GPS computer OR best cell phone mount?
 

Alright, so I can use Google Maps to plan out routes for the bicycle.. and there's an option to 'send these directions to your phone'. Is there an option for any cycling GPS unit to have that same kind of navigation and display from google to it?

If not, and I'm expecting not.. what is the best cell phone to bicycle mount holder out there? I have a Galaxy S4 phone but I am using an aftermarket battery that gives me more battery life (since I figure I will also need 7-8 hrs of gps / navigation).

So, advise on a possible GPS cycling computer OR more probably, advise on a cell phone holder mount?

You can send routes that you created with all kinds of software, to plenty of GPS-based bike computers, and then use them to navigate. But you can't play Angry Birds.

Well **** what good is it then. I suppose my next question is: Is it easy enough that I can do a few clicks from a google maps routed / created file, to the GPS computer? Is it THAT streamlined or am I going to have to map it in the new program road by road from what google maps has told me? Reason I ask is because I'm god damn lazy as sin (aside from when I'm actually pedaling the bicycle).

Thanks.

Maps on a phone app will be easier than my Garmin 510. I only use maps for big rides, like unsupported centuries. I like the Garmin for my typical riding since I'm looking for data, like time and distance info. I also like the Garmin since I have 5 bikes and I have a mount on all of my bikes. Lastly, for the long rides, my phone battery will not hold up all day.

So if you have one bike and don't do a lot of day-long rides, find a good phone mount. I will let someone else identify a good phone mount.

Sounds like I'll be better suited with the phone at least for what I'm looking to do here.

No idea, I've never tried with Google Maps, I don't use them for this. I have a Garmin Edge 800, it's got maps on it, navigation, all that stuff. Most of the time I either can't be bothered to choose a specific route before I get there, or I know exactly where I'm going usually because there's only one road. When I need navigation, most of the time I just click my destination on the map and let the Garmin build a route for me while I ride. A lot of the really fun rides are ones when I'm out in the mountains or farm country or whatever, don't know my way around, and find a nice loop, this road looks nice, that one doesn't, etc. It's way easier and faster (and more fun) than sitting at the computer guessing where I'll want to go, and then trying to follow the route.

Also all of the best riding out here is in places that don't get cell reception.

I'm more or less looking throw in an end destination and then have that bad boy plan out a route for me that won't put me on a highway with cars :)

I'd say the Edge 810 would work quite well for that and offer all sorts of data for me. Only problem with that is I can hardly justify spending $399 on a GPS computer when my cell phone (Galaxy S4 with cracked screen) is pushing 3 years, and a host of small issues. If any money goes out of pocket it's going to be for a newer phone and in which case I would then be definitely obligated to use that on the bike.

I have a Slip Grip cradle atop the thinnest RAM mount for my S5 Galaxy Sport.

A Quadlock case would do the same thing but I couldn't tell whether the hair larger S5 Sport would fit the S5 case.

I've drained my S5 battery almost completely in a few hours only firing up ridewithgps and turning on the GPS receiver when I actually needed it, and the phone is too power hungry to charge with a dynamo when it's not set to ultra low power mode which doesn't run applications. It's not suitable for use as a bike computer.

I ordered an 810 with routing because I didn't want a larger, more power hungry Edge 1000. Hopefully I won't have crashing problems with Open Cycle Map maps; although if I do before the ELEMNT gets debugged will probably try an Edge 800 which seems more reliable and is less likely to lose a ride when it crashes.

I'm seriously considering the Sigma Rox 10.0:

SIGMA ROX - Overview

does what I need (cadence, speed, GPS directions, power meter (when I can afford one), links to Strava ....

it does loads more, but at the moment I'm only interested in the above .... and it's very good value for money. I have been using the Sigma cheaper computer that has cadence, and it works flawlessly

You would have better results building routes using ridewithgps. The free subscription gives all the tools needed. Export the route to the OSMAND or Track Navigator app for android. Use turn by turn voice navigation with an earpiece, screen off, and airplane mode for max battery life. Export is automatic with Track Navigator. With OSMAND, you send the file over USB or just email the link to your phone.

Use any cheap phone mount, such as the Nite Ize HandleBand mount, or just leave the phone in your pocket.

Here's the thing, I have an S4 with an aftermarket battery in it, the Anker 7800mah, up from the stock 2600 and thus a larger case that fits around the battery. Therefore, I can't use any 'phone specific' case since the battery will not fit a traditional aftermarket case that may be provided with a mount. Secondly, it is no longer the traditional size of the S4 since there's about an added 1/2'' of height or depth to the phone.

I will get 8+hrs out of a charge running just about everything all at the same time. However, how the heck am I to mount it is another question. It looks as if the Nite Ize might actually work, I will have to give that a go.
I think I would be better suited to pick up the Bryton Rider 310 GPS for something like $150 or $160 with heart rate monitor and cadence monitor included that will give me heart rate, cadence, speed, pretty much everything except for turn by turn 'figure out on the fly' navigation (that I can get from my phone) with a decent handlebar mount.

Yeah, I may look like a dweeb for having dual electronics up front, and yeah I may be adding more weight but I think that'd be the best, most dollar conscious application.

That's exactly what I do. Sometimes it can have weird results. I was riding through a town on Route 2 and told it to navigate me to the next town on the highway, 6 miles away. It chose a 20+ mile route that avoided the highway completely, taking obscure back roads I didn't know were there. It was a pleasant ride, but longer than I'd had in mind.

