Better by Bike-easy route planning in Bristol

This week I have to go to a conference on the other side of the city, not a major deal but I'm pretty hopeless at navigating by map these days (lack of practice I suppose) and as I have a sat-nav on the bike, I mint as well use it. Anyway, whilst registering for Bristol's Biggest Bike ride a couple of weeks ago, I came across this site which allows you to plan your route across Bristol using the start and finish post codes. Even better, it allows you to download a GPX file. Sweet, so here is a "how to" for planning your journey across Bristol:
Step one
Enter the start and finish postcode and hit go.


The page will disappear for a few seconds before coming back with a dialogue box saying its planning your route. A few seconds later and voila! Your route appears, you can view a map or a printer friendly version.


Step two
If you look on the right hand side under the route profile, you will see the option to download a GPX file. The associated file has too many waypoints for my Garmin 705 so I loaded it into Garmin BaseCamp and then used this software to generate a new route. I uploaded this to Garmin Connect (a simple one click operation from BaseCamp) and then used the export function to generate a GPX file.


Step three
Having cleaned up the GPX file, I loaded it onto the Garmin (plug in Garmin, wait for it to mount, navigate to the GPX folder and drop in the file) and checked that it would work by setting the Garmin to navigate the file. Success! The file appears as a line on the map


and as a series of instructions in the list view


All I have to do now is switch on the Garmin, set it to navigate and follow the instructions as the unit beeps at me before a turn. I like it.
You don't have to use the Garmin BaseCamp/Garmin Connect route, you could use GPSies, GPSbabel, MapMyRide etc to do the same thing, I haven't had to lean up a GPX file before so did it using the Garmin software as it’s (possibly) more likely to work as intended.
The site is Bristol only but I hope other cities do a similar site, it makes getting round a lot easier and sure beats looking at an A-Z every two minutes.

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With the toss of a Welly, we're off - Avalon Sunrise 400k

It's 10.30 at night and I'm sitting on my bike alongside 30 or so other intrepid souls waiting for the start of the Avalon Sunrise 400k. To say I'm nervous would be a bit of an understatement! I've pitched the tent, eaten, loaded the Carradice with enough food and sundry items to last at least a week and now I'm about to set off on the longest ride I've ever done...





Riders gather for the start, only 250 miles to go..

There can't be many sporting events that start with the tossing of a Wellington boot but at exactly 10.30 pm, one was thrown into a field somewhere in the Blackdown Hills and we where off. A steady stream of riders head downhill in a blaze of bright white light and flashing red LED's as we head towards the first control at Tiverton. Bad luck immediately strikes the tandem crew who puncture in the first couple of miles, I'm OK and find myself outside the Tesco in Tiverton an hour later getting my Brevet stamped. It's then a long, steady ride up the Exe valley and down the other side to Minehead. I've done this section of the ride, albeit in reverse, a few times as part of Pam Almonds Ken's Autumn Colours 100k and it is very pretty in the light. It was eery in the dark. A long, steady climb of around 10 miles to Wheddon Cross and I think I saw 2 cars. In the background, I could see a light and after about half an hour, the light caught me and I met Pete and Dave with whom I would ride the majority of the ride.

The control at Minehead was in the organisers Mum's house so it seemed strange to ride into a suburban housing estate in the dead of night and be invited into a house to be served tea and flapjacks by two elderly (but charming and welcoming) ladies, top job though, great tea and superb cake.
About 1.30 am we set off along the main road to Bridgewater. This was an interesting section, rolling, quit and with stunning views of the oil refinery and docks across the Severn, all lit up and glowing in the dark. Through Bridgewater and off towards Street, the sun slowly climbing as we head vaguely eastwards. Around 4.00am the darkness gave way to light and a light rain started, a quick stop in Glastonbury to don the waterproof and eat some food and it was off again, across the levels before the first big climb. Westmae hill climbs up to the top of the Mendips and is steep but worthwhile, you gain height quickly and I love riding on top of the Mendips hills. A rolling road took us to Frome, a cobbled road through the town and a final climb to the morning control at a 24 hour garage just outside the town. Handily, this garage had a good selection of sandwiches and a Costa coffee machine, bliss after 100k without a proper stop. We sat on a bench outside and ate/drank and contemplated the next section to Chepstow.





A welcome sight at 6.00am, the control at Frome

Down and into Midford, then up again to Oddown, down to Bath and pick up the cycle track to Bristol. A quick diversion to Frampton Cotterell for breakfast and then over the Severn Bridge to Chepstow to the control at a Co-op. back across the bridge and a reasonably flat run to the cafe control at Wooton-under-edge. A coffee and toasted tea cake and it's back to the 24 hour garage but we are well over half way now.

The next section is the worst for me, I feel like I have no power and struggle on the rolling hills. The rain starts, then stops again. East of Bath and we climb Midford hill, this seems steep and goes on for ever! Then it's rolling to Bradford on Avon before a final climb up to the control. I eat more sandwiches and have another Costa coffee and start to perk up, there is only about 50 miles to go now and I'm confident I will finish so spirits lift somewhat. Jamie (the organiser) arrives and suggests we form a group for the last leg as a bit of a headwind is building so we do.

A long climb after Frome takes us up to the top of the Mendips again (preceded by some long rollers) then its a long decent to Shepton Mallet, then it's flat to Taunton. All good except it is now raining pretty heavily so the going is a bit grim (it's on this section that a fellow rider, Jim stopped and called the paramedics who take him to hospital as he is suffering from hypothermia). I lose the group as I'm riding a bit faster so plod on reaching Taunton as darkness descends, I stop to get out my spare battery for my light and Jamie goes past. I set off again, negotiate Taunton and begin the climb back to the top of the Blackdown hills and the finish at the half moon pub. I catch Jamie and we ride the climb together. The rain is now torrential and the wind has picked up. In the dark, it resembles one of those documentaries about North Sea fishing! The climb is stiff and goes on for some time but I feel strong. We reach the top, ride along on the flat for a while and then I see the lights of Clayhiddon village and finally, the pub hones into view, a very welcome sight. the time is 10.30pm so exactly 24 hours. Even more welcome is the pint of beer (sorry, can't remember what it was) and the plate of Thai Green curry that is brought out (free of charge)! I'm sorry to have missed the Wurzels tribute band but glad of another pint before retiring to my tent for a well deserved sleep that is disturbed slightly by the raging storm outside.

And, by the power of Garmin, we have:


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