https://forums.vzfit.com/ Sat, 30 May 2026 17:08:00 +0000 MyBB https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=588 Sun, 07 Mar 2021 12:12:22 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=588
It needs a few more tweaks but Google coverage in the area is understandably sketchy so will take a bit more work to find a way of getting from Chernobyl to Pripyat without the jump. Overall I really enjoyed the ride though and hope others do too.]]>
It needs a few more tweaks but Google coverage in the area is understandably sketchy so will take a bit more work to find a way of getting from Chernobyl to Pripyat without the jump. Overall I really enjoyed the ride though and hope others do too.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=547 Mon, 18 Jan 2021 02:19:40 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=547 I made this route as a way to remember a beautiful car trip I took with my wife a few summers ago.

This route (77miles 125km) begins at Baie Saint Paul and runs alongside the St. Lawrence River, through Quebec's Charlevoix Region to Tadoussac, and is known as one of Canada’s most scenic drives. With the Laurentian Mountains on the north and the river on the south, this drive takes you up and down rolling hills, through picturesque villages and along the riverfront with a constantly changing countryside to take in as you ride. The landscape is the result of a massive meteorite that crashed down 350 million years ago and created a deep crater nearly 55km (34 miles) in diameter.

In real life you can often pull to the side and spot beluga whales swimming in the St. Lawrence.

At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed biking the route in VR, and hope you may enjoy it too!
]]> I made this route as a way to remember a beautiful car trip I took with my wife a few summers ago.

This route (77miles 125km) begins at Baie Saint Paul and runs alongside the St. Lawrence River, through Quebec's Charlevoix Region to Tadoussac, and is known as one of Canada’s most scenic drives. With the Laurentian Mountains on the north and the river on the south, this drive takes you up and down rolling hills, through picturesque villages and along the riverfront with a constantly changing countryside to take in as you ride. The landscape is the result of a massive meteorite that crashed down 350 million years ago and created a deep crater nearly 55km (34 miles) in diameter.

In real life you can often pull to the side and spot beluga whales swimming in the St. Lawrence.

At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed biking the route in VR, and hope you may enjoy it too!
]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=524 Sat, 26 Dec 2020 16:29:33 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=524
Steve]]>
Steve]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=458 Tue, 13 Oct 2020 17:16:43 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=458
We just released vzfit.com/explorer/manage_rides as a powerful way to manage your rides and find shared rides for Explorer.

An important part of that is a new "Ride Rating" ability.  We'd like to encourage you to rate every ride you complete there, which will contribute to the overall rating that everyone can sort by.  They also now determine the rides that show in-game on the Explore Rides->Popular tab.

We ask that you rate rides there now instead of here.  Thank you!]]>
We just released vzfit.com/explorer/manage_rides as a powerful way to manage your rides and find shared rides for Explorer.

An important part of that is a new "Ride Rating" ability.  We'd like to encourage you to rate every ride you complete there, which will contribute to the overall rating that everyone can sort by.  They also now determine the rides that show in-game on the Explore Rides->Popular tab.

We ask that you rate rides there now instead of here.  Thank you!]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=418 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:38:04 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=418 BADWATER – DEATH VALLEY USA 143 MILES
The Badwater 135 is often referred to as “The World’s Toughest Foot Race” and takes place in one of the hottest places on Earth; Death Valley. While we couldn’t ride the entire race route, we did our best to capture the spirit of the event. It is the longest route of the adventure pack and a true challenge to finish during the time window.

Find out more about Badwater at the Race Website, or by watching the amazing documentary Running on the Sun on YouTube.]]> BADWATER – DEATH VALLEY USA 143 MILES
The Badwater 135 is often referred to as “The World’s Toughest Foot Race” and takes place in one of the hottest places on Earth; Death Valley. While we couldn’t ride the entire race route, we did our best to capture the spirit of the event. It is the longest route of the adventure pack and a true challenge to finish during the time window.

