Editor's note: When this piece came in from Dave, it
was obvious he had never used a GPS and wasn't really familiar with the benefits
it provides to an advanced user. For those of you who fit that category,
or have opinions about being led on a ride where the leader gets lost -
frequently - read on, then let Dave know what you think. If there's enough
action we'll run the responses in the next issue.
Motorcyclists are technology and gadget freaks. We love the latest whiz-bang
gizmos that make our ride faster, better looking, and more comfortable. As a
troglodyte whose first ride was a Yamaha 250 in the late-60s, I approach each
new "must have" with a large dose of skepticism, and then become a rabid
adherent with the device proves its worth. Thus, my current bike boasts fuel
injection, hard saddlebags and heated handlebar grips. Life is much better.
However, you have to wonder if our lust for the latest in technology can at
times cause us to lose track of the big picture – the vision of why we started
riding in the first place. When Helge Pederson was scheduled as a guest on the
radio show I used to host, he wanted to know the address of the studio so he
could enter the data into his GPS. That was how he found virtually everything. I
had no idea what the address was – I just rode there each week!
If you’re like Helge, like as not to be found careening across the trackless
steppes of Russia, a GPS makes sense. The same is true for people fond of dirt
bike rides to the back of beyond, where an incorrect turn can lead to an
"inconvenience" of a few days. And I concede that GPS would be of use for timed
endurance rides where the precise and most efficient route is a necessity. For
the rest of us… allow me to present a different route to the beneficial zen of
riding we all seek.
For almost four decades now, many of my fondly recalled trips have included
getting lost – either by accident or on purpose. Getting lost incites
uncertainty, and that provokes interest, concentration, and creativity, all of
which enhance the motorcycle experience. Here are some ways to whet your ability
to get lost, in order to create a better ride.
Cross-Country Trip 1: A GPS will provide a route using the most
efficient roads – which are the roads used by the majority of everyone else.
What’s the point of that? Far preferable to use lesser routes that nobody else
uses or even knows about. Rather than pack a huge atlas or national map guide,
try this – each time you cross a state line and pause for fuel, buy a map for
that state. Throw away the one you have. Use some quality time to pore over your
new map to find smaller highways that go more or less in the direction you want.
You’ll cover far less ground, to be sure, but is an impressive odometer reading
the goal? Go for "Quality," I say (homework: go back and read Zen and the Art of
Motorcycle Maintenance – again) and choose intensity over mere distance. The
national map guide you have at home is probably several years old, and may not
be accurate. Buying a new map in each state will probably cost less than the one
big atlas, take up less room, be more accurate and easier to use.
If you absolutely insist, retain the old maps to retrace your route on the
way home, but that indicates you haven’t fully embraced the concept. If you toss
each map at the state line, the next time you come that way you’ll need a new
map, and probably discover new roads – a great idea!
Avoiding Rain System: I once rode from Seattle to Georgia without
getting rained on. In Georgia in the summer it rains virtually every day for
about 20 minutes, so my dry run ended there. How? Easy. Whenever I would stop
for fuel or a break I would take a long gander at the weather ahead. If I saw a
storm in the far distance, I would take the first road that turned away from it.
This works very well in Montana, which is not called the "Big Sky" state for
nothing. I literally rode around several storm cells and discovered some
wonderful roads while I was at it.
Cross-Country Trip II: I rode with a friend for many years. Each year
we could get away for about a week. After many trips we began to run out of
obvious destinations, right about the time we no longer needed them. Our last
few trips were "planned" by using one word. A word such as "East" or "South."
Once we had the initial direction, we’d take off and ride whatever roads we came
across and let the trip shape itself. Somewhere in there, with two or three days
left, we’d turn for home. You always cover more miles on more efficient roads on
the way home.
Local Rides: For most of us, the longer trip is a rare adventure to be
treasured. But be of good cheer. There are so many great day trips available in
the Puget Sound area. Of course you can lay out a route around Mount Rainier, Port
Gamble or dozens of other locations on your GPS. Why? Why not simply
meander in the general direction of where you want to go? The roads, sights and
sites you discover will probably surpass anything you could have planned.
Dead End Roads: A great way to create a good ride! Absolute anathema
to most, but a little experience will give you the talent to suss out when a
dead end sign marks a road that will offer 5 or 10 miles of great scenery and
great riding, with a virtual guarantee of little or no traffic. It must be
admitted than in some of the groups I ride with I’ve a reputation for carrying
this to extremes – but everyone should practice their U-turn skills from time to
time.
Lottery Fantasy Ride: Pick up one of the free realty magazines at the
grocery store and page through it. When you find a suitable $1 - $4 million
house you like, out in the country, jot down the address. If the address is not
in the magazine, you can find it one the realtor’s web site. Write down only the
address on a small piece of paper. Go for a ride and try to find the house
without using any maps. Over time you’ll develop a sense of how county roads are
laid out, and gradually build your own internal GPS map of the entire area. This
is a very handy skill that comes into play in your "real" life as well. You’ll
undoubtedly discover some great roads and you may also find that you do not
really like that mansion – handy info when you do win the lottery next week!
With a GPS you can easily reach your destination with efficiency. However,
there are times when a lack of efficiency should be the goal. After all, did you
purchase a motorcycle to become more efficient?
In closing, let me say this to you, with all of the best intentions: get
lost!
Dave Preston
is the author of Motorcycle 101, a sensible book for the new and returning
rider. Pick up a copy today in the
Sound
RIDER! store.
The
Tyranny of GPS