House72

Hello All

I just picked up my new bike and would like to track number of miles I ride and also my HR for now. I am now riding just for fitness and my bike is currently 2017 Giant CoMax Road Bike. In future I may think of other metrics. With that in mind, should I just use Starva and HR monitor or some kind of Garmin Computer?

I appreciate any help.

sdmc530

I am a numbers guy because I think its fun to look at that stuff, that said I love Garmin. I have the 520 and its been good to me. I don't like using anything phone based, hard on the phone battery and don't always want to carry my phone on rides.

I think either way you will be fine. I use strava too, but don't have the paid for version. Seems silly to me


Hope this helps.....

mcours2006

I've got an old fashioned computer on my bike but recently got into the Garmin GPS and Strava thing. It was interesting for about a month, then I just lost interest. I stopped using the GPS. The bike computer that tells me how fast I'm going works for me. But if you like to crunch numbers, then go with the HR and all that.

Steve B.

You should sell your Garmin to House

mcours2006

ikr!

House72

I will for now go with Starva and HR, as it works out cheaper.

bruce19

I can't count all the different computers I've had. Every one of them was a PITA to set up. I bought a basic Garmin Edge 200 about 2 years ago. Tells me all I want to know and is rechargeable. Really simple to install and use. I am totally done with computers and happy for it.

Steve B.

If all you are doing is recording data - ride and HR, than a smartphone with Strava logging a ride is the cheapest and easiest solution. Just start the app and stick the phone in your back pocket.

If you want to display the info from a unit on the h-bar, then there are advantages to a dedicated GPS such as a Garmin or Wahoo, both of which display, are waterproof, port effortlessly to Strava and connect to a BT/Ant+ unit. $250 gets you into that game.

You CAN put a smartphone on the h-bar, display your ride data while riding, but takes a bit more effort to do what a dedicated GPS does out of the box. Battery life, waterproofness, display, etc... are all issues needing to be dealt with when going the smartphone as your bike computer route. Lots of useful info on this thread
GPS for long distance touring?

shelbyfv

I suggest starting with Strava on you phone since it is free. It's fun and works pretty well. I've had some rides where it stopped recording before I finished but it hasn't happened often enough for me to try to figure out why.

andcarrotrope

Strava + HR is a starter drug. You'll be on the Wahoo/Garmin before you know it. Then The power meter cravings start...

u235

I did the phone in pocket + HR and a small cheap bike computer for a long time. The phone for tracking purposes and the small $10 bike computer for basic live data (which I already had for years). I had a Polar HR sensor and just used the Polar app and sync'd to Strava after. I found Polar used a lot less battery per/hr than Strava did. I have an Elemnt now and just use that.

1500SLR

An iPhone is the size of a Garmin 810 for your average comparison of a phone running Strava and a bike computer. A Garmin 520 is a third of the size and a third of the cost. You wont care so much when you're racing and someone half wheels you into an accident if you break a Garmin. You will care a lot if its your phone.

House72

I agree with crashing my iPhone X, but for now when I am getting used to riding again will stick to this. I eventually may do the Garmin 520.

My next investment would be clip less pedals (Shimano 5800) and Sidi Shoes.

02Giant 

With the right mount, you don't need to worry about damaging your phone in an accident.

BritishV8

I'm happy with my set-up. I have a Topeak/Panobike heart rate monitor plus two of their cadence sensors (since I have two bikes.) I run the Panobike app on either of my two iPhones (the personal one or the work one.) Either phone works great with my "WheelUp" handlebar mounted phone holder / bag (which holds my wallet, keys, and the keycard/badge for my office.) I like the app's display, which I can configure to emphasize what I want to focus on. Even with the older phone (the "5") I can get about 4 hours of ride-time in. When the phone does go dark, my results aren't lost - I can view and save them after I get home and charge it. At the end of each ride, I upload results to Strava. Strava works really well for tracking miles, time, routes, and training progress... and I didn't realize how motivating it would be for me to improve my times on specific route "segments" and to compete against people I don't even know including a "club" of riders here in my community.

1500SLR

You can get an iPhone case with a standard barfly mount. some of them have additional protection and additional waterproofing on top of what the iPhone offers.

Patriot1

Quadlock iPhone 7 mount, Starva, clean solid install...happy here. A dual use easy way to carry and use the phone if needed.

Ald1 

This. Yep. Except I started with Map My Ride on my phone and HR. Worked great and used for almost a year....now have a Garmin and power meter but still export to MMR. Is there a rehab clinic for us....somewhere....please......

kcblair

Man, you guys are a bunch of youngsters.

I started with one this first,
mile counter.jpg
Before moving to one of these
speedometer.png
Then moved onto a digital computer plus a polar HR.
A little too much
cockpit.jpg
To this now
P1010414.jpg

Now that I'm retired, I can't afford a power meter. Bummmmmer.KB

Canker

You don't have to spend much money these days to get a bike computer that will do everything a normal person will need.

https://www.amazon.com/Bryton-Rider-...28B470VY7&th=1

BobbyG

Steve B.

Not sure what iPhone you are talking about, but a 6S is quite a bit larger then a Garmin 1000, which is larger then a 810.

Laurido92

I will say to look at the Edge 20 or 25. Both are great and will not break the bank. I have an Edge 810 and really like the features on it. It tracks everything I want plus it has extra capabilities in case I decide to add Power Meter or the Varia radar system in the future.
I'm not a fan of using your phone because it drains the battery. I keep my phone in my jersey pocket in case of emergency.

kcblair

Same here, I just love my little Garmin 25. My phone stays in rear pocket, and best of all, txt msgs appear on the Garmin 25. I've gone from a full blown cockpit, to minimalist and love it. Now I can focus on were I'm going and not monitoring displays with a bunch of buttons. HR, cadence , all in one place. KB.

Cyclist0108

I have the Edge 25, primarily because it was the most minimalistic thing that would work with my Garmin radar rear light. My one complaint is that the battery life, especially when paired with the radar (which it always is), is quite limited. (My subsidiary gripe is that it uses a proprietary USB charging cradle, which eliminates the possibility of recharging from a battery in situ, amongst other annoyances.) I don't have a HR monitor, but there is an available hack to get the data displayed: https://www.edge25.net