Find out more about Badwater at the Race Website, or by watching the amazing documentary Running on the Sun on YouTube.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=417 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:37:41 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=417 DEATH ROAD – BOLIVIA 9 MILES


This ride takes you on parts of the Old Yungas Road in La Paz, Bolivia. This road was built in 1930 and due to the nature of its narrow single track, fog, and steep slopes, was considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world. A newer road has been built in recent years to allow for a safer place to drive, but the old road is still a favorite of visiting cyclists.]]> DEATH ROAD – BOLIVIA 9 MILES


This ride takes you on parts of the Old Yungas Road in La Paz, Bolivia. This road was built in 1930 and due to the nature of its narrow single track, fog, and steep slopes, was considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world. A newer road has been built in recent years to allow for a safer place to drive, but the old road is still a favorite of visiting cyclists.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=416 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:37:08 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=416 BUDAPEST RIVER FRONT – HUNGARY 11 MILES
The Danube River, which runs right through the center of Budapest, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and this tour will take you up and down it’s banks.
Starting on a small walking path you make your way up river and can see a full view of the Hungarian Parliament building as you approach the bridge to cross.

Once on the east bank, you will make your way down for a close-up view of the Parliament building before ending directly across the river from our start.
The Hungarian Parliament building is the star of this ride and is an incredible architectural feat. Construction began in 1885 and took nearly 100,000 people, 40]]> BUDAPEST RIVER FRONT – HUNGARY 11 MILES
The Danube River, which runs right through the center of Budapest, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and this tour will take you up and down it’s banks.
Starting on a small walking path you make your way up river and can see a full view of the Hungarian Parliament building as you approach the bridge to cross.

Once on the east bank, you will make your way down for a close-up view of the Parliament building before ending directly across the river from our start.
The Hungarian Parliament building is the star of this ride and is an incredible architectural feat. Construction began in 1885 and took nearly 100,000 people, 40]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=415 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:36:45 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=415 THE GREAT DOLOMITES ROAD – ITALY 61 MILES

This breathtaking tour through the mountains of northeastern Italy offers an unparalleled cycling experience.  This route travels through several peaks and transitions from grass to snow, as you ride. Be ready for a lot of varying terrain, with many climbs and descents, with very little flat!]]> THE GREAT DOLOMITES ROAD – ITALY 61 MILES

This breathtaking tour through the mountains of northeastern Italy offers an unparalleled cycling experience.  This route travels through several peaks and transitions from grass to snow, as you ride. Be ready for a lot of varying terrain, with many climbs and descents, with very little flat!]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=414 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:36:03 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=414 RONDA – SPAIN 5 MILES

Ronda is a city built on a mountain top in Spain that has several features that make it a great tour in Explorer.  The city is built over a giant gorge with several bridges attaching the parts of town.  The most famous of these is Puente Nuevo, completed in 1793, and provides an iconic image that draws tourists from around the world.
The city is also full of old Spanish castles and forts mixed among the newer buildings. Ronda is home to the oldest bullfighting ring in all of Spain and you will ride right by it!



]]> RONDA – SPAIN 5 MILES

Ronda is a city built on a mountain top in Spain that has several features that make it a great tour in Explorer.  The city is built over a giant gorge with several bridges attaching the parts of town.  The most famous of these is Puente Nuevo, completed in 1793, and provides an iconic image that draws tourists from around the world.
The city is also full of old Spanish castles and forts mixed among the newer buildings. Ronda is home to the oldest bullfighting ring in all of Spain and you will ride right by it!



]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=413 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:35:43 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=413 BEALACH NA BA- SCOTLAND 54 MILES
A winding single track road through the Scottish Highlands, this route is considered the Holy Grail of climbs.  You will start at sea level and work your way up to an elevation of 2000 feet, with road grades that approach 20%, then back down to sea level on the other end.  

