Import gpx files from your Garmin into Google Maps to document your stages [BLO005]

When cycling I noticed lot's of bikers having a GPS computer mounted on their handlebar. These devices record speed, elevation, heart rate, power, cadence and record even cycling track. But what if we could visualise these cycling tracks in Google maps? We could place on these tracks placemarks, commentary text, links and pictures to document the cycling journey. Journey we could share with fellow bikers through a website or on social media ?

The Garmin GPS 810 Bike Computer is a great and common used device in our team. So friends agreed to send me some sample files to perform testing. Uploading and downloading via Garmin Connect software, used to track workouts, was a no brainer. Today they can visualise their tracks in Garmin Connect in Google Maps and Bing Maps. I wanted to go a step further and enrich the maps with text and imagery and additionally be able to share.

A cycling buddy send me over two files from rides we did together in Flanders. In one of the two rides we did two ramps from the "Tour de Flanders" ('Valkenberg' and the 'Berendries').

Unfortunately the two files were in the proprietary GPX file format of Garmin. Google Maps imports CSV, XSLX and KML formats. So this is what I did.

1. Used the free conversion service GPX2KML.com to convert files.
2. Accessed Google Maps service and signed in with my Google Account
3. Select with cursor the search field on Google Maps - select 'My Custom maps'
4. Select 'Create' to have a new 'untitled' map
5. An import button is presented to import KML
6. Selected the first KML file for upload (or drag & drop)
7. First biking trip is now visually presented on an individual layer
8. Repeat the import to and get the second KML on a different layer
9. Provide a name for your places' folder since still 'untitled'.
10. My named 'places' folder contained two layers (from both kml files)
11. On each layer I added some 'place markers' on the tracks (selected from toolbar)
12. Provided commentary text, to document and selected pictures to illustrate markers 

Sharing the map

If you want to provide a link to these places or embed in website adapt sharing settings of the place to 'Public on the web'.  Now you can copy the link or embed code for further sharing via mail, social media or publish on any website. Have a look at my maps and two stages.

Do you have other suggestions where this kind of functionality can come in handy ? Leave a note in the comment.

How to import gpx files into Google Maps? #Garmin  #Biking #apow

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