I'm still mountain biking on occasion. One thing is that I try to explore new trails as doing the same trail over and over again gets a little boring.

To do so, I find myself in more remote areas where there is not cell reception and trail maps are not readily available. Today, I was about 90% to a destination, took a wrong turn and ended up back at 20% of destination. May not be bad if the terrain were flat but lets say I had my fill of going up hill.

Anyway:
1) anybody use non-cellphone based GPS for mountain biking? any recommendation for good yet reasonably priced solutions?

2) mountain lion areas -- I'm still paranoid now after the threads about this kind of stuff. Over 10 miles, I saw maybe 3 people. I try to keep an eye out ahead of me and the up-slope side of the trail but what do you guys do for awareness behind you? I kept looking back over my shoulder every minute or so. It's like a compulsion.

Have you looked into Gaia GPS app for iPhone?

https://itunes.apple.com/us/ap...ps/id1201979492?mt=8

For better features, you do have to pay a subscription. I got the premium plan but have only used it a couple of times to test if it was mostly accurate and it seemed to be ok, I mainly use my Garmin GPSMap 60CSX

Does the app need cell service? I’m biking in areas without service.

Gaia doesn't need cell service, just put your phone into Airplane mode & make sure Location Services is turned on. iPhones have a GPS "chip" in them. The only negative i've read about Gaia is that it can eat up quite a bit of your battery.

I use a Lezyne Super GPS. Works well enough for me to record with, I haven't used it to get un-lost with, seems like it should do just that. They are priced around $150, I think. It can be paired to a cell phone, I haven't. I carry a cell phone with me but don't have service for 98%+ of where I ride. I use it to take photos. Last week I stopped to take pics of fresh bear tracks in a mud hole when he made himself known about 30 yards off in the woods, got pics of grass and trees, no bear. He was a little guy about 100 lbs.


I worry about mountain lions too, I carry a .45 Shield. With luck, I might have time to draw and fire before I die.

I use a small garmin gps as my 'how to get home device'. They are cheap enough. As for critters that's why I carry a gun in my camelback.

Thanks guys, I'll look into your suggestions.

I do carry in a front sling bag (Patag Atom) and I might be okay if I have advance warning.

But I'm concerned / paranoid about surprise leaps from the side or from behind, especially as I'm slowly struggling uphill. I don't know their behavior so I'm not sure if they will just leap on me in surprise or if they'll growl and give me fair warning. I'm guessing the former as I watch cats in the yard stalk birds.

I feel like I need a rear view camera or something.

I use my Garmin 60CSx when I ride my mountain bike in areas I’m not familiar with or want to log the trails I’m riding.

The no longer make the 60 series.....I think 64 is the latest?

Try to find someone to ride with you. Preferably somebody smaller and slower, who you really don’t like very much.

This won’t help with your issue of becoming unlocated, but could be useful in case of a puma attack.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: arfmel,

Have you looked into Garmin cycling computers at all?

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/U...rts-cCycling-p1.html

Maybe the 520 Plus would do what you need. Or if you need a bigger screen you could go for the 1030 which is their top of the line computer.

Wahoo fitness also makes a couple of decent bike computers that you set up through an app on your phone (don’t need to have your phone with you for them to do their job...just needed for set up and such) but they aren’t as refined as the Garmins, which have been around for a long time. I haven’t looked at the current issues with the Wahoo computers but I believe I’ve read that they need to work on the elevation tracking on their computers. It’s a work in progress but they are doing a lot better these days. My next computer will very likely be a Wahoo.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Try to find someone to ride with you. Preferably somebody smaller and slower, who you really don’t like very much.

This is definitely very solid advice as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Largefarva:

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Try to find someone to ride with you. Preferably somebody smaller and slower, who you really don’t like very much.

This is definitely very solid advice as well.

I carry a Bodyguard 380 biking, mostly for 2 legged creatures but also for any unforeseen wildlife. We’ve come across bear cubs on the trail in the past and the family asked if the 380 was sufficient... I normally ride with my brother who is much faster than I, made everyone aware I’d be using the 380 on him to give myself time to get away should momma bear ever show up rather than pissing her off.

Have you looked into GPS watches?
I have a Suunto Spartan on the way so I can not fully comment on it at the time but it satellite based and not cell based.
Has lots of different options. You can even load other peoples routes for an area.

I have one on the way to use for road biking and other activities but I am hoping that it will accommodate my needs when out overlanding landing as well.

We use Garmin InReach for offshore sailing. Maps, Weather Service, text and email service, SOS service for SARSAT, Tracking reported to your InReach Website (and social media if chosen) accessible by third parties. Pretty good device. Service is paid for monthly and cost varies based on options chosen. On some plans can be turned off and on for in/out of season use.

Don't know a thing about mountain biking , but where we hike , there is little to no cell service.

We carry a small hiking GPS that shows trails as well as a "Spot"....it uses satellites to send a "help, I'm hurt or lost message" Doesn't depend on cell coverage only satellite. Tell search and rescue your exact GPS coordinates.

I would imagine that "Spot" could be handy if I were alone with a broken ankle or leg. Gonna be hard to ride a bike with your femur sticking out....yikes !

mike

PS: "Spot" is the brand name of the gadget.

I use a mountain bike app called trailforks. I just looked it up and if you download the map of your area before you ride you will still be able to orient yourself offline of cell service. You will need to have location service/GPS turned on.

There is another app called mtb project that works well also. You can dowload the maps by state and have some GPS functionality beyond cell phone range.