Watch types?
01-28-25 | 01:54 PM
#26
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Have a compact and subtle navigation device on my wrist is also very convenient. When navigating, it is much easier to quickly and more subtle to check your wrist than pulling your phone out or, even worse, pulling out a map.
Last edited by Atlas Shrugged; 01-28-25 at 01:59 PM.
01-28-25 | 03:05 PM
#27
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From: South shore, L.I., NY
Bikes: Trek Emonda SL7, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
All of the features are outlined above. However, a big one supporting my Enduro 2 (soon to be Enduro 3) is my navigation and general backup when travelling, especially on a bike tour. If my Garmin Edge get damaged or stolen, I can easily mount the Enduro on the existing twist mount and have all the features of the Edge device replicated. For me, this redundancy is very reassuring.
Have a compact and subtle navigation device on my wrist is also very convenient. When navigating, it is much easier to quickly and more subtle to check your wrist than pulling your phone out or, even worse, pulling out a map.
Have a compact and subtle navigation device on my wrist is also very convenient. When navigating, it is much easier to quickly and more subtle to check your wrist than pulling your phone out or, even worse, pulling out a map.
01-28-25 | 04:23 PM
#28
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All of the features are outlined above. However, a big one supporting my Enduro 2 (soon to be Enduro 3) is my navigation and general backup when travelling, especially on a bike tour. If my Garmin Edge get damaged or stolen, I can easily mount the Enduro on the existing twist mount and have all the features of the Edge device replicated. For me, this redundancy is very reassuring.
btw, the Enduro 3 is sweet. Probably the best deal in the whole lineup right now.
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Last edited by Koyote; 01-28-25 at 04:32 PM.
01-29-25 | 08:22 AM
#29
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
That said, the topic of this thread is heart rate monitors, we are a bit off topic. My heart rate monitor watch above has the red wrist watch band, but I have not activated it at the time of the photo, so it is only showing the time as early afternoon.
01-30-25 | 04:34 PM
#30
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From: North Central Wisconsin
I can't imagine carrying around a paper map anymore. Even the gravel race events I have been in lately have eliminated paper cue sheets. They just provide a GPX file now.
01-30-25 | 04:35 PM
#31
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From: North Central Wisconsin
I use my Garmin watch when running around town on my commuter bike, since I don't usually keep a computer mounted to that one. And yeah, when I am using a computer, I leave the watch at home and wear a chest strap HRM. So, why did I pay $538 (wholesale cost) for the Garmin watch? Here goes:
1) Overnight data on HRV, Resting HR, sleep quantity/quality/stages.
2) Training Readiness score.
3) Recovery time predictor.
4) And all of the other smartwatch/fitness watch data that you would expect, much of which has been mentioned above.
For me, 1-3 above have had the largest impact on my training quality and overall fitness of anything I have purchased or done in years. In particular, the overnight data showed very clearly the effect of alcohol on my body (as well as late-night screen time and snacking), which led to dramatic behavioral changes: within a few months of purchasing the watch, I had cut my alcohol consumption about 95% -- which, within about four months, saved me more money than I had paid for the watch. At this point, I have (at most) 1-2 drinks per week and am considering quitting entirely.
Bottom line: If my Garmin watch broke or was lost today, I'd buy a new one ASAP. Though I can acknowledge that other people's use-cases may be different than mine; if I weren't trying to race as competitively as possible, I might not want so much data.
1) Overnight data on HRV, Resting HR, sleep quantity/quality/stages.
2) Training Readiness score.
3) Recovery time predictor.
4) And all of the other smartwatch/fitness watch data that you would expect, much of which has been mentioned above.
For me, 1-3 above have had the largest impact on my training quality and overall fitness of anything I have purchased or done in years. In particular, the overnight data showed very clearly the effect of alcohol on my body (as well as late-night screen time and snacking), which led to dramatic behavioral changes: within a few months of purchasing the watch, I had cut my alcohol consumption about 95% -- which, within about four months, saved me more money than I had paid for the watch. At this point, I have (at most) 1-2 drinks per week and am considering quitting entirely.
Bottom line: If my Garmin watch broke or was lost today, I'd buy a new one ASAP. Though I can acknowledge that other people's use-cases may be different than mine; if I weren't trying to race as competitively as possible, I might not want so much data.
01-30-25 | 04:59 PM
#32
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There is nothing wrong with paper maps, I always have one on the top of my handlebar bag on bike tours. It can help a lot to get the big picture when you are wondering where you should stay that night on a bike tour, or where to go after ran into a road closure.
That said, the topic of this thread is heart rate monitors, we are a bit off topic. My heart rate monitor watch above has the red wrist watch band, but I have not activated it at the time of the photo, so it is only showing the time as early afternoon.
