Cycling node network route planner: plan your ride node to node on the map

Cycling node networks rest on a brilliantly simple idea: a string of numbers, a sign at every junction, and you ride without ever unfolding a map. The tricky part is choosing the right string before you set off. Since September 27, the VéloCore web planner does it for you: each click snaps to the nearest node, the route follows the network and a notebook lists the numbers to follow, for free and with nothing to install.

Cycling node network: how the system works

A node network numbers the main junctions of a region: each number is a node, and every stretch between two nodes is signposted in both directions. On the ground, a sign shows the node's number and arrows point to the neighboring nodes, often a few kilometers apart.

For a ride, you note a string of numbers, say 89 → 82 → 44, and follow the signs in that order, with no map to read. Born in Belgian Limburg in the 1990s, the system now covers Flanders and the Netherlands and a large part of Wallonia, and similar networks exist in neighboring regions. One subtlety: a number is only unique within its area, so a map showing each node in its real place helps.

Node network bike route: why plan it on a map

Choosing your nodes means knowing how far apart they are, whether a stretch follows a main road or a canal, and where the day's climb hides. A map that shows the nodes, adds up the distance as you click and displays the terrain answers those questions. It also lets you mix networks: a few nodes to get out of town, a RAVeL along a canal, then back to the nodes to close the loop. That is the job of the new “Construire sur les itinéraires officiels” mode (build on official routes).

The node network map in the VéloCore route planner

Open the VéloCore planner and unfold the “Itinéraires officiels” (official routes) panel; its labels are in French, quoted here as on screen. It offers four families of routes from OpenStreetMap: Réseau à nœuds (node network), RAVeL / voies vertes (greenways), Véloroutes (EuroVelo, national and regional cycle routes) and Sentiers GR (GR hiking trails), of which only the rideable sections suit a bike.

For Belgium, Luxembourg and, in France, the Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Aisne and Oise departments, these routes are hosted by VéloCore: they display fast, without depending on public servers. Zoomed out, an overview in thin lines shows the ticked families; from zoom level 12, the numbered nodes appear exactly in place, and hovering over a route shows its name.

Elsewhere, as in the Netherlands or Germany, the routes still come from the public OpenStreetMap servers: a gray preview shows them zoomed out, then the detail loads as you zoom in, as those servers allow.

Node to node: the “Construire sur les itinéraires officiels” mode

In the same panel, a switch changes how you draw. It is off by default, then your browser remembers your choice.

1. Turn on “Construire sur les itinéraires officiels”. If nothing is ticked, the planner displays the node network, the RAVeL and the cycle routes, and a “Construire” (build) bar appears on the map.
2. Zoom in on your start. The mode works from zoom level 12; a click from too far out zooms in on the spot.
3. Click the first node. A single click is enough: the point snaps to the nearest numbered node or, in the middle of a stretch, to the nearest node along the network.
4. Click the next nodes. The route follows the network along the shortest path on the ticked routes; only the last stretch is recalculated.
5. Fix things at any time. The bar offers undo, redo, reverse and exit; on the keyboard, Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Y (Cmd on a Mac).

Each snapped point shows the route it sits on, for example “Nœud 86” or “RAVeL W4”. Near a RAVeL or a cycle route, the click snaps to the closest ticked way. If two ticked networks do not connect, the planner links them by road and flags it. Mouse or finger, both work.

The node notebook: your 89 → 82 → 44 list to take along

Once two points are placed, the “Carnet de nœuds” (node notebook) fills up: the string of nodes in riding order, the total distance, the share of the ride on official routes, the breakdown by network, with “par la route” (by road) if there is a link, and the detail of each stretch.

“Copier la liste” (copy the list) puts the notebook on the clipboard, ready to paste into a note or a message. “Imprimer” (print) produces a paper version with cumulative distances, to slip into your bag.

For GPS devices, “Exporter en GPX” adds one point per node to the track, named with its number (89, 82, 44…), no account needed. On a bike computer that shows the file's points, the numbers appear right where the signs are. More about the format in our article on GPX files for cycling.

With a free account, “Enregistrer” (save) keeps the route in “Mes parcours” (five on the free plan, unlimited with Premium), which you find in the iPhone or Android app. “Lancer ce trajet” (start this ride) sends it to the app's cockpit, with waypoints along the network so the guidance follows the same routes. Details on the features page.

Tips for a successful node network ride

• Aim for 100%. A “par la route” link deserves a look: it will not be signposted on the ground.
• Check the terrain. The summary gives distance, estimated time, climbing and descent, and the elevation profile shows where the hills are.
• Keep an eye on the signs. A sign can go missing after roadworks and a map can lag behind: the GPX is then your safety net.
• Set “Ma position”. Search for your town, then tap the target-shaped button (“Définir comme ma position”, set as my position) next to the result: the map then opens at your place, at zoom level 13.

Frequently asked questions about cycling node networks

Is the VéloCore node network route planner free?

Yes. Displaying the official routes, the “Construire sur les itinéraires officiels” mode, the node notebook, copying, printing and GPX export are free, in the browser, with no installation and no account. A free account saves five routes and sends them to the app; Premium makes them unlimited.

Which regions does the node network map cover?

The routes hosted by VéloCore cover Belgium, Luxembourg and, in France, the Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Aisne and Oise departments, where they display fast. Elsewhere, networks come from the public OpenStreetMap servers and display depending on their availability. The data comes from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

How do I take my list of nodes on the bike?

Three ways: “Copier la liste” to paste it into a note or a message, “Imprimer” for a paper version with distances, or “Exporter en GPX”, where each node becomes a point named with its number. With an account, “Lancer ce trajet” also sends the route to the VéloCore app's cockpit.

Read also: Belgium greenways: the map of car-free cycling routes · Free bike GPS route planner: how to plan a ride in 5 minutes