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navigation techniques and skills for walkers (cyclists). pete hawkins. cicerone press softback. 146pp illus. £9.95

navigation - pete hawkins

up in the attic, and well past the point where they ought to have been thrown out, are a series of boxes containing sets of floppy disks for totally outdated software. these were kept in the mistaken notion that they might come in handy at some point (no sniggering please), and their heft is as a result of the telephone directory-sized manuals that, at one time, accompanied all computer programmes. nowadays, those have diminished to the point of downloadable pdf files, or online manuals, for which i can identify two possible reasons.

most obviously, removing the need to print many thousands of large manuals and subsequently store/transport them, will minimise costs for the software company. it does, therefore, call into question the cost of some of the more prominent programs, when they too are downloadable, removing any requirement for physical media whatsoever. despite this there seems to have been little reduction in cost.

but the second reason for the lack of a paper manual is our seeming reluctance to actually read the ruddy things. it appears that checking the manual when things fail to work as expected, is viewed as a last resort; part macho arrogance, part apathy. that's no doubt why computer repair specialists and consultants have such healthy bank accounts. this dislike of investigating accompanying, remedial information, however, is hardly constrained to the world of computer software, much of which is as a result of the instant gratification demanded of the modern information.

gravel bicycles, which are the current flavour of the month, will doubtless continue this trend, but with the possibility of a risk to life and limb.

let's assume that, after great deliberation, you have chosen the gravel bike of your dreams, a bicycle which has arrived in its enormous cardboard box, simply requiring a straightening of the bars, raising (or lowering) of the seatpost and affixing of appropriate pedals. who amongst us would take the time to ensure that we have the geographical wherewithal to ensure that we might make it back home before new year? because, if you're anything like me, your map reading abilities will be either non-existent, or rudimentary at best and you'll be desperate to get out riding that new bicycle.

so what ought we to do about it?

though the compact and bijou publication under discussion is ostensibly aimed at the walking fraternity, i seriously doubt that they use maps substantially different from those possessed by cyclists intent on thrashing through the undergrowth on the very latest gravel-equipped velocipede. therefore, if any of you intend purchasing an off-road bicycle for christmas, either for your own pleasure or that of a significant other, learning to read maps certainly wouldn't do any harm, and might conceivably save you from hours (or days) of directionless wandering in the wilderness.

author of 'navigation - techniques and skills for walkers', pete hawkins, is not, however, a man with his mindset stuck firmly in the past. "In this edition, navigation technology has been incorporated throughout the book. Each section will take you through the more conventional way of doing things, while also offering technological navigation solutions." chapter one opens with the question 'Why use a map and compass?'. the answer lends itself particularly to those riding in the great outdoors, leading to less reliance on often bulky guidebooks. "Your days of getting lost will fade into distant memory, your confidence will increase and, thus, your reliance on guidebooks will decrease."

as with many journeys, map reading begins with a single step, and in this case, a simple one, that seems so glaringly obvious, it is of great concern that i hadn't previously thought of it. "Take a map of your local area and choose a short walk (ride) of a couple of kilometres long. As you walk (ride) this route, try to match the features on the ground with those marked on the map."

from such simple beginnings, mr hawkins works his way through the rudiments of understanding maps, including my own bête nòire, comprehending contours and symbols, along with scales and grids, before bringing the compass to our attention. and contained inside the rear pocket of the book's transparent cover, is a clear plastic navigation aid on which are printed various scales, and both timing and pacing charts. appendix d clearly explains how this ought best be made use of.

not being particularly skilled in the mathematical/arithmetical department, i cannot deny that some of the more complex chapters are going to take me more than one reading to fully understand, but similar to learning to read music, the end result promises to make me a great deal more confident in my own abilities. and by implication, once you've purchased your own copy, yours too. suffice it to say, if there's a gravel, 'cross or xc mountain bike in your festive plans, a copy of cicerone's 'navigation' really ought to be taped to the handlebars.

navigation by pete hawkins

saturday 7 december 2019

twmp ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................