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Hammerhead System Offers a Better Way To Navigate While Cycling
Mark Gibbs writes "If you've ever tried to navigate using a smartphone while cycling you'll know full well that you took your life in your hands. By the time you've focused on the map and your brain has decoded what you're looking at you've traveled far enough to be sliding on gravel or go careening into the side of a car. What's needed is a way that you can get directions from your smartphone without having to lose your focus and possibly your life and Hammerhead Navigation have one of the most interesting answers I've seen."
If you have a problem navigating at a cycling pace, you have more serious issues.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
Those LEDs look blue. Red would be better when biking at night. Such a minor change yet a major difference in usability.
All its missing is a buy now button
If you've ever tried to navigate using a smartphone while cycling you'll know full well that you took your life in your hands. By the time you've focussed on the map and your brain has decoded what you're looking at you've travelled far enough to be sliding on gravel or go careening into the side of a car.
Actually, after making a proper bike mount for my N900, I had no trouble using satnav while cycling.
Unlike TFA author Mark Gibbs, I'm aware that my experience is not universal, as people in some other cities have to deal with worse traffic than I do.
...knowing where the fuck you're going, before you head out?
I remember back in the Stone Age, we had these things called "maps" that we could use to determine a route to take, and then we could write down or memorize the turns to make. Believe it or not, we still have this technology.
People are seriously getting waaaaaay too dependent on their little gadgets. I have this friend who puts his phone in a windshield bracket and turns on the GPS nav to get 3 blocks from his house to the supermarket. It's fuckin' pathetic.
Me, give me two major cross streets and I can get to anywhere in my metro area, and a good part of the rest of my state, without looking at a map. Call me old-fashioned, but it works.
Really, if you are riding a bike watching a screen, you deserve your lacerations.
That I'm right, and you don't like it, doesn't mean I'm a troll.
I usually listen to music while cycling, and my smartphone is perfectly capable of giving voice directions (turn left in 300m, etc).
I don't see why there is any need for custom hardware.
An odd name choice for a bicycle navigation system. Ouch!
As a many-years bicyclist, for transportation, recreation, exercise, etc...I offer the following advice:
Any time you see some new device being marketed, consider that the bicycle in its first forms dates to the early 1800's, nearly a century before cars were commonplace. In that time, cyclists have figured out the solutions to most problems, and those solutions have been refined as material sciences, engineering, and whatnot have evolved. So, for example, my front light uses a sophisticated mirror and LED to light 50 feet of bike path in front of me, while my back light uses LEDs and light pipes to provide a 2-inch wide big glowing red bar...all powered off a smooth, unnoticeable generator in my front wheel's hub.
The solution to this "oh my pretty little cyclist head just doesn't know where it's going" problem is one of the following:
The device strikes me as rather ignorant of how most cyclists travel, anyway. Most everyone I know, including if not especially beginners, consult Google Maps and think carefully about their route because of safety concerns. By the time we're on our bike, we probably know where we're going and how to get there.
Damn near everything bike-related that has come out of Kickstarter either solves a problem that was already solved, and was solved better...or solved a problem that didn't exist. Both are usually due to ignorance on the part of the designers, or designers preying upon ignorance among the general public.
Sadly, an increasing number of these products are designed to prey upon people's fears about danger, or continue a culture of placing the onus on cyclists to protrect themselves from other people doing stupid, dangerous, or illegal things with large, fast-moving vehicles who then strike them.
Please help metamoderate.
I quite liked the warble feature on this GPS, not suitable for bikes but great for finding your way around town:
http://youtu.be/hZBlSSkJSUA?t=5m7s
When in doubt, stop bike, look at map, get oriented, start bike. Very safe. Very cheap. Very simple.
"Makes me want to start cycling again."
Translation: the author, like most tech bloggers, doesn't actually use a bicycle, but considers themselves qualified to speak about bicycle products.
Please help metamoderate.
Why not use the same vibration tech that bugs me when my ringer is off. Use bluetooth and have the left or right handle bar start throbbing when you need to turn. Or if you don't keep your hands on the wheel then use the vibration on the L/R of your seat. ....what was I talking about again?
Never play chicken with a passive aggressive.
Bicycles have only two wheels so stupid people can learn to pay attention.
Last one on the cyanide pills turn off the lights.
dammit, I was going to do something similar, but with vibrating motors on each of your temples and call it hammerhea...damn I suppose the only thing left is to add blackjack and hookers... without the stupid navigation thing.
