Cycling season - open!
- Details
Yesterday I took my first bike ride of the season :)
The start (planned for 17:00 or 18:00) slipped a little. We set off after 19:00. While I was at it I tested a few applications: BikeDashboard, GPX Editor, GPS Visualizer, GPS Babel.
The map below shows the whole route. We began by riding through the forest as far as Lake Tyrsko (Żbik). Coming back was easier because we took the road (we were running out of strength and simply wanted the shortest way home)
BikeDashboard
BikeDashboard comes as two applications, one for a Windows Mobile PDA and one for the desktop.
The first lets you follow your route on a map and save it as a GPX file.
The second (screenshot below) lets you analyse the route you rode. You can pick out a stretch of the route with sliders and watch the figures for it. Unfortunately the "Map analysis" tab does not work for me. On the "Moving Map Calibration" tab you can build your own map for the program (a screenshot from Google Maps, say) and watch where you are as you ride.
GPX Editor
GPX Editor is a simple but very capable application written in Delphi 7 (its sources are even available). It lets you edit GPX files. It comes in handy above all when you lose the GPS signal for a while and the track "shoots off into space" (showing, for instance, that I was somewhere far from where I actually was). While you are at it you can cut routes into smaller ones and trim off the parts you do not want, such as stops. You can also preview the route on Google Maps straight away. It handles GPX and NMEA files.
GPS Visualizer
GPS Visualizer is a web application for visualising GPS data. It handles a great many formats, generates a Google Maps preview and map files, and has a very large number of options. Unfortunately it caps uploads at 3 MB (you can always split a GPX file into several smaller ones http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/forerunner/)
GPS Babel
And finally one more program. GPS Babel translates between the various file formats that hold GPS data.
I intend to ride a good deal more before long. If anyone from Olsztyn is planning a trip I will gladly join in, and if anyone fancies coming along with us you are very welcome. I am not in good shape yet, so I prefer routes of up to 20 km, but in time we can go wilder.
I once came across RoweryOL, a site with interesting cycling routes, and I intend to make use of those routes as well.
