DBA

So, got the mtb almost converted/set up the way I want it for doing some tours.
Thinking about a GPS. The Garmin Touring Edge looks interesting. Anyone using one?
Pros? Cons?

bulevardi

I'm thinking about a gps too. This touring edge seems very handy, but has some bad reviews concerning slow software, the indication is sometimes slower.

While the Edge 800 seems very nice too. But with that one you cannot let the gps generate random routes for you? Am I right?

SmallFront

I like my touring edge. However, the indication of when to turn left or right is often only when right at the intersection/side road. It annoys me a lot, but it counts down to when I'm supposed to turn, and if I look ten to fifteen metres (30-45ft) before the turn, it is usually where the turn is. I considered the Edge 800, but while it does have cadence and whatnot (which I wouldn't be using anyway), it doesn't do the random routes as Bulevard mentioned, nor does it do the round trip thing that the Touring does.

I opted for the Edge Touring, and not the Edge Touring Plus, because I already have a watch with barometer, which was one of the best features the Touring Plus has over the standard touring (I don't use the barometer on the watch while wearing, which makes it pretty good at predicting weather).

Anyway, I also bought Garmins NT mapping for all of Europe (Europe, because I live here), because it gives many great points of interest and in general affords more information. I originally wanted to buy single city maps - CityExplorer, I think they were called - from Garmin, but apparently those are discontinued, hence the other map buy.

bulevardi

Hmm, I see.

I'm not interested in the whatnot functionality neither.
The random routes seem cool.

The Edge 800 or more are sometimes buggy I read in another thread here.
It's always something :aaah:

There is aswel a German new brand: Falk Ibex 25, which seems ok.
But not much reviews. On amazon.de they all say it's rubbish... but lots of reviews are lousy on internet.
Grrrr

SmallFront

I chose Garmin over Falk and other alternatives, simply because I have a greater choice of maps. The Touring uses OCM (Open Cycle Maps), which I don't think the Edge 800 does, and I can use "normal" Garmin maps which are easy to get hold of, rather than alternative maps from other vendors. I might be able to get a "better" GPS cheaper, but it mattered to me how easy I could get hold of maps. I am aware that there also exist OSM maps I can compile and use in the Edge Touring as well as some other brands, but I really don't want to spend time and energy doing that, to be honest. The OCM map (not OSM) that comes with the Edge Touring is updated quite frequently, so although it has to go through Garmin, it is reasonably good. At least in my part of the world. I am leaving tomorrow on a three-week trip, where it will see it first real test. It will be the only mapping device I bring with me, and I will have no paper maps, but then again, it is in Scandinavia, so I won't be too far away from anything.

SmallFront

I forgot to mention that I also considered a non-cycle GPS from Garmin. I already own a GPSMAP 62s, but I seriously considered the Monterra, which runs on Android, and could be used as a music player too, and it has a b-i-g screen compared to the Edge Touring/800/810. But it would mean I would have to compile my own OCM maps, and I don't want to deal with such things. But the Monterra is a nice GPS. If I still had my motorcycle, that would be the GPS I wanted.

bulevardi

Thanks for the response. That roughly explains my questions.
Have a nice holiday. And if you get lost with your gps and are in the neighbourhood of Brussels instead of somewhere in Scandinavia. PM me, we'll drink a beer

SmallFront

Thank you, and I will do that if I end up down there

sstorkel

Knowing the general... quality... of Garmin's on-device routing, I'm not sure I'd trust one of their units to come up with a random route. I always plan routes in advance and download them to my Garmin.

I haven't had any problems with my Edge 800. The trick is to do some research on software updates before installing them. I learned that with my Edge 705: one or two of their software updates had more problems than the version they replaced. Luckily, downgrading the Edge 705 was pretty easy. Dunno about the 800. Mine works well, so I haven't been tempted to upgrade the software.

Robert C

Based on recommendations here I got a Garmin etrex 20 a few years ago. If I were to get another gps I would probably go with the touring unit.

The main thing that interests me is the day ride feature, being able to set in a number of miles and have it form a route. I will be th efirst to say this is not a necessary feature, At the present I just ride about 20mils and then tell it to route me back to the waypoint I have defined as home; so, no, it is not a 'needed' feature but it might be a nice addition.

bulevardi

Hmm, that trick would be a nice workaround if the random route doesn't work well.

Thing is that I moved to another place and don't know the neighbourhood that well, yet.
I always take the same routes to get somewhere, because otherwise I'm detouring too much, not getting lost, but just not handy to return all the time and finally taking the same route as I started, again.
GPS will make me explore more easy and faster, doing round routes, creating nice scenic routes on computer, loading the maps on device so I don't have to print maps on paper anymore.

alan s 

Garmin now make the Edge 1000, costing a bit less than $1,000.

bulevardi

While the Touring Plus is still less than $300.
It's already much for a 'gadget'.

Edit: I mean, for $ 1000 you can afford a new good bike.
I even feel better just to go out biking without a gps and saving $ 600.

Edit 2: in lots of reviews it's mentioned that the Edge 1000 is quite buggy, well, all new models with new software updates seem to be more buggy than the edge 705.

bulevardi

Okay, got my Touring Plus, works fine.
Installed BaseCamp and works fine aswel, can add some nices routes to my gps.

Did a first record of a ride, works fine aswel Shows up the map and elevation profile as I like! Was able to share in my Garmin Connect too.

