Re: [RC] Wanted: Feedback on GPS routes and maps only for BH 100 - Truman Prevatt
Probably would require special sanctioning. It would be a non starter
for me.
Truman
Karen wrote:
OK.
I have several friends who say we should just give up marking the BH
traditionally, cause it's a continuing nightmare and almost impossible
for
our tiny group to do. They say I should just publish the GPS
waypoints,
maps on TOPO!, and have the routes available to download onto
rider's
GPS's at the ride and be done with it. Having ridden "the
Duck's" XPs
with nothing by GPS, I think that's dandy, but I'm afraid it will cause
a
total mutiny and threaten our sanctioning even further??? What do
y'all
think?
Cindy
Hi Cindy: I don't see anything wrong with it, it's just another
special consideration like lots of other rides have various types
of. Not every type of ride is suited for every type of rider, and
as long as it was advertised as such it wouldn't be a surprise.
People that understand that this may be needed to keep the ride alive
would deal with it, and those that hated the idea could go to a
different
ride or stay home. I think having to follow a GPS and/or written
directions versus a trail marked the traditional method is just as much
fun and another type of a challenge. I can't remember ever hearing
anybody complain about using a GPS on the long XP's (well, maybe Trilby
<g>). You are only attracting a small # of riders as it is,
and if it would help get more people to come to the ride because they
would be assured of accurate markings that could not be sabotaged then
why not try it? I know I would be more open to doing the ride, as
it is now I have to admit to being a bit leery of going that far to do
a
ride that might not be marked well enough to enable me to finish.
You would need to make sure that the riders had the correct type of
GPS's
(maybe get/borrow a couple of extras?) and remind people to change
their
batteries and carry extra batteries with them, since a lot of GPS units
(my III+ for example) would stop working after 12 hours or so, and
would
work for even less amount of time if I were using the backlight on it
in
the dark. One problem you would also have to consider is that if
there is a storm with heavy cloudcover and/or you are in heavily treed
canyons the signal could be iffy. I have followed trail with GPS
markings on other Duck rides in those conditions just fine. I have
an external antenna. As you know, following a trail marked with a
GPS (via routes and waypoints) is real easy to do.
Karen
in NV
P.S. both of my GPS's are in Guernsey, Nebraska today. At
least they are getting to do the ride! <g> (with Dave Rabe,
he's the only one who has been riding every day -- GO DAVE!!)
-- "It is necessary to be noble, and yet take humility as a basis
"It
is necessary to be noble, and yet
take humility as a basis.
It is necessary
to be exalted, and yet take modesty as a foundation."
