The best APP to navigate - Green Lanes

[@Handyman70]

Hi Simon I use OS Maps on my Samsung S22 and have it fastened on my bike with my quad lock. Absolutely brill system and detail.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Steve, it's a great app, I also use it for the EMTB, and for hiking, thanks for watching, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@masdirect]

Great video , nice one.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up tony, thanks for your feedback, much appreciated, thanks for watching, ride safe Simon B 😎

[@martykelly3145]

Great advice Simon thank you . Being a Manx fella I have never felt the need for navigation as I know all the tracks and lanes here on the Island. Spent a week in the Lakes with my EMTB and that was a different ball game. Not a clue. Think I saw the same building 3 times one day. I'm now going to do some homework and buy into that set up for my wee trips away. Cheers.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Marty, I know the feeling, I know the lakes so no need for a nav, I used it over on your island last year, videos in the back catalogue, if you need any help regarding the lakes please ask, if your over with the bike give me a shout I could show you around, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@martykelly3145]

Cheers Simon. Kind of you to offer.👍@@SIMONB1

[@Mr8527.]

Looks a lot easier & clearer than Outdooractive what I've been experimenting with. Another top video Simon 🤙🏽

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up yatesey8527, it seems to do what you need this OS app, there will be a video,show to plot routes soon, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@FlorentinoLoco]

@@SIMONB1 yes please do. Thanks

[@bobcat70r96]

Hi Simon. Like yourself I’ve been using the OS Mapping App for years now…..love the detail and all the route planning/following/sharing options 👍 Again, like yourself, I know all my local lanes (Peak District) with my eyes shut….so I don’t need the App locally……love it though for when I venture further afield for the detail it provides 👍 Also another TRF/GRM to cross reference 😉 As I’m sure you’re all too well aware that sadly we’re loosing lanes constantly on a national basis……I now get my kicks out of taking new/new to my area riders out…..but from a personal point of enjoyment, finding ‘new’ to me lanes I’ve never ridden previously. Tried to suss out when you were in this video as they look some lovely lanes 👍Would you kindly provide more detail as I’m due another run up to the lakes and those would be some great additions to a route. Great vid btw, subscribed so I’ll be having a look at more content. Cheers Rob (BobCat70r) 😉

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Rob, it's a great app to use, if your over the lakes give me a shout, can give you a guided tour , or you can tag with our group, we usually ride every weekend 🤭, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@bobcat70r96]

@@SIMONB1thanks for the very kind offer bud 👍 Offer would be reciprocated should you ever want a run around the Peak District 😉

[@roadsey7012]

Hi Simon. I use the same system on a spare Iphone 7 works well and cost effective good vid. Thanks

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up roadsey, it's a great app and works well, thanks for watching and dropping a comment, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@AutoBeta2T]

I'm just considering taking the plunge into green lanes... I am finding your videos really helpful. Cheers. 😊

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up autobeta21, you won't be disappointed, it's great fun, just take it slow, get out on the bike and practice, ride safe Simon B 😎

[@AutoBeta2T]

@@SIMONB1 cheers mate 🍻

[@cliff1551]

Simon do you have to be on premium on OS maps, I seem to not have all the blue and green lines and no detail mate

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up, yes you do need to have premium, they do a 30 day free trial I believe once, you register, hope that helps, ride safe Simon B 😎

[@ollydogtravels9465]

Hi Simon did you use to out a lot of stuff on the ABR forums a few years back

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up ollydogtravels, I don't quite understand what you are asking, or is it me being thick 🤔

[@NiftyFiftyPhotographers]

Great tips Simon. Buying an old iPhone ~ very smart and cost effective. Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Richard, thanks for watching and dropping a comment much appreciated, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@jondavies4027]

Great video this Simon.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up John, Glad you enjoyed it, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@guyonacub4335]

Nice helpful video Thanks

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Guy, thanks for watching and dropping a comment, do you ride the lanes ?

