Suggested Links to Tools for Planning or Taking a Bicycle Ride

Most of these sites are enhanced frequently. They currently offer map and satellite views. Some even have topographic views. Try some of the sites to see which one you like best. When you create a route check the appropriate "public" box so that others can see the route.

http://favoriterun.com/
Map a route or find a route using this site with free membership.

http://maps.google.com/
Map a route or find a route using this site with free membership.
Tip from EBC member Peter T.: For scoping out an all-road route, I have fond the "directions" feature on maps.google.com very handy. Enter the ends of your route in the "from" and "to" fields, get the driving route, and then "drag and drop" points on the route to get the route you actually intend to take. You can use Google's directions by walking to be routed along trails that have been added to the Google system.

www.gmap-pedometer.com/
Map a route using this site for free.
Petra comments: This tool is easy to use and makes a nice printout of the route.

www.mapmyride.com/
Map a route or find a route using this site with free membership.
This tool has the ability to follow roads - that is, you click on key intersections and it traces the road route between the selected intersections automatically. It will also develop a cue sheet, with turns, street names and distances; and an elevation profile.

www.bikeroutetoaster.com/
BikeRouteToaster.com is a course creation application primarily aimed at Garmin Edge/Forerunner owners although other users without a GPS may also find it useful for planning rides. Courses are created using Google maps and then downloaded from the server.

http://msrmaps.com
Microsoft Research Maps
- MSR Maps lets you zoom in close. It also has a simple download mode that lets you get the whole photo into your computer; e.g., to assemble larger layouts.

http://gis.dupageco.org/DuPageCountyBikewayUsersGuide/
Interactive Bikeways Map that allows you to view the bikeways of DuPage County on aerial photography including streets, buildings, train stations, and the complete bikeway database.

www.ridethecity.com/
City of Chicago routing tool. Enter starting location, ending location and the level of safety.

http://bicycling.trimbleoutdoors.com
Bicycling Magazine's route mapping site with downloadable GPS-ride-maps.

www.bikemap.net
has a good method for showing where routes are located. Most of their routes are in Europe, but there are a few in the US.