The one thing that I don't think you get with a smartphone is measuring barometric pressure for elevation gain. You can get the elevation corrected after the fact, but you can't get (good) instantaneous grade information.

That being said You can get a cheap Android smart phone for < $100, buy an external battery, and not only have almost everything that my Garmin Edge 305 gives you (including cadence and heart rate if you buy the sensors), but also navigation for much less than a bicycle unit. For the thrifty amongst us, this isn't a bad way to go at all (particularly if you already have such a phone).

I get the smart phone free with my service plan, bought a larger battery. I don't have it mounted on the bike, so I don't use it as I am riding, but if I have it on, at the end of the ride I can see what I want, and that also includes max + and - incline percentages.

I am due for a new free smart phone in January.

It will also accept cadence and power sensors if one wants to purchase them.

It is called "My Tracks" (android) and they keep updating it and adding good stuff.

Absolutely - when I found myself considering a $3000 crankset with power measurement though... I had to give myself a reality check. I think the financial disincentives to buy more gadgets are a stronger force than the appeal of keeping low-tech.

Denver embracing his dongle? This was foretold by the prophets. The end of time is nigh :lol:

I wonder
 

...Who wrote the book of love?

I am only telling the potential. But, I do use it when hiking!! :lol:

Do you know that you can upload your hikes (snowshoe hikes, runs, etc.) onto Strava? I've uploaded a few hikes and I've been the only person listed. I'd guess that in the Denver area, lot's of people use this feature.

I uploaded my tennis match to Strava.
I used my bicycles Garmin 305. Heck, I even wore a heart rate monitor.
Because toys amuse me. I guess that's why. I didn't have an actual sensible reason.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8...413930db_z.jpg
Garmin GPS track of Monday tennis by ccorlew, on Flickr

Some simply ride and have fun!

Some like technology as part of their fun.

I enjoy being in the middle and still being able to work up a sweat. I also got myself a cool new Popeye the Sailor jersey. Its supposed to be a Christmas present for my wife to give me. But c'mon, its POPEYE and OLIVE OYL! How cool am I?

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225...tCzihl0w4g.jpg

That is so goofy I love it.

I took my daughter go-karting a couple of months ago and kept Strava on. I submitted it as a kite-surfing session. I think I set a few KOMs.

I think, meaning my personal opinion, that not spending money on electronic stuff that has a negative financial return over the life of the device and instead invest the money to make more money is more appealing and more satisfying, plus I get the added benefit of lowering my stress by keeping things simple which will help me live longer and another added benefit of not having to worry about whether or not I have enough money to live on at retirement.

He didn't say that. What I took from it was that just riding for the enjoyment of riding was the goal and he was not concerned with data management. I don't care either. Just ride and enjoy pedaling and rolling through farmland or wherever. Heart-rates, calories burned, mph, rpm, etc... humbug. Just riding for the fun of it has its merits.

He kinda did say it:

The OP also isn't known for his beliefs that doing things differently than he is ok (e.g., all of you DF riders who claim to like riding your bikes are either liars or delusional). He's certainly entitled to his opinions and I share some of them, but others, not so much.

...For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.

(obscure reference, but in essence I'm kind of agreeing with you, I think).

Some here sure get their underlovlies in a bunch if they percieve ANY real or imagined slight. It seems to be fashionable to be "offended". There are several posts I consider personal attacks. HOWEVER, read the last sentence in my origional post. "How many here do the same"? I was only asking if there are some others on the forum that just ride for the joy of simple riding. I dont believe I implied that if you dont do exactly as I do you are wrong.

Remember, all that I said is just an OPINION, some are thinking (not you Dudelsack) I'm telling them what to do, I'm not, it's just about me, myself, and I, there are no other people I'm referencing to and thus no offense or personal attacks is intended to anyone, so if anyone is taking what I said to be offensive or an attack then may I suggest you have a problem and to seek help for taking things so personal that aren't even intended for you!

I've mentioned this before here, but I am a tightwad and so I think that way, and because of that thinking I have no personal debt and haven't had any personal debt in about 10 years. For some that isn't possible or not a desire to be debt free, again not an offense or attack against anyone in debt.

I can't believe I have to say all of that.

... and for another perspective (Warning: strong language and graphic verbal imagery):

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.ca/ (post for Thursday, 21 November).

Remember used cars w-a-y back when . . . gizmos/options like R & H (radio and heater)?

And remember special order codes that could put in higher performance engines, transmissions, and gear ratios then they advertized in their literature. You could match and mix all sorts of stuff, there wasn't this crappy 3 or 4 level option packages you get today where you have to take all thats in the package even if you didn't want something in the package, or wanted one item from one package to replace or add to a different package...sorry you can't do that.

This reminds me of why I stopped reading Bikesnob a year or two ago. Depressing boilerplate.

Fair comment, and point taken. I still found it (the column in question) rather amusing in re. this thread -- but then, I'm easily amused.

No, but you did set up a false dichotomy, which most of us pointed out to you.

No instrumentation on any of my bikes. My riding efforts vary from phlegmatic to energetic. Sometimes I just coast. Sometimes I just look around as I pedal.

I stopped reading Bikesnob back in late 80's maybe early 90's, I'm surprise you read it for so long, frankly I'm surprise anyone reads it!!! Way back when I read it they had a lot of good detailed articles and not as much advertising nor did they cater to the ones they did advertised for; but that all changed with less and shorter articles and a ton more advertising, it became similar in writing style of Peoples Magazine, you know where you could pick it up and be done with it in 5 minutes! Then they geared the magazine toward mostly expensive bling crap that most people can't afford to buy nor is most of it even wise to buy for street use.