Every cyclist in Vancouver knows that any time you run into a car, it's the car's fault. Doesn't matter what you're doing or not doing, it's simply the cars fault that you've run into it. If you run into another cyclist, you find a car nearby, blame it and make a claim against its insurance, even if it's parked.
Remember, it's always the car's fault.
Before smartphones, cyclist still managed to get around fine. And back then they had *gasp* paper maps. ya, I know, how did they manage?
Be seeing you...
Why not a smartphone app that hooks into the mapping/GPS/nav services, shows a large flashing arrow and reads out navigationally with vocal commands via a bluetooth earphone?
Are you intentionally using every stupid cliche in the book?
You forgot "bikes don't pay for roads."
Please help metamoderate.
All this is nothing to me. I'm waiting for a viable, programmable (and private) bike HUD (with rearview, HR, wattage, and navigation data.
That's what I'm waiting for.
I ride my MTB in the woods (40 to 80 kms), on dirt roads, single tracks and open fields. I have tested most popular apps for biking.
Smartphone apps for biking are written by young people with good sight, using large monitors. Tipically, those apps are like desktop programs, having lots of menus and options, and are nearly unusable under open sky. Really; and having menus, options, alerts, ads and whatnots, in a small screen doesn't make then easy to use. Been over 50 doesn't make small text easy to read for me. And also, I don't need any "social apps" that need an account and connection to a web site for checking travel data.
A good cycling apps must have: a) good color scheme, visible even under brigth light; b) most simple menu navigation, to avoid errors and confusion on the road; c) exporting/importing to KMZ/GPX; d) complete independence from any website.
At the end, I fire Google Earth and put a sheet of paper over my 19" monitor, tracing the route I'll use with a pen, with distances between relevant waypoints. That's enough even for exploration rides on unknow areas.
Oh, I also carry my smartphone with my own tracker app, just for recording my whereabouts. At the end of the day, I put my data on Google Earth, where I store all my rides and routes. Later, I post them in my blog, http://SenderosDePichilemu.blogspot.com, for others to use them.
This is slashdot! technology solves all problems! Even those that don't exist!
I personally navigate by sound. Just put on the GPS, on speakerphone, and let it tell me where to go.
bike nuts 3... 2... 1... seriously, those fungus-helmet heads will argue endlessly over issues that would cause a twit with overbite a bit of a problem
Open Streetmap has (where I live) much better cycling maps than any other. Offline, so no data charges. OSMAND (for android) is free as in beer, and gives you spoken instructions in the language of your choice. And if your favorite track is not on the map, it is very satisfying to draw it yourself and share it with the community.
10 ?"Hello World" life was simple then
Anything that gets me closer to playing Skyrim and surfing porn while I cycle sounds good to me.
I'll just put a BT headset in and listen to the audio cues that ALL gps apps deliver. Honestly, his "hammerhead" thing is a solution looking for a problem.
Looking down all the time for a visual cue is dumb.. ride along never looking until you hear " left turn 1000 feet ahead on main street" in your ear is the proper solution.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
So, I live in Tokyo and I usually take the train everywhere. I also tend to walk a lot, but not usually farther than the closest station. I decided to get a bike for exercise, with the idea that anything within 10 Minutes by normal train is often doable by bike in less than an hour. However, sort of riding below the train tracks The whole way, I find out just how much I don't know the local roads and have no idea where I am. Also, filtering the train track is often a very inefficient way to go when biking. I tried using the navi on my phone by holding it in one hand while I ride, but that does truly seem dangerous - or at least inconvenient. I also tried the approach of keeping it in my pocket and stopping every once in a while, but that's also terribly inefficient and inconvenient. Then I found this navi/phone holder that has a clear pocket for your phone and straps onto the handlebars. Not only does it work, it works pretty damn well. I punch in my destination before leaving, and glance down at the display for like a millisecond every once in a while. Usually when it's quieter (like at night), I can avoid looking at it altogether by following the voice prompts. I've never come close to any kind of accident or felt that this is dangerous in any way. I'm missing what the big deal is, I suppose. A car navigation system isn't really much different. If you glance at it every once in a while to make sure you're still on track you would be perfectly safe. If you are trying to fiddle with it without stopping, you're asking for trouble.
Just about everyone that makes a start on orienteering has trouble navigating at a walking pace.
This sort of navigation system reminded me of the RoboRoach remote control (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/backyardbrains/the-roboroach-control-a-living-insect-from-your-sm). The same left turn, right turn mechanism. Another instance of humans merging with technology... not that it doesn't look useful!
If you've ever tried to navigate using a smartphone while cycling you'll know full well that you took your life in your hands.