This is a great ride for those who enjoy switchbacks and beautiful views.]]> BEALACH NA BA- SCOTLAND 54 MILES
A winding single track road through the Scottish Highlands, this route is considered the Holy Grail of climbs.  You will start at sea level and work your way up to an elevation of 2000 feet, with road grades that approach 20%, then back down to sea level on the other end.  

This is a great ride for those who enjoy switchbacks and beautiful views.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=412 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:35:11 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=412 SHIMANAMI KAIDO – JAPAN 48 MILES

This is the common name for the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway connecting Onomichi and Imabari. Along the way this route travels across several of the smaller islands in Japan.  With great views of both the coastal areas of Japan, as well as some small towns, it’s a great taste of the country.
If you enjoy this area be sure to come back and do some open riding to some of the shrines and other features. Find out more here.]]> SHIMANAMI KAIDO – JAPAN 48 MILES

This is the common name for the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway connecting Onomichi and Imabari. Along the way this route travels across several of the smaller islands in Japan.  With great views of both the coastal areas of Japan, as well as some small towns, it’s a great taste of the country.
If you enjoy this area be sure to come back and do some open riding to some of the shrines and other features. Find out more here.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=384 Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:38:15 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=384 I hope you enjoy!]]> I hope you enjoy!]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=383 Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:56:28 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=383
It had a lot of nice scenery and ocean views throughout. There were a few glitchy renderings mostly in the small towns you pass through. I did over two days, but at 58 miles could be completed in a day. If I did it again I would in reverse as much of the time was on the opposite side of the ride viewing cars going backwards in front of you.

  Great_Ocean_Road_-_Google_Maps.png (Size: 234.56 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]>
It had a lot of nice scenery and ocean views throughout. There were a few glitchy renderings mostly in the small towns you pass through. I did over two days, but at 58 miles could be completed in a day. If I did it again I would in reverse as much of the time was on the opposite side of the ride viewing cars going backwards in front of you.

