Commuting - Biking with GPS?

I have been looking hard at putting a Garmin Edge 605 GPS on my bike, and was wondering who rides with their GPS?

What are you using?

What do you like about it?

What do you dislike about it?

How do you use it?

What software are you using with it, if any?

I realize that for daily commuting GPS is probably overkill, but my old handheld is on it's last legs, and I would like to buy something that I can use on the bike, in the car, hiking, etc. I'm not going to replace my speed/cadence computer with it, and I have a seperate HR monitor, so I am literally just wanting to use it for the mapping and altimeter features.

What are you using?
Garmin Edge 205

What do you like about it?
Small, bike oriented


What do you dislike about it?
Mount broke soon after installing it (could still be used, but now doesn't lock onto the bike, it's been knocked off the bike since then a couple of times. The maps are not upgradeable, you can't use it to navigate through an unfamiliar area, you can however load the trip, and view it online (slow).

How do you use it?
like you, tracing routes I've been on. Mostly for mapping routes of events (naked bike rides/pedalpalooza events/Bridge Pedal)

What software are you using with it, if any?
Supplied the software was garbage... then found that they moved the whole software to their website (which keeps moving).

Would I get this model again?
No, I'd pay for a better unit (this was a gift).

I ride with an iPhone tucked into my handlebar bag.

I pull it out once in a while to check my route on google maps, especially if I'm on an unfamiliar country road. In this part of Central Texas there are so many winding country roads that don't necessarily go where you think they might because there are few bridges over creeks and rivers.

The iPhone works great as a reference map if you just need to check your route. But if you ride out of cell phone coverage you are lost.

I'd like to get one of the new mapping Garmin edge models but can't really justify it. a traditional cateye bike computer plus the iPhone is really all I ever need around here. especially since I'm going to be carrying the phone anyway

err... it's no fun getting lost on your commute. Best to try out the route before your 1st time commute.

If you're not going to use the speed / cadence and heart rate features of the 605, I think you'd be wasting your money on this unit. It's designed for those features in mind, and they're not cheap.
I have a mount for the Oregon 400t on my touring bike. Not much use for commuting. I use it all the time for navigating, hiking, finding places while in the car, and it's invaluable when touring in unfamiliar places.

I use a garmin etrex legend, its cheap, counts miles, speed and shows a map. its also light weight.

I hate replacing batteries, i wish i could run it off the batt like i do on my motorcycle. :)

With the new rechargable gps out that are slim and have great res, it would be great to just replace the cyclocomputers.

> What are you using?

Garmin Edge 305

I'm thinking about getting the 705, mainly for the ANT+ features. The road mapping would be nice, but I'm not sure I would use it all that often. All of my rides are either pre-driven, or I'm in a group.

> What do you like about it?
TONS of data. As a geek, this pleases me greatly. On the screen (while on the bike) I can see cadence, speed, hill pitch, etc. Off the bike there I can see as much data as I want. Review speeds for different parts of the course, compare times, etc.

Also, I haven't been in GA too long, only a few years. So it's not uncommon to show up for a Saturday group ride and go somewhere completely new and unknown to me. When I get home the Garmin will tell me when I've been. I can then go back and have it lead me on that course again.

> What do you dislike about it?

Battery life isn't great. It'll last for a couple days, although I normally upload my data at work, so it's charged every day. But compared to a "normal" cyclometer that lasts months that's still awful.

> How do you use it?

On my road / track bikes I have the cadence sensor. But on my mountain bike I just throw it on the handlebars. Sometimes (rarely), I'll go for a walk or run and throw it in my pocket.

> What software are you using with it, if any?

I've had it for a while, so I don't know about the current version. But when I got mine the default software sucked.

I use SportsTracks to get the data off of the device: http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/
And then I use RunSaturday.com (which has a plugin for SportsTracks) to publish my data to the web.

I use the gps on my phone, a Nokia 5800. The maps for China are great, it has the proper gps hardware, unlike the iPhone which uses phone towers for positioning.

It isnt good at storing points that are away from roads though.

