I have now done 5 ultra-lite self-supported bikepacking trips, 2 western ghats, south India, 2 in europe, and now this one in north and western India. I feel that I am getting better on each trip with navigation, luggage, and general strategy.
Starting with navigation, I still do not have what I really would love- the perfect app for cycle touring. I am still on free apps. I tried biking.com (free for a week) in Spain but didn’t really like it. I always use and consult maps.me (for cycling) but have found the hard way that it cannot be trusted. The advantage of it is that all the maps you might need can be easily uploaded and stored in your phone. I am also slowly trying out komoot which seems a pretty good app but I am not yet able to judge on it.
Google maps remains the most essential eventhough they only have the cycling function in some Europian countries. These maps, whichever ones you might need, can also be uploaded which negates any network connectivity issues one might have in remote places.
When you do have network connectivity the google maps function of “hotels near such and such a place” can be very useful and almost a life saver when travelling in remote places. For example coming now down the Konkan coast from Mumbai to Goa, in Ganpatphule I saw that there didn’t seem to be any hotels until Devgarh and that meant that the next day’s ride would have to be about 125 kms. which, if the roads were bad could be a very long ride. As it was the roads were mostly good and it was not difficult arriving well before dark. Google was right though- there was no lodging whatsover before Devgarh.
Another useful feature of google maps is the walking navigation directions that they have even when they do not have cycling directions. This, combined with google car navigation is really what I use most. I only like to plan my route the night before and I spend hours trying to get a good idea of my route the next day.
In big cities I like to turn on audio navigation. Even that can be problematic- I had so much difficulty entering and exiting Spanish cities. Sometimes I ended up being on busy roads I most definitely should not have been on.
Coming into Mumbai the other day on Western Express Highway is also an experience. At least I knew the route bt heart, but it certainly is a challenge that requires full alertness. Hat’s off to you Mumbai cyclists who do this regularly….
Besides all the gps apps there remains the tried, true, and tested traditional Indian navigation system and I still love it and use it- stopping and asking someone at the side of the road. Gps can be ambiguous and as we all know there are no useful signboards. People are always ready to help. I am most grateful to all of them. Without this advice I don’t think I would have found this ferry crossing