My 800 has had OSMs on it for years, they've never been a problem.

Do with your phone or your GPS cycling computer? And what is OSM? On screen mapping?

OSM = Open Street Maps. They're routable, have POIs, etc. But they're free. You can buy detailed maps, but the OSM ones are free.

I use my GPS cycling computer for navigation. It's way more convenient than using my phone, for many reasons. Easy to see in bright sunlight, waterproof, 20 hour battery life, the maps are on the device, it talks to my HRM and power meter. Remember, a lot of the riding I do is in places where my phone doesn't get a signal. Sometimes it's spur of the moment. I'm not willing to spend the time pre-loading maps onto my phone before every ride, especially when my GPS already has them.

Another question here, so you've got the 800 - how quickly does it pair to HRM and your power meter? I heard a thing or two about Garmin's having some doofy timing (30 seconds or more?) for pairing with devices?

Garmin makes a device called Tempe, it's a wireless thermometer. It won't work with an Edge device, but I have one for my watch because, you know, having it on my wrist affects the temperature. Tempe broadcasts the temperature every 30 seconds. When they pair, the watch listens for a broadcast, and then syncs the timing, so every 30 seconds it will turn on its radio and listen for a new broadcast, then turn the radio back off to save battery. It takes my watch up to 30 seconds (but usually less) to connect to my Tempe. And it's plain to see why. Maybe that's got something to do with what you heard?

The 800 detects my HRM and PM almost instantly when I turn it on. But it takes a minute or two to power up, read the maps, and have GPS ready. My watch (and cell phone) are already on, so it can feel like an eternity waiting for the thing to boot up.

They're updated constantly to reflect road/trail construction and new "points of interest" like restaurants. You can also process them to your liking - eliminate things like buildings for less clutter, show unpaved surfaces in a different color, etc.

How do you show unpaved surfaces in a different color? I didn't know you could do that but it would be a huge benefit!!

You can also adjust the zoom level at which various roads appear which would be more useful for cycling. For instance, I don't care much about Highway 17 over the Santa Cruz mountains, although there are plenty of smaller roads going through the redwood forests which are quite nice for riding.

There's a mkgmap java program which combines a bunch of things to produce .img files for Garmins, including a .TYP file which associates various map object type / attribute combinations with their on-screen representations. Both associations and representations can be changed.

The .TYP files are created from style files in a friendlier human-readable form.

This thread on the openstreetmap forum has a magic incantations for the style files mapping various road type/attribute combinations into line objects

How to use different way/line for unpaved / Garmin maps / OpenStreetMap Forum

The line types roads are mapped to can be modified with color arguments
DayCustomColor=#color
NightCustomColor=#color

The openfietsmap (one of the sites baking the OSM data into Garmin-friendly .img files) style files are available online
Map making procedure - OpenFietsMap

I've only owned a compatible Garmin for three days and run mkgmap a couple times so I've yet to personally apply this, although it shouldn't be too painful.

Now it's an 810 running the 5.0 firmware, although that's already powered-down once and corrupted a .fit file so I'm replacing it with a refurbished 800 that shipped today. It does boot and acquire the satellites quickly....

Pro tip: it is insanely faster to fill your micro-SD card when it's not installed in your garmin. I used this $6 USB to SD/micro-SD adapter
http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-SuperS.../dp/B00OJ5WBUE

tops, take a look at the Satechi Ridemate 300 phone holder. This is the one that I use. The envelope that houses the phone is pretty roomy. When I replaced my original phone with the one I use now ( Droid Maxx ) the maxx came with a larger battery ( 3500mAh ). Your setup of course is going to be larger but I use my maxx with an Otter protective case and it still fits inside the envelope even though the Otter case makes it twice as thick ( ~17mm ). Downside is that it is somewhat hard to turn on/off the screen in the plastic sleeve but that might be just because I'm using the Otter case which makes the fit a little tight ( that and my hand dexterity is not as good as it once was ). The Ridemate comes with an adjustable clamp that will allow you to mount it either on the stem ( where mine is ) or on the bars. The clamp is rock solid and holds without fear of falling off. The mount is designed to pivot but since I didn't want that I just secured it with some electrical tape and it's been good. As cheap phone mounts go it has a fairly clean look. The bottom of the sleeve has a hole for using an external battery if needed. *Note there are other versions of the Ridemate ( 600 and 900 ) those might have different features.

@Drew Eckhardt; Thanks for the knowledgeable information on the Garmin products. It always helps to keep up with what's going on in the world of Garmin. Yep, there are some great points to owning a Garmin. A more "daylight friendly" screen and off-line maps are always big time winners. Nice to hear that someone has made it easier to include OSM's for Garmin. I might want to look more into that just in case I decide to pick-up a second hand 810.

I went with the Nite Ize cell phone mount which I took out for a test run yesterday. It is rock solid, only thing it does not provide is a 'waterproofing' of the phone itself. I'd say that you could always place the phone in a plastic bag if necessary or use a Galaxy S5 for actual waterproofing.. but you'd give up on storage and extended battery.

My S4 will bite the dust soon enough and then it'll be a cell phone argument instead of a cell phone mount argument. Great information in this thread though, much thanks.