Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Using just a compass for navigation

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Using just a compass for navigation

Old 02-21-21, 07:51 PM
  #1  
TiHabanero
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,435
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1726 Post(s)
Liked 1,350 Times in 705 Posts
Using just a compass for navigation

A young Davy Crocket fan from next door asked me if I could cross the country (USA) with just a compass and my bike. I said sure, it is possible. Then I got to thinking and am now wondering just how could it be done and how long it would take. Anyone out there care to guess? I am thinking 6 to 8 months. The high population areas will be tough to navigate without getting killed.
TiHabanero is offline  
Old 02-21-21, 08:58 PM
  #2  
andrewclaus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,822

Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 669 Post(s)
Liked 725 Times in 422 Posts
I don't quite understand the criteria. Are maps allowed? What about the rest of your normal touring and camping gear? Or are strictly limited to "just a compass and a bike?"

If maps aren't allowed, you ask locals along the way and take notes, as I'm sure Davy Crockett did. My last coast-to-coast ride of 4400 miles took eight weeks. If I had to poke around looking for unknown routes, I can't imagine it taking even twice as long.

I'd be more concerned about crossing the deserts and mountain ranges than urban areas. Cities are relatively easy to skirt.
andrewclaus is offline  
Likes For andrewclaus:
Old 02-21-21, 09:27 PM
  #3  
mstateglfr 
Sunshine
 
mstateglfr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,538

Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo

Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10902 Post(s)
Liked 7,391 Times in 4,148 Posts
I'm sure you could cross the US without a compass even. Ride roads that go in the direction you want and if you need to even figure out what direction you need to head, look at the sun. Keep doing that until you reach an ocean.
mstateglfr is offline  
Likes For mstateglfr:
Old 02-21-21, 11:00 PM
  #4  
skookum
cyclotourist
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: calgary, canada
Posts: 1,470
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Liked 205 Times in 130 Posts
Seems like it would be an interesting challenge. You might end up on some dead ends and have to back track, but I'm sure you would have some adventures.
I think asking people would be cheating. A large prcentage of people have no idea where they are or what direction to go to get somewhere else. So it might not help anyway.
skookum is offline  
Old 02-21-21, 11:09 PM
  #5  
Darth Lefty 
Disco Infiltrator
 
Darth Lefty's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,775

Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem

Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,102 Times in 1,366 Posts
And that’s how I wound up living in a magnet factory
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Darth Lefty is offline  
Old 02-21-21, 11:17 PM
  #6  
MarcusT
Senior Member
 
MarcusT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: NE Italy
Posts: 1,617
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 759 Post(s)
Liked 600 Times in 340 Posts
I believe without a map, it would take much, much longer. As mentioned previously, you would hit a lot dead ends. I could not handle following a road going in the right direction and after 20 miles it ends in the middle of nowhere.
And yes, the early world explorers faced just that, for this reason they would be gone for years and many never came back
I was into orienteering when I was young, but in the bush, where I had to go from point A to B without trails or signage.
MarcusT is offline  
Old 02-21-21, 11:46 PM
  #7  
Russ Roth
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Shore of Long Island
Posts: 2,762

Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1073 Post(s)
Liked 999 Times in 710 Posts
I could image riding a number of roads and not even needing the compass. Don't know if they turn into real highways anywhere that would have to be avoided but I know 5 and 20 go from NY to Oregon and Washington, just ride one of those.
I've driven with nothing but a compass so I have to imagine a bike is more then possible just expect to add some time as you won't know the optimal route to take.
Russ Roth is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 01:20 AM
  #8  
NeedARealBike
Senior Member
 
NeedARealBike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Seal Beach, CA
Posts: 100

Bikes: Cinelli Bootleg Hobo - Railway 2015

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I mean if you're just wandering or know a lot of the major routes then you can actually guess from there and even estimates detours at times. I ride all over my state without any navigation at all. Doing endurance rides for training before I ended up inadvertently becoming familiar with a wide area.
NeedARealBike is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 01:28 AM
  #9  
Happy Feet
Senior Member
 
Happy Feet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Posts: 5,126
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2236 Post(s)
Liked 1,313 Times in 706 Posts
There are these new things they have now - road signs. They'll tell you what cities next and how far away it is.

