Extra details:


My Situation: I purchased a Garmin Edge 810 that I should be able to return if it isn’t what I’m looking for. The deal seemed like a good one ($299) and I was planning on returning it if it didn’t work out. A few products by Garmin were on sale by Garmin in April ‘16, and the store I bought it from (I’ve much store credit from them) matched the price.

The problem with this: I didn’t realize the Edge 810 was more geared towards training and the basic bundle I purchased doesn’t even really include maps. I’m not inclined to spend money on their City Navigator maps as I’m all but certain one can’t return them, nor on a micro SD card to try OpenStreetMap on the Edge 810 because I’ve no real use for one if it turns out for one reason or another, the Edge 810 + OSM = no go. I may try this though….except….OSM seems kind of iffy (VERY small font for street names).

1.) Pre-planning a route: I get easily disoriented. I’d have to study up on the new areas I’m riding around well enough without a GPS if I were going on new routes often enough with a lot more turns, not as easy navigation (like landmarks). I don’t think I’d be able to more seamlessly navigate knowing only the streets I have to turn on, because then I’ve little reference for where I might be if I miss a turn, when I’m about ready to have to make a turn, and so on. This option is not totally impractical, it’s just a fair amount more work for mixing up my recreational bike rides. Sure seems a lot cheaper though.


2.) Legible/Accurate and Updated Maps: I am noticing, albeit not a major issue with OpenStreetMap. It puzzles me that at least in Garmin Basecamp in the Metro Detroit area, the street names are incredibly small and hard to read. Here is an example: http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/...pshynh5rxw.jpg

Updated maps: Furthermore, someone gave me a Garmin nuvi (for automobiles) to use which has Garmin City Navigator Maps/ lifetime map updates. I updated it to 2017.2 recently, but noticed when I had the Garmin nuvi connected to my laptop that a new street layout in these “updated” maps (on a street I ride on too), which was re-done sometime in early 2016 (probably January or February), and it’s still not updated. OSM and Google Maps do have the correct street layout. It’s just kind of embarrassing for something one pays for, and it takes how long to ultimately be updated? I’m just wondering how that would pan out if I were to try to plan a route, and then ultimately by default for this reason, be going off course from the pre-planned route because the map is not updated and it's telling me I went off course and any problems that may ensue.

I’ve also read on a website, about Points of Interest (POIs) not being updated for several years. I can understand if they’re not updated for several months, but of several years? Come on now..apparently this website offers data for one to supplement their GPS data, but it seems like it’s more so groups of POI’s (like different fast food restauarants).


3.) *********Re-routing*******: Here’s an example of a route