Frequently Asked Questions
The place you go when you don't know where to go
Q: How do I get started?
A: Sign up for a
FREE account. Not convinced? Get a sneak peek of our powerful website tools in our
GPS Rides and Maps Tour.
Q: How do I plan a new ride?
A: Simple. Our site uses the latest online map technology. We have street maps, aerial photography, and topo maps (mountain bikers: we didn't forget you). To plot a new ride, login at
Bicycling's GPS Rides and Maps. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click Create Ride.
- Click “Post Now”, under Option 1: Draw it on a map online.
- Add a name and brief notes to the Trip Information page. Click Save and Continue to Map Editor at the bottom of the page.
- On the map page, pinpoint your starting point by entering an address, city, or zip code in the Google search box. Select the pencil icon, then click on your starting point. A dialog box will appear. Name your track and hit OK. Plot your course.
Tip: Hold down the mouse button to pan on the map.
Q: How do I find rides close to home or on the road?
A: Go to our
Trip Search area.
Q: How can I send workouts from my Garmin or Magellan to your website?
A: You're already GPS savvy? Sweet.
Garmin users: Upload files straight from your GPS using your browser. Go to our
Garmin Upload page.
Magellan and other GPS users: Upload your GPX files to the website from your computer. Go to our GPX Upload page. (see below for details about GPX files).
Q. What is a GPX file?
A. GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format, which is a data format for the interchange of GPS data (waypoints, routes, and tracks) between applications and Web services on the Internet. BICYCLING, Trimble Outdoors, Garmin, and others now support GPX files as the universal format to exchange and store GPS data.
Q: How do I convert my old map and GPS files (like National Geographic Topo! or Garmin MapSource) into files supported by this site?
A: Our site and map software supports GPX files. GPSBabel is the best tool we've found for converting the various data formats found in commercial mapping software. GPSBabel runs on PCs and MACs. To download a free copy, go to
www.gpsbabel.org.
Q: What is AllSport GPS?
A: It's software that turns your boring cell phone into a cool, gps-enabled fitness gadget.
Q: What is the BICYCLING Map Project?
A: In Spring 2007, Bicycling partnered with AllSportGPS and Trimble Navigation to provide readers a way to track and share rides in an online community. To kick off the unique program, Bicycling and Trimble outfitted 100 map contributors with GPS-enabled cell phones. These contributors act as regional experts and work with our map editors to add new rides to our site every week. Anyone can contributor their own rides, but if you want to be part of the BICYCLING contributor club then
contact us.
Q: Can I use my phone for GPS workouts?
A: First, see our list of
supported phones. Don't see your phone or phone provider? Complain! Seriously, the more emails we get, the more power we have to add more phones and providers.
Email our support center now, and tell us your phone model and what phone network you use.
Q: How do I map my ride with a GPS-enabled phone loaded with AllSportGPS?
A: You're ready to go. Launch AllSport GPS. Pick your sport. Give the phone a few moments to acquire a satellite lock. Hit OK. Then pedal, run, walk, slide, or whatever you do. Tip: Extend the antenna and place the phone in a reception-friendly position, like your jersey pocket or mesh pocket of your backpack.
Once you're done, hit Stop and exit AllSportGPS. If you have cell phone reception, the workout is automatically sent to our website. The next time you login, it'll be there. If you’re in the boonies with no cell phone signal then the workout will save on your phone. When you get back to cell coverage, launch AllSport GPS, go to More Options, select Advanced Settings and hit Unsent Sessions. Wait five seconds…It's now online.
Q: How do I send a bike ride to my GPS phone?
A: Log in. Open up your pre-planned ride or a workout done by someone else on our site. Scroll down to Trip Tools and click on Send Trip To My Phone.
Next, launch AllSportGPS on your phone, select More Options, then Advanced Features, then Downloads. The phone is now downloading the ride. To access this new ride, go back to the main menu, pick your sport, click Options, then Saved Routes. Select the route.
Want maps for this ride? Select Options, then Map Screen, and click the Maps button to download a map onto the phone.
Q: How do I load maps onto my phone?
