Smart Phone as your main device

[the tortoise]

We are using the iPhone 5s as our GPS, camera, web browser, phone etc.
We use:
1. Strava
2. Gaia (GPS)
3. Runtastic (app for bike computer)

We power it with a dynamo hub and B&M Luxos u light charger system. We can leave with it half charged and at the end of the ride it is almost fully charged even using our apps.

So far it is working great.

Any others with experience just in using a smartphone for long distance bikepacking races??
Durability? Problems? Great apps? Tips? Bike mounts and waterproof cases?

[sfuller]

What do you do when you don't have data coverage. Does Gaia allow you to download the maps so they are available without cell service?

[the tortoise]

What do you do when you don't have data coverage. Does Gaia allow you to download the maps so they are available without cell service?

yes

[Area54]

As long as it's one of the 'tough' smartphones, can't see why not.

If it can survive constant vibration, harsh sun and heat, external saturation, wide operating temperatures, be fitted securely with a firm mount, not lose vital data when you switch between apps, then it might be suitable.

Be good for UL. But I'll stick with my dedicated items for each duty, may be heavier but I can't compromise until some manufacturer makes the 'Homer' of all outdoor adventure devices...

[the tortoise]

As long as it's one of the 'tough' smartphones, can't see why not.

If it can survive constant vibration, harsh sun and heat, external saturation, wide operating temperatures, be fitted securely with a firm mount, not lose vital data when you switch between apps, then it might be suitable.

Be good for UL. But I'll stick with my dedicated items for each duty, may be heavier but I can't compromise until some manufacturer makes the 'Homer' of all outdoor adventure devices...

I hear you on the durability aspect of electronics. I have clamped a dumb phone to my bike for years and it has held up fine, even surviving crashes and being thrown to the ground. They make some pretty rugged cases for smart phones now and it seems like people take them on their bikepacking trips anyways with good success. i read a blog where one around the world hike ditched his garmin for a smart phone (iphone) with great results.
in fact my garmin 60 csx has had electronic issures where it would randomly shut off. I fixed it by tearing it open and having to bend contacts so they would hit the circuit board properly.
On the TD I had a smartphone out of contract that I used for a music player, a small canon camera and my dumb phone plus my gps, plus headlight, plus cords and batteries and a lithium ion usb battery. Too much stuff in my opinion, but thankfully they all survived the cold heat, rain and snow.

[JRA]

I'm kind of tech neanderthal, but I do like the idea of one device capable of multi-tasking.

Out of curiosity, does anyone here have experience riding the GDMBR using only the ACA maps for navigation? 

[wahday]

Unless I am doing something wrong, the problem I have found with downloading aerials for use with Gaia when out of cell range is that the resolution is not very high. At the level I need to see in the places I ride, I find it is not very useful. But again, perhaps there is a way to increase the resolution when downloading (though I wrestled a bit with this to no avail). You have better resolution when there is service, so it seems doable.

I have been using my iPhone 5 as a GPS but I tend to use it in conjunction with printed maps. I generally consult the phone when I am not sure where I am on the printed map. Its also helpful in getting back to places where maybe I should have turned as you can drop a pin and return to it regardless of whether you have a map. Ideally, I would love to actually record a track to map where I am going/have been. Hardly anyone has been riding/mapping out where I have been riding, so I have not found any other files to use.

More recently I purchased a phone charger that is about ¾ the size of a cigarette pack. Its good for 3 full iPhone charges, I believe, but I have not yet used it in the field. Its USB charged so not as good for extended travel as one that takes batteries but to date I have only done overnighters and don’t see having time to do more than a two nighter in the near future and I think this will suffice. I am also very sensitive to turning off battery-intensive functions – no Bluetooth, no wifi, turn off locations services for everything but the apps you are using, always return the navigation app to the background, etc.) If things are really running low, I only turn the phone on to find out where I am and then shut it off again.

I don’t worry too much about damaging my phone. I have a stem mount but often just carry it in my pocket or pack and get it out when I need it. I definitely do that in sketchy terrain.