Which is one people with common sense stop and check the maps, whereas stupid people looking for a Darwin award do not.
What's needed is a way that you can get directions from your smartphone without having to lose your focus and possibly your life
No, what's needed is to stop and look at the map. Common sense >> gadgetry.
and Hammerhead Navigation have one of the most interesting answers I've seen.
Not as interesting as, I dunno, stop and look at the map. Fucking revolutionary, I know!
This was solved long ago for motorcyclists who ride at a much faster pace than pedalists.
Align the mount so you can glance down at it. RAM make nice ones.
If your phone display is too small that a glance won't do, dedicated GPS are cheap enough.
Review your route before leaving. If your route is complicated and in an unfamiliar area, print a paper map and toss it in a ziploc bag. If I go anywhere I need a GPS I do this in case the GPS fails.
"This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
That asshole biker needs to signal his turns.
Also as a many year cyclist for commuting, transportation, training, etc. I could see something like this being tremendously useful if it works.
Assuming it does work, it would be a whole lot nicer than a map or fumbling with a smartphone or having a smartphone mounted on your stem. While not common, people do get mugged on their bikes around here. I've ridden through some places where frankly I'd rather not stop.
I also ride in all weather. Rain and bitter cold are not so great for using either maps or a smartphone. Actually anything with an LCD screen tends not to work well in the cold.
How much is a good cycling GPS with turn by turn that you can read in daylight, cold weather, with a good backlight, and is waterproof? Again, are you going to want that on your bike in a sketchy area? The hammerhead is $85. Not cheap, but cheaper than most decent cycling GPSes I've seen.
Why not just run your mapping/nav app reading the course to a Bluetooth earpiece? With all of the hardware attached to you, not the bike, there is less that can be stolen.
Getting across town isn't exactly rocket surgery... ... hmmm what tools would I want to use for rocket surgery? Well, first we have to get past the metal skin, so I think I'll use a torch... ... Huh?!? Where'd I go?
Well, as a bicyclist I have the right to treat stop signs as yield sign
Not in most places you do not. Stop signs are stop signs and the rules are the same for bicycles as for automobiles. You stop at a stop sign the same as everyone else. If you do not then in most places you are breaking the law and being the sort of asshat who gives cyclists a bad name. I am aware local laws permit what you describe in some places but it is not widely true nor is it clear that it is a good idea in general.
Well when I'm out cycling I make a point of pausing at those things.
Then in most places you are unambiguously breaking the law.
And "pause" is most fitting for the situation, imo.
Regardless of whether it is sensible or not, you are behaving in a manner contrary to the rules of the road as well as the expectations of everyone else you share the road with. If you want to get the laws changed then please help do so. Until then please obey the law and help cyclists everywhere. It's pretty hard to argue that we deserve equal rights on the road when asshats everywhere are breaking the law on a regular basis.
Not sure if this is the legal way to do things, but it makes sense so fuck 'em.
In most places it is not legal and your attitude on the matter is what keeps cyclists from having the high ground in this debate. The sign says stop and that is exactly what you are supposed to do. Cyclists who don't are self indulgent idiots who give cyclists everywhere a bad name.
Please, explain why people need all this navigation. I simply don't understand it. I can start any place in the continental United States, refer to Rand McNally, and maybe write a few notes on a scrap of paper. I can drive ANYWHERE in ConUS or mainland Canada, without any further guidance.
Because I can have someone give me just an address or a point of interest and I can get anywhere on the globe without having to consult an atlas or ask anyone for some (probably sketchy) directions. I've got a fairly good sense of direction but many people do not and GPS helps them greatly. Furthermore if I miss a turn (which happens to everyone) or need to take an unexpected detour it lets me know and gives me a detailed revised route immediately. Best of all I don't have to carry around a bunch of paper maps since both my car and phone have GPS built in. I use a GPS because it is FAR easier. I'm perfectly capable of getting someplace without GPS. I lived without GPS for most of my life but today there is no reason for me to do so today under normal circumstances. Why would I waste my time and energy worrying about navigation when I don't have to even if I'm good at it? I have far more productive things to do with my time. If I want to test my navigational skill I'll take up orienteering.
...to a problem that does not exist. If you are cycling or moving any considerable distance, why wouldn't you check your route from the comfort of your home? Or your car? I feel there is often an over enthusiastic desire to "adapt" information technology to convey marginally meaningful information at best. Please spend the $85 on a good helmet light instead.
I don't even look at the maps when I drive I listen to its directions instead. Same as when I cycle.