Looking for a GPS
 

Hello.

I'm looking for an affordable (when it comes to GPS receivers) bike GPS. I don't want anything that will guide me to a destination address. When I go cycling, I just ride in random direction and see where it takes me. I see an interesting path: "Cool, let's see where this one goes." And so on for 100 km. The main reason I want a GPS is that I can't carry enough detailed maps with me. So I'm looking for something that will show me a fairly detailed map and mark my position on. The second function I'm looking for is route tracking. I like to keep a log of my excursions but marking the routes on Google Earth whenever I come back becomes a chore.

So that's it, two basic functions I'm looking for. Any suggestions?

It used to be what made a GPS expensive were (1) the display, (2) the map database from the vendor. Now that there's Open Source Maps, #2 is no longer a problem. However, #1 still is. If you want a device to display maps in detail, it ain't gonna be cheap. One other consideration: GPSes made for cars, or smart phones used as cycling GPSes, are going to suck power fast. You'll want to stay with GPSes made for hiking, running or cycling.

None of the bike-specific GPS units with map displays are what I would call "affordable". If you don't care about weight and bulk, the hiking-specific GPS units are much cheaper and have all the mapping functions that you mention.

Oh well, forget the affordable part then.
What do you exactly mean by "don't care about weight and bulk"? I want something that can go on my handlebar.

Garmin Forerunner 305 is great when used in conjunction with a speed/cadence sensor. It is relatively inexpensive. It mounts easily on the bars with a quick release kit.

A good choice for speeds and recording the ride, but it doesn't have maps.

Are you asking if a unit can show you where you are, so you can decide how get home? Or do you just want to find out where you went after the ride?

Any GPS bike computer will record your route for later downloading, even if it can only display speed, heartrate, etc.




My Garmin 705 has maps, and shows my current position. I can zoom out to show more map area, but the tiny screen doesn't work very well for that--it's often very cluttered and hard to read, or else with less detail selected, only major roads are showing. So, using it to decide among alternate routes home when in an unfamiliar area would be tedious.

The 705's strengths are:
Ride recording--the route, often accurate enough to show which side of the road I'm on. Elevation calculations using barometric air pressure. Cadence from an optional sensor, and heartrate from a chest strap.

Uploading a route (I use Courses and .tcx files) to follow. This works great. I use ridewithgps.com and bikeroutetoaster.com course files. I get a fat purple line on the maps showing my route. The map scrolls as I ride, of course. It's great to be able to follow a complicated ride, with lots of turns, or ride to a new unknown area.

Determining your current location.

Workouts -- timed intervals, etc.

Backlit display for night riding.
15 hour battery life.

Weaknesses:
Browsing and scrolling the map is slow.
Having the 705 calculate a new route to a destination often doesn't work. It "should" work, but I just can't depend on it.

Just where I went. Today I rode through a muddy forest just to get to a place I've already been to. I want to be able to look at the map and say "Hey, beyond that forest is a place I've been to last week, I'll head somewhere else."

Not an issue for me. I'll check the 705 while I wait for other suggestions.

I you would consider the Edge 705, you can spend a little more and get the Edge 800. The touch screen is fantastic.

The Forerunner 305 is so much less expensive. I was happy with it and didn't see the need to upgrade until the 800 was released.

Since you are not interested in guidance, you don't need anything on your handlebar and you can opt for one of the cheaper hand held units that support mapping and just pull it out when you want to orient yourself. I'm talking about a model like the Garmin eTrex Legend. If you change your mind later on, you can always get yourself a handlebar mount at a later time (< $20).

Dunno. The Garmin 605 is $239 at Nashbar....

