orient.There are bicycle rides arrows all over the place. I followed a set of arrows away from rt. 25 for a block and found that it had been a lunchstop, as the arrows came back to rt. 25. My computer map pointed me to 25A at one point, but it made a loop with more miles and I presume hills. I stayed on 25 only to find heavy traffic. I must go back to check out 25A.) I arrived at the New London ferry about 3:45 and the next ferry was due toleave at 4:00 PM. I boarded and about 6 PM, I was on my way up the Island.One thought was to ride all night. (a poster to the rec.bicycles.ridenewsgroup suggested that the island is a good place for night riding. )Abou t8 PM, I saw lighting in the distance, I begun to look for a place to stay.About 9 PM I found a motel in New Suffolk. Not the Greenport or Hampton type of lounging but it was a roof. One of my big surprises, that Long Island has low-income folk also .It rain very hard that night, no phone and the one clear channel on the TV was the Long Island channel that gave the weather.The next morning I stayed on Rt. 25, The GPS wasn’t receiving because of the overcast. Riverhead with it many motels and outlet center, could have been I95 in North Carolina. As traffic pattern change on Rt., 25 I saw that Iwasn’t far from where 25A meet and the route uses Rt., 111. I made a southeast detour and met that road.That put me on 27A and the Montauk highway. In more upscale towns along thesoutheast shores. Hickville road, Jerusalem Road, Greenwich St, Main ,Front, Hempstead Pike, Jamaica Ave, 119 St, Metropolitan Ave, Grand Ave, Roebling St, Williamburg approach, Williamburg Bridge, ( I didn't see the walkway for the Williamburg bridge, traffice was light, so I use the roadway) Delancey St, Chrystie St, Grand, Bowery, Chatham Sq., Park Row, Church and Vesey got me to the Worldtrade center. I followed the sign to the Hoboken Ferry. A ferry was pulling in as I rode up. I boarded and was in Hoboken about 5PM.I had to reprogram my route; I had located the terminal at the wrong place on my map. I also glance at the Commuter train to Trenton. After getting a location fix and reprogramming the computer map, I headed for the Rt. 1,9 walkway. Newark Ave. was near the station, but a few missed turns and I was back on Newark Ave. again. Once on the walkway, My directionwas to use Rt. 7 walkway. The entrance was blocked so I had to lift the 85-pound bike and gear over a guardrail. At the other end there was about 50 steps to descend .Rt. 7 has a break down lane, so even as it was getting dark, I felt safe on that highway. I could see the high-rise hotel in the distance. When I got to Arlington, I asked a local. He suggested I would find a place in Bellview.I must have missed a turn and finally found a timed motel in Lindenhurst. The TV has interesting program, 135 miles that day.The next morning I program for home and followed 7 to Rt. 27 and it was familiar roads back home. I arrived home about 6 PM, 92 miles that day 11 days away and 9 days on the road.
0 0 Station Ave STAY 0 White Horse Rd (Glendale Ave) STAY 0 White Horse Rd W Bear Right 0 Gibbsboro Rd STAY 1 Kirkwood Rd Right 2 Clementon Rd Left 2 Foster Ave Left 2 United States Ave Bear Right 3 Alton Ave Bear Left 3 Gibbsboro Marlton Rd Left 4 Cooper Rd Right 9 CR 623 (W Taunton Rd) Right 9 CR 534 (Jackson Rd) Right 10 Cooper Rd Bear Left 11 E Atlantic Ave Right 12 Auburn Ave Left 12 E Atlantic Ave STAY 12 W Atlantic Ave Bear Right 12 E Atlantic Ave STAY 12 Old White Horse Pike Bear Right 18 Ssr 143 STAY 18 Spring Garden Rd STAY 21 Hay St Right 22 Hall St Bear Left 22 Albertson Rd STAY 22 Piney Hollow Rd Bear Left 25 Piney Hollow Rd STAY 25 E Piney Hollow Rd STAY 26 W Piney Hollow Rd STAY 29 Piney Hollow Rd Bear Right 31 Brewster Rd. Bear Left 33 US 40 (N Harding Hwy) STAY 35 CR 557 (Tuckahoe Rd) STAY 36 Tuckahoe Rd Buena NJ STAY 38 CR 557 (Tuckahoe Rd) Right 44 11Th Ave Left 45 Cape May Ave STAY 47 CR 666 (Cape May Ave) Bear Left 51 SR 49 Bear Right 52 Head Of River Rd Right 52 CR 605 (Belleplain Rd) STAY 55 Broad St Left 56 CR 550 (Woodbine Ave) Right 57 Champion Rd
