I use a combination of resources when I research my routes. It’s usually a combination of Google Maps + Streetview, Google Earth, Strava heatmaps, Komoot occasionally and Plotaroute.com as well as a good old recce to see sections for myself.
I plot my routes on Plotaroute.com because of the availability of OS Maps as a map option for the relatively cheap subscription price of £20 per year. However, I will concede that using plotaroute isn’t the most ‘elegant’ user experience so here is a quick guide on how to get your route file in a format you need.
The Event Page
First up, go to the Gravelton event page you want the route for. On this page find THE ROUTE section. In this section, under the route description and above the map will be a link to the route on Plotaroute. Click this link.
Now on the route page on Plotaroute, click or hover over the Menu option (top right) and select Download from the menu.
This link will take you to the Download page where you can obtain the route in any file format (.gpx, .kml, .tcx, .fit) you want.
On the Download page, you have some additional options available
- File Type: GPS – download a route file (default), Image – download a picture of the route map
- Format: choose a route file format suitable for your device (.gpx, .kml, .tcx, .fit)
- Route Name: You can change the name of the route file if you wish to whatever you want. This is how you will find it on your device.
- Virtual Partner: Adjust the speed that your device will be pace you at (device dependent)
- Directions: You can move all directions back so the alert appears before arriving
- Turn Warnings: This adds additional course points so you get advance warning of approaching turns
- Total Course Points: Some older GPS units have a max number of course points per route
When you have selected your file format and options, click on the Download This Route button to obtain the route file.
Additionally, further down the Route page there are quick links for route file and map image formats which will prefill the Download page form if you click on them.
Uploading routes to your device
For instructions on how to upload the file to your device there are links on the Download page for Garmin and Wahoo devices. For other brands, use their instructions provided.
Garmin user? – Instructions for an Edge (or similar)
Wahoo user? – Instructions for an ELEMNT