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I was. Looking at the etrex Craig, cheers.
If you do get one, make sure you get the Garmin GB Discoverer 1:50k map for it. The map built in is pretty much unusable. The maps expensive from Garmin but they do pop up cheap on eBay, or you could get a copy of someone else's 😉
Cheers again.
Some slightly different advice....
Take friends (especially if one can read a map)
Go for some of the magazine rides - they have a description of the ride which helps
Allow plenty of time
Take food
wwaswas - Member
I find the best bet is just to have a vague idea of where you're going and head in that direction and pick up trails as you come across them. I tend not to worry about differentiating footpaths and bridleways, though.
Fun but probably a big chance of the wrong valley problem...
Contacting locals is a good shout. I recently posted up on here as I was staying in brighouse and two chaps took me out. I have previously warned my children about meeting strangers off the Internet though 😆
So if you're ever in Derbyshire offer is there...
Ask the locals if they are up for showing you you their natural trails.
Buy your local OS map (assuming you're not in the middle of a city - if you are, then maybe try a map of the area around your local trail centre) and go for a ride, trying to find different ROWs that you've never ridden before.
Really helps to build confidence in your navigation skills knowing that you're not really that far out of the way if you get it all wrong.
I've made some great local loops* by just drawing an imaginary line on the map and heading out.
Oh, and if you're new to reading maps and route planning - mark yourself a bit of string up to scale so you can get an accurate route length. It's very easy to look at a route and underestimate - leaving you knackered in the middle of nowhere!
*OK I've also ended up wading through knee deep cowshit and shoulder high nettles too - but it's all part of the adventure.