I also really like using RWGPS as a planning tool, maybe to the point of obsession. I spend a lot of time bench testing alternative routes, and when we’re finally done we load the whole tour onto our Garmins - or at least we used to load the whole thing when our tours were only a month or so long. Now we plan the whole thing out but just upload in chunks as we go.

I can’t comment about uploading tracks after we’re done with a ride though. We never do it, unless we’re puzzled about where we actually went and are trying to figure out what just happened to us.

It’s one off from the topic here, but what Garmin device do you use? This past year we upgraded to the 1030+, and are completely sold on it. It’s a real improvement in our opinion.

Oh, and another segue. We never really use our Garmins as a navigation tool either, unless we’ve gotten off track somehow. We just follow the preloaded routes unless something comes up on the road to cause us to rethink.

Excited about your upcoming journey. Bring it on!

Thanks for adding that real-world info on how easy RWGPS integrates with Garmin. Last time I had a Garmin there was a special adapter between the GPS and the 8-pin serial port to the PC. Oh god that was Win95.

Yes, I really like using RWGPS to plan routes. Especially with this info from Scott Anderson regarding the creation of multi-day routes: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/winterlude2021/multi-route-maps/

I can confirm that you can upload just as Kathleen says. You can also connect your ridewithgps account to your garmin account so any rides that you record with your garmin will automatically sync with ridewithgps. On the ridewithgps website, click on the top right and then click on the ‘settings’ link. From there, click on connected services on the left. You’ll then see an option to connect to garmin. Enter your garmin username and password and you’re all set. Any rides you record will automatically sync. I think any routes you create on ridewithgps will also sync back to garmin.

Thank you Kathleen ~ I will check that out. Do you like ridewithgps for planning a route?

I look forward to this ride and to your planning. I need the vicarious thrill.

You can upload your garmin tracks (and routes, I suppose) into RideWithGPS without having to use the RWGPS app. In the desktop browser for ridewithgps.com, near the top left you’ll see Jump To. Click on that and you’ll see Upload as an option in the drop-down menu. I say this as someone who uses the RWGPS phone app instead of a Garmin just now, but the interface looks pretty straightforward to me. Others with direct experience will likely chime in.