  Great_Ocean_Road_-_Google_Maps.png (Size: 234.56 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=381 Fri, 17 Jul 2020 18:29:36 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=381 I mentioned here that I decided to take a virtual tour of the London Underground (except overground), and I'm pleased to report that I'm done. (At least, with all stations in Zones 1, 2, and 3...they get WAY scattered beyond that point, and 242 stations felt like enough for now.
Anyway, some people asked me if I'd put together a London Ride to share. I've done so, and it's called "Aris' Ride through Tourist London City Ride". It's about 8.5 miles long. Before you select it, a few warnings.
1. If you like uncrowded natural beauty where things don't change much from frame to frame, you're going to hate this. The "city ride" part of the name will suggest that you ride it in city mode, but I prefer not to. I like to see the streets and everything...but if too much traffic or too many people annoy you, you might want to choose city.
2. There were a few "blank blue" frames after Buckingham Palace, but the rest of the trip is okay. I'll try to address that in version 2, along with some other things that didn't quite come out the way I wanted them.
3. When you get to the Houses of Parliament, you may want to quit out of my trip and then resume it later. For some reason, my route skipped Westminster Abbey, which is on the same square as Parliament, and you don't get a good look at Big Ben without the scaffolding. Some of the other shots in the area were taken when the scaffolding wasn't there.
For those who are interested, here's what you're seeing.
0%- Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner
6%--Buckingham Palace (Queen’s home)
14%--St. James Palace (Oldest royal palace in the UK)
17%--Piccadilly
18%--To your right, Fortnum and Mason (have your high tea here!)
20%--Piccadilly Circus
22%--Haymarket (the western part of the theatre district)
25%--Trafalgar Square, with its statue of Nelson, it’s lions made from melted down cannons, and the National Portrait Gallery on its north side. Also visible to the NE is St. Martin’s in the Fields.
28%--Keep an eye to your right and you’ll see the horse guards, mounted on their horses and dressed in red. (Wait for the busses to clear!) Not long after, you’ll pass Downing Street, home to the Prime Minister, on your right, but you can’t really see anything.
34%--Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey (to the southwest). I’d suggest suspending the tour here and exploring this area before continuing.
36%--To your right, across the Thames, you’ll see the London Eye (ferris wheel).
41%--Villiers Street. London is filled with little shortcut lanes like this. Google will let us take this one.
44%--The Strand, an upper class district in the 12th through 17th centuries, now best known for theater.
47%--Aldwych, the convention center-point of London maps. The building on the right with the sculpture was the old home of the BBC World Service.
51%--The beginning of Fleet Street, which has become a metonym for the national press. If you ever saw or read “Rumpole of the Bailey”, here’s where he hung out. There’s a lot to see. The Dragon statue marks the beginning of the City of London. Two door down from The George (on your right) you’ll see the original store for Twinings Tea, still in business. There is a little passage immediately to the right of The George that you should take if you make it to London—I’ll leave where it goes a surprise.
57%--Saint Paul’s Cathedral. ‘Nuff said.
66%--It’s only visible for about two frames, but off to your left, opposite if a church to your right, you can see the monument to the Great Fire of 1666. It’s a tall pillar with a golden bowl of flame at the top.
70%--A first view of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which continues for a while. The view from the middle of the bridge gives a different angle on some things we’ll see later.
77%--A decent view of the Shard, the tip of which we’ve been sing for a bit.
80%--View across the river of the City, including “The Gherkin” and “The Walkie Talkie”.
84%--The HMS Belfast, permanently moored on the Thames.
88%--London Bridge, which is pretty unremarkable. Tower Bridge is the one everyone loves.
90%--To your left, Southwark Cathedral. There’s a nice stained glass of Shakespeare, here.
91%--The Golden Hind, a sea-worthy reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s ship.
95%--The Clink, which was a prison, now a museum. Look up and to your left when you get on Clink Street to see the skeleton in the gibbet.
95%--To your left, the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
96%--Ahead, the building sometimes termed “The Boomerang” or “The Belly”.
97%--Wrapping up, we cross the Millennium Bridge and return to St. Pauls.]]> I mentioned here that I decided to take a virtual tour of the London Underground (except overground), and I'm pleased to report that I'm done. (At least, with all stations in Zones 1, 2, and 3...they get WAY scattered beyond that point, and 242 stations felt like enough for now.
Anyway, some people asked me if I'd put together a London Ride to share. I've done so, and it's called "Aris' Ride through Tourist London City Ride". It's about 8.5 miles long. Before you select it, a few warnings.
1. If you like uncrowded natural beauty where things don't change much from frame to frame, you're going to hate this. The "city ride" part of the name will suggest that you ride it in city mode, but I prefer not to. I like to see the streets and everything...but if too much traffic or too many people annoy you, you might want to choose city.
2. There were a few "blank blue" frames after Buckingham Palace, but the rest of the trip is okay. I'll try to address that in version 2, along with some other things that didn't quite come out the way I wanted them.
3. When you get to the Houses of Parliament, you may want to quit out of my trip and then resume it later. For some reason, my route skipped Westminster Abbey, which is on the same square as Parliament, and you don't get a good look at Big Ben without the scaffolding. Some of the other shots in the area were taken when the scaffolding wasn't there.
For those who are interested, here's what you're seeing.
0%- Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner
6%--Buckingham Palace (Queen’s home)
14%--St. James Palace (Oldest royal palace in the UK)
17%--Piccadilly
18%--To your right, Fortnum and Mason (have your high tea here!)
20%--Piccadilly Circus
22%--Haymarket (the western part of the theatre district)
25%--Trafalgar Square, with its statue of Nelson, it’s lions made from melted down cannons, and the National Portrait Gallery on its north side. Also visible to the NE is St. Martin’s in the Fields.
28%--Keep an eye to your right and you’ll see the horse guards, mounted on their horses and dressed in red. (Wait for the busses to clear!) Not long after, you’ll pass Downing Street, home to the Prime Minister, on your right, but you can’t really see anything.
34%--Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey (to the southwest). I’d suggest suspending the tour here and exploring this area before continuing.
36%--To your right, across the Thames, you’ll see the London Eye (ferris wheel).
41%--Villiers Street. London is filled with little shortcut lanes like this. Google will let us take this one.
44%--The Strand, an upper class district in the 12th through 17th centuries, now best known for theater.
47%--Aldwych, the convention center-point of London maps. The building on the right with the sculpture was the old home of the BBC World Service.
51%--The beginning of Fleet Street, which has become a metonym for the national press. If you ever saw or read “Rumpole of the Bailey”, here’s where he hung out. There’s a lot to see. The Dragon statue marks the beginning of the City of London. Two door down from The George (on your right) you’ll see the original store for Twinings Tea, still in business. There is a little passage immediately to the right of The George that you should take if you make it to London—I’ll leave where it goes a surprise.
57%--Saint Paul’s Cathedral. ‘Nuff said.
66%--It’s only visible for about two frames, but off to your left, opposite if a church to your right, you can see the monument to the Great Fire of 1666. It’s a tall pillar with a golden bowl of flame at the top.
70%--A first view of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which continues for a while. The view from the middle of the bridge gives a different angle on some things we’ll see later.
77%--A decent view of the Shard, the tip of which we’ve been sing for a bit.
80%--View across the river of the City, including “The Gherkin” and “The Walkie Talkie”.
84%--The HMS Belfast, permanently moored on the Thames.
88%--London Bridge, which is pretty unremarkable. Tower Bridge is the one everyone loves.
90%--To your left, Southwark Cathedral. There’s a nice stained glass of Shakespeare, here.
91%--The Golden Hind, a sea-worthy reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s ship.
95%--The Clink, which was a prison, now a museum. Look up and to your left when you get on Clink Street to see the skeleton in the gibbet.
95%--To your left, the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
96%--Ahead, the building sometimes termed “The Boomerang” or “The Belly”.
97%--Wrapping up, we cross the Millennium Bridge and return to St. Pauls.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=377 Sun, 12 Jul 2020 00:31:10 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=377
This trail is best run on "comfort mode". The trail is quite curvy in places and I found "auto-steer" setting works pretty good for the most part. I liked the fact that the bike would steer itself, allowing me to enjoy the scenery. There are two places about 5 miles into the ride, where auto-steer got locked up. The "choke-points" have to do with some "off the path" destinations that the software didn't want to route to for some reason... "out and back" trails that confused the system.  Changing ride mode to "Tilt" steering easily got me back on track. 

