[lesblank]

What sources do you use to find new routes to ride? Is it just to head out to see what you find? Maybe you hear others talk about a new ride route. All are good but i have found many ride ideas from:

Motorcycle Routes | Motorcycle Roads

Motorcycle Routes | Motorcycle Roads

www.motorcycleroads.com

My area has many rated routes to explore within a days ride. Tell me how you found your favorite route.

 

[AlanRides]

I have looked a couple of the routing programs, but usually just look at Google Maps to see what may be a nice path from point A to point B, looking for lines that aren't straight.....which can be difficult in SE Texas. I have used, with some success, a website called mapstogpx.com to convert the route I map on Google Maps to a .gpx file that I then load onto my Garmin Zumo XT. It works well if the route is not real complicated, but it's not always 100%. It can sometimes completely ignore one of the oddball detours I select on Google maps when looking for new roads to ride, which can be pretty frustrating. I should probably learn to use Garmin BaseCamp and cut out the middle man. I gave up on the SVTC GPS as a routing guide (unless just using it to get from A to B without any side trips) as downloading custom routes to it is just a PITA.

I used to use MapQuest as my go to map app, but at some point a few years ago it wouldn't find smaller roads that I knew existed, so I switched to Google. I looked at MapQuest a while back and it seems to be able to locate those smaller roads again, so I may go back to it. MapQuest more positively identifies FM roads vs. state and county roads than Google maps does.

When I had no GPS (or didn't feel like messing with one) I would write a short description of turns to take on a 3" x 3" piece of paper and tape that paper below the speedo on the Nomad or on the gas cap cover on the SVTC and call it my paper GPS. Took many and led a good number of rides using that as my guide. Sometimes turns would sneak up on me since I didn't usually know the exact mileage from one turn to the next. I would also often have a "going" and "return" paper GPS. Carried scissors and a roll of scotch tape to use when changing out. My riding buddies at the time got a kick out of my navigation system, but we never got too lost....

This one got me and a friend to Granbury, Texas, about a 300 mile one way trip.

 

[lesblank]

Do you ever lookup roads on motorcycle sites that might interest you or just know you want to go point A to B. How did you find out about the Twisted Sisters area?

 

[AlanRides]

I just noticed my attachment didn't attach, so I'll try again

As far as your question about the Twisted Sisters.....I don't really remember how I found out about them. Leslie got me a small book called "Epic Roads, Ride Texas" many years ago when she figured I was serious about this motorcycle thing and I've seen some nice ideas in that. I guess I also run across ideas when I see them mentioned in the newspaper and I also have seen some rides described in the AMA magazine and Rider magazines that I subscribe to. I think YouTube may have planted an idea or two as well. I don't really have a "go to" source.

I just mostly pick a destination and then look at the various mapping programs and look for roads that look to be interesting.

 

[Tinsnips]

I have lived and grew up all within about a 40 mile radius so you aren’t likely to show me a road I haven’t already been on. Like Alan above, I do go on Google maps and look for roads that aren’t straight. This is farm country so those roads are few and far between.

One trick I have used is going to Street View in Google Maps. It can give you an idea of what an intersection looks like and what the road condition is. Bear in mind though, those images can be a few years old.

 

[Boog]

Years ago, I just looked at a road map and took off.

In 2009, I moved to Virginia while recovering from the VMAX crash. In the spring of 2010, i bought my FZ-1 rehabilitation bike. On the weekends, i just simply rode to back roads. Since the internet was now in full swing, I typed in "Virginia Byways" and found the coolest roads around. Many are 30mph or less with no lane markings. Perfect for a very forgiving bike like the FZ-1.
Later, I did get GPS but found loading the route to be a PITA. So, I mainly just used it to see where I was and where the next gas stop is.
I have used a few of the motorcycle route planning tools/sites like the one Harley has on their website. These are useful especially when going to a place one has not been to before.

 

[CarGuy]

There's a website that will actually give you routes based on your parameters and will pick up some interesting roads for motorcycles. It's calimoto. I don't use it much since I'm very familiar with the roads in my area and out into the hill country, but for someone simply looking for some roads to travel it can be very helpful. The free version does all most would need. Take the time to put in your "desires" and it'll do the rest.