When I go to Hong Kong in a few weeks, for yet another visa run, I will buy a dedicated bike mount, instead of keeping it in my pocket, or if it is raining, in my bag.

c

I haven't but I would use my Sprint Mogul. The TeleNav software is awesome, just like car GPS. I can get maps, she talks to me, I can see a route summary. I can avoid traffic, go only by streets, etc. At this point, not sure where I'd put it if I needed one but I'd likely try to take my wetsuit material squishy car cup thingy that I use for the cell phone. I'd have to re work the hook that's meant to go in the AC vent to hold it there. Or, I'd just buy a handlebar bag thingy

Every once in a while I will mount my old Garmin V on my bike just for grins.

What are you using? Garmin forerunner 205. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=348&ra=true


What do you like about it? How much time you got? :)


What do you dislike about it? Not a thing.


How do you use it? I turn it on and wait for it to acquire a satellite connection. Then I strap it on my wrist and go.


What software are you using with it, if any? There is 'SportTracks' and then there is the rest. http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/Demo/ScreenShots1.php

I use a garmin 605 and it works well for navigating. if you want an altimeter you'll need the 705. the 605 isn't the best for that because it uses just the GPS.

I wonder, with bikes and GPS, do any of you Geocache too? I wish my husband liked it!

I wonder, with bikes and GPS, do any of you Geocache too? I wish my husband liked it!

I don't, but maybe you should hide some treasure that he really wants
or promise him something that he really likes, if he locates what you hid. :)

I have occasionally mount my garmin etrex on my mountain bike when I am in the back country without a map, but most often I mount my gps on my Cross Check for geocaching. Its a very basic gps so it really has no preloaded map functions on it, but it was a gift and it does what I need it to do.

i don't, but maybe you should hide some treasure that he really wants
or promise him something that he really likes, if he locates what you hid. :)

lol.

I currently use a DeLorme BT-20 on the rack on the back of my bike and have it connecting via Bluetooth with the HP IPAQ 2400 Pocket PC mounted on the handlebars. I realize that the PPC is "old tech" these days, but I had that before I sprung for the Bluetooth GPS receiver.

I have used Garmin GPS units in the past, both the GPS III PLus and the GPS V, but they both were prone to turning off if you hit a good bump.

I favor the DeLorme unit for its flexibility. You can connect it to a PC or PDA via USB too. It comes with Street Atlas software, but you can get more information it you go for Topo USA software. It shows you a lot more detail in 3D on the computer, and you can play back the route you took if you want. You can also upload georeferenced photos. The Topo USA software shows a bike icon when playing back the route :-)

DeLorme has some new handheld GPS units, the PN series, that offer a lot too. You can subscribe at a very reasonable price to a service that allows you to download high resolution maps from their web site.

Here is a link to their site: http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10043

If you are in to geocaching these can be used for that purpose too.

I use a Tmobile G1 with Google Tracks. I like it because it does everything. The downside is that it will only last about 6 hours on the regular battery. I have a battery extender though that can also charge my headlight. I stick it in my back pocket or trunk when I want to record the track.

It can upload the route to Google MyMaps. It will also give me a bunch of information such as elevation changes, MPH, total time, total moving time and of course distance.

I ride with an iPhone tucked into my handlebar bag.

I pull it out once in a while to check my route on google maps, especially if I'm on an unfamiliar country road. In this part of Central Texas there are so many winding country roads that don't necessarily go where you think they might because there are few bridges over creeks and rivers.

The iPhone works great as a reference map if you just need to check your route. But if you ride out of cell phone coverage you are lost.

I'd like to get one of the new mapping Garmin edge models but can't really justify it. a traditional cateye bike computer plus the iPhone is really all I ever need around here. especially since I'm going to be carrying the phone anyway

what? you must have an iPhone 2G. the 3G and 3GS are fully functional GPS units. I use my iPhone 3G everyday on my commute. never loose signal and use it for all kinds of traveling related applications. Mine is proudly positioned on my handlebars in a RAM mount Aqua Box now. Works terrifically. Everything right there in front of me.

As for applications:

iMapMyRide
iRPM and all the other www.smheartlink.com related tools, iBPM, iSpinning, iNewLeaf (am waiting for Apple to fix the other bugs in iPhone OS 3.0 with their 3.1 version am told it will be 'out soon') with their SMHeartlink device and Garmin GSC10 sensor, I track my cadence/speed/distance and Heart Rate.
TrailGuru
iTrail
Runkeeper Pro
GPS
Maps
and whatever else you may use the iPhone for. I can upload my ride to various websites for the applications to track my program. I really like this.

