Endurance Ride Manager Information Page
Ride Managers:
1- Setting up a ride
Step one- Install the app on your phone and purchase a license. You have to purchase at least Basic, I recommend Premium simply because the advanced route planning and Cue review tools are very valuable if you will be managing routes.
License types: Starter: free for all users. Basic: $60 per year. Premium: $80 a year
2- Record a ride
It is like using a garmin GPS when you are recording a route. To record a ride you go the main page of the tool, and click on the button that says “record” in the middle at the bottom. It will take a moment to make sure it has acquired the satellites. Now you start moving and it will record your trail. You will see a red line being left behind you on the screen as you move. It will keep recording until you tell it not to. To pause the recording , you long hold the pause button, the two vertical lines in a circle at the bottom. Long hold means press and hold for a second or so. it will pause the recording. You will see two options- resume ride, or finish ride. To resume the ride press resume and it starts recording again. to end recording you press finish ride. It will then give you two options- either delete it, or save it. Delete just removes the ride from the session, save will keep the ride stored on the phone and on your account on the web site.
Pro tip! When you are recording, try and not deviate from the trail, or stop, or take a break. Keep moving and record a clean ride. If you were to be recording, hop off the horse or quad or bicycle and walk to the restroom, your ride will have a nice loop in the trail to the restroom and back. It’s that accurate. When you need to do anything other than move forward on the trail, press pause, then press resume when you are starting again. Don’t forget to resume after a stop or you will miss a section of the trail.
To see the rides you have recorded on your phone, click the library button. You will see a list of all your rides. To send someone a ride you can click the three dots to the right and select share.
Pro Tip! If you are an event organizer you have two logins- your standard login, and your organization login. You will have to log out of your organization in order to see your personal rides, routes, and such. You log back into the organization from your personal page.
See and edit your rides on the web site.
Log into the RWGPS web site and click on the “jump to” button at the top left. Select rides and you will see your rides listed as in the picture below:
Here you can rename them into the correct names and more. to rename it, click the ride you just created on the date on the far left. it opens the ride. Click the edit button and you can rename it and add comments.
You can also share the ride with someone by clicking the “share” button
Step 2- turn your ride into a route. From the Web site login:
1- Open the ride and see it on the page on the right side of the screen.
2- click on the “more” button and select “Open in route planner” Here is where you add in your custom voice cues, , modify the trail, add points of interest, etc.
Pro Tip! The start of the route is the green arrow, the end of the route is just a white dot called a control point.
3- Edit the route (it takes some training and a lot of practice) and click the save button at the lower left. I like to keep the route name the same as the ride name. Click save or the route will vanish and you will have lost work.
Pro Tip! At an endurance ride each loop is generally a separate route. This makes it much more clear and flexible for the rider. A ride with three loops will have three routes- one per loop. The Event (info below) will contain the three appropriate routes.
Now you can share the route with someone, send the route to your phone for navigation, or view the route. To close the dialog box just click the X.
Now if you select the “jump to” button and click the “routes” tab you will see the new route listed.
Pro Tip! Be sure to back up your routes and events. Its kind of easy to make a mistake while editing and it is depressing to add in an hours’ worth of voicer cues and accidentally delete the route.
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Below is a sample of the letter a ride manager can send to the riders a week before the event. Remember- you need cell service or internet to download the routes to your phone. Never assume there is cell service at ride camps in the middle of nowhere. Be sure to remind the riders to download the events to their phone; if they don’t they cant navigate without cell service.
February 23, 2024
Dear 2024 20 Mule Team Ride Participant,
Welcome to the 20 Mule Team 2024 Ride With GPS information and invitation letter. The trails will be marked with traditional ribbon, chalk, signs, and glow bars for the night loops. The Ride With GPS is an additional service provided by ride management and sponsored by the Quicksilver Endurance Riders club. www.qser.net
You can click here to get to the detailed information and explanation pages for Ride with GPS. You can learn about the application and how to install and use it as a rider, as well as ride manager and event organizer information. https://www.qser.net/rwgps-page
The 20 Mule Team ride has five rides (events) on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. (Intro ride, 35, 60, 75, 100) Only download the “EVENT” you are riding. Each “Event” has the required routes (loops) to ride. Click on the link below and you will be added to the event. You can download as many events to your phone as you are riding.
Saturday March 2nd, 2024
You will receive a confirmation email from Ride With GPS. If you do not already have an account you will need to download the app from your app store and create one. The free version of RWGPS is all you need. All the premium features such as voice cues will be unlocked for the Event through Quicksilver Endurance Riders Club Organization at No Cost to you. Each of the multiple routes have voice cues to help guide you. If you go off course, 165 feet or more, you will hear a warning sound. Occasionally if you get off trail you may receive the off-course warning, followed quickly by the back on course sound. If you are concerned, stop and look at the moving map display and cues on your phone to verify you are on course.
Please remember that the marked trail sometimes deviates a little from the RWGPS route. If this occurs, trust the trail markings. The trail will re-join the RWGPS route quickly. When in doubt look at the phone screen and verify visually you are on track.
Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the application and the instructions on the web page referenced above. There are phone settings that are important to the correct operation of the routes. The most important are to turn off three options in the Settings Menu. If you leave these on you will get excessive voice cues that will be very confusing. Turn off:
Advance Cue warning
Nearing Cue warning
Imminent cue warnings
It is recommended you download the routes and prepare the app in advance of the ride. You can never assume you will get cell service at a ride camp. Remember the ap does not need cell service to navigate, just to download the routes to your phone.
Download routes for offline use:
1. Open the app on your phone.
2. Tap on More, My Events, 20 Mule Team (intro, 30, 60, 75, or 100, the event you are riding).
3. Tap on the three vertical dots , tap download for offline. (repeat for all routes)
Once a route is downloaded a grey circle with a lightning bolt inside will show next to the three dots.
Important Tips:
To conserve your phone battery, put your phone in airplane mode, close all other apps and keep the screen off as much as possible. A screen left on will drain your battery quickly. Charge your phone at the vet check and carry a portable power pack just in case.
Click here https://ridewithgps.com/help/battery-saving-tips/ for other battery saving tips.
Android & iphone users: Turn off power saving mode. Riding with it on can have a very negative effect on GPS recording quality.
Keep your phone near the top of your pack or out in the open. GPS signal is received best when your phone has a clear view to the sky.
On Ride day, open Ride With GPS before mounting. Tap on More, My Events, 20 Mule Team (event you are riding), select your route, then tap navigate. When you have completed the route be sure to save your ride. Save by long pressing the circle with two vertical lines then tap save.
You may start navigation at any point on a route but you absolutely MUST ride the route in the correct direction for voice cues to be correct.
If you are using an iphone you will need to control the volume within the Ride With GPS app not with the phone ringer volume. To do that, tap on your route , start navigation then tap tools and locate the volume button.
Using an optional bluetooth headset with one ear piece in may be the best way to ensure you are able to hear the voice cues. Trail noise can be loud, especially in the wind.
There are many personal setting options within Ride With GPS that can be adjusted to your liking. Click on the following link to learn about some options. https://ridewithgps.com/help/manage-settings-on-mobile#logging
For example, you may have metrics such as Average Moving Speed, Remaining Distance, Estimated Time Remaining and more read to you at selected mileage. If you are not using a bluetooth familiarize your horse to the sounds of Ride With GPS while standing or walking next to your horse prior to mounting.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at nwarhol@comcast.net
Sincerely,
Nick Warhol