Recently graduated to a smartphone and just started using Strava.

Vote in the poll. If you've used a smart phone and also have used a Garmin, etc., which do you feel is better?

Garmin.. Upload to strava.. Save phone battery

GPS doesn't drain the battery that much and, in my case, I'm using a Droid Maxx which has a long lasting battery(3rd party tester found nearly 24 hours of talk time with the Maxx).

I'm bi. I can go either way. The iPhone usually has adequate battery life except for very long rides.

Android phone only - works GREAT. I have an external backup battery for centuries.

I use a Garmin 800 for power and strava. I ride with a smartphone but haven't tried it with strava yet.

I use a CycleOps GPS computer for Strava.

iphone...

it's all I have and I would not spend money on a GPS unit since I'm not "that" serious. I do like having strava to see my progress.

I have to use an external battery back-up on my Garmin 800 for double centuries too.

Rick / OCRR

This. My Garmin will record for 15 or more hours. The iphone gets low after 4 or 5 hours. Besides, if the Garmin runs out, I can still look up directions or call for help with my phone.

​BB

I use the Garmin more but I have used the Iphone. The Iphone tends to be "Very" generous on Segments and elevations as does Android. The advantage to the phone is you can send to Strava before you get home. The Advantage to the Garmin is you can update to Ridwithgps and Mapmyride plus Garmin Connect. You can then program a ride on your computer and save it to Garmin as a course and follow the turn by turn on a ride. Haven't tried that on my phone.

Even the entry level Garmin (Garmin200) lasts long enough for a double century. Where I ride a smartphone will only sometimes just barely make ti through a metric century, sometimes not even that. I now use a Gamin 510 with my smartphone linked to it. There are some nice features with this setup and long battery life for both devices. An added bonus is I still have a phone when or if I need a phone.

I voted that "I dont need no steenkin Strava". The reason is that when I worked for the 50 years that I did, I had to work for numbers. Now that I am retired, I just ride for the fun and exercise. Numbers be damned.

Me too. Actually, I'd kind of like to have one but only to carry in my car while I drive several of my son's favorite hill ride segments.

I use a Garmin and upload data to a website to record rides, analyze and keep track of progress, etc.. but it's not Strava.

I have a Garmin 500 on my Trek Domane, but never set it up (or got an extra mount) for the Trek 1500. I used the Strava app on my iPhone if I am riding the 1500. so, I use both.

I have the bottom of the range Garmin (200), which is perfect as a computer that tells me how fast I'm going, how far I've gone and what my average speed is, which are the only things I really want to see on a ride. And when I get home, I can download the ride to the computer and see how steep the hills were. I have a mount on each bike, so I just move the Garmin from bike to bike, depending on which one I'm riding. It works for me.

But having said that I just acquired a new phone (Nexus 5), so I could try the Android route for shorter rides. But it would mean three mounting systems for three bikes, at a time when I am trying hard not to spend money. I think I'll stick with the Garmin.

I use a Garmin 800 and Golden Cheetah software. Occasionally, I upload to Strava but I keep my data private. I do not need to give my competitors any more information than they already have. I use my iPhone for other purposes.

Garmin's are nice in that you don't need a separate cycling computer, they are water-resistant (they float too, but that's another story) and impact resistant. Compared to my phone, the GPS antenna on my Garmin is more sensitive which means that the track will be more accurate. And, if you have a Garmin with a barometric altimeter, your elevation and ascent will be more accurate.

You just need to ride faster.

The last time I did a double century was probably before Garmins and smart phones were invented.

I use my Garmin Edge 705 or Forerunner 305 for tracking mileage. I upload to both Strava and Garmin Connect. I carry a smart phone but I use it for phone calls mostly with the occasional weather check.

I want my competitors to see my data, so they might be lulled into taking the entire season off, at which time they could still thrash my tush.

Strava for me is more a social thing. I enjoy seeing what my peers are up to. I wish more people would take advantage of the Instagram features and snap some photos of their rides. I try to take one or two each ride, although my common routes are getting pretty snapped out by now.

Runkeeper Pro on iOS, together with a Mophie Red for my rides.

Runkeeper because its a great crew of local (Boston) geeks, and it really is a great cross-sport tracker.

But the biggest advantage is using Runkeeper Live to let someone at home dramatically mitigate anxiety by knowing they can (almost) always find out where I am when I ride. In the mountains of western mass there are some data dead spots, but they aren't that large. The funny thing, knowing they *can* find me means they never actually bother to look for me. No more "where are you" texts.

-mr. bill

This - plus the convenience of not having to have mounts on multiple bikes. The phone app will work through data or WiFi which is a nice feature if you have a teenage daughter who is always on the computer.


I don't know about the phone accuracy with different phones or different parts of the country but mine is fine. And I deny that barometric altimetry is significantly more precise than whatever the phone app uses - they both have some variability and are more or less accurate in different situations.

There are some nice advantages to the Garmin devices, but I don't think Strava functionality is one of them.

I use a Garmin 800 to upload to Strava, Garmin Connect, RideWithGPS and Endomondo. I am not as obsessed with data and measuring as that may seem to indicate. My main purpose in tracking rides is to share routes with my club members and others and also to help me analyze routes that I prepare for club events and charity rides. Each site offers small differences that I find useful for various purposes.

Another reason I track my rides is for participation in the National Bike Challenge that the League of American Bicyclists conducts for advocacy purposes. They use Endomondo for that. I have the Endomondo app on my phone so I can catch the short rides I do just to get my daily ride points. I find the phone apps kind of clunky and prefer the Garmin when I have it available.

Add me to the I don't need no stinkin Strava list.