Also... due to a mapping error...this trail (11 miles) cuts the ride off  about 1-2 miles short...you can ride it all the way to Hermit's rest and there are still a couple of fantastic viewpoints to see past the "end" of this ride. If you ride past the "end"...turn on "tilt to steer" as it will make it quite easy to stay on course. Just keep following the "hiking path" staying to the "right" of the road when possible.]]>
This trail is best run on "comfort mode". The trail is quite curvy in places and I found "auto-steer" setting works pretty good for the most part. I liked the fact that the bike would steer itself, allowing me to enjoy the scenery. There are two places about 5 miles into the ride, where auto-steer got locked up. The "choke-points" have to do with some "off the path" destinations that the software didn't want to route to for some reason... "out and back" trails that confused the system.  Changing ride mode to "Tilt" steering easily got me back on track. 

Also... due to a mapping error...this trail (11 miles) cuts the ride off  about 1-2 miles short...you can ride it all the way to Hermit's rest and there are still a couple of fantastic viewpoints to see past the "end" of this ride. If you ride past the "end"...turn on "tilt to steer" as it will make it quite easy to stay on course. Just keep following the "hiking path" staying to the "right" of the road when possible.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=373 Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:00:23 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=373 Coming from the tropics , the alps are fascinating and this ride takes me from the city to the top of the mountains https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/222928250294443744/

and to the snow-capped mountains. https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/222928250294443776/ . 

