Is going to make all the difference. “But it’s just a gadget, and you have a GPS for the car…” I shan’t disagree with that!
BUT, and it’s a delicious irony,
In order to ride BDR routes, a GPS is integral, crucial, necessary, par for the course, or route if you’d like. Thus the irony > > > “Imma drivin’ my motorcycle through the woods, woohh-HANG ON, take this right and over the log bridge take another right, not that track up ahead…”
Two things really, the simpler one first. It’s a motorcycle GPS! Okay, you car people are like WHATEVER. That’s fine, you feel that way about motorcycles, we get it, you don’t understand and we don’t really mind. Well, we wish you wouldn’t keep running us over and stuff, but that’s over simplified.
What it means, to have a motorcycle GPS, is a few things (yes, it’s still simpler than what I’m about to get into, hang on!). It’s designed to deal with the elements, vibration, exposure to light and heat. Inside it’s also different. It has a variety of mapping and route modes. Users can dial preferences in like amount of elevation gain/loss, twistiness factor, even whether or not dirt, gravel or pavement! It’s not about getting to point B ASAP, it’s about riding a motorcycle how one desires and knowing where he is!
Right, most people don’t care, but this particular model is legendary amongst motorcyclists. It’s smaller than my car GPS, and heavier. It has a special cradle/dock, and less expensive than many models. Some even use “hiking GPS” units…(which are much more expensive.)
Okay that wasn’t so simple, number two: BDR routes and complicated. They string together all manner of “roads” (that vary from two lane asphalt roads to single track) through remote locations rife with other roads, tracks, trails etc. To follow a BDR (some more so than others) it’s not unlike following a trail of breadcrumbs. Ask Hansel and Gretel how that went…
To ride a BDR, one downloads specific GPX (sic) tracks created by the BDR organization (this gets complicated quickly and I’m a total neophyte so I’ll be brief before I get clueless) These tracks are then uploaded to the GPS and it takes you through the route, start to finish.
It’s WAAAAY more complicated than that, because places to camp, eat, hotels and stores, of critical importance WHERE TO GET FUEL, it’s all there. Historic sites, side trips (like up {and then back down} Mount Washington) where covered bridges are, alternate routes that might be less challenging or cut off a less rural area.
Can you see why I’m so fixated on this now?! And why I think this little gadget I’m talking about is so important?!
Don’t worry, I’ll continue to explain…I’m about to register btwxd and get some practice in, but it’s time for dinner…
DeedleDoodleDaily 