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Forum > All General Talk > Rule 13 "The use of GPS is not allowed"
Graham Phillips Apr 13th 2014, 8:13pm |
First of all, I take it this refers to newer GPS devices with live, scrolling mapping. Older devices used simply as a timer and odometer are OK ? Secondly, and more controversially, why are mapping GPSs banned ? 100 years ago, multiple gears were considered unsporting. We have now got to the stage where single speed or fixed is a bit of an oddity. In case anyone's wondering, I log all my rides; races, commutes and everything, with a Garmin 800. |
Mark Morgan May 12th 2014, 9:26am |
I'll bite Graham. Like you I log all my rides on my phone using Strava. I do also have mapping software on there which I would only consider using as a last resort in a safety critical situation (eg fog on a plateau with exposure imminent unless I take the quickest route to safety). However, having used my phone+mapping for navigation on big mountain rides and rides in unfamiliar terrain I will reiterate what I believe, and that is unless you can read a map well (which you have in front of you anyway on an event) then you won't be any better off looking at the phone/GPS. Sure it will tell you where you are as a dot on a tiny little map, but unless you can relate that to the terrain and the bigger picture it is worthless. Kind of like the thinking that buying a better, lighter, faster bike will give you an advantage. Unless you can ride that bike to the max then it is unlikely to help you much. A better rider will still beat you using a heavy old clonker. I will continue to have my phone with me as a route logger and as a "get out of jail free" card in case I have to bail somewhere nasty. I would not use it to gain an advantage as the time it takes to get it out and look at it would represent 1/2 a mile of riding and that is far more important in this sport I have rapidly discovered. |
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