njkayaker

The articles aren't that old.

And Garmin adds the barometer to increase accuracy.

Do bicycling GPS's have good enough antennas?

https://www.pilotworkshop.com/tips/gp...e_altitude.htm

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour..._WToQlUCCa3CrQ

rm -rf

My old Garmin 705 can determine altitude very accurately, within 5 feet of the surveyed elevations. But it needs to be on the "Save Location" and do the "Avg" button, to let it accumulate readings for at least 30 seconds, up to about 60 seconds. The displayed elevation number keeps adjusting closer to the actual elevation as more readings are averaged in.

But Garmin's software is so lame. If I don't save that location, it reverts back to the original elevation, which can be off by hundreds of feet if the weather has changed since the last time I used the 705. And it never tries to readjust the elevation discrepancy during the ride, even if I'm stopped for a while.

My Galaxy S5 phone seems to be a lot faster with elevations. It took just 5-10 seconds to get a fairly close elevation, and about 15 seconds to be quite accurate. But on a ride, going up and down continuously, I don't know how good it might be.

Ice41000

I know. People around me use Garmins and still experience occasional problems.
Another negative is the price of those.
For me, it's simply not worth it.

Jean3n16

Bumping this

Im getting Garmin 500 because my phone is not cooperating and im about to throw it.

Cychologist

I love my Garmin 800. And my wife just ordered my an 820 for my birthday. They are great little machines, giving me more data than I can analyze. Love the mapping when on vacation riding strange roads.

John00

I use the GPS on my phone with Map My Ride. Doesn't tell me more than my Flight Deck cycling computer, but I do get a map to review when I get home. Google Maps helps me any time I have a question about the route.

agenkin

Using Edge 1000, because I thought that I would want navigation and sensors, and the 820 looked like it was about to be obsolete when I bought the 1000. I am quite dissatisfied with its routing, though, it often routes me on busy roads, so I stopped using the navigation function. Now I prepare the route at home and upload it into the GPS, so I am now thinking that a 520 would be good enough for me, since you can upload maps into it and it would show the route as a line on a map.

WiFi feature is very nice. Could not be bothered connecting it with a cable to a computer to exchange info.

Overall, a dedicated GPS is definitely worth it for me (compared to a smartphone). The GPS is weatherproof, can be operated in gloves, comes with a decent mount. It was designed to have the screen on for prolonged periods (unlike smartphones). I used to really hate having to stop to whip out a phone from my pocket when doing longer rides in unfamiliar places. Now I rarely need to stop for navigation, it's bliss to be able to just keep on moving.

99Klein 

Garmin Edge 520. I like the cycling specific features.... live segments, recovery adviser, V02 calculator...

memebag

Edge 25. Just started using it a couple of weeks ago. So far I dig it. Records my rides, HRM, shows the course for group rides, shows speed and all that. Very small. Doesn't drain my phone battery like Strava recording does.

Bumnah

Went to an Edge 820 after the Wahoo RFLKT+ gave up the ghost after 3 years of use.

Carbonfiberboy 

Edge 800. Works perfect for me. I like the map view a lot, especially when I'm following a TCX course. I even use it hiking, with a topo map.

Farby

I'm using an Edge 25 for the past month or so. I like it. I just started using Strava too which is cool because i like seeing how I match up in segments when compared with others.

What's weird though is that the recorded times on the same segment between Garmin and Strava can vary. is that normal? For example there is one segment that both garmin and strava indicate is .3 miles, and one day Garmin timed me at 1:31 and Strava 2:26, how is that possible?

kingston 

Etrex 20. I think it's still the best GPS for randonneuring because of the replaceable batteries.

phil_k

wahoo ELMNT
I had the garmin 510 and 810 and had to deal with frozen interfaces (810) and lost rides (both) and crappy software (both)

the ELMNT is better in every way except it has maps + routing on maps, but no on-the-fly navigation

ShortLegCyclist

I've tried Cateye Stealth 50, Cateye Evo Plus, Cateye Padrone Smart Plus, Garmin Edge 200, Garmin Edge 25, Garmin Edge 520, Wahoo RFLKT and Strava and MapMyRide Android apps.