That said, the topic of this thread is heart rate monitors, we are a bit off topic. My heart rate monitor watch above has the red wrist watch band, but I have not activated it at the time of the photo, so it is only showing the time as early afternoon.
Modern tech does have its advantages.
01-31-25 | 06:03 AM
#33
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
paper maps have been replaced by google maps on your phone or the navigation feature on the garmin edge computer.
I can't imagine carrying around a paper map anymore. Even the gravel race events I have been in lately have eliminated paper cue sheets. They just provide a GPX file now.
I can't imagine carrying around a paper map anymore. Even the gravel race events I have been in lately have eliminated paper cue sheets. They just provide a GPX file now.
Having a GPS and a phone with a couple apps (I use Komoot and Maps.Me) is great, but also having the paper map for planning and for discussing where to go with others is the way to go on a bike tour.
But, if you never do any bike touring and only ride routes that had a GPX file available, I can understand not having any interest in paper maps. Riding around near home on group rides with others, I don't bother to carry paper maps either.
01-31-25 | 02:50 PM
#34
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From: North Central Wisconsin
I have not used a cue sheet in years and the group that I have ridden brevets with no longer provides them. Not sure what cue sheets has to do with a map. A couple years ago on a brevet, one rider that relied on a cue sheet had gotten lost and he found me by accident. I backtracked to get him to a control so he could get back on track. I do not remember if his phone ran out of battery or what, but all he had was a cue sheet.
Having a GPS and a phone with a couple apps (I use Komoot and Maps.Me) is great, but also having the paper map for planning and for discussing where to go with others is the way to go on a bike tour.
But, if you never do any bike touring and only ride routes that had a GPX file available, I can understand not having any interest in paper maps. Riding around near home on group rides with others, I don't bother to carry paper maps either.
Having a GPS and a phone with a couple apps (I use Komoot and Maps.Me) is great, but also having the paper map for planning and for discussing where to go with others is the way to go on a bike tour.
But, if you never do any bike touring and only ride routes that had a GPX file available, I can understand not having any interest in paper maps. Riding around near home on group rides with others, I don't bother to carry paper maps either.
I don't do any bike touring...But if I did I wouldn't not be using a paper map with all of the other smaller portable gadgets that we now have.
I brought up paper cue sheets because it's kinda like carrying around a paper map. Point being race directors have eliminated paper cue sheets and they just provide a GPX file to load onto a bike computer for turn by turn directions.
02-01-25 | 04:51 PM
#35
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If someone is more comfortable with a paper map, that's cool with me. But the nicer cycle computers are pretty amazing.
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02-01-25 | 07:10 PM
#36
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
I can literally type a location request into a page on my Garmin 1040 computer; e.g., if I type "restaraunt,' it'll show me nearby restaurants and give directions to any of them. Ditto for campgrounds, hotels, etc.
If someone is more comfortable with a paper map, that's cool with me. But the nicer cycle computers are pretty amazing.
If someone is more comfortable with a paper map, that's cool with me. But the nicer cycle computers are pretty amazing.
But when you are looking at a couple hundred miles and trying to figure out the best route, it is amazing how great it is to lay out a paper map on the picnic table. There were a couple times I deviated from my planned route on just about every bike tour I have done.
Or, when the route you planned is suddenly closed, it can be a major bummer for planning alternatives. Doing that on a 2 or 3 inch screen on a cycling GPS, no thanks.
In the case above, I think I was off of my planned route for about 40 miles. Case below, that was the easy one, off route only about eight miles.
Both of the above examples were on my tour last summer.
I am a retired Geological Engineer. I worked with maps (both on the computer screen and on paper) for just about every day of my professional career. I bought my first GPS over two decades ago. I think I know what I am doing with this stuff.
Those that want to rely on a small screen for all things, if that works for them, great. I like to have several options available.
02-03-25 | 10:44 AM
#38
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From: North Central Wisconsin
I can literally type a location request into a page on my Garmin 1040 computer; e.g., if I type "restaraunt,' it'll show me nearby restaurants and give directions to any of them. Ditto for campgrounds, hotels, etc.
If someone is more comfortable with a paper map, that's cool with me. But the nicer cycle computers are pretty amazing.
If someone is more comfortable with a paper map, that's cool with me. But the nicer cycle computers are pretty amazing.
When I've been on an extended bike rides I just pulled out my phone and search for nearby gas stations for food and drink.
02-03-25 | 11:25 AM
#39
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And yeah, these things have sooo many capabilities! I probably owned my 1040 for a year before noticing that particular navigational trick.
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02-14-25 | 03:11 PM
#40
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I like small fitness bands instead of the larger watches, so I am currently using Garmin Vivosmart. I previously used a Fitbit Charge, but the battery suddenly started draining one night with no help from support so not going back to those.
