OK, how do you guys figure out which direction you are heading when you are in unknown roads? The Google maps doesn't seem to tell me, that I know of, which directions I am heading. When you are taking unknown roads out of town it isn't easy to get your sense of directions after a while. I hate to go retro, so I don't want to have to put a compass on the bike, lol..

 

 

I just use road signs or numbers never been interested in what point of the compass I'm headed for, but if your really into it use the sun, or as I recall moss grows on the north side of trees that should help you.

 

Yep, Road signs and Road numbers and the Sun. Most of the time odd numbers indicate North/South roads, even numbers indicate East/West roads. There are exceptions though.. like I-75 turns and goes East/West in S FL, but those are rare.

 

When I was on ship deployments around the world I would walk out to the flight deck every morning at sunrise. I knew which direction we were going for the rest of the day unless we changed course. In the evening I'd observe sunset as well. If I'm out of my local area I just get a fix on the sunrise and let my internal gps take it from there. When in doubt ask a local.

 

Instinct, mostly. Always have had a sense of direction. Since I've never been more than $3 worth of lost, a 1" round pin-on compass from Wal-mart as back up, right at the bottom of the windshield pouch. Or, you can tie one onto a mirror stem, take it off when you don't need it, and shove it in your pocket. Either way...not very obtrusive.

 

I stop until it is dark then rely on celestial navigation. By the way, there is a compass app you can put on your smartphone.

 

In this hemisphere this is true. When down under, remember they do things backwards.

 

There is a compass app available for Droid/Iphone if you're directionally challenged to augment Google Maps. Requires the GPS function being on, orient the phone along the bike's axis, voila....

 

Phones have free compass readings which gives you precise data. SJ Ron