Discussion: Staying on map while doing bike-o?

Does anyone have any tips for how to improve at staying on the map while riding a mountain bike on trails for a bike-o?

Good map holder with rotating base. Clip on compass to go with it.

And a steel sheet under the map with a small, strong magnet to keep your spot on the map.

"Magnetic Thumb for MTB mapholder. Thin steel sheet attaches to your board, extremely powerful magnet which acts as your thumb to indicate your position. Might not seem a big benefit, but sometimes you only have seconds to glance at the map, and most of it can disappear focussing on where you are!"
from http://www.mapsport.co.nz/

Does that not interfere with the compass?

Yes, if you use the steel sheet and magnet then you need to mount the compass on your frame or the back of your hand.

Vs. the steel sheet, I've heard of a few elastic bands and a popsicle stick equivalent serving the same purpose.

Matt - I first read your question as how to stay on your bike while doing Bike O'. :)

Use a bit of blu-tac instead on the magnet? Then your compass can go anywhere you want.

I read the question as how to stay on the map, not how to get the map to stay on your bike. I'd suggest using a map of a previous area and riding around a bit to get a feel for the layout of tracks so you know where you are.

It depends on the trails, of course, but around here we've got enough rock that it's pretty much impossible to read the map while riding (unless you LIKE going over the bars) and you're certainly not getting any useful information from the compass with all the vibration. I just use a big clip on the bars to hold the map and then take it off the clip to actually read. This may cost valuable seconds in a true bike-O, but it's inconsequential in an adventure race. I do try to clip it where my thumb is so I can quickly find my spot when I take it back off the clip.

Practice your "pace count" or in this case, knowing how far you go in a certain amount of time (obviously this will be faster downhill than uphill). Map reading (keeping track of where you are) should probably be a part of everyday mountain bike training to make it second nature.

If you're going down a hill and need to make a turn partway down, make sure you know how far you'll need to go so you don't overshoot & have to climb back up.

"I read the question as how to stay on the map, not how to get the map to stay on your bike." Yes, this is what I meant to ask. Thank you for all the tips. Those for keeping the map on the bike seem helpful, too.

Could someone please elaborate on the elastic band/ popsicle stick technique to keep your spot on the map?
I've tried the blu tac method and that seemed to work until some form of jolt caused me to lose the blu tak. Maybe I should just make sure I have some spare in my back pocket...

Just use a pointy ended stick to indicate where you are on the map. It is held in place by a few strategically placed elastic bands that stretch around the hard based map holder.