Or be like Lewis and Clark and hire Sacagawea.
Happy Feet is offline  
Likes For Happy Feet:
Old 02-22-21, 06:50 AM
  #10  
Tourist in MSN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 11,112

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3426 Post(s)
Liked 1,441 Times in 1,122 Posts
How do you cross the Mississippi? Finding a bridge might be time consuming.
Tourist in MSN is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 07:31 AM
  #11  
John N
Full Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 451

Bikes: Co-Motion Americano Pinion P18; Co-Motion Americano Rohloff; Thorn Nomad MkII, Robert Beckman Skakkit (FOR SALE), Santana Tandem, ICE Adventure FS

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times in 48 Posts
Yes it would be possible. One definite way to do it without any type of navigation would be to start on the east coast and ALWAYS turn right (or left, just the same direction) whenever possible at an intersection. If the new road dead-ends at the water or a national border or just a dead end, just turn around go back to the the last intersection you came to and turn right again. Eventually, you would actually end up circling the entire lower 48. It sure would take a really long time but it could be done. My guess is you could shorten it to where the road had to be paved. It would still work but be a lot quicker I would guess since you are eliminating tons of roads.

That said, if a person already knows the geography, it would probably only take only 10% more assuming you are allowed to read road signs. I mean if you head out from Jacksonville, FL, and follow signs to Tallahassee, Pensacola, New Orleans, Houston, Austin, etc. it would be pretty easy.
John N is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 07:58 AM
  #12  
Steve B.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,826

Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3185 Post(s)
Liked 2,020 Times in 1,158 Posts
Don't even need a compass. The rising and setting sun would tell you east and west. Mid day in North America would be tougher as the sun is nearly overhead and it's time consuming to determine in which direction it's moving. Crossing the Mississippi would be hit and miss finding a bridge for bikes. Eventually you'd hit the Pacific, somewhere between San Diego and Seattle. Might be dangerous crossing sections of the SW desert in summer if you veer in that direction. Dead end roads would be tiresome. It would help to have a general knowledge of the geography and terrain features of the U.S.

I love and read maps so have a good handle on the layout and directions of the National Routes, I.E. US 20, US 30 etc...And would pick one and use that. I think 20 would be a workable route.
It would be an interesting challenge.
Steve B. is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 08:02 AM
  #13  
mev
bicycle tourist
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 2,279

Bikes: Trek 520, Lightfoot Ranger, Trek 4500

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 462 Post(s)
Liked 250 Times in 171 Posts
Just a compass and a bike?

I would worry more about being cited for indecent exposure (*) and not having anything to put air in my tires if they went flat than I would about getting lost or how long it might take.

Now if I could bring clothes, money, bike gear and interact with people, I don't think it would be too tough to look at the signs. A combination of following routes with signs that say "East" or "West" and calibrating with place names I recognize could lead one reasonably well across the US. This notion that roads somehow dead-end becomes less true when thinking of the of the larger routes. The harder part would likely be getting *out* of largest urban areas.

(*) Or depending on time of year, just plain exposure.
mev is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 08:06 AM
  #14  
djb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Montreal Canada
Posts: 13,191
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2732 Post(s)
Liked 953 Times in 784 Posts
Compass schmumpus, I challenge you to do it with just the compass AND only using one of those old grampy made water finding stick/ wand things (to find water to drink), then I'll be impressed.