[the tortoise]

Unless I am doing something wrong, the problem I have found with downloading aerials for use with Gaia when out of cell range is that the resolution is not very high. At the level I need to see in the places I ride, I find it is not very useful. But again, perhaps there is a way to increase the resolution when downloading (though I wrestled a bit with this to no avail). You have better resolution when there is service, so it seems doable.

I have been using my iPhone 5 as a GPS but I tend to use it in conjunction with printed maps. I generally consult the phone when I am not sure where I am on the printed map. Its also helpful in getting back to places where maybe I should have turned as you can drop a pin and return to it regardless of whether you have a map. Ideally, I would love to actually record a track to map where I am going/have been. Hardly anyone has been riding/mapping out where I have been riding, so I have not found any other files to use.

More recently I purchased a phone charger that is about ¾ the size of a cigarette pack. Its good for 3 full iPhone charges, I believe, but I have not yet used it in the field. Its USB charged so not as good for extended travel as one that takes batteries but to date I have only done overnighters and don’t see having time to do more than a two nighter in the near future and I think this will suffice. I am also very sensitive to turning off battery-intensive functions – no Bluetooth, no wifi, turn off locations services for everything but the apps you are using, always return the navigation app to the background, etc.) If things are really running low, I only turn the phone on to find out where I am and then shut it off again.

I don’t worry too much about damaging my phone. I have a stem mount but often just carry it in my pocket or pack and get it out when I need it. I definitely do that in sketchy terrain.

This should help you out. You need to select the zoom level before you download. It will take more time to download though and use more memory.
http://help.gaiagps.com/knowledgebase/articles/294031-how-to-download-maps

We have been using Gaia and really like it a lot. Sure beats my Garmin in so many ways. Plus unlike my old garmin it is not limited to 20 tracks of 500 points each. For the trans am bike race route I didn't have to break it into sections in order to download it. With Gaia I was able to download the whole track no problem.

[wahday]

Thanks for the link

To be honest, I haven’t played with Gaia in a while (been using cyclemeter). But last night I opened it up and looked at the new version which seems to have improved a number of things. I wasn’t able to figure out how to download maps, though since the interface changed, so this will come in handy.

The one feature I really like about Gaia is how easy it is to draw tracks. And importing tracks to other programs has been very easy also (but if I can do everything in Gaia I will be most happy).

Again, I tend to draw tracks and then make printouts in addition to using the phone GPS. Then I just consult the phone if I am unclear where I am on my printout.

[intheways]

We are using the iPhone 5s as our GPS, camera, web browser, phone etc.
We use:
1. Strava
2. Gaia (GPS)
3. Runtastic (app for bike computer)

We power it with a dynamo hub and B&M Luxos u light charger system. We can leave with it half charged and at the end of the ride it is almost fully charged even using our apps.

So far it is working great.

Any others with experience just in using a smartphone for long distance bikepacking races??
Durability? Problems? Great apps? Tips? Bike mounts and waterproof cases?

I'm impressed it lasts that long.  I can start with a full charge on a 4S and I still end up with about a 20% charge after 8 hrs even with a SON28.  Maybe the 5 is more efficient.

[the tortoise]

It might be your controller. Ours tops out at 1 amp, where my old one .5 amp. Also mostly road riding so the average speed and output are greater.
You can also reduce draw by doing airplane mode, closing unused apps, screen brightness, etc.

[intheways]

It might be your controller. Ours tops out at 1 amp, where my old one .5 amp. Also mostly road riding so the average speed and output are greater.
You can also reduce draw by doing airplane mode, closing unused apps, screen brightness, etc.

Thanks.  I did shut off the apps, but the controller might make a difference.  Also, some of the time was off-road, so wattage wasn't as high

[Danish]

I have been using an iPhone 5 with the Pocket Earth App.  As I learn more about it I like it better and better.  The GPS is pretty accurate and the battery lasts if you remember to put it in airplane mode when not using it.  I have the LifeProof case for it that has held up very well.  They make a bike mount that I am sure would work well with some zip ties or string etc to back it up just like people do with their GPS normally.