Routing Directions Phila to Ft Lee 0 Start - Art Museum Dr 0 SE 0 0:00 Kelly Dr|E River Dr 0 NE 0 0:00 N 25Th St Right SE 0 0:00 Pennsylvania Ave Bear Left E 0 0:01 Spring Garden St Left NW 2 0:11 N Delaware Ave Left NE 2 0:11 N Delaware Ave Bear Left N 3 0:16 E Berks St STAY N 3 0:16 E Wildey St Br Right NE 4 0:17 Wildey East St STAY NE 4 0:17 Delaware Exwy Ramp STAY NE 4 0:18 Aramingo Ave STAY NE 8 0:37 Harbison Ave Right SE 10 0:48 Knorr St Right NE 10 0:48 Bustleton Ave STAY NE 13 1:05 SR 532 (Bustleton Ave) Bear Left N 25 2:04 Buck Rd (S Sycamore St) Newtown PA STAY N 26 2:09 N Sycamore St Newtown PA Br Right NE 26 2:10 SR 532 (Washington Crossing Rd) Newtown PA STAY NE 32 2:39 CR 532 (Washington Cross Bridge) State Border STAY NE 32 2:40 Washington Crossing Pe Rd Washington Crossing PA Br Right E 33 2:46 CR 546 (Pennington Rd|Washington Cross Pennington Rd) Bear Left NE 36 3:00 Ingleside Ave Bear Left N 37 3:04 S Main St Pennington NJ Right E 37 3:08 E Delaware Ave Pennington NJ Bear Left NE 38 3:11 Mount Rose Rd STAY NE 38 3:12 Pennington Rocky Hill Rd STAY NE 39 3:18 Centerville Rd STAY NE 41 3:25 Rocky Hill Rd (Centerville Rd) Br Right E 43 3:34 Cherry Valley Rd Bear Left NE 47 3:54 Princeton Ave Br Right E 48 3:59 Washington St Rocky Hill NJ STAY E 48 4:01 Georgetown Franklin Tpke Rocky Hill NJ Bear Left NE 51 4:15 SR 27 Bear Left N 79 6:33 N Broad St Br Right NE 81 6:43 Elizabeth Ave Left NW 81 6:43 Grumman Ave Right NE 81 6:44 Bergen St Left NW 84 7:00 W Market St Br Right N 85 7:02 Roseville Ave Left NW 86 7:11 CR 506 Spur (Bloomfield Ave) Br Right N 86 7:12 N 10Th St Br Right NE 87 7:13 Lake St (N 10Th St) Left NW 87 7:15 Franklin St Right NE 87 7:15 Belmont Ave Right SE 87 7:16 Newark Ave Bear Left N 88 7:18 Franklin Ave Bear Left N 91 7:33 East Plz Br Right NE 91 7:34 Hillside Ave Left NW 91 7:35 Kingsland St Right NE 91 7:35 Cathedral Ave STAY NE 92 7:36 Passaic Ave STAY NE 94 7:48 Passaic St Bear Left N 94 7:50 Market St Right E 95 7:52 Monroe St Left N 95 7:54 CR 507 (River Dr) Right E 96 7:56 Belmont Ave Br Right SE 96 7:59 Charles St Left NE 97 8:02 Passaic Ave Br Right E 97 8:03 Main St Br Right SE 97 8:03 Hunter St Left NE 97 8:04 Prospect St Right SE 98 8:05 Union St STAY SE 98 8:09 Williams Ave Left NE 98 8:09 Collins Ave Right SE 99 8:11 Coolidge Ave Bear Left E 99 8:11 Local Road Bear Left NE 99 8:12 Terrace Ave STAY NE 99 8:12 Polifly Rd STAY NE 100 8:15 1St St Br Right E 100 8:16 Sussex St Left N 100 8:17 Railroad Ave Right E 100 8:17 Myer St Left N 100 8:18 State St Right E 100 8:18 Warren St STAY E 100 8:19 E Atlantic St Left N 100 8:19 Old River St STAY N 100 8:20 River St Right SE 101 8:21 Salem St STAY SE 101 8:23 W Main St STAY SE 102 8:26 E Main St STAY SE 102 8:27 Degraw Ave STAY SE 104 8:34 Fort Lee Rd STAY SE 105 8:40 Main St Left N 105 8:40 Jones Rd Right SE 105 8:41 Summit Ave Left NE 105 8:41 Ellery Ave Br Right E 105 8:41 Lewis St STAY E 105 8:42 Country Rd Br Right SE 105 8:42 Kelby St Left N 106 8:45 Bigler St Br Right NE 106 8:45 Local Road 0 Finish - Ft Lee