[@jimcarr8425]

I use Back Country Navigator XE and an old Samsung S20 FE, £12 a year for the mapping and the phone is waterproof.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Jim, I'll have to get a look at that app, thanks for sharing, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@johnjones-uz4pi]

@jimcar Does the BCN XE app allow live position tracking on route? Any annoyances u have with it? Thanks.... jj

[@jimcarr8425]

@@johnjones-uz4pi it does. The only really minor annoyance is it requires the phone to be in portrait because of the north up layout.

[@grahamsmith9788]

Hi Simon, very useful video thanks, it looks as though the arrow on the screen is generally moving in the same direction as the bike, which suggests you've got it set to "track up", which is something I'm not finding it possible to do on mine - which is the Android version of OS. I think yours is iPhone version? which I believe might be quite a bit different to the Android version, I'm not sure.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Graham, yes mine is on a iPhone, the arrow didn't follow on the old android app, but it's been updated and I believe it does now, but your saying otherwise 🤔, have you got the updated version on your android phone ?

[@grahamsmith9788]

@@SIMONB1 thanks for the quick reply Simon, I've just updated to the latest version and I still don't think it's supporting track-up but I need to spend a bit more time testing. cheers!

[@Fromatic]

The OS maps looks useful, just wish you could buy an area and that was it like with the paper maps instead of a subscription, but looks much easier than switching back and forth between google maps and the TRF map. I think it kept stopping following you each time you manually moved the map to zoom or rotate etc

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up fromatic, I do believe you can do that, buy a os map for an area, there is a scratch off on the paper map, then you load the code into the app, but I think you have to sub to use the navigation feature, it's £20 a year 😲, for rull use of os 1 to 25 and 50, it's not bad price 🤔, another video will be showing how you make a route, so you won't be needing to switch apps whilst out on your bike, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@Wizard-c3q]

The Garmin tread is a game changer yes it’s expensive to buy but work so is os maps if you want the detailed maps, don’t get me wrong I’ve used it for years but the tread is next level.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up , it's 4 times the price as my OS set up 😲, is it really that good , supposed it will have to be 😉, I'll have a look at it , ride safe Simon B 😎

[@firebladeboy.539]

Good video Simon I found it interesting so I’ve subscribed 👍 I don’t ride much in the uk, but if you want company on a ride give me a shout I’m only down the M6 at Preston. I use wikilok mainly as I ride mostly in spain, there’s no worries there being on a route you shouldn’t. Cheers.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up firebladeboy, thanks for watching and dropping a comment, I've heard that about Spain 😁, sounds good, what bike do you ride in Spain ?

[@charlieoscar09]

Thanks for the video...Really useful

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Charlie, glad to be of help 😁, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@anicholls37]

Another great video si 👍

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Al, glad you enjoyed it, ride safe Simon B 😎

[@JohnB23177]

I struggled to import GPX waypoints into OS maps on android, so switched to memory map, which is very similar. Sounds like you have managed well enough though ?

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up John, never had a problem with importing gpx files into the app, I usually use the desktop version to plan and import, then it automatically updates my apps on the phones, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@701Adventures]

@JohnB23177, John have a look at my comment above. I've had the same issues with GPX files and Android but I have managed to work out a solution. 👍👍

[@701Adventures]

Simon unless you’ve already filmed the ‘how to plot a route on OS Maps’ could you also cover details of how to import a GPX file into OS Maps? I use OSMand as well as OS maps but for some reason I cannot import and open a GPX file into OS, only into OSMand. It’s got me totally baffled.

