Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Year rounder competitions and route plotting

I've entered a year rounder mileage competition, and so far have been collecting ATM receipts to verify my routes. I'm finding it a bit tedious, however.

I've heard that some randos use a Garmin system and then upload their route to a website for verification. This seems much more appealing to me.

Would anyone know which Garmin model offers this feature, and if this feature is relatively reliable?

Thanks,

S-force

The Garmin Edge 305 can do this. You might need an extra battery pack if you go more than about 13 hours between charges.

Any of the Garmin GPS units will store a track log that you can use. I have a Garmin Legend and after a long ride, I upload the track to motionbased.com (I use the free subscription) which will plot the track as well as provide various statistics. For the Year-Rounder, I copy the URL to the uploaded data and submit that to UMCA. Works like a champ and much easier than mailing in receipts.

The Legend, as well as any of the general purpose GPS units from Garmin, use replaceable AA batteries. I find that one set of Alkaline batteries is good for up to 400Km, depending on how much I use the backlight. But, even if the batteries do run low during a ride, it's trivial to replace them.

I don't submit any personal rides for my Year-Rounder. For events, if the results are published online I submit the url through the UMCA's website, otherwise I mail them the cue sheet.

Any of the Garmin GPS units will store a track log that you can use. I have a Garmin Legend and after a long ride, I upload the track to motionbased.com (I use the free subscription) which will plot the track as well as provide various statistics. For the Year-Rounder, I copy the URL to the uploaded data and submit that to UMCA. Works like a champ and much easier than mailing in receipts.

The Legend, as well as any of the general purpose GPS units from Garmin, use replaceable AA batteries. I find that one set of Alkaline batteries is good for up to 400Km, depending on how much I use the backlight. But, even if the batteries do run low during a ride, it's trivial to replace them.

Thanks for the information -- don't know what a track log looks like, but it sounds like what I need. Have you ever found your Legend to be faulty; I mean, you do a long ride, attempt to download/upload the route, and have problems? I've heard the 305 Edge can be a bit finicky in this regard.

The Garmin Edge 305 can do this. You might need an extra battery pack if you go more than about 13 hours between charges.

My experience has been a maximum run time of 9-hours. Run times decline in temperature extremes, with the worst run time in cold weather (3-hours at 15 degrees F).

I use a quick charger for an I-pod for an in-use recharge. I bought the charger off e-bay for $10 shipped. It uses four AA batteries (I use rechargeable NIMH).

Edit: I would much prefer to have a traditional GPS, like the Garmin E-trex Legend, for UMCA rides. The Edge series really is targeted at recreational and racing cyclists that think of a century as a long ride. Ultra cyclists benefit from the long run times from the e-trex, the larger memory, and the availability of basemaps and other features present in a true GPS.

Thanks for the information -- don't know what a track log looks like, but it sounds like what I need. Have you ever found your Legend to be faulty; I mean, you do a long ride, attempt to download/upload the route, and have problems? I've heard the 305 Edge can be a bit finicky in this regard.

I have no problems downloading data from my Legend. It's a pretty rock solid piece of equipment.

Ended up going with a 205 Edge. I don't really need the heart rate information -- as a seasoned racer I figure I know my heart rate; and no need for the cadence or altimeter functions either. If I can get my rides up on motionbased.com I'll be happy!