There exist a lot of tools to help with route planning, from Thomas Guides to all kinds of mapping software. I have used different software packages and websites, but have come to like the tools presented below, because they are free, online, user-friendly, and fit for the purpose.
Basic Bike Route Types:
- Point-to-point
- Out-and-back
- Loop
These are the three basic types of bike routes. Other route types are combinations of two or more basic types. While theoretically all routes are reversible, practically there is often a preferred direction, due to wind or other factors.
The example below illustrates the planning of the Mount Baldy and Islip Saddle route, a combination of point-to-point and out-and-back sections, composed in a symmetrical manner (note that the elevation profile is also symmetrical).
Bike Route Planning Tools:
- Google Maps (distance planning)
- GPS Visualizer (elevation planning)
Google Maps helps with planning route distance:
1. Click the «get directions» link and enter «A» and «B»
2. To enter more locations, click the «add destination« link and enter the location
3. Click the «get directions» button. If you want to use roads closed to traffic, select the «walking» icon
4. Use the map and drag and drop route markers and route lines as desired (zoom in if needed)
5. For more visual information, select «satellite» view and «photos» overlay
6. Copy a link to the map (needed for elevation planning and sharing)
GPS Visualizer helps with planning route elevation:
1. Click the «draw a profile» link
2. Select «U.S.» in the «units» drop-down box, paste the Google Maps link in the «or provide the URL of data on the web» text box, and click the «draw the profile» button
3. View the result
If you are not satisfied with the generated elevation profile, go back to Google Maps, adjust the route, and repeat these steps.
Example:
[Google Maps, Step 1]
[Google Maps, Step 2]
[Google Maps, Step 3]
[Google Maps, Step 4]
[Google Maps, Step 5]
[Google Maps, Step 6]
[GPS Visualizer, Step 1]
[GPS Visualizer, Step 2]
[GPS Visualizer, Step 3]
To share a route, paste the long Google Maps link into a URL shortener, for example goo.gl and share the short link. GPS Visualizer lets you only temporarily share a link, but you can save the elevation profile and then share the image file.