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19 Apr 2008
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I use the sun, no good at the equator tho...
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The most effective way of turning petrol into noise without the side-effect of horsepower
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19 Apr 2008
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I 've used a compass on many occasions, but never in conjunction with a motorbike.
A compass is a very useful/essential tool:-
1. At sea (especially when out of sight of the coast)
2. In fog
3. In the dark*
4. Off the beaten track, as described in an earlier post.
5. In dense forest.
6. In a white-out snow conditions
Basically in any circumstance where visibility of landmarks is limited or non-existant (Did I mention diving?)
While on a road, or within sight of a road, a compass should not be necessary if you are aware of your surroundings, general direction and orientation of the land etc etc - the overall things and patterns that generate a sense of direction.
*When talking with people it can be quite surprising how many have never been anywhere in the dark i.e. dark which is away from streetlights/civilisation or any other form of artificial light.
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Dave
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19 Apr 2008
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Ah, the memories... Clarks Commando shoes with the compass in the heel. Jumpers for goalposts and long hot summers. Waiting to get an FS1E moped, those were the days!
If you do use a compass when you're on the bike remember it's made of metal and affects the needle. Get well away from it. I've got one in my tankbag but I never use it. Yet another "just in case" item I should remove from my kit.
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19 Apr 2008
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Nature is not Disneyland
Remember how many naive stupid people have to be rescued by the RAF every year, while getting in to dangerous situation regarding lost orientations and miss judgement of the weather situations in the highlands, snowdonia and the coast every weekend ?
producing costs on the back of the Tax payer ?
just because they believe that they live in pampered Disneyland where there is sunshine all the time.........
Well all this only on that rock in the pond, called the UK..... (sign posts are ALL in English) what are you doing along the rest of the world with sign posts in hieroglyphs and strange languages, it's essential to get the shortest way to a fuel station if run out of fuel on that long dark lane, not riding around in circles getting cold an miserable.
I tell you a compass may looks a bit odd in our time of MP3 player, mobile phones with GPS build in, but this simple little device dose the trick to be comfortable knowing riding or being out side not ending in disaster and you always can help your self.
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The trouble is that he was talking in philosophy, but they were listening in gibberish.
Last edited by spooky; 19 Apr 2008 at 15:32.
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19 Apr 2008
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I always have a compass with me on my trips. I know how to use it but never needed it but I know that if I really get lost, I may need it. It only takes very little space so that is no problem.
Before I went to South Africa, I bought a compass that works on the Northern and the Southern hemisphere.
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19 Apr 2008
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"Before I went to South Africa, I bought a compass that works on the Northern and the Southern hemisphere."
That'd be the left handed model then.
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19 Apr 2008
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Not left handed but ..................
Quote:
Originally Posted by onlyMark
"Before I went to South Africa, I bought a compass that works on the Northern and the Southern hemisphere."
That'd be the left handed model then.
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.............. The truth lies herein:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...hlight=compass
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19 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor
If you do use a compass when you're on the bike remember it's made of metal and affects the needle. Get well away from it. I've got one in my tankbag but I never use it. Yet another "just in case" item I should remove from my kit.
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ah, the crux of the matter. If I want to figure out which road to take, I have to park the bike, remove the mapcase, walk a few feet away and figure out which way to turn. Which is why GPS makes more sense, with a compass stashed away for when/if the electronics fail.
Compasses are for backpackers!
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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand
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19 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quastdog
if the electronics fail.
Compasses are for backpackers!
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Yah..... comes handy if the bike is on strike and the next village is mails away..... make sure your bike boots are well worn in...... and you know where you are and wat direction the GPS last had on it's display...........
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The trouble is that he was talking in philosophy, but they were listening in gibberish.
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20 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quastdog
ah, the crux of the matter. If I want to figure out which road to take, I have to park the bike, remove the mapcase, walk a few feet away and figure out which way to turn. Which is why GPS makes more sense, with a compass stashed away for when/if the electronics fail.
Compasses are for backpackers!
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All of that parking/walking/removing isnt necessary......you can have your map in a case velcroed to the handlebar crosspiece/brace, easily visible, and a bike compass fixed to the bars too. Easy.
Compasses are for travellers.
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20 Apr 2008
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These even more to this compassing lark than I realised.
Thanks for the replies people, appreciated.
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20 Apr 2008
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I have one and knew how to use it once a plastic one with a scale on the side only need it a few times to find out what road to take at a "Y" and it dint have signpost. I have it out and "use" it when planing the next day ride looks good I think. Looks like I know what im doing. There nice to have when you need one but GPS will work better for most people.
People get lost all the time in Disneyland one of the things you need to know to work there even just to sweep the street is where every ride is and the ways out of the park. They also know there way around the underground of Disneyland.
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19 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout
I 've used a compass on many occasions, but never in conjunction with a motorbike.
A compass is a very useful/essential tool:-
1. At sea (especially when out of sight of the coast)
2. In fog
3. In the dark*
4. Off the beaten track, as described in an earlier post.
5. In dense forest.
6. In a white-out snow conditions
Basically in any circumstance where visibility of landmarks is limited or non-existant (Did I mention diving?)
While on a road, or within sight of a road, a compass should not be necessary if you are aware of your surroundings, general direction and orientation of the land etc etc - the overall things and patterns that generate a sense of direction.
*When talking with people it can be quite surprising how many have never been anywhere in the dark i.e. dark which is away from streetlights/civilisation or any other form of artificial light.
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Provided there is no cloud , you don't need a compass in the dark at night ,if you know where to look for the North Star .[ Northern Hemisphere only , no warranty intended , your mileage may vary - etc ]
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19 Apr 2008
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If you are in the S hemisphere you can still use stellar navigation - use the Southern Cross and go off south instead of north
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19 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by henryuk
If you are in the S hemisphere you can still use stellar navigation - use the Southern Cross and go off south instead of north
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Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for reminding me of being in southern Algeria with 2 local guides at night trying to get back to camp after a spot of night hunting - they were arguing about the southern cross and how wonderfull it was to navigate by but neither knew which way was back and there were so many tyre tracks from chasing a rabbit round and round.............happy memories
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Chris
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"Never have a stupid argument with an idiot - he gets a lot more practice than you"
there I go again
not too hard really
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Not left handed but ..................
Hybrid Mode