Tuesday June 3, 1997 Day one, 102 miles to Aberdeen. My original plan was to go by way of the Smith Island cruise boat. I would ride to Crisfield MD, change on the Island and continue to Reed Va. Bad weather was predicted for most of the week. Because of the threat, I reverse my route and Use Delaware Rt. 273, Rt. 1, Rt. 161 and Rt. 462 to get to Aberdeen. Day two 30 miles in a Baltimore city library. I left Aberdeen on Rt 40 and Rt. 7 (old Phila Pk.) Into Baltimore. I connected with the East coast Bicycle route in the center of town and stopped at a library to use their browser. I was so happy to be able to access my pop server that I used the wrong address, so mail I tried to sent to the club bounced. The Libraries I tried later had blocked out the "mail preference" in Netscape. Day two 80 miles, stopped for the night in Rockville MD at a Comfort Inn, ( wanted to bed down before DC) Day Three 75 miles, Checked tire pressure, found one tire to be 90 lb, two blocks later I had the only flat. I stopped in Dale City VA at a Days Inn. (Virginia has signs "Bicycle Route 1" However some are missing, but the ones there are reassuring to see, reinforcing the 20 plus year old Bikecentennial maps that I own) The route through Washington use the Rockcreek Bike path to the Arlington Memorial Bridge. After crossing, the Mount Vernon bike path is used to Mt Vernon. I had problem connecting Rt 235 to Old Mill Rd. A friendly postman couldn't relate So I used Rt 1 for about 5 miles to connect with Telegraph Rd. ( wanted to make Fredericksburg VA but advised that lots of open spaces behind Quantico Marine Corps base and a breakdown could be a problem.) Day Four 175 miles, Up at 6 AM to try and make up lost mileage to Fredericksburg, more than 40 miles. I meet a husband and wife from Holland, Europe, the only tourer I saw on the route. The husband had a broke spring on his cantilever brakes. I couldn't repair it, directed hin to the bicycle shop in Dale city. They were traveling from Florida to Bar Harbor Maine and on to Nova Scotia. Previously, they had done the Trans America route from California to Williamsburg. They had met two others and a single on the route. I leave the East Coast route at Fredericksburg. I use Rt 17. Surprised to see that it is more than 100 miles to Williamsburg and GEAR. I arrives at 11 PM. Long day of cycling. Headlight and handlebar bag conflict for space. I used velcro to mount my six volt light to the top left side of my bag. The flex allowed me to move it up and down when a car didn't dim their lights. Day Five 50 mile. Meet Four SCU members at breakfast, we do a tour of Jamestown. Day Six decide to take a break, after breakfast slept till noon. Meet one BCP member at barbecue. Day seven 90 miles Stayed at the Bay Motel Reedville. (I had reversed my intended route because of the bad weather predicted last week. I thought that the tour boat to Smith Island may not sail. Turns out that Tangier cruise boat are on a regular schedule.) The boats from both Virginia coasts arrives to Tangier about Noon. The Cristfield MD boat arrives about 2 PM and leave about 4 PM. I had plenty of time to eat at the Chesapeake house, all you can eat for $11.00 tour the island and sleep. The reverse route only has time to change boats, so going from east to west, if you want to eat on the island, leave from East Virginia landing. Day Eight 40 miles plus ferry ride, Stayed at Days Inn in Salisbury MD. (Tangier cruise boat from Reedville VA sail at 10 AM arrive on Tangier Island at noon leave at 2 PM, $12 one way. Boat from Chrisfield leave about noon arrives on Tangier about 2 PM and leave for return to Chrisfied MD at 4 PM. Day nine 140 miles home at 9 PM. All of my planning to avoid heavy traffic in southern Delaware, was for naught. I decided to do Rt. 13 from Salisbury to Dover, Rt. 8 and Rt. 9. With the planned Maryland roads as a bailout option it the direct route became a problem. Must've been because of mid week, it was a breeze. In Dover I had a broken spoke, cog side. I had one of the Kelver replacement spoke that's idea for that side. I didn't center it correctly and couldn't get the maximum torque, but it was better than doing nothing. Thinking of Florida next year and coast to coast later.