The features worth having for me:

1. GLONASS - using the Russian satellite network as well as the US GPS network makes acquisition MUCH faster especially amid skyscrapers in downtown Seattle. The Edge 25 and 520 have this and I think my phone does too (Galaxy S4 Active)

2. Long battery life - Main appeal of the self contained devices rather than the Padrone Smart Plus and RFLKT is the much longer battery life. I don't do it every day, but when I ride mechanical and first aid support for large group rides like the Seattle to Portland Classic, you can easily be out on the route 10 hours between stopping to help people change flat tires, doing first aid and occasionally even waiting for an ambulance with the crash victim. The only one of those devices that can easily handle 10 hours or more of run time is the Edge 520.

3. Bluetooth - LOVE having the ride upload immediately and not having to carry around a docking cradle or wait to upload until getting home again.

4. Customizable display - I personally want speed, mileage, time of day and time of ride on my display at all times. I don't use power meters or heart rate monitors but if I did it would be nice to have the ability to control the display format.

5. Mounting system with aftermarket options. Makes it easy to switch between multiple bikes, which is the other big advantage over wheel mounted magnet sensors.

ShortLegCyclist

The Wahoo Fitness app on Android is VERY slow for me, often goes black screen for 4-5 minutes at a time before loading the start button screen.

The Cateye app is quicker to load and never freezes, but unlike the Wahoo, which you can use on its own even if the device isn't around/paired/activated, the Cateye will not launch a ride without its device paired and active.

Jean3n16

So far the 500 has a longer battery than my phone.

I dont mind to upload after i get home, i was already doing that with the RWGPS app

You can tell the 500 what to display. I only have distance, speed, time displayed on the screen. I dont use the HRM.

I dont mind the wheel set up. It was a little hard to understand how to set up but after, not a big deal.

stockae92

I ride with Fenix 3, it has ANT+ connection for speed and cadence sensors, and also basic navigation on course function.

I also run so that was a big factor

dperreno

My first GPS computer is a Motoactv which I like because it is small, easy to move from bike to bike, and it will upload my rides to Strava using Wifi. I don't like the short battery life (around 5 hours) and the small screen (yes, I know I said I like the small size, it's really my poor vision that I dislike about it!) It has it's flaws, but it's a pretty remarkable device, I think that if they had come out with a Motoactv II it could have really been fantastic. I still use it on most rides under 3 hours.

Recently, I picked up a Cateye Stealth 50 for $50 (including speed/cadence sensor!) and it has a bigger screen and the battery life is more like 20 hours. Downside is that I have to connect it to my computer to upload my rides, but I have to do that to charge it anyway, so not that big of a deal.

Neither provides mapping during a ride or turn-by-turn directions. For the most part, I haven't missed either, as I usually ride in a group, or I actually know where I'm going. However, I'm looking at the Wahoo Elemnt and the Lezyne Enhanced Super GPS as my possible next computers, as they both will do turn-by-turn. No, I'm not looking at Garmin, I just don't find them to be compelling.

Jumpski

Garmin Edge 520 here.... It's user friendly, and I've had good luck with Garmin products.

thin_concrete

Garmin Edge 1000 - great interface after you update to the latest firmware/software, and pairs well with speed and cadence sensors on all 3 bikes.

Chandne

Was using a 705 but it did not easily upload to Strava and I like tracking my meagre mileage. The I started using my iPhone 5 and then the 6. I bought a 520 and did not like not having a touch screen. So I retuned it and got the 510 which I really like. Now thinking I will pick up the 1000 if I see one on a decent sale.

molten

How common for other members here -- is it that Garmin won't assist in curing THE computer once it crashed? How many c.s. /tech reps were spoken to? How many reps in the same dept did you have to speak to, so speak to a fully knowledgeable one? Were more that such spoken to? If so, what was the consistency of the answers told? MY issue was of "software corruption." As I was not revealed of it, on the first call that I made. Requiring another call, to hopefully one of more knowledge. I hope you now understand what I went through. This got me going back to the smaller, old-style computer -- as some have gps. At a way-lower price. With a toll-free live customer service rep. Personally, the old features are the higher priority for me. Garmin lost me as a customer.

Steve B.

This is a really OLD thread to be resurrecting.

The general thought is that Garmin spits out new products that are in alpha test status, then pushes an update and you are now in beta status and stay that way.

Not fer' nuttin, but Wahoo did that with the original Rflkt, somewhat with the Elemnt (since much improved) and now the Mini. My experience is Wahoo is better and faster at identifying issues and pushing fixes, where as Garmin refuses to recognize and deal with obvious issues. I think that web research supports that

beermode

Polar M450 w/ HR sensor. It's basic and reliable. I love the readouts and menu customization.

Someday, I will get a Wahoo ELMT Bolt or something.