Back in the old days a bike tour was simple. I had a paper map. My bike computer was very simple. It recorded, distance, average speed and a few other things. Very simple, very easy. I never got majorly lost. I don’t know if I even had a cell phone on first tours.
Now I have a bike computer that is connected to satellites. It records all sorts of information and loads it to an internet account. It can also give me step by step route guidance if I load my route to it. It lasts about one day without being recharged. If I use step by step turn instructions, it won’t last an entire day. My head light and tail light now require recharging. I am not sure how long they will last. My phone will also need to be recharged. I am going to use it for route guidance. Don’t ask why. I will down load the route be running it in airplane mode for most of the day in order to save the battery.
My watch will need to be recharged. If I take a camera, that means I will also need to charge it. Is my phone adequate for taking pictures? I don’t care what people say, phones don’t take as nice of pictures as a camera. Especially if you are trying to zoom. What about my GoPro? I think I will leave it at home.
So now I have all of these items that need to be charged. So now I need a charging power banks in case I can’t stop and charge my devices. The power banks also need to be charged. I have a power bank but I think I need to get another one. The one I have only has one charging port.
I am also thinking of putting a dynamo hub on my bike so I don’t need to recharge the light. Some types of these also have port to recharge a device while bicycling.
As a friend used to say, “Computers are faster but it takes longer”. I think all of these electronics are helpful but they complicate things.