NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
Flash sat navs and those old fashioned paper maps.
Paper Maps £5.99
‘Smartphones are not maps but navigational aids. Maps are a much bigger idea.’ So says Nicholas Crane, adventurer, cyclist, geographer. Any biker wanting an adventure will use paper maps (I use Michelin for touring). They have three advantages. First, they reward the curious who don’t mind taking a wrong turn. Second, they add superb context to where you are. Finally, they are a beautiful record of your trips (my pre-internet ride from London to Sydney is captured on scribbled and torn paper). AS
Tomtom Rider 550 £399.99 tomtom.com
This has converted me from Googlemaps on my Samsung for three reasons. 1) You can see it in bright sunshine. 2) You press a button and get wiggly versions of your chosen route almost instantaneously. My old Garmin Zumo took minutes to do this. 3) The new screen layout shows the proximity of fuel stations relative to you and your destination. Free lifetime maps, wifi, easy menus and solid build quality seal the deal. You can get £100 off list price now too. JW
Garmin Zumo £429.99 garmin.com
Garmin’s Zumo XT is a brilliant riding companion. The 5.5in screen is bright enough to use in full sunlight, while the unit itself is waterproof, dustproof and shockproof. It comes pre-loaded with European road maps (lifetime free updates) and topographic maps for off-roading. Navigation is a cinch and if you pair it with a smartphone it will avoid traffic. The best bit though is the bike specific routing, where you can select how narrow and twisty you want your roads, on a sliding scale. JG
Beeline Moto £149 beeline.co
‘Amazing archive footage and interviews with riders and tuners’
Keep your cinemascape screen, myriad functions and synthesised voice shouting over Bluetooth. All you need is an arrow. The size of a chunky watch, this attaches via simple rubber straps or on a neat mount, talks to an app on your phone, and directs. It shows distance to the next turn with a blob to show if it’s left or right, with a diddy graphic indicating journey progression. Simple, effective, cheap. MA