 If there's a Part 3, what I (as someone who knows nothing about GPS) want to know is:
1) do these things produce some kind of file of a journey, purely lat/long or (within the UK) grid refs, yielding a set of points (waymarks?) that can be uploaded to ANY other GPS device, so other people can follow that same trip, no matter what unit they own?
What I'm not interested in is:
1) software specific to one model or manufacturer.
2) software that enables one to piss away hours constructing maps and profiles on computers.
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 Erm, it depends. There's a universal GPS data format called .GPX which most units should accept, but its not quite that simple as GPX files do seem to vary slightly and you might need to use some sort of translator, but broadly speaking, yep, any half-sensible GPS should record a track of where you've been and give you the option of saving it and exporting it to another GPS unit, probably via a computer. I'm sure someone more techy than me will along in a moment to make it a lot more confusing, but that's pretty much how I understand it.
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 It'll all be coming up in part, um, n, probably. In a nutshell, they'll all generate a "track", which is a essentially a list of locations and times. Different units generate different formats, but they can pretty much all be translated into one another. As Juan says, gpx is approaching universal. You'll always need some kind of software to talk to the GPS receiver, but usually if you've got a gpx file you can upload a track to a GPS box and end up with a wiggly line on the screen that you can follow. If we ever get the BM route system together that'll let you upload and download routes in a bunch of formats.
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 Monty, give me a shout and i will bring the laptop and gps out with us (Obviously the laptop stays in the car). I can show you what it does and doesnt produce. I think for you as a way of sharing your iepic journey info it would be great. I wouldn mind seeing some GPS info on some of the trips you have done as it would give much clearer picture of the altitude and terrain you cover. I may also be able to help you out on the road to getting the equipment 
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Not really for the cycling. I'm working on a business model for guiding here in the Tian Shan, and figure I can screw money out of cheapskates who want a DIY option - hire them a unit loaded up with waymarks, get them to sign the liability waiver, then say goodbye at the bus station after telling the bus driver where to drop 'em off...!
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Follow the arrow type stuff. Hell i do that with my 6yr old son when we go camping. I go for a walk in the morning and leave a few prezzies along the way. Later on i hand him the gps and tell him to guide our walk. If he can do it i suppose an adult should be able to on a larger scale. Only problem is when things go wrong like malfunctions or muppet customer
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Never underestimate the public - the customer is always a twat. I probably need to work on the PR angle. Re: waypoints for remote viewing, the closest I've come is to play around with Panoramio, which allows you to look at the pics on a map or within Google Earth.
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Yep, your social skills may need some attention. Just going to check that link out.
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Hmmm, thats a handy way of doing things. Do you need to ave a fotopic site to link it to or do you upload piccies direct to Panormaio
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No, you sign up and it hosts the photos. I followed the link from a few blue dots I'd noticed popping up on Google Earth (lacking maps, that's the only way to scout out terrain beforehand here). I started using it to share info with a couple of like minded people - more convenient than emailing pics and kmz files to each other.
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Garmin Units with training center software are a bit of a pain to upload routes (or courses - which are similar to routes but different!!), its possible and there are tools and websites to do it but its certainly not easy for a novice user. Really Garmin should just add the options to training center to allow it to import and export KML and GPX files it would not be a difficult thing (training center does export KML as you can show your route in google earth, but it won't save it straight to a file) What you need to do it get routes in TCX format which is what garmin uses and then find a website which uploads and downloads in that format (or get a bit of software for you computer that does that). You can also get a copy of Garmin Mapsource for free which makes it easier to upload and manage routes. It is better to upload a route to follow as a "route" rather than a "course" because (in the case of the edge 305) the GPS has very limited space for storing courses (no more than 100 trackpoints), but a much higher limit for routes. Don't know if this is the case for the newer ones. Realy to count as "easy to use" the user shouldn't need to know any of the above stuff.
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 I have used www.mapmyride.com to generate routes by clicking on a google-maps type interface, these can then be saved as a garmin tcx or crs file, imported into the Garmin training centre software and loaded onto my Edge 305. You can then just follow the line on the screen. First time I tried it was a 158 mile road ride all on country lanes, worked perfectly no stopping to look at the map!This website is particularly good for road riding as it has a 'follow-roads' option so that it will trace a route out along the most direct road route to your next click. For mountainbiking it is not so good as it lacks OS maps but I have used the satellite image map mode to trace out runs and rides.
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 Just a note. I have an Etrex. It's fine, it'll record your route, it'll follow a route, it works with Memory Map. It actually tells you where you are to within a couple of metres. I can also use a map and compass n' stuff just fine. £90ish 4 years ago on adouble discount day at CCC. Went to the Lakes, a friend took his Garmin 305. It's fine, it'll record your route, it'll follow a route, it works with Memory Map, tell you how many calories you,ve burned, your speed, all sorts of good stuff...............................except where you are! As in your Global Position in an Ordnance Survey grid reference system. I believe this is a fundamental flaw.  If you go off route for whatever reason, it seems to be useless until you hook it up with your PC/laptop. Is it me?
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