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-   -   Good, Cheap Bike GPS Computer? (https://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/824186-good-cheap-bike-gps-computer.html)

mattwilkinson 06-09-12 11:03 PM

Good, Cheap Bike GPS Computer?
 
I am looking for a bike computer, I have a cateye micro wireless, and always use my phone and upload data to endomondo. I'm going on a big ride and my phone will run out of battery before the end of the ride. So I need an actual bike computer. I'd prefer something that has a good web interface to look at rides. (Garmin especially), I've only been riding for a few months, And I've been thinking about the edge 200 or edge 500. I was wondering does the edge 500 come with cadence or do you have to get it seperate? And would the 500 be good for me so I can get trained on cadence? I have no idea what is good cadence. Also, is there any other GPS's that do exactly this for cheaper? Thankyou !

UPDATE: Does the Edge 500 get speeds from GPS or a sensor? I was wondering if i could get speeds on a bike trainer? do i need the cadence sensor for that?

David Chen 06-10-12 08:42 AM

I don't know about the Edges, but as a warning the Dakota 20 can only read cadence from the sensor; it won't track speed while on a trainer.

Street Pedaler 06-10-12 09:09 AM

You need a sensor for the Garmins, too. Any ANT+ capable sensor will work. If you have a sensor, the speed is taken from that. Otherwise, it's from the GPS.

bikepro 06-10-12 11:50 AM

If you like the results using the iPhone and battery life is the only problem, there are various companies that make iPhone cases that include an auxillary battery. Not cheap, but less than a Garmin.

bikepro 06-10-12 11:54 AM


Originally Posted by mattwilkinson (Post 14335857)
I am looking for a bike computer, I have a cateye micro wireless, and always use my phone and upload data to endomondo. I'm going on a big ride and my phone will run out of battery before the end of the ride. So I need an actual bike computer. I'd prefer something that has a good web interface to look at rides. (Garmin especially), I've only been riding for a few months, And I've been thinking about the edge 200 or edge 500. I was wondering does the edge 500 come with cadence or do you have to get it seperate? And would the 500 be good for me so I can get trained on cadence? I have no idea what is good cadence. Also, is there any other GPS's that do exactly this for cheaper? Thankyou !

UPDATE: Does the Edge 500 get speeds from GPS or a sensor? I was wondering if i could get speeds on a bike trainer? do i need the cadence sensor for that?

For use on a trainer, you need a speed sensor. On the road, it uses the GPS to determine speed and distance if you have no speed sensor. Garmin makes an ANT+ speed/cadence sensor -- but any ANT+ sensor will work

fietsbob 06-10-12 02:18 PM

yea GPS notes your motion.. bike on a trainer stand your position does not change.

mattwilkinson 06-10-12 06:26 PM

Okay, does anyone have any experience with Edge 500's? are they good?

ChargerDawg 06-12-12 11:04 PM

get an additional battery backup for your phone. I have a diamond one that cost about 25 dollars and use if for long rides.

mattwilkinson 06-14-12 04:15 AM

What about a bryton rider 50? It has HD turn by turn maps

bikepro 06-14-12 08:02 AM


Originally Posted by mattwilkinson (Post 14354474)
What about a bryton rider 50? It has HD turn by turn maps

It costs less, but appears to be quite a bit smaller.

http://road.cc/content/news/27173-ju...cycle-computer

Looigi 06-15-12 06:59 AM

Garmin 500s are good. It's what many pros use. They are available bundled with a combined wheel/cadence sensor (GSC10) and heart rate straps. Additional GSC10 sensors are available on Amazon and elsewhere for ~$40 if you have multiple bikes and don't want to have to move the sensor between them.

GPS has position noise and the signals can be intermittently blocked by buildings, foliage, etc.. This is usually small and inconsequential for motor vehicles, but can affect the speed and distance more significantly for slower vehicles like bicycles. The wheel sensor improves precision over using purely GPS, which is why Garmin included the capability.

You can download a route to 500 and see the track displayed on the screen, though there is no map with roads and such on the device. You can follow that track and it will show your position on (or off) of it.

toddles 06-18-12 03:48 PM

I have an idea. Why don't you just take a look at their website??

Face Palm 06-18-12 03:57 PM


Originally Posted by ChargerDawg (Post 14349022)
get an additional battery backup for your phone. I have a diamond one that cost about 25 dollars and use if for long rides.

This. I use Endomondo as well, and would rather have an extra battery than a second computer system (counting the phone as the computer.)


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