I got a route database working!!! I’m super excited about this. Currently I have a grand total of, two, routes in the database. The first was the tester I already posted and the second is a portion of the Oregon Coast Bike Route between the Ft. George Brewery in Astoria and the Rogue Brewery is Newport. Both are excellent breweries and excellent places to start/end a ride.

As for some under the hood specifics, I’ve really only got a basic database functionality working. This update was more to show the progress that has been made than a new ‘version’ of the software. The scripts work by querying the database for a hard coded route id. In the future I want to make something more flexible but this works for now. I have the route published as a wordpress post because that allows comments on the route. I don’t like the idea of adding every single route as a post because that would get overwhelming if I open up the route creation to the public. For now if I open it up or post routes that aren’t super neat I’ll publish them silently without the ability to comment and create some kind of database index page.

Routes that do get their own post and section for comments will be a ‘featured route.’ I’m thinking about putting the US bike route system in as featured routes or ride maps that bike clubs organize. If you are part of a club and want your rides posted on the site give me a holler! I’d love to add your routes.

My next objective is to write a route creation page that will insert routes into the database. Hopefully that should go smoothly. I think figuring out the interface for that will be the hardest part.