Using Google Maps Route Data on Garmin EDGE
As you may recall, I’ve been using a Garmin EDGE 205 since Christmas to keep track of the miles I’ve been covering on the bikes. The unit itself is pretty impressive for the cost (well, at least the cost from EBay), but for Mac users the software supplied by Garmin is pretty crap to say the least.
Kike has asked how he can get Google Earth route data out to the unit so he can design some new rides. Now what I’m going to explain here is similar, but is using what’s available for Google MAPS rather than Earth, as it’s generally simpler.
Now remember, this post is aimed at Mac users primarily – but I imagine that it’s the same deal for Windows and Linux users too – it’s just that I don’t have time to check them all out for you. If you’re a curious Windows or Linux user, just go and play – you shouldn’t be able to do any harm 
Free Software Required:
GMAPtoGPX – you need to follow the instructions on the site to drag a bookmarklet to your browser bookmark bar. This is used from Google Maps to convert your route data to GPX format
You will need to install GPSBabel to your Mac as we will be using this to upload Route data directly to your Garmin EDGE unit.
Once these are installed, we’re ready to go make some interesting routes.
Plug in your Garmin to an available USB port and turn it on, then follow the action on the video.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
One caveat with this approach is that every stage of the directions from Google is treated as a separate route. I’ll come back to editing the GPX into a single route in another post. I guess one other thing is that this is no good if you want to actually digitise a route from the map base – particularly if it’s for MTB use.
Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite
Posted: April 7th, 2008 under Cycling, Geospatial, OS X.
Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from Kike Albeniz
Time: April 10, 2008, 10:33 am
Hi!
Finally Id put a google map in my edge 205 following your information.Thank you!
I tried to make the same copying the text from google earth like in Gmapto GPX but doesnt work like with the G.Maps!
I finded this web looking for information but like usually is for Windows.Do u know anything similar for Mac Os??
http://www.mcrenox.com.ar/ge2gpx/
Sorry about my questions!!!
Thank you again!
Comment from breadedcod
Time: April 10, 2008, 11:26 am
Haven’t tried this yet, but you may be able to create a path in Google Earth, save that ‘place’ as a KML file (Google Earth Keyhole Markup Language) and use GPSBabel to upload that to your 205 as before. I think it may well create a TRACK as opposed to a ROUTE though.
Sadly I’m on a training course all week and so I’m about 200miles from my GPS unit, so can’t check
Comment from Kike Albeniz
Time: April 11, 2008, 7:37 am
Thanks!
Im going to try it!
Comment from Kike
Time: April 25, 2008, 12:57 pm
Hi!
Yeah!!!! I got it!!!
Finally i get a Google earth route and put in the Garmin 205.(Only one,i don´t know to put 2 o more routes)
I have the Google Earth Plus ( i don´t really know if it necesary,but only 12€/year…)
And i have MacGpsPro (i can´t remember where i found it to download,sorry)
and LoadMyTracks.
Ok
First you have to click on the Add route tool,and don´t close the window of Add Route.You choose the color,the size of the line,etc..
You put the name to the route.In the list of places you pick in the route clicking crtl and save as.KML
You go to MacGpsPro and open the KML file.Then you save track log as.GPX
You go to LoadMyTracks and just Send..
Then you go to the GPS and look in training (dont know the word in your english 205,in my spanish 205 is “recorridos”.The last one in the list)
And go for a good and new ride!
Try to make it and say it to me how it was.And then if you know how to put 2 o more routes,explain it to me please.
Thanks man! (sorry about my english again)
Pingback from Gmap Pedometer Route Tracing | The Strawberry Project
Time: July 13, 2008, 8:04 pm
[...] of being able to pre-record a route that can be exported to a gpx route in the same way I’ve shown previously. Rather than use Google’s directions service to be able to describe a route, you can simply [...]
Comment from Gary Fryett
Time: November 30, 2008, 2:18 pm
I’ve followed your excellent guide but when I save file in textedit it is saved as a RTF file and not a GPX file. Am i doing something very stupid?
Regards
Gary
Comment from breadedcod
Time: November 30, 2008, 9:03 pm
Gary,
I think if you check the preferences in TextEdit, it’s probably set to RTF by default
). You can switch to plain text in there, or if you want to just do a plain text now and again, you can select the whole text and use Format > Make Plain Text. Then just save the file out as previously described.
Comment from roger
Time: December 12, 2008, 12:21 am
please help-cannot get this to work with windows- GPSBabel only has input as a file with no device output (via usb) -but will work other way ’round; eg can import from Garmin, which is the opposite of what I want!
Comment from breadedcod
Time: December 19, 2008, 9:31 pm
Sorry Roger – haven’t looked at Windows for this, as I was under the impression that the Garmin Windows software was pretty reasonable.
As we have a new arrival in the household, I’ve been a bit distracted of late Let me see if I can have a go at the same instructions for you.
Comment from Kike Albeniz
Time: April 8, 2008, 5:57 am
Thank you very much!!
Im going to download the software and follow your video step by step.
Last Sunday I went for a ride and I recorded a Track in the Garmin.With Loadmytracks I get the Track and put in Google Earth.
In your post you talk about Google Maps.My question is about Google Earth.Is possible to do the same with G.Earth??
I use to ride in Mountain bike.
If I finally learn how to do it,Im going to make a blogspot about How to do it in Spanish.Im looking lot of messages in lot of forums with the same question.
I think Garmin must help to buyers to know how to use all the capacity of the 205.
Thank you very much again!!!!!