Movies like "Easy Rider" promote the free spirit of riding on a motorcycle across the vast American landscape. However, as much as we would love to just saddle up and ride without a true destination in mind, most of us do our riding on the weekend and eventually need to get back to home base. Thanks to the folks at Mad Maps, now you can explore the open road and know exactly where you're headed.
Individual maps range in price from $7.95-8.95. Mad Maps also offers a 4-part California package which includes all four Golden State maps and a handy canvas carrying case for $44.95.
is a company that develops maps for the touring-minded individual. While most standard maps show road locations and a few landmarks, MM actually suggests and displays various rides throughout a specific region, while offering up locations for dinners, lodging, and possible scenic areas of interest.
The San Francisco-based company was conceived when founder and president Jenny Lefferts combined her entrepreneurial spirit and love for the back roads of California to create a series of maps specifically designed to cater to those with an affinity for miles and miles of blacktop. Inspired by summer vacations where the family would pile into a VW bus and explore the United States, Lefferts purchased her first motorcycle in 1987 and quickly began exploring the back roads that wind through the wine country of Napa Valley, CA. A decade later she launched Mad Maps, a series of maps specifically designed to point those with a wandering spirit in the right direction.
Unfortunately, there are only five regions of Mad Maps currently available. Four regions of California are covered (Central/Southern; San Francisco/Bay Area; Sierra Nevada/Gold Country; Northern California/Wine Country), and the latest map covers the wonderful Smokey Mountains/Southern Appalachia region. If you're local to one of these areas, or have always wanted to plan a riding vacation in any of these regions, the maps are an ideal resource when planning your next motorcycle journey.
Printed in full color, the maps do an excellent job of pointing out the exciting and/or visually stunning roads. All of the maps offer at least 10 road trips to choose from, with many landmarks and interesting sites to see. Potential routes are outlined in bold, red ink and are numbered. Each numbered ride is accompanied by a very descriptive overview of what to expect, including ride length with alternate routes and roadside attractions. For those with a less adventurous spirit, Mad Maps has included a list of potential pitfalls along the way, such as high traffic areas and limited fuel availability.
The landmarks on the maps are not only highly visible, but in the massive legend, they are detailed further. If, for example, you were looking for a place to eat, the Roadhouses and Restaurants legend lists the hours the establishment is open, whether they serve food, drinks, or have live music.
All the maps are highly detailed and offer icons which show driving directions, mileage markers, fuel availability, care tips, road houses, restaurants, and wineries. Those looking to make overnight trips will be happy to know there are camping and recreational areas demarcated. Off-Road enthusiasts aren't left out of the experience either. Mad Maps has plenty of ATV, off-road, and off-highway vehicle areas with clear directions on how to reach them.
Each Mad Map is printed on water-resistant paper that initially feels plenty durable. But with the constant use we've put them through, they will eventually tear at the folds. If you want to keep your maps in pristine condition, we recommend the 4-pocket canvas map case with a snap closure that MM offers for $16.95. The exterior is impressively tough and is an excellent way to insure Mad Maps will keep you informed for years to come.
All of the maps are $7.95, with the exception of the latest Smoky Mountains/Southern Appalachia map which runs $8.95.
If Mad Maps doesn't have exactly what you're looking for, head over to their
website where they have plenty of excellent online resources to plan your trip in various locales.
Perhaps the best endorsement for Mad Maps is that we've worn ours out. When it comes time to planning a trip,
"whether for one day, a weekend, or a week" Mad Maps help point us in the right direction.
