Hipcycler

Well, now that I was able to get my final 31 miles in to set my perrsonal miles record for 2007 (just in time too, with another 4-8 inches of snow coming Friday) I am already starting to think about goals and other cycling matters for the upcoming '08 season once all that snow melts.

Here's my question, since I am new to this...

I'm thinking about investing in something that I can download onto my new laptop, a program where you have it monitor the stats of your ride, pull it off the bike and plug it into the laptop for a readout that can somehow be saved. Is this possible? Is this what Powertap does or is that overkill?

Does anyone use something like this?

I'm just a recreational rider and don't even race except for a couple of local events a year. However, I would justify the expense of this by saying simply that I really enjoy the numbers and keeping a log. I write up a little stat/weather/comment on my blog after every ride. But I'm thinking perhaps a change is in order for 2008....just plug in and download and post each ride as long as there is a way to post the stats and personal comments.

Let the discussion begin.....and oh....it's gotta be simple too. There must be something out there that can go from bike to laptop in a snap, right?

botto 

it's very simple. start writing down the time and intensity, and forget about the mileage.

Hipcycler

....That's new for '08 for me for sure....expand a bit on this for me....and wouldn't a device on the bike and downloading the info help me with accomplishing that? I know I am hung up on miles I guess, and am looking for a fresh approach and something a little different in '08.

toucci

The garmin GPS units with the bundled training center software will create a log of your rides chronologically. Still overkill, but not as much as a PT.

Hipcycler

I should also mention I'm one of those anal guys that needs to do this after every ride...it's all part of the experience for me. And I also need goals...benchmarks throughout the season as the carrot. I enjoy that and it really motivates me out there.

Hipcycler

...anybody got a review?
$$?

botto 

these devices help:

Hipcycler

^yeah but that's sooooo 1900's.

HWS

RouteSlip

Or do as Botto suggested. Like anything else, it can be as simple or as complex as you like.

toucci

You can always make an excel spreadsheet. That way, if you forget to start the computer until a mile after you leave home you can always correct it in the log. If you're anal about your stats a spreadsheet is where you want to be.

botto 

and you're not?

cat4ever

I've kept a spreadsheet since 2004 that tracks miles, time, bike used and workout code. I set it up to view weekly mileage/time and overall year to date mileage and time. Takes about a minute to add the day's totals. I also have a powertap w/cycling peaks software.

The good thing about the spreadsheet is being able to add tabs to keep track of races, personal accomplishments, calorie counting, etc.

daytonian

SRM - ftw

GP

I use Bikejournal.com

BigSean

+1

Bolo Grubb

you want over kill?

Here is what I do

First I have an old excel spreadsheet that I used before I found anything. I still use the spreadsheet, but I also use www.bikejournal.com, Cyclistats, Garmin Edge 305, Training center, and the free motionbased.com

The training center auto downloads from the garmin, then you can export a history file and upload to the cyclistats software which has a lot of great tools for tracking mileage, elevation, calories, Maintenance schedules all for multiple bikes and people. The cyclistats is my primary now because it can do so much.

www.bikejournal.com is great because I can compare myself against others from around the world or just my town.

overkill sure, but it is part of what I enjoy about it. The number crunching, watching the goals come and go, keeping track of everything you can possible think of.

Trsnrtr

We must be related.

Hipcycler

I tried bikejournal for a season, then went back to my basic blog.

I guess I need to clarify the thread title. Thinking more about it now, it's not really that I want a new way to log my ride. I already do that.

I want to add a device on the bike...a gadget that keeps track of the stats from the ride...a gadget that then clips off the bike and downloads into my laptop, where a readout can be posted from every ride.

Does that exist?

DataJunkie

That would be the garmin edge 305 and the new units.

The supplied software blows. Instead use sporttracks. More stats than I know what to do with or more stats to tell me how much I suck.

Little Darwin

Does someonme know a method to automatically log mileage and times using data from a Garmin GPS other than the Forerunner or Edge? I use an eTrex Vista HCx that will store tracks etc, but is not compatible wiith Garmin Training Center.

kukusz

+1. I use https://www.weendure.com/ to log my time and distance, but I use saddle time as my main metric. The main problem with miles is you can't include trainer "miles", but you can use time. We endure does a good job of tracking your weekly and monthly hours, miles, etc.

twilkins9076

I use the Garmin Edge 305 about 1/2 of the time, but because I/we ride the same route a few times a week as a morning fitness ride, I've never felt the need to continually capture what are essentially duplicate tracks. The Garmin Training Center software isn't anything to write home about, but it does an adequate job, which is probably what Garmin intended. I've got a few rides logged out at MotionBased.com, if you want to take a look at the type of information the device captures and logs.

If I were serious about tracking rides, I would probably go ahead and use the Edge's Garmin Training Center and use it's note function to record things like weather and other info the device won't capture.

Machka 

I read my information off my computer, then type it into my Excel spreadsheet, then type it into https://www.bikejournal.com/ .

Quick and easy.

mattm

i use google spreadsheets for my riding log.

aham23

you need a garmin edge 305. it will do just what you want it to do, as stated above. you can upload the data to the supplied software (training center) and/or to the free web based log, currently called motionbased.com. the later is undergoing a revamp that is "promised" to be heads and shoulder above the current version. i hope it will be the free web based all in one training log i have longed for.

later.