After a VERY long layoff I am getting back into biking. When I was riding before, GPS stuff (at the consumer level) didn't exist. One capability that I would like is to just 'take off' from somewhere and ride for an hour (or whatever) and use the GPS thingey to get me back.

I occasionally use a auto-based TomTom, but from the reading I have done it would seem that the capabilities of these much smaller bike based devices are much more limited. Is it reasonable to think that this can work? Are there devices to avoid if this is one function that I need?

Thanks.

dave

What you're describing can easily be done with a bike GPS. I have one of the higher-end Garmin Edge units that will allow you to not only ride a pre-designed course or track, but will allow you to enter a point of interest or address into the device and have it navigate for you, providing "beeps" and on-screen turn indicators. Personally, I'd go with one of those. Any Edge with the model number 705 or higher will do what you want. The 705 and 800 are both discontinued models, but are often available online from auction sites, etc.

Devices like the 810, 900, etc. add functionality that allows the devices to communicate with a Bluetooth device to seamlessly upload to Strava or Garmin Connect so that friends can follow you and family, etc. can know where you are on a long ride. Personally, I don't care about that, but I do want full GPS capability. That's why I'm happy with my 705. Starting with the 800, the interface was improved to allow you to enter data via screen instead of using the little joystick that some find arduous.

Hope this helps!

I use my Iphone mounted on the bars. I have the Wahoo Bluetooth speed/cadence sensor and heart rate monitor connected to it. Works perfect. I use an external battery that I keep in my front bag to power it.

Thanks. The documentation that I have read indicates that such things are doable. But this usage seemed (from all that I read in various places) so 'out of the norm' that I wondered if it was really workable. Sounds like yes.

It has also occurred to me that a backup, given that this particular usage is strictly training rides, is to just stuff my TomTom into the back of my jersey. It weighs a tad less than a pound - cheap insurance.

dave

Personally, I think it's way overkill to carry another device with you other than a Garmin, if you have one. A single charge will easily get you enough battery life for a century and then some and once the battery will no longer hold a charge (which takes years), replacing it is as simple as ordering a battery kit, which comes with the battery and the screwdriver you need to do the work. I bought mine in 2008 and just replaced the battery in 2013.

I never carry anything else with me on rides and the only time I would have ever needed anything was last year when my battery conked out. But I knew it was getting toward the end of its life, so that wasn't a surprise.

The Garmins with maps (800/810/Touring) can work like car navigation units (both will compute a route from your current location to a destination). It works pretty-well but you have to be smart about it. Most people don't use the bicycle navigation units that way (they usually upload a route to the device to follow).


One reason more people don't do that is because the car units typically have very, very limited battery life.

(I'm assuming that he was talking about doing that temporarily. If he tried the Garmin a couple of times and found that it worked for him, he probably would not carry another device. Anyway, if he has a smartphone (that he carries while riding), he already has a backup device.

While all that you said is true if you really want a solution that's easier to work with you might consider getting a smart phone. Smart phones ( and the data plans ) are becoming cheaper. If you own one there are a variety of apps that will work with the phones' internal GPS to allow you to navigate in the way that you wish. Not to mention they are usually very easy to work with depending on what app you choose to use. I own a Garmin 705 and Garmin car GPS unit. Upgrading my phone to Smart phone gave me many more options and since I always carry a phone on rides, using the phone for navigation eliminates having to carry an extra device. ( The phone GPS apps work so good I now use the phone for all navigation, both on the bike and when I am in my work vehicle.

While the phone's battery is limited ( usually 3-4 hours of navigation ) I can easily extend the range by charging the phone with an external battery. Since I usually carry a battery powered bike light on my rides ( day or night ) this is not too hard ( or too expensive ) to do. The hardest issue you might deal with is finding a way to mount the phone to the bike that meets your needs. All said, it is an option worth consideration.

Lots of people use smartphones instead. It's definitely worth considering.

If you use a smartphone (and ride long distances) to have to consider doing something to make it weather resistant too. (Recharging it while riding is probably something you don't want to do in the rain).

My only "knock" against smartphones for navigation is there often seems to be a slight lag between where you actually are and where the phone puts you. In most cases, it won't be big enough to make much of a difference and/or cause you to turn early, but it seems funny given the processing power of a typical smartphone that that happens. I still think nothing beats a Garmin Edge, especially when it comes to battery life. I like that I don't have to think much about charging it and it works pretty effortlessly. Whether it's worth having a separate device for this purpose is a subjective thing, obviously.

One can make the decision based on objective reasons. But the decision might not be the same for different people.

If you are a "fair weather" rider doing short-ish rides, the smartphone might make sense (especially, if the economics of spending $250, the cost of a Garmin Touring, don't work for you and you already have the smartphone).

There's some cost to a mount and weather "proofing" a smartphone.

I don't see a lag using my iPhone 5 for navigating in the car. If there's a lag, it isn't due to the processing power (using any reasonably "high-end" phone).

Thanks to all for the input.

I am currently not a smartphone guy (my current cellphone bill is around $107 annually). But this is one more 'little thing' to add to the small list of reasons to change.

In the meantime it would appear that a (for example) Garmin 800 Edge with my TomTom as a backup (at least early on) should work fine.

Thanks to all for the input.

dave

I think the less expensive Garmin eTrex 20 or 30 would be more than sufficient and less expensive than an Edge 750 or above. Under $100 used on eBay and takes rechargeable AAs. YMMV

In

Interesting suggestion - will consider it. Thanks.

dave

The advantage of the Garmin GPS units is generally size, the ability to handle inclement weather and battery run time. Not to mention they are designed for use with bikes. As was mention by others the 800 series units offer a bit more bling factor and a more advanced UI.

I don't know how fast the 800's are but when I load routes into my Garmin 705 it does take a couple minutes for the route to load. I remember reading of other people mentioning the same thing so this is not unusual.

The "lag" you mention with smart phones is mostly due to the design of the app. The phone's themselves work fairly fast. Most of the lag is based on, "How often the app is sampling the GPS signal". Different apps do this differently. The "Google Navigation" app I use for work is likely sampling at a very high rate. When using it there is almost no discernible lag. One of the other apps I use for cycling ( Locus (free) ) allows the user to set the sampling rate ( based on either time ( secs ) or distance ). I have mine set for every ten seconds. The less time involved the more power the phone has to provide because it is working harder. This gives more accuracy ( less lag ) but will use more battery power. When ever I use any of my cycling apps I really don't consider "lag" to be a major issue. Sometimes when I approach a turn on my bike the app will prompt with , "Make right turn in 200 ft." , although in reality I am more closer ( like 100 or 150 ft. ) depending on how fast I am riding. If I really wanted more accuracy I could change it but then it would use more battery life.

I use a Garmin Dakota, it has many features and is surprisingly bike friendly. Its size makes it convient on the bike. I have cadence, HR, speed, elevation etc and you can use it a car mode with turn by turn directions too. I cant go to a dedicated bike gps (I will one day), I already had this for outdoor use and found that it works well for the bike. Battery life is great using AA's. Easy to use with ridewithgps or garminconnect.