Any Advantages to using a Garmin computer over the Cyclemeter iPhone App?
 

Other than batter life?

I'm new at this and have been using the iPhone this past weekend. Seems to work really well! Am I missing anything with this as opposed to a dedicated cycle meter?

Thanks,
Mark

Absolutely! If all you want to do is track your route and see what you did...then iPhone is fine. If you want to get into serious data, accuracy, and training...then you going to need something specific for cycling.

For example...if you went with a Garmin...you have the potential to pair it up with all sorts of ANT+ stuff. The best there seems to be for the iPhone is the blutooth HR monitor.

If your serious about training or data....get something specific for cycling. I use a Garmin Edge 705.

I don't have an iPhone and haven't used the app, so I can't comment on the software, but the Garmin has some hardware advantages. First, the barometric altimeter is much more accurate than GPS for measuring altitude. Second, the Garmin will accept signals from a heart rate monitor or cadence sensor (you can buy these as a package, or add the sensors later).

There are a couple of ANT + adapters for the iPhone for around $80 that can talk to all ANT devices and powermerters and record to any iPhone app that accepts that data, there are many. MapMyRide for instance. That said, I have yet to find a decent bar mount for my iPhone and the cost of iPhone replacement + short battery life makes a Garmin 500 or similar a better deal long term but more cost up front. Currently I am using a wired cyclometer w/ cadence + a cateye hrm for training. Not perfect, but cheap and accurate at all levels of "slow" and "suck" - so it works for me. For rides less than 3 hours I'll use TrailGuru to record my GPS tracks on my iPhone just for kicks.

Wasn't aware of the ANT+ for iPhone. But I have used my droid. After getting frustrating with its inaccuracy's...I opted for the real thing.

Yep. GPS tracks are fun for tracing new or exploratory rides, but that's about it. As soon as I can justify the cost I'll go Garmin 500.

Thanks guys, that helps. Garmin 500 might be the longer term solution.

Mark