I never leave home with out it. It's always handy to have it if I get stuck to call the Sag Wagon...

guess that makes me a bikegeek?

I roll with the Garmin etrax Vista mounted on my drops. It eats batteries like crazy. I may need some rechargeables.

I put my Magellan Meridian onto the handlebars when I'm geocaching. The only other time I used it was in the Urban Assault Ride, last year in Austin.

I don't know the roads as well there as I used to so I programed in my route ahead of time. It worked out well.

I don't, but maybe you should hide some treasure that he really wants
or promise him something that he really likes, if he locates what you hid. :)

Yeah, like hide a map and a compass. That'll confuse him.

Yeah, like hide a map and a compass. That'll confuse him.

Well, I'm as pure as the driven snow, I tell ya, but I think that TamaraEden had a somewhat different take on my suggestion. :D

Well, I'm as pure as the driven snow, I tell ya, but I think that TamaraEden had a somewhat different take on my suggestion. :D

You mean, you were being wholesome? :o

You mean, you were being wholesome? :o

Not a chance! My last post about purity was a blatant lie. ;)

I bought a Garmin Edge 705. I came seeking on bike maps and guidance. And I ended up appreciating what an awesome bike computer it is. I don't often need the map function. Most often I know enough about an area before I head out to not get too lost. A local map on paper isn't a bad option that is way less expensive. But I love to map out a ride in advance and let the garmin warn me about turns. In its early software, this capability stunk, but now it is good. I bought a cadence sensor for three bikes, and it is easy to move the Garmin between bikes. Since I use one computer for all my bikes, I have an accurate log of my riding for the first time ever (previously, one or more bike computers would end up needing a reset during the season, and I never knew my totals). I haven't used any of the lap or training features yet, and probably won't. I find battery life to be excellent for me. I most often ride in 1 to two hour increments, so the edge lasts a whole week for me on one charge. I bought the SD card with the maps on it. Plug and play simplicity, and my ancient computer would not run the Garmin products, so this was my best and cheapest option right now. I look forward to running Garmin maps on my new PC someday so that the occasional missed turn warnings from using other mapping websites (map my ride, etc.) won't occur. I love the customizable data screens on the edge 705. Up to 8 data readouts per screen, and two screens you can toggle between. I am beginning to appreciate having a heart rate monitor on non-commute rides.

It was a damn expensive bike toy, BUT I LIKE IT.

What are you using?

Garmin eTrex Legend

What do you like about it?


Reliable and easy to use once a route is loaded. Lots of info. Keeps travel data not available on my Vetta comp. Can be used for hiking. Has a compass. Uses batteries instead of charging.

What do you dislike about it?


A little bulky. Some text is too small and not sizeable. Mapsource software a little sparse on features, and loses detail when zooming out. This is annoying when trying to build a route.

How do you use it?


Long distance routes for randonneurring.

What software are you using with it, if any?


Just the Garmin Mapsource software.



All I need are AA's. When the batteries die, I replace them. I don't have to worry about recharging, and I don't have to wire up an extra battery pack. I leave the backlight off until I need it.

The mount seems to work fine for me, but I did notice some sloppiness after the gps is mounted. A couple pieces of strategically placed electrical tape has taken care of that.

The eTrex series may fit the bill for you, though I wouldn't try to use it in a vehicle while driving.

What are you using?
Lowrance XOG crossover GPS (I also using driving, boating, and hiking)

What do you like about it?
Small, light, plays MP3s while I ride too. Has the "bread crumb" feature so you can go back and look at where you've been.

What do you dislike about it?
Battery lasts about 1.5-2hrs, so if it's an epic ride, forget about it.

How do you use it?
Clip it to my handlebars, use it to find alt-routes that actually are thru-streets, play MP3s on the way in without ear buds.

What software are you using with it, if any?
EasyGPS because it works great and is free.

Just the Garmin Mapsource software.


Download SportTracks. You won't look back. :)
http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/Downloads/

I've been using my Google G1 with an app called "RideTrac". Stores the rides and can be exported to google maps and used on "MapMyRide". Speed function has been a problem but I like the program. There are some others but I'm kind of stuck on this for now.