Last edited by djb; 02-22-21 at 08:57 AM.
djb is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 08:51 AM
  #15  
Unca_Sam
The dropped
 
Unca_Sam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,406

Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times in 696 Posts
Originally Posted by djb
Compass schmumpus, I challenge you to do it with just the compass AND only using one of those old grampy made water finding stick/ wand things, then I'll be impressed.
So you ride the dowsing rod like a hobby horse?
Unca_Sam is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 08:54 AM
  #16  
jadocs
Senior Member
 
jadocs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,192

Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 526 Times in 349 Posts
Map and compass or just compass? If just compass that means your just traveling cardinal directions....about as effective as doing by the location of the sun as there are no other references such as terrain association (need a map), etc.
jadocs is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 08:58 AM
  #17  
djb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Montreal Canada
Posts: 13,191
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2732 Post(s)
Liked 953 Times in 784 Posts
Originally Posted by Unca_Sam
So you ride the dowsing rod like a hobby horse?
yup, writing/expressing an ideal fail on my part.....(edited it)
djb is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 09:13 AM
  #18  
KPREN
Full Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Wadsworth, Ohio
Posts: 370

Bikes: 2008 S Works Stumpjumper FSR Carbon, 2016 E Fat Titanium Bike Custom built by me.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 135 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times in 118 Posts
Your real problems would not be the Mississippi river. That you have to cross once. Your real problem would in trying to cross anywhere in central Appalachia, That area is steep parallel ridges running NE to SW with the routes being water gaps. It's like crossing the Mississippi river every 10 miles unless you are on a known busy highway. Asking for directions there is mind boggling. The standard answer without so much as a casual care is. "You can't get there from here". Translation: "Its like taking the tonsils out through the ars hole. It's theoretically possible but I damned sure would not try it on that thing you are riding. Its 20 miles out of the way, all steep hills and curves with no shoulders or guard rails. There are shortcuts but you would get lost or find the Movie Deliverance has some truth to it "
KPREN is offline  
Likes For KPREN:
Old 02-22-21, 09:18 AM
  #19  
gerryl
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 468
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 105 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times in 24 Posts
Sure could be done, and I suspect without too much difficulty. Probably a lot of mistakes and wrong turns at the beginning of the trip, but as time when went on and the rider gained experience navigation would be a lot smoother.
gerryl is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 09:48 AM
  #20  
Altair 4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Along the Rivers of Pittsburgh
Posts: 1,255

Bikes: 2011 Novara Forza Hybrid, 2005 Trek 820, 1989 Cannondale SR500 Black Lightning, 1975 Mundo Cycles Caloi Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 258 Post(s)
Liked 291 Times in 157 Posts
Depending on your starting point, you could head north or south until you hit US Route 30. It runs from Astoria, Oregon to Atlantic City, NJ. Not saying it's the perfect bike route (it would be hell going over the mountains in PA), but it would get you there.
Altair 4 is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 10:30 AM
  #21  
staehpj1
Senior Member
 
staehpj1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 11,837
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 744 Times in 554 Posts
Depends on the rules... The southern states would be the fastest and easiest. Starting in the east you could just follow US-90 as far as it went and generally head west from there. Your 6-8 month number sounds really high, That sounds more like walking across the country. You could manage it in a couple months without doing super long miles, You wouldn't really need a compass but one would be nice at times.

In any case you could avoid too much back tracking by staying on more major roads than you might otherwise choose. I kind of like roads with the US designation any way so for example US 90 is a good way to go. If you insist on a particular part of the country or really minor roads more backtracking will likely occur. For example, there are very few roads crossing Idaho.

It would actually be pretty fast and easy. The toughest part would be the Sierras, but getting over the mountains is much easier along the southern tier.
staehpj1 is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 10:33 AM
  #22  
Doug64
Senior Member
 
Doug64's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,484
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1182 Post(s)
Liked 830 Times in 433 Posts
Originally Posted by Steve B.
Don't even need a compass. The rising and setting sun would tell you east and west. Mid day in North America would be tougher as the sun is nearly overhead and it's time consuming to determine in which direction it's moving. Crossing the Mississippi would be hit and miss finding a bridge for bikes. Eventually you'd hit the Pacific, somewhere between San Diego and Seattle. Might be dangerous crossing sections of the SW desert in summer if you veer in that direction. Dead end roads would be tiresome. It would help to have a general knowledge of the geography and terrain features of the U.S.