A: To monitor the progress of your ride on a street, aerial or topo map, select Options and then Map Screen. The map screen will load blank at first. Select Maps and then choose between downloading a new map (based on your GPS location) or selecting a map from those you've already downloaded. You can select the size and scope of the map before downloading.
Q: How do I view my ride online?
A: Login at
Bicycling's GPS Rides and Maps. Go to My Rides. Select a ride from your trip list and click on the magnifying glass icon.
Note: Trimble Outdoors calls everything a "trip". Some trips have timestamps and speed information (these would have been called "sessions" in our old AllSportGPS), and some don’t (these would have been called "routes" in the old AllSportGPS site).
Q: How can I view all my monthly workouts on a calendar?
A: Log in. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click the Calendar icon.
Q: How do I add photos, video, or sound files to my ride?
A: You must do this. It makes rides look wicked cool. Login at
Bicycling's GPS Rides and Maps. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click My Trips. Find the desired ride and click on the pencil icon. Scroll to the bottom of the Trip Information page and click Save and Continue to Map Editor. On the Map Editor page, click the camera icon and follow directions to upload your media files. Note: Media files are limited to 10MB.
Q: How do I edit a ride?
A: Login at
Bicycling's GPS Rides and Maps. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click My Trips. Find the desired ride and click on the pencil icon. Follow these steps:
- Fill in the fields on the Trip Information page. This page allows you to choose a name for your ride, enter a short summary, and add your notes. Click Save and Continue to Map Editor.
- Add points of interest (a good place to grab a cup of coffee or a bicycle shop to fix a mechanical problem) to the map. Upload your photos. Hit Save and Preview.
- When you’re happy with the trip, hit Finished at the bottom of the Trip Preview page.
Tip: Save early, save often.
Q: How do I create turn-by-turn directions?
A: Login at
Bicycling's GPS Rides and Maps. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click My Trips. Find the desired ride and click on the pencil icon. Scroll to the bottom of the Trip Information page and click Save and Continue to Map Editor.
- Zoom into the map. Select the hand icon. Click on the track. A dialog box will appear. Hit OK.
- Move the mouse over the track (small, white squares will appear along the track). Click on the desired square and select Point Properties from the dialog box.
- Make sure the GPS Status is Active. Choose the appropriate directional command from the Navigation Action dropdown menu. Type in the name of the street in the Navigation Label field. Hit OK.
Example: If the ride bears right onto Main Street, the Navigation Action field is "Bear Right.” The label is "Main Street."
Q: How do I share my ride?
A: Login at
Bicycling's GPS Rides and Maps. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click My Trips. Find the desired ride and click on the padlock icon. Note: If the padlock is unlocked, the trip is already shared online. After your ride is shared, send the trip’s link to your friends and ride buddies.
Q: I lost GPS reception during my ride. How do I edit the track?
A: Login at
Bicycling's GPS Rides and Maps. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click My Trips. Find the desired ride and click on the pencil icon. Scroll to the bottom of the Trip Information page and click Save and Continue to Map Editor.
- Zoom into the map. Select the hand icon. Click on the track. A dialog box will appear. Hit OK.
- Move the mouse over the track (small, white squares will appear along the track). Click on the desired square and use the four commands listed in the dropdown menu to edit the track.
- Delete Point: The point will disappear. The track will connect the points before and after the deleted point.
- Insert Point Before: This function only works at the start of the track. It allows you to add points to the beginning of the track. For example, if you want the trip to start from the parking lot instead of the first intersection.
- Insert Point After: This function allows you to extend your trip point by point.
- Point Properties: Use the Point Properties menu to add turn-by-turn directions.
- To move a section of your track, drag and drop the white squares to where you’d like the track to be placed.
Q: How do I keep track of my rest time on my phone?
A: If you stop during a workout (to grab a bite or use a restroom), pause your workout. To do this, open the phone, select “Options” and then “Pause.” When you’re ready to resume, hit “Options” again and then “Unpause.”
Q: How can I view my total trip mileage?
A: Log in. Click on My Account in the left-hand menu bar, then click Trip Totals. Select your desired time frame and click Go.
