When, if ever, is too much route info too much info?

[FeloniousDunk]

I've wondered about this a bit and truly don't know where I stand on the issue.  I'd like to hear some others' percpectives. 

When is too much route info too much?  For instance, there are routes out there with no published gps tracks, why?  There are likely nice routes out there that no one has even mentioned online, why?  I know I sometimes like to have little knowledge of the route ahead so that I have no expectations to live up to.  But other times, if I want to go fast maybe, I want a lot of details.  I read a lot of trip reports and there's a couple differant styles.  Some have inspiring photos and introspective launguage but no milage, gps tracks, trails names, etc.  Others say how many miles each day, how fast they averaged, calories burned, descriptions of every intersection, etc. 

What factors do you think should factor in to how much info is provided for a route?  Just wondering what some of you think. 

[ScottM]

I have similar thoughts sometimes.  My usual reaction it to plan as much as possible, but sometimes this spoils the surprise or leads to less adventure.  It depends on what kind of mood I'm in and where the ride is.

It's funny I was just re-reading a post of mine about my first CT trip (literally minutes before I came over here and read your report), where I purposely studied the route as little as I could get away with.  It was actually a cool way to 'see' it, not knowing what was coming up.  I can't recommend it for everyone, though.  And we did have a GPS line to follow if needed, but I didn't look at it much.

Here was my writeup:

http://www.topofusion.com/diary/2006/08/16/colorado-trail/

Of course, to me there's nothing like exploring a route that no one has bikepacked before...

[jhl99]

Dunk:  I’m not sure what your angle is… I think what you are getting at are trip reports--when do the authors cross the line and give too much info? Or is there such a thing as too much info or too little info?

If anyone gives any scrap of info about riding in a place that might interest me, I appreciate that and try to reciprocate.

It kind of depends on  the author and what their purpose is… some have a good store to tell, some want publish ride guides, some have photos of the route to showcase, some might want to discuss gear, some want to give out statistics….  These things lend them to different types of reports.   Obviously, the best reports seem to be when the author recognizes their strengths and is true to them.

As a reader, I like a good photo for inspiration.   A while back, Bike Magazine did an article about mountain biking in the Adirondack Mountains in NY.  That article was a general article, dropping a few trail names, discussing the issues and the potential of the area…. But the photos, they inspired me to go on vacation for past couple of years up there.   

I guess that is what I like in a trip report, a little inspiration. 

If I’m going to ride a route myself, I’m going to do my own research—internet, guidebooks, map work, etc and probably modify it to suit what I want to see and do..  I’m not going rely on something someone else has put together… even published guide books, I cross the data over to topo maps and bring maps as required.