There is always something interesting to see in the scenery. Sometimes the curves can make me dizzy but I close my eyes when there is a turn. I use auto most of the time.


I encountered getting stuck 50% of the ride. I don't know if it is google or my internet connection. The bottom ground would be totally distorted including the sides and I end up riding in circles. I just shut my eyes to get out of it. Usually, it gets me out of the stuck situation. Sometimes, I tab country to comfort but my ride doesn't move under comfort. But shifting back and forth can get me out of the loop.

I took so many snapshots here. I love it. My question is why does the loop (biking in circles) happen?]]> Coming from the tropics , the alps are fascinating and this ride takes me from the city to the top of the mountains https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/222928250294443744/

and to the snow-capped mountains. https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/222928250294443776/ . 

There is always something interesting to see in the scenery. Sometimes the curves can make me dizzy but I close my eyes when there is a turn. I use auto most of the time.


I encountered getting stuck 50% of the ride. I don't know if it is google or my internet connection. The bottom ground would be totally distorted including the sides and I end up riding in circles. I just shut my eyes to get out of it. Usually, it gets me out of the stuck situation. Sometimes, I tab country to comfort but my ride doesn't move under comfort. But shifting back and forth can get me out of the loop.

I took so many snapshots here. I love it. My question is why does the loop (biking in circles) happen?]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=368 Sat, 04 Jul 2020 04:07:18 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=368
I noticed that Google has a "Street View" of the Colorado River, going straight through the Grand Canyon Some 275 miles or so...

I decided to turn my bike into a "water bike" and take a tour of the Grand Canyon via the Colorado River. Where is the Lotus Pond Skin when you need it?

Grand Canyon River Series:

Shon_T's Grand Canyon River Tour Begins (Part 1)- 32 Miles
Shon_T's Unknown Ride 13 (Part 2)- 12 Miles
Shon_T's Unknown Ride 15 (Part 3)- 10 Miles
Shon_T's Grand Canyon River Tour (Part 4)- 30 Miles
Shon_T's Grand Canyon River Tour II (Part 5)- 191 Miles



The scenery is absolutely stunning! Parts 1,2, and 3 are generally during sunny weather and offer dramatic landscape. Part 4 starts out foggy, and quickly turns to rain for the first half of the ride. The second half of the ride sees several nice rapids as the route winds through the narrow canyon ending  Near Phantom Ranch, which is where you would camp if you hiked from the top of the canyon at the South rim down to the bottom. Part 5 has some of the most varied scenery of them all. 

The route is flat and both comfort mode and country mode work great! Auto steer works fine as well for the most part, but there are several places where it can be buggy, and cause you to get into a "loop" where the same scenery keeps repeating. If you find yourself "spinning" or getting caught in a loop, turn off auto steer and turn on "tilt to steer". This will allow you to navigate straight and get out of the loop. I found that this problem usually happens near transitions where the street view "jumps" due to lack of data. 

I would recommend that you keep the dots for path finding "on" and do not hide them, as the route does not flow straight down the river.  It follows the current like a raft, and will zigzag. Keeping the dots on will help you avoid motion sickness and will also help you know where to steer if needed.  

I prefer the  comfort mode setting because the water movement looks more natural believe it or not. It is almost as if...you are floating down a river.

While some might be annoyed by the bike riding avatar, it doesn't annoy me. I've gotten so used to not looking at my avatar...I just imagined that I was in a pedal canoe (looking at you Lotus Pond!)...peddling my way down the Colorado. for this ride, I was mostly looking up at the Canyon towering over me, and the interesting rock formations. Occasionally you will see other passengers on the raft, folks cleaning the camera when it gets wet, etc. It breaks the immersion a bit... but the spectacular scenery makes up for it. The last 50 miles or so of Part 5...Two rafts are in full-view for the entire last part of the tour. Again.. it didn't bother me, I felt like another passenger on the journey, but to each their own.