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Steve, that will be in the video, some others have said the same, I haven't had an issue, stay tuned, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@701Adventures]

@@SIMONB1 Yes I’ve just seen the same comment down below, I wonder if it is an Android thing? I’ll try tonight to import the GPX into OS on my MAC rather than the Samsung tablet and I’ll come back to you. 👍

[@701Adventures]

@@SIMONB1 Simon further to my comment down below or above wherever it ends up, I've been experimenting with Android and my Mac, it seems it's an Android issue. If I import the GPX file into OS maps via my Macbook it loads perfectly. I then save the route in My Places. Then if I open OS maps on my Android tablet which I use on the bike, the file is there for me to open and use. I've no idea why I cannot import it directly into OS Maps via Android but at least there's a work around even though it's a bit fiddly. 👍

[@FlorentinoLoco]

Just a question before subscribing. I am in Cyprus. Is the Topo view mode worldwide or only the UK?

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up, I may be thick, but don't understand the question, what's topo 🤔

[@skybluetenere]

@FlorentinoLoco According to my understanding and use it is Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.

[@willforsyth6276]

only thing I find annoying on OS is the arrow doesn't always point in the direction your heading so sometimes I'm riding the wrong way for a few meters before I realise unless I've missed a setting?

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Will, it would be good if it did travel up, so you know it's a right or left turn, I got used to it if you look at the screen just before the end of a lane or near a junction, you sort of know which way to turn 😁 apart from that is good 😎, thanks for watching and dropping a comment much appreciated, ride safe Simon B 😎

[@daveparryisagod]

Same setup i use, only a waterproof samsung android instead of the iphone. HAve to download the map whilst at home on the wifi as the phone hasnt got a sim card in it. However, you can be signed in on more than one device at once, so i also have my 'proper' phone (an iphone) in my pocket. Only issue with the app ive found is the arrow is a bit random as to which way its facing and 90% of the time it isnt pointing the way you're going, so you have to work out in your head at a junction which way you came from and what direction to take :) A Samsung A50 can be had for circa £100 and the battery will last all day no bother. much larger battery than an iphone 8. 4000mAh vs 1821mAh of an iPhone 8 or 2691mAh of a 8 plus

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up Dave, the app works better on the iPhone for some reason, it keeps you in the middle of the screen as the android doesn't, battery life on the iPhone or any phone with the screen on all the time doesn't last, also the android wants to shut the screen down all the time 😲, thanks for watching, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@daveparryisagod]

@@SIMONB1 you have to click the little cross hairs that’ll then lock your position to the centre of the map. Mine stays on for about an hour before the display goes off. You can then just press the side button with gloves on to get the display back up. Have you tried using beeline as a navigation aid? You don’t get the map underlay but you do get a line to follow with your way points numbered which I find easier if I’ve got a route which crosses over itself.

[@barebonesmc]

just signed up to the free trial to see and cant get any byways up, do you have to buy the premium one? and its on laptop, but doesnt seem to show a phone app, any hints

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up barebonesmc, once you open the program, there's a box on the bottom right, you need to click on it to select the os maps 1:25000 or 1:50000, then you'll get the detail, also if you Google OS maps app, it's on Google store or apple store, hope that helps, ride safe, Simon B 😎

[@WhiteLineRacer]

fellow muff user ;)

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up whitelineracer, they are the future 😎, do you ride the lanes ?

[@WhiteLineRacer]

@@SIMONB1 I used to do videos, then I ran out of free time ;) I should start doing them again at some point as it was good fun. www.youtube.com/@midnighttrailrider4409/videos

[@WhiteLineRacer]

www.youtube.com/@midnighttrailrider4409@@SIMONB1 my old channel

[@RedRupert64]

You, a British bloke: 'I don't like water'! 😂

[@SIMONB1]

Hey up, I don't like water down my boots, my feet get cold 😉, do you ride the lanes ?

[@RedRupert64]

@@SIMONB1 Yes, I do, but in Latvia on gravel tracks and peat and sand in forests. Often in France and Spain, also on gravel tracks. Not usually wet, but if it is, I'm quite happy to be soaked as it can be pretty hot in all these countries.

[@SIMONB1]

@RedRupert64 wow, bet you ride some great lanes out there 😁, water is ok when it's warm, but not when it's cold 🤭, ride safe, Simon B 😎