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Biking with GPS?

Old 07-31-09, 02:45 PM
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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.
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Old 07-31-09, 04:36 PM
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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).
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Old 07-31-09, 05:02 PM
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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
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Old 07-31-09, 05:23 PM
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err... it's no fun getting lost on your commute. Best to try out the route before your 1st time commute.
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Old 07-31-09, 05:54 PM
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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.
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Old 07-31-09, 07:27 PM
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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.
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Old 07-31-09, 08:58 PM
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> 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: https://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/
And then I use RunSaturday.com (which has a plugin for SportsTracks) to publish my data to the web.
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Old 07-31-09, 11:08 PM
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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
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Old 07-31-09, 11:13 PM
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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
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Old 08-01-09, 02:45 AM
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Every once in a while I will mount my old Garmin V on my bike just for grins.
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Old 08-01-09, 11:04 AM
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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. https://www.zonefivesoftware.com/Spor...reenShots1.php

Last edited by supramax; 08-01-09 at 11:11 AM.
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Old 08-01-09, 11:12 AM
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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.
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Old 08-01-09, 11:15 AM
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I wonder, with bikes and GPS, do any of you Geocache too? I wish my husband liked it!
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Old 08-01-09, 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by TamaraEden
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.
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Old 08-01-09, 11:27 AM
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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.
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Old 08-01-09, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by supramax
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.
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Old 08-01-09, 12:08 PM
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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: https://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELi...?section=10043

If you are in to geocaching these can be used for that purpose too.
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Old 08-01-09, 12:22 PM
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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.
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Old 08-01-09, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by texasdiver
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?

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Old 08-01-09, 06:33 PM
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I roll with the Garmin etrax Vista mounted on my drops. It eats batteries like crazy. I may need some rechargeables.
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Old 08-01-09, 06:46 PM
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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.
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Old 08-01-09, 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by supramax
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.
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Old 08-01-09, 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by I_bRAD
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.
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Old 08-01-09, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by supramax
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.
You mean, you were being wholesome?
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Old 08-01-09, 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by TamaraEden
You mean, you were being wholesome?
Not a chance! My last post about purity was a blatant lie.
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