I roll with the Garmin etrax Vista mounted on my drops. It eats batteries like crazy. I may need some rechargeables.

Same ordeal, but with the eTrex Venture HC....just invest in a good set of NimH AA batteries(4...2 for the unit and 2 to keep as spares) and a charger....Be sure to set the battery options on your Vista to NimH (instead of alkaline) and you're good to go :thumb:

I use the Venture to track where i've been to store my trips/mileage in Google Earth...and the 2008 Topo maps are good enough to help me if i'm lost (it's always cool to be lost and explore unfamiliar roads just for fun, but sometimes, after 30+ miles of being lost and exhausted, i just want to find the shortest route home :D )

I use a garmin nuvi 250 features overall avg, moving avg, max speed, total time, moving time and stopped. It also came with detailed maps preloaded. Cost me around $110 or so. I looked at the 605 but it was a smaller display cost about $250 more plus shell out another $100 for the detailed maps which what I really wanted. My only complaint is battery life and waterproof my cheapo nuvi only holds about a 3.5 hour charge. If I were to do it again I might get the nuvi 500, on a good note I wrecked my bike with my nuvi on the bike mount hard enough to knock the handlebars out of alignment and didn't even phase it or come off the mount. I love to take mine on new routes or a changing up ad old route. As far as getting turn by turn directions from it can wierd sometimes but also good at other times. Found some cool resturants off the main strip with it. Also tracks your route and it is uploadable but is a pain.

The eTrex series may fit the bill for you, though I wouldn't try to use it in a vehicle while driving.

The GPS guru and head bike tech at REI thought the same thing and convinced me. I ended up with the eTrex Vista HCx. It doesn't come with the road maps installed, but for only $50 more than the Edge 605, I got a handlebar mount, car mount, car power, City Navigator North America, and TOPO U.S. 24K Southwest. I think I got a better deal, and the eTrex has a barometric altimeter. My only complaint is that I would have liked the rechargable feature, but I already have a charger and NiMH batteries, so I think the eTrex will end up being a more versatile unit than the Edge. Now I just need to learn to use it.

I tracked my route on the way to work today. The speed varies by about +/- 0.3 mph at any given speed compared to my Cateye, but it actually seems to respond faster. Apparently, I've got my Cateye pretty well calibrated because the distances were only off by 0.1 miles after 19 miles. The elevation tracking is pretty neat, but makes me not want to ride home anymore.....that last big hill of the day looks pretty daunting when you put it on an elevation profile with a high degree of vertical exaggeration. I guess that's the price I pay for a 45+mph downhill.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z137/breathegood/Bikes/CR-xJetelevprofile.jpg

GPS? On the commute I've been doing for 12 years? Hell, I don't even wear a watch anymore;-)

With that said, If I did a bunch of touring or was lucky enough to get to ride in a lots unfamiliar places on a regular basis, I'd definitely get a nice one, like the Garmin 705.

If I am going anywhere new, I check a map beforehand. I've never had a need for a GPS except when out in the woods with no marked trails.

Download SportTracks. You won't look back. :)
http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/Downloads/

Thank you for that link. I have been looking for something along those lines, to use with my Garmin. I use it while cycling, as well as back country mountaineering, and have always wanted a way to import my route data into something without doing a lot of manual entry.

That thing is the cats a$$.

Thanks again.

I just ordered a Tomtom 130S for use with bike and car. Has anyone ever used a 130S for Bicycle directions? How did it go?

I do long rides and tours with a Garmin Foretrex 101, a very basic unit, strapped to my right forearm. No need to bother with a GPS on my five mile commute. I like the small size and weight of basic units, and Ialso prefer cordless (paper) maps to emaps ("e" stands for ephemeral).

Used a Nuvi in a car a while ago, and my attitude might undergo a change...

My girlfriend received a Garmin Nuvi last year and she primarily used it when she drove around town.

I bought here the Garmin bike mount kit and now she uses it everytime she rides her bike. She absolutely loves it.

She gets a big kick out of other cyclist expressions and kind comments when they see her on her comfort bike and she's got a GPS mounted to her handle bars.