Getting around

While replacing the car I have a new kind of dilemma. How to get to the places? The optimum routes that I use by car are not optimum routes by bike. I mean I could pretty much use the same routes, as there are dedicated bike routes next to roads but why bother. Riding a bike next to busy road is not the most fun you can have, especially when the alternative routes are shorter and off from main traffic routes. We have many good bike routes that are completely separated from motor traffic.

Helsinki metropolitan bike map. It is free.

I have explored some tools to aid my navigation. In the process I even found couple of new routes to work. Roads change and there can be better routes than you were aware of. Over here the paper version of the local outdoor map is free. Electronic version can be found from  http://ulkoilukartta.fi. You could check if this kind of service is available at your local area.

Google Maps and phone mount. Phone can be charged from Intuvia computer.

Google Maps are great on this field as well. Beauty of Google is that you can navigate with a smart phone. https://maps.google.fi/. Over here Google is offering also bicycle and walking navigation. Bicycle navigation is in beta and often using the walk option gives better routes also for cycling. I checked out Bing Maps (Microsoft) and Here.com (Nokia), but for cycling use both of them loose to Google. Currently there is no comparison. However, development is fast on this area.

Garmin makes GPS almost for any use. But apparently not for a commuter cyclist.

I took a look at the dedicated GPS devices. Garmin seems to be offering the cycling model Edge 810 or 800 with a map and routing function, yet they don't include free map updates to that line. They have been pushed forward as training aids, heart rate, cadence, power etc meters. Garmin Finland recommended Montana line with European maps (sold separately) that would be around 700 euros with lifetime map updates. Montana line is big and heavy. Are those maps for car use? I got the impression that Garmin does not use bike routes. It really looks to me that Garmin does not appreciate the potential of commuting needs that e-bikes will create. I talked to Garmin rep at a fair today and he said that you would have to make waypoints to your route using a PC and then upload that to the GPS device.

That latest Mio cycling GPS the 500 series has just come out. I have not seen that device. Oh well, at this time I will see how far an Android phone (I suppose any smart phone would work the same) will take me. If I would want to follow my heart rate and cadence, I could do that with a smart phone as well, using solutions like Sports Tracker or Endomondo. Currently I'm happily using my phone as a map and navigator as well. I got the bike mount from Teknik Magasinet for 15 euros. Mount is cool. I tested it also with Sony Xperia Z and mount held that big phone with ease. Drawback with my current setup is rain. I need either weather sealed box for my current phone, or I just need to remove the phone if it starts raining or get a weather proof phone like that Sony (it is cheaper than the latest generation of Garmin GPS devices).

This mount can be installed to almost any orientation.