Ride Mapping Software

Originally Posted by lnyndhlp

Does anyone out there have a recommendation for good software to use for making ride maps? The problem I've encountered with Google Maps is when you start getting longer distances (i.e. 50-100 miles) all of the details are lost. You usually can't even tell what road you're on, let alone cross roads. I came across one here that I really like, http://www.horriblyhilly.com/maps/HHH_Map_200K.pdf

Anyone have any suggestions on useful mapping software out there? If it could take a route off of a GPS or Google Earth that would be great.

Originally Posted by strummer_fan

http://www.mapmyride.com

Originally Posted by lnyndhlp

Thanks. Unfortunately that isn't a very printer friendly site. I mean I'd like to make maps I can distribute to a group of riders so everyone feels confortable that they know where they are. Map my ride is just another Google Maps app. that leaves out the details (including most of the side roads cyclists prefer to use) when you zoom out far enough to see the entire route. Any other suggestions?

Originally Posted by strummer_fan

You are asking for something that is beyond the capability of a simple print out. If you want a detailed map that covers 100 miles, inlcuding side roads, you need a detailed atlas that is drawn to a close scale. Each section of the ride would be covered on a page.

No matter where you find the source data, if you shrink 100 miles to a simple print out page, all you see is a tiny squiggly line with little dots for towns.

Most group rides rely on the squiggly line, plus a detailed cue sheet that announces every turn, road name and the distance between. A lot of these google Map Applications can produce one for you automatically.

If you want a map that has all the info, you'd be printing out a huge poster for each person.

Originally Posted by lnyndhlp

Well that's basically the opinion I've formed from looking at software I've come across. However if you look at the maps you get at organized rides the detail they include is remarkable. Look at http://www.horriblyhilly.com/maps/HHH_Map_200K.pdf It’s 130 miles but they manage to show most of the cross roads and still distinguish between side roads and the route. I'm just looking for software that can do something comparable. It's obviously out there.

Originally Posted by strummer_fan

That map was created with a lot of work, and not likely some free online tool.

Your local library should have a Government Documents section. The better ones will have GIS lab that allows you to overlap different layers of data on USGS maps. That might be the way to go.

Here is a link to the one at the library where I worked ages ago:

http://www.library.pitt.edu/libraries/gis/gis.html

Good Luck!

Originally Posted by strummer_fan

Apparently one GIS tool (linked from the resources page above)that does most of what you are seeking is:

http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis...tmap/index.html