I love and read maps so have a good handle on the layout and directions of the National Routes, I.E. US 20, US 30 etc...And would pick one and use that. I think 20 would be a workable route.
It would be an interesting challenge.

You are correct. My wife and I rode from Newport, Oregon to Boston on US 20 We didn't have a compass or a smart phone. However, we did have maps, usually state road maps, which were good for finding places to stay and campgrounds. The ride could have been done without maps, but would have resulted in more wild camping.

Last edited by Doug64; 02-22-21 at 10:37 AM.
Doug64 is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 10:35 AM
  #23  
Marcus_Ti
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
 
Marcus_Ti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331

Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times in 254 Posts
Originally Posted by andrewclaus
I don't quite understand the criteria. Are maps allowed? What about the rest of your normal touring and camping gear? Or are strictly limited to "just a compass and a bike?"

If maps aren't allowed, you ask locals along the way and take notes, as I'm sure Davy Crockett did. My last coast-to-coast ride of 4400 miles took eight weeks. If I had to poke around looking for unknown routes, I can't imagine it taking even twice as long.

I'd be more concerned about crossing the deserts and mountain ranges than urban areas. Cities are relatively easy to skirt.
Depending on luck of routing...out here, it is possible not to meet a soul for days on rural roads.

A few years back around Merritt reservoir in Nebraska I and a group of friends did a century. They were marked state highways and paved. In 8 hours we saw maybe 3 cars buzz by and not stop. And those were marked state highways near a national forest and reservoir rec area.
Marcus_Ti is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 11:26 AM
  #24  
Steve B.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,826

Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3185 Post(s)
Liked 2,020 Times in 1,158 Posts
Originally Posted by KPREN
Your real problems would not be the Mississippi river. That you have to cross once. Your real problem would in trying to cross anywhere in central Appalachia, That area is steep parallel ridges running NE to SW with the routes being water gaps. It's like crossing the Mississippi river every 10 miles unless you are on a known busy highway. Asking for directions there is mind boggling. The standard answer without so much as a casual care is. "You can't get there from here". Translation: "Its like taking the tonsils out through the ars hole. It's theoretically possible but I damned sure would not try it on that thing you are riding. Its 20 miles out of the way, all steep hills and curves with no shoulders or guard rails. There are shortcuts but you would get lost or find the Movie Deliverance has some truth to it "
Agree. I would be tempted to head N in PA and follow US Rt 6. It is far enough north to avoid most of those really annoying hills that go SW->NE. I've hear from folk that rode cross country, they said the Sierra's and Rockies were not as bad as the Appalachians..
Steve B. is offline  
Old 02-22-21, 11:36 AM
  #25  
Doug64
Senior Member
 
Doug64's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,484
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1182 Post(s)
Liked 830 Times in 433 Posts
Originally Posted by Steve B.
Agree. I would be tempted to head N in PA and follow US Rt 6. It is far enough north to avoid most of those really annoying hills that go SW->NE. I've hear from folk that rode cross country, they said the Sierra's and Rockies were not as bad as the Appalachians..
My wife and I found that to be true. On this day in Appalachians, we rode over 3 hills that where a lot tougher than any thing we had to climb since leaving the west coast. This was the fourth hill that day, and I just pulled over and put my running shoes on and walked up it. As it turned out it was the last of the hard hills. The first thing I did when we got home was to change the 48/36/26 cranks to 44/32/22. It made a world of difference.


Last edited by Doug64; 02-22-21 at 11:40 AM.
Doug64 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.