I love this ride!]]>
I noticed that Google has a "Street View" of the Colorado River, going straight through the Grand Canyon Some 275 miles or so...

I decided to turn my bike into a "water bike" and take a tour of the Grand Canyon via the Colorado River. Where is the Lotus Pond Skin when you need it?

Grand Canyon River Series:

Shon_T's Grand Canyon River Tour Begins (Part 1)- 32 Miles
Shon_T's Unknown Ride 13 (Part 2)- 12 Miles
Shon_T's Unknown Ride 15 (Part 3)- 10 Miles
Shon_T's Grand Canyon River Tour (Part 4)- 30 Miles
Shon_T's Grand Canyon River Tour II (Part 5)- 191 Miles



The scenery is absolutely stunning! Parts 1,2, and 3 are generally during sunny weather and offer dramatic landscape. Part 4 starts out foggy, and quickly turns to rain for the first half of the ride. The second half of the ride sees several nice rapids as the route winds through the narrow canyon ending  Near Phantom Ranch, which is where you would camp if you hiked from the top of the canyon at the South rim down to the bottom. Part 5 has some of the most varied scenery of them all. 

The route is flat and both comfort mode and country mode work great! Auto steer works fine as well for the most part, but there are several places where it can be buggy, and cause you to get into a "loop" where the same scenery keeps repeating. If you find yourself "spinning" or getting caught in a loop, turn off auto steer and turn on "tilt to steer". This will allow you to navigate straight and get out of the loop. I found that this problem usually happens near transitions where the street view "jumps" due to lack of data. 

I would recommend that you keep the dots for path finding "on" and do not hide them, as the route does not flow straight down the river.  It follows the current like a raft, and will zigzag. Keeping the dots on will help you avoid motion sickness and will also help you know where to steer if needed.  

I prefer the  comfort mode setting because the water movement looks more natural believe it or not. It is almost as if...you are floating down a river.

While some might be annoyed by the bike riding avatar, it doesn't annoy me. I've gotten so used to not looking at my avatar...I just imagined that I was in a pedal canoe (looking at you Lotus Pond!)...peddling my way down the Colorado. for this ride, I was mostly looking up at the Canyon towering over me, and the interesting rock formations. Occasionally you will see other passengers on the raft, folks cleaning the camera when it gets wet, etc. It breaks the immersion a bit... but the spectacular scenery makes up for it. The last 50 miles or so of Part 5...Two rafts are in full-view for the entire last part of the tour. Again.. it didn't bother me, I felt like another passenger on the journey, but to each their own.

I love this ride!]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=367 Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:18:19 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=367 Map
Distance: 11.7 miles

Description: An incredibly picturesque route, from Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Canyon to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon Via the South Kaibab Trail. The first 6 or 7 miles is almost straight up the canyon. There is about 2-3 miles on the rim trail, followed by some really spotty road driving over the last couple of miles that takes you to the visitor center. This route was filmed using Google backpack Cameras. The high def cameras are great, the route finding NOT SO MUCH! This is an incredibly challenging ride, due to navigational issues...but it is still worth sharing due to the spectacular scenery!

PLEASE NOTE: This ride IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS or those prone to motion sickness! The following settings are recommended for this route:

1. Ride the route IN REVERSE! If you ride the route from the top of the Canyon you may get stuck!
2. Comfort mode is a must! This route is twisty and turns frequently... motion sickness is a strong possibility.
3. AUTO Steering should be TURNED OFF! Lean to Steer should be turned on.
4. Route finding should be TURNED ON! You need to see the white dots...it is a MUST.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET STUCK?