But haven't gone out to ride a track with beep instructions. Will do the next week!
As a test, I did a walk with it already when checking out the machines possibilities, and it beeped the whole time, when there was a new message, when I had to change route, when I had to make u turns, when I had to go straight forwards, beeps all the time :aah:
I guess I'd have to stop each time to read the messages before going further when I'm on the bike, because riding and reading seems sometimes dangerous in busy traffic.

staehpj1

A 17 hour battery doesn't seem ideal to me by a long shot. I don't get why they don't make these things with removable batteries so you can take spares. Or better yet with AA or AAA batteries. $250 seems kind of expensive as well. Besides the hassle of dealing with the battery, it is also usually the thing that fails after a few years.

A smart phone can do most of the same functions, at least the ones I care about, and it is easier to deal with the battery issues since batteries are replaceable and spares are fairly cheap.

I own an etrex 20 and like that it uses batteries that I can buy along the way, but it is another thing to carry and since I am taking the phone anyway I usually leave the etrex at home.

spinnaker

I think the Edge screen is too small to be practical. I like the GPSMap series.

bulevardi

In my experience, AA's never last long while Li-Ion's take longer time.
So even if you have spare AA's, you'll certainly need to use them.

To make a statement: I have a few camera's with Li-Ion batteries, running fine for almost 8-10 years.
My cellphone works already 7 years with a Li-Ion battery. Never had to replace it, but now I have to recharge the cellphone every 4 days instead of once a week.


A Li-Ion is rechargeable, don't see any problems. You don't even need a charger for the Edge Touring. Just plug it into the wall. I have a 220 Volt to USB-cable which does fine.
Even with a solar-usb panel you can load it while biking long routes.

I'd use it for just half day routes, where it won't be necessary to last for 17 hours.

Maybe you could opt for a Mio gps (Magellan in US?), they have both AA and Li-Ion series.

Anyway, if it doesn't rain this late afternoon, I go check out the gps on my bike for a 26km route after I finished work. I'll let you know if it works good or not. Hopefully yes.

spinnaker

A pair of AAs will last me about a week in my GPS running it all day long. Try to get that out of any rechargeable. I don't need to worry about charging my AA powered GPS. If the batteries run out then it takes 2 minutes to replace the batteries. When I replace them I get a fresh set of cells. The first time you recharge your rechargeable batteries you shorten their life for just a bit. My GPS has lasted me almost 10 years now. Try that with a rechargeable version.

bulevardi

True, but then you have to add new AA's each time. Which you have to buy each time too, and let recycle afterwards.

Sachelis

I use a Garmin Edge 500. It doesn't provide directions--I use my smartphone (which is normally turned off) if I can't figure out where I'm going using a paper map.

I really like the data from the Edge (i.e., GPS track, cadence, etc), however the battery only lasts for ~12 hours. I have an "EBC2-3864 Gomadic Portable Emergency AA Battery Charge Extender" that works with the Edge. Most days I charge the Garmin at a coffee shop, some days I use the Gomadic battery pack, and some days I go without.

I also have a Cateye wireless computer (CC-RD300W) that lasts 1+ years with a small battery. I wouldn't be without a small backup cycling computer (for mileage).

staehpj1

With AA or AAA batteries, you can still choose to use rechargeable AA or AAAs if you want and can buy disposables when/if it makes sense.

Maybe I just have had bad luck, abused them, or just expected too much, but I have found rechargeable batteries to be pretty unreliable. They tend to fail prematurely, and before that their charge life becomes progressively shorter. I think built in rechargeable batteries are a very bad idea. They could use the same batteries and make them easily replaceable so you could carry spares or replace ones that are failing. I have owned quite a few devices with built in batteries and invariably they seem to be the point of failure for the devices. I now try to avoid such devices whenever possible.

bulevardi

That is so true.

On the other hand, it's a genious plan for companies to do stuff like that, if one component fails, the customer needs to buy a whole new product.

Haven't tested it yet, yesterday.
Was raining like hell when I went out.
And tuesday (8th), it's my day off.... but they predict a lot of bad weather again:
https://www.yr.no/place/Belgium/Fland..._detailed.html

Why!!

Notice I like biking in t-shirt on a hot day 8-)

bulevardi

Finally did some testride with the unit.

Works quite good, accurate, display is readable enough for me. But cannot put it at a good angle on my bike, but will be better on my other bike.
Counts the amount of meters to where I have to change on a junction etc... very handy, displays the road clearly. Although, wasn't that sunny yesterday.

Anyway, I let it create a random route to follow. Started riding, but after a while he did always stop navigating and redirecting me to a certain location. I thought: "oh crap" and got back to home... Then I realized that I let him create a random route from a total different starting point than where I started my ride. *big facepalm*
Will do another test ride this week later on for this random route option

sstorkel

Sounds like you were using devices with NiCAD or NiMH batteries. FWIW, I've found the newer lithium ion batteries to be very reliable. I have a long list of devices which I've been using regularly for 3-4 years without battery problems: Garmin Edge 705, Mid-2010 MacBook Pro, Kindle Paperwhite, iPhone 4, Makita 18V drill, Bosch 10.8V drill, Panasonic Lumix GF1 camera, Canon EOS 5D camera, etc. I follow Apple's guideline for lithium batteries and allow the batteries to discharge completely on occasion. Not sure if that helps, but it doesn't appear to hurt.

bulevardi

The myth says that some batteries have a sort of memory, and that it's better that you only recharge them when they're empty instead of half full. That way they'll last longer.
Don't know if it's true or how these things work.