Mapping software for route planning question

[TrueNorth]

Hello everyone,

I love this site and am stoked to have found like minded people!

I'am starting to lay down a big dirt lap in Google maps using BikeRouteToaster and it seems great. But... I am wondering if there is something better out there that bike packers use?  I'm running on a Mac and am adept with computers and fairly comfortable with technology so learning something new is ok.  I'd just like to start in a good place instead of reinventing the wheel! Any tips would be appreciated. For instance does BikeRouteToaster wind up limiting you?

I'm based in San Francisco, CA and planning on putting together a good sized dirt lap starting and ending in the Clear Lake area using Mendocino National Forest for most of the route. I have done some dirt touring connecting the 101 corridor with the coast via dirt but would like to extend and improve on the various routes I have ridden. Thank you for any suggestions.

[cavscout]

I had not heard of that site, but it looks worth playing around with it.

I've been using bike map.net but you have to save your changes before they are reflected in the states and elevation profile.  BRT looks better.

[greensie]

Check the gear reviews on this website for GPS/Navigation, and you'll find TopoFusion GPS Software at the top of the list.  It's free to try, and though I haven't obtained a GPS device to actually play around with the routes I've mapped out with it, it's pretty nice to work with.

[NT]

I've used Topofusion a little bit- very nice, but doesn't work on my mac unless I use boot camp or parallels. I'm planning a trip in Scotland and have found bikehike.co.uk to be AWESOME. Is there anything like this for North America? Great web interface means I can use it anywhere, on any computer.

[bmike-vt]

I use bike route toaster for all my brevet / randonneuring organizing / cue sheets / etc.
You can export the GPX and then load up on a GPS unit, or drop it into TopoFusion.

[NT]

Ok, nevermind. Bike route toaster seems to be what I was looking for! thanks. Now if only we could get USGS topo maps on there like topofusion...