VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers
Ride with GPS Available on All Bike Tours
Since partnering with Ride with GPS, our downloadable GPS route notes have expanded to all VBT biking vacations! Ride confidently with FREE turn-by-turn voice navigation and custom maps, right on your iPhone or Android! Two weeks before the start of your bike tour, we’ll email instructions, so you can download the app and routes to your smartphone. When you’re ready to roll, just attach your phone to the provided mount, and let the voice navigation guide you.
General Information
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Ride with GPS (RWGPS) is a bike route mapping and navigation tool. VBT has partnered with Ride with GPS, to bring you custom downloadable GPS route notes! Ride confidently with FREE turn-by-turn voice navigation and custom maps, right on your iPhone or Android!
Yes!
An e-mail will be sent to you 2 weeks prior to your VBT tour. You will be prompted to download the app, enter a “shortcut code” and your e-mail address (for security, not for marketing), to gain access to your routes. When you’re ready to begin biking, just attach your phone to the provided mount, and let the voice navigation guide you.
Unfortunately not. You will receive the most up to date maps and routes at that time.
No. For simple navigation, an account is not required. Creating a personal Ride with GPS account is a free option if you wish to save your rides.
Custom paper route notes and maps will continue to be available to VBT guests on tour.
RWGPS functionality currently requires an iPhone or Android smartphone. VBT paper route notes and maps will continue to be available to all VBT guests while on tour.
Ride with GPS works on either iPhones or Android phones. The app requires the following operating systems: iPhone operating system version 11.2 or newer; or Android 5.0 or newer (“Lollipop” through “Pie”). Note: These numbers do not refer to the iPhone version name, but rather to the operating system version.
No. Prior to your departure, download the maps and routes which will make them accessible offline. The Ride with GPS app uses no data for navigation and can be used while your phone’s cellular data is off. You do NOT need to purchase a foreign data plan to use RWGPS if you are traveling outside the USA.
The app uses some battery. You can conserve battery by taking the following steps: download the maps for offline use before you arrive, turn cellular data off while riding, keep the screen off as much as possible when not in use, turn off other apps, reduce screen brightness and charge your phone whenever you have access to an outlet. We recommend bringing a portable cell phone power bank to recharge your phone on the go. We also recommend a local electrical adapter if traveling to a foreign country (see your VBT Welcome Handbook for details).
The phone memory used in downloading a map and route will vary depending on the length of a route. A typical 30 mile route will take about 10MB of space.
You should not need to see the map unless you want to stop and turn your screen on to look at it. You will use the turn-by-turn voice navigation. A visual cue for a turn notification will flash over the lock screen to go with the audio alerts.
You have the ability to upload Ride with GPS routes on your own personal cycling computer. Click on the link in the email you have received 2 weeks prior to your tour departure date. The subject line is: Download GPS Routes Before Your VBT Tour.
If you wish to save your personal rides and view them after the tour, you can create a free Ride with GPS account before your tour begins. Then, once you finish navigation at the end of a ride, you will be prompted to save that ride. You have the option to name it or it will default to the date of the ride.
RWGPS On Tour:
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VBT will provide a universal mount that fits most standard-sized phones.
The VBT RWGPS route notes may include extra rides that are not listed in your itinerary. These are optional extra rides if you want more mileage!
If you go off-course, with your phone’s mobile data setting “on”, Ride with GPS re-routes you back on-course, like a car GPS.
If you go off-course, with your phone’s mobile data setting “off”, the app gives you a notification sound and a written prompt to get yourself back to the route from where you left it. You may wish to stop and look at the map on your phone’s screen.
You can stop to take photos anytime, and return to the app to resume navigating.
Email technical Ride with GPS specific questions to [email protected] – Subject line: “VBT TOUR”.
Your access to VBT maps and routes will expire 30 days after you activate the shortcut for Guided tours, and 60 days after for Self-Guided tours.
If it rains, we suggest you keep your phone protected in a waterproof pocket or in your own waterproof case made for this purpose.
User Tips
Ideas for phone safety and efficiency:
- Protect your phone with an external phone cover and a screen protector.
- Always keep your phone with you when you are not on your bicycle.
- When removing your phone from the bike mount, always keep one hand on the phone.
- Monitor your battery level and have a portable power bank to recharge your phone mid-day. Keep VBT paper route notes with you as a backup.
- Recharge your phone completely each evening.
- Restart your phone if the app is giving you trouble, then reopen the app.
PLEASE NOTE:
- VBT will not be responsible for any loss or damage to your personal smartphone, nor for any data charges incurred at any time. It is your sole responsibility to manage your personal property.