GPS fastest vs shortest ???????
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida, USA
Usually fastest, but occasionally I'll check off the avoid highways and toll roads options and cruise the back way home. I use a TomTom Rider 1. Got it from Amazon on clearence for $250 for the whole kit including RAM mounts and power cables. I like the TomTom routing better than my Garmin's in the car, but I like the Garmin's voice-directions better. I think they're clearer than the TomTom's as far as what it wants you to do.
Last edited by FLUltrarider; Jun 8, 2010 at 08:01 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I also have an early TomTom Rider, have had it several years and use it in both car and bike. I live in the UK and have used it on long European tours. I also have a Navtech built-in system in my car.
Both fastest and shortest can be a nuisance. In both cases you can be taken off a given road, down a shortcut, then back on to the road you just turned off! Arguably it would have been easier (not an available setting on these things!) to stay on the same road.
I have also travelled in company with Garmin users and they quickly disagree with TomTom on which route to take, as a result of which, on one of our trips, we set off on our own. It got rid of arguments over which was the correct way, especially after Garmin tried to send us down a dirt track!
So IMHO when buying a GPS the first purchase should actually be an up-todate map! The beauty of a GPS is that it always knows exactly where you are, but getting that info to you in a useful form is not their strong point.
Both fastest and shortest can be a nuisance. In both cases you can be taken off a given road, down a shortcut, then back on to the road you just turned off! Arguably it would have been easier (not an available setting on these things!) to stay on the same road.
I have also travelled in company with Garmin users and they quickly disagree with TomTom on which route to take, as a result of which, on one of our trips, we set off on our own. It got rid of arguments over which was the correct way, especially after Garmin tried to send us down a dirt track!
So IMHO when buying a GPS the first purchase should actually be an up-todate map! The beauty of a GPS is that it always knows exactly where you are, but getting that info to you in a useful form is not their strong point.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 654
Likes: 11
There is one thing that I would like to add.
GPS's are far from perfect. You REALLY have to get to know how they operate, the parameters used by the operating system and how you response to the messages given.
For example: you're on a main hwy and are approaching a long sweeping curve. Before the curve there's a hwy exit/entrance. If the GPS is programmed for shortest route; it might direct you to take the "exit" and then the "entrance" because that distance is "shorter" than the long curve. Believe me; it happens.
The PRIMARY lesson to learn is do not allow the GPS to REMOVE your Common Sense. Do not TRUST the GPS, businesses change location and not every program works flawlessly.
That's it for me.
Ride In Peace
GPS's are far from perfect. You REALLY have to get to know how they operate, the parameters used by the operating system and how you response to the messages given.
For example: you're on a main hwy and are approaching a long sweeping curve. Before the curve there's a hwy exit/entrance. If the GPS is programmed for shortest route; it might direct you to take the "exit" and then the "entrance" because that distance is "shorter" than the long curve. Believe me; it happens.
The PRIMARY lesson to learn is do not allow the GPS to REMOVE your Common Sense. Do not TRUST the GPS, businesses change location and not every program works flawlessly.
That's it for me.
Ride In Peace
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
There is one thing that I would like to add.
GPS's are far from perfect. You REALLY have to get to know how they operate, the parameters used by the operating system and how you response to the messages given.
For example: you're on a main hwy and are approaching a long sweeping curve. Before the curve there's a hwy exit/entrance. If the GPS is programmed for shortest route; it might direct you to take the "exit" and then the "entrance" because that distance is "shorter" than the long curve. Believe me; it happens.
The PRIMARY lesson to learn is do not allow the GPS to REMOVE your Common Sense. Do not TRUST the GPS, businesses change location and not every program works flawlessly.
That's it for me.
Ride In Peace
GPS's are far from perfect. You REALLY have to get to know how they operate, the parameters used by the operating system and how you response to the messages given.
For example: you're on a main hwy and are approaching a long sweeping curve. Before the curve there's a hwy exit/entrance. If the GPS is programmed for shortest route; it might direct you to take the "exit" and then the "entrance" because that distance is "shorter" than the long curve. Believe me; it happens.
The PRIMARY lesson to learn is do not allow the GPS to REMOVE your Common Sense. Do not TRUST the GPS, businesses change location and not every program works flawlessly.
That's it for me.
Ride In Peace
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