I completed this route so I know it is possible...that said...there were a couple of sections (2 or 3) that I got caught up on. 
1. Lean to steer and try to stay on the path ahead of you. Even if the dots don't seem to align with the path..try to follow it. 
2. There are many switchbacks. Anticipate where the path is taking you and turn in that direction even though you have yet to reach the turn.
3. The path always goes UP. It doesn't go down. Thing is...you might end up turning around to follow dots (looking downhill), but will still go up hill).
4. If you get caught in a loop, turn on "country mode" and ride towards the closest dots until you clear the area and start progressing forward. Switch back to comfort mode once you are progressing forward again.

If you are willing to put up with the navigational issues, this is an amazing ride!]]> Map
Distance: 11.7 miles

Description: An incredibly picturesque route, from Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Canyon to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon Via the South Kaibab Trail. The first 6 or 7 miles is almost straight up the canyon. There is about 2-3 miles on the rim trail, followed by some really spotty road driving over the last couple of miles that takes you to the visitor center. This route was filmed using Google backpack Cameras. The high def cameras are great, the route finding NOT SO MUCH! This is an incredibly challenging ride, due to navigational issues...but it is still worth sharing due to the spectacular scenery!

PLEASE NOTE: This ride IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS or those prone to motion sickness! The following settings are recommended for this route:

1. Ride the route IN REVERSE! If you ride the route from the top of the Canyon you may get stuck!
2. Comfort mode is a must! This route is twisty and turns frequently... motion sickness is a strong possibility.
3. AUTO Steering should be TURNED OFF! Lean to Steer should be turned on.
4. Route finding should be TURNED ON! You need to see the white dots...it is a MUST.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET STUCK?

I completed this route so I know it is possible...that said...there were a couple of sections (2 or 3) that I got caught up on. 
1. Lean to steer and try to stay on the path ahead of you. Even if the dots don't seem to align with the path..try to follow it. 
2. There are many switchbacks. Anticipate where the path is taking you and turn in that direction even though you have yet to reach the turn.
3. The path always goes UP. It doesn't go down. Thing is...you might end up turning around to follow dots (looking downhill), but will still go up hill).
4. If you get caught in a loop, turn on "country mode" and ride towards the closest dots until you clear the area and start progressing forward. Switch back to comfort mode once you are progressing forward again.

If you are willing to put up with the navigational issues, this is an amazing ride!]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=365 Thu, 02 Jul 2020 22:57:46 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=365 Don't miss them! The awe-inspiring majesty of these mountains....I had to tell myself that I couldn't keep stopping and pressing B for hi-res....I wouldn't get any exercise that way.]]> Don't miss them! The awe-inspiring majesty of these mountains....I had to tell myself that I couldn't keep stopping and pressing B for hi-res....I wouldn't get any exercise that way.]]> https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=364 Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:32:02 +0000 https://forums.vzfit.com/showthread.php?tid=364 Map
Distance: 498 miles (802km)

Description: This ride starts where "Shon_T's Unknown Ride 4" terminates in Minato City, Japan. Minato is part of Tokyo. This ride will take you through the heart of Tokyo, and eventually through less densely populated cities. The route detours off of the main highway, and will meander through farming communities as it makes its way northward, eventually terminating at the northern most point of this Japanese Island.

 Don't let the distance scare you off...this ride may take several days if not weeks to complete. Like a good novel, you can start and stop where you see fit, and VZFit will bookmark your progress!]]> Map
Distance: 498 miles (802km)

Description: This ride starts where "Shon_T's Unknown Ride 4" terminates in Minato City, Japan. Minato is part of Tokyo. This ride will take you through the heart of Tokyo, and eventually through less densely populated cities. The route detours off of the main highway, and will meander through farming communities as it makes its way northward, eventually terminating at the northern most point of this Japanese Island.

 Don't let the distance scare you off...this ride may take several days if not weeks to complete. Like a good novel, you can start and stop where you see fit, and VZFit will bookmark your progress!]]>