For almost a dozen years now I've been using a Garmin eMap as my cycling computer. It includes a basemap that shows about the level of detail as state highway maps and can also be loaded with far more detailed maps of specific areas (either from Garmin for $$ or OpenSource for free). Does everything I want on a bike which is why I haven't upgraded. It's been discontinued for years, but I see some places still sell it for about $100. Runs on two AA batteries and I use NiMH rechargeables that last about 15 hours per charge. The handlebar mount is optional and costs an extra $5 - I just use a few rubberbands to hold it on top of my stem. Works great for recording where I go and I use a website that automatically locates any pictures I take along the way by synching the picture timestamp with the GPS tracklog. Here's an example from yesterday's ride:
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=964647

I'd also recommend other Garmin hiking models as being much less expensive for what you get than their cycling-specific models. Also the hiking units generally run on AA cells which make it far more convenient when touring since you can carry as many as you'll need (and in a pinch you can always find AA cells along the way).

Yes, but a Garmin eTrex VentureHC (hiking model) is half that price at Amazon and does everything the OP says he wanted.

Unless sometime in the future he wants cadence and HR. and the cycling specific software that he can view his rides on. Options do have value. Not to mention a much smaller package.

Venture is cheap because it's outdated technology. Crappy patch antenna and an antique chipset.

Heart rate and cadence are quite useful on a bicycle. The Forerunner 305 comes with a heart rate strap. The speed cadence sensor can be purchased for less than $40.

Am I missing something or does the Forerunner come without a screen that can display maps?

If you have a smart phone, there are some good GPS apps that will might serve your needs. I'm using Cyclemeter because it got very good reviews from other cyclists, and I'm very pleased with it. Although it wasn't free like some other options, it was well worth the cost ($5) to me.

My iPhone cost me $200, and that's much less than a Garmin. I don't really want or need a map on my handlebar all the time, so the Cyclemeter works great for me. I turn it on when I leave for a ride, and it tracks my route and data so I can view it later -- with a map of my route and stats on time, distance, avg speed, elevation gain, etc. You also can set it so it quits recording when you are stopped. Cyclemeter also does not use much data, if you remember to turn off the screen when you are riding.

Also, if you need to view a map while riding, the standard GPS feature on an iPhone will show you all you need to know -- assuming you can pick up a signal where you are riding, which isn't usually an issue but can be in some areas.

The 605 uses the SirfStarIII chipset first used by Garmin in 2005. The VentureHC uses the MTK chipset introduced in 2007.

Yes, there are some specific cycling features offered by the models targeted specifically at that market, but the OP said he was looking for something affordable and with only a few specific capabilities. The VentureHC has those features for $120 vs. the 605 which costs $240 and has the potential to add some more (unasked for) features if you spring for extra options at additional $$.

Prices on the Garmin Edge 605 are dropping -- you can buy one plus the necessary Navigator software for just over $300 now. On my site cyclingnewengland.blogspot.com I post the best club rides and tours in New England with links to the ride on RideWithGPS or MapMyRide. From those sites you can download the GPX files for the Garmin Edge 605, 705, and 800, which are the only bicycle computers that have the capability to follow a ride you have programmed or downloaded from those sites.

It's a nice capability, but hardly limited to those specific devices. Lots of GPS units can use .gpx encoded files including the ancient eMap that I still use as well as the VentureHC mentioned above.

So based on the technical parameters I've narrowed down my choices to 605 and 705 (leaning towards the latter based on map compatibility). Meanwhile, I have a question about maps. I would require maps of Poland and Germany. This and this looks real good, but both of these will cost me as much as the device itself. What about the open-source alternatives I've heard about? Could someone link them so I can compare the maps.

A smartphone app will do this fine. With an iPhone, I used the Cyclemeter and B.iCycle apps which worked great. The main limitation was battery life (~3hrs) and the fact that you can't download a course to ride. Handlebar mounts are readily available, even water resistant ones if that's a concern. I've since switched to a 705 because I can plan rides and download them for course guidance. BTW, the display and mapping on the iPhone is way way better than on the 705, but mapping requires data connectivity.

No matter how well a smartphone works as a GPS unit, this is the reason I'm never using it as one. (My iPhone lasts 2.5 hours.)

I can do a full century ride (6 to 8 hours) with my Droid smartphone recording my route with a GPS app. I do leave the screen turned off for the whole ride, though. Turning on the screen drains the battery faster than using the GPS.

Turn off the screen on your smart phone and it won't drain your battery.

It does not.