[briandunnington]

Out of curiosity, does anyone here have experience riding the GDMBR using only the ACA maps for navigation? 

I rode the GDMBR in 2005 (before the Canada section was added and before the iPhone existed) and only used the ACA maps - no GPS or anything else like that, but I did use my compass a few times to get my bearing. I thought the maps were more than sufficient to follow the route.

[the tortoise]

I knew someone who just used maps in the 2012 TD and he made it just fine. Much more time consuming though vs. just following a track but the maps should be in everyone's arsenal.

From bike2power here is a waterproof bike mount for the iphone 5s, and they have more for other phones: http://www.bike2power.com/bikeconsole-bike-mounts/iphone-5s-waterproof-touch-id-bike-mount.html
I have never used it but it would nice to get feed back from those who have or who have tried different mounts.

[Jeff B]

We are using the iPhone 5s as our GPS, camera, web browser, phone etc.
We use:
1. Strava
2. Gaia (GPS)
3. Runtastic (app for bike computer)

I am curious what App you load your .gpx route into.  Does the App alert you when have deviated from the route?  I like the idea of fewer devices but have not found one that would replace my Garmin's guidance or alert functions.
Jeff

[ROADHOG]

Road riders are using phones over Garmin. Garmin has a serious competition problem with phone GPS.

Road riders have a problem with dynamo front end weight which you all apparently do not. Speed on dirt may be a problem from what I read in road.

I use a 17” Dell laptop GPS screen with Garmin Nroute and Streets n Trips on a plywood shelf running from engine cover to cargo partition behind the seats. The big screen is everything. Across LA in a loop for business, no problem.

There’s a 76Csx for biking and kayaking with Blue Charts. If you’re lost take the Garmin.

ACA sells a narrative and when whined at allowed a download of GPS coordinates ( thanks and we’ll send more $$). The ACA coordinates fed into Garmin Mapsource producing a Garmin map for the MTB CDL for New Mexico. EEYEYAHAHHAHWHOA look at that ! delighted.

Trying New Mexico into Garmin or Google with the Narrative is difficult but interesting…Google earth and Garmin. You know what’s out there. Searching for clues in Google gives a lotta background. Garmin software has difficulty placing waypoints exactly where you want them on the road tending to place waypoints in a relative area not on an intersection. No problem with decimal degrees.

After reading a long litany of grousing about phone map maps, how to play games with map ap use and storage, I went into the Verizon store for a look at THE TABLET.

The tablet does everything. Map storage, email, GPS….so far does not patch tubes. CDL riders say Cell maybe MiFi coverage is almost total from altitude. There’s a site for altitude coverage.

Next week a separate bar screen linked to the tablet in your pack. Cycle oriented data crunching as with Garmin.

[ROADHOG]

 
Poster's ACA question was are the ACA maps adequate in themselves. I haven't ridden the trail but read  thru a volume of written advice telling me that 'No, is best using a GPS.' There was some snarling that the GPS was pussy stuff but the group said miss one waypoint and you may be in deep excrement.

The question of extrication following injury or miss-supply arose....as where am I, where do I ride or walk to for help ?

The tablet I saw may be linked to THE CLOUD... so you may design a thermonuclear device after dinner.

[Solo Bikepacker]

i was thinking using smart phone gps but after reeding this blog changed my mind have read http://www.bikepacking.mobi/bikepacking-blog/

[sfuller]

Poster's ACA question was are the ACA maps adequate in themselves. I haven't ridden the trail but read  thru a volume of written advice telling me that 'No, is best using a GPS.'

I've been looking at the ACA maps in preparation for riding the GDMBR and everything you need for successful navigation of the route is there. All of the towns and each turn plus the mileage. Probably not as handy to use on a bike as a GPS, but they will definitely do the job.