6 weeks of iPhone bills covered the cost of a Garmin Edge 500 bundle first of all.

Next, iPhone isn't waterproof. Ant? The list goes on and on.

What it doesn't do is cost $700 to replace if/when I crash, and it also doesn't bother me with constant phone calls and text messages while I'm riding. I keep my iphone in my jersey pocket for emergency calls and navigation only. I keep it on silent so I only know it's there when I want to use it.

GPS can tell your position. It doesn't need a phone signal for that. But position is just latitude and longitude without a map. To get directions, you need a map. Smartphones don't have on-board maps so need a live data connection to get them. GPS navigation systems, on the other hand, do have on-board maps.

There's no fundamental reason why smartphones couldn't or can't have on-board maps. They certainly have enough memory nowadays, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are already apps that will download maps to your phone's memory.

The iPhone Cyclemeter app will cache the maps over a route if you scroll over that route while you have a data connection. It only caches the map that shows up on the screen at that scale so you won't be able to zoom in or out or wander very far from the course before leaving the map when you don't have a connection.

Let me finish a ride in peace without having to answer a telephone call.

This would require the development of a battery based on a different technology. As far as I'm aware, nothing is even on the horizon at this point in time. By the time you add a waterproof case that also protects it against shock and all the stuff that it would really take to bring it up to even being able to do what a Garmin does, the cost starts getting really close to what it would be to just buy the Garmin. iBike with power actually costs more than a Garmin 800. You still have the size and the fact that the screen design is inappropriate for cycling use. You would have to purchase maps because although the GPS doesn't need a data signal, the maps do. And once all that's done, it's still too big and heavy.

Bottom line is that if you need a cycling computer, a cycling computer is not a bad tool for the job. Modifying a phone to do a cycling computer's job is like modifying a hybrid bike to do a race bike's job. It can certainly be done, and many people will be satisfied with the results, but ultimately it's not the way to go.

I keep seeing iPhone discussions in the skiing community too. There it makes even less sense than with cycling because the hardware isn't suited to harsh conditions, the GPS antenna isn't nearly as sensitive, the issue with batteries is even bigger, and your life could depend on the device. Yet there are still people that do this.

Agree with the points for the current gen - iphone <<< cycling GPS right now.

Make no mistake though, it will be sooner than you think where iphone >> cycling GPS.

I use CardioTrainer for my android phone. If you buy a handlebar/stem mount, I actually suggest RunKeeper because it has a far better dashboard. You can buy the Polar bluetooth HR strap and it works with both of those apps. (Side note: I friggin lost mine... think I drove off with it on the roof of my SUV after a hard ride.)

If you keep it in your pocket you can do 3-4 hours on most android phones assuming you have all the voice prompts muted. If you have it on your bar running a dashboard the whole time (disable screen blank) and have voice prompts, you'll be damn lucky to get 2 hours out of it.

Anyway. CardioTrainer can export in a format you can use for Strava. If you buy a HR monitor you've got that but you still don't have cadence or power.

My prediction: give it 5 years, maybe less, and smartphones will have not only battery life to do this but they will do cadence and power as well. Buy a Garmin right now and use it until this happens. In 10 years your smartphone will be your only computer anyway.

I very seldom ride more than 2-3 hours at a time and have never had a problem with battery life on the iPhone. I'm not trying to be an iPhone fanboy...but since I already have one with a couple of cycling apps, I was wondering if it would be worth it to shell out $200-500 for a Garmin. Sounds like the two are very similar as GPS devices. Has anyone noticed a big difference between the two in measuring distance, speed, accent...?

You mean it has the tech specs to provide the same functionality as Garmin's lowest end bike computer, the Edge 200. To support the 500's functions it needs a barometric altimeter, ANT+ support, improved waterproofing and a bigger battery.

It's probably not worth it for Apple to burden all iPhones with the extra costs required to be a better bike computer so they would require a separate model or an accessory like Motoactv. I don't think the market is big enough to have a separate model.

I have an Edge 705. and for music (yes, I know) I use a ipod shuffle. My next device will have the following

- All the current 705 features
- 4G updates to designated social network sites ie. Facebook etc
- Ability to send emergency sattelite calls in remote areas where there is no cell
coverage.
- Not a cell phone as I prefer to keep separate

I know such a device doesn't exist yet, so I 'll keep using my 705, or downgrade to a 500 if it ever breaks down, but at the way technology is moving, I may get my dream device.

Yes. Well, I think this applies, and counts as a yes.

I have a T-Mobile G2. I can't imagine an iphone having significantly different (better or worse) GPS. Every time I ride with someone who has a computer I find that our total mileage is very similar-- 1 to 2% difference at most, and sometimes dead even. Our climbing is more different, up to 10%. But our top speeds are way different. I was right next to a guy on every descent and he showed 36.5 mph max, my phone (CardioTrainer app) showed 32.3mph. This is typical on other rides, too. I'm always showing 1-4mph less max speed. I am not sure about average speed but I think it is closer.

Yes, it's got a long way to go, but I'm preetty sure it'll go there.

Battery life has a long ways to go, but has been continuously improving and his a high priority todo on their list
ANT+ support with a small USB dongle is already here.
Waterproofing is inevitable, and also right around the corner
Barometric altimeter could be software-based baked in with either online map data or preloaded map data for GPS-based elevations

The GPS turn-by-turn display for directions is already superior to all but the highest Garmin units

I don't think Apple gives a hoot as to whether the iphone becomes a great cycle device, but for sure, it won't take too much hardware improvement to get there. With the huge added wireless features that Garmin is unlikely to ever bundle in, I think some users will forgo things like altimeter and even battery life to get the features of some cool wireless features in the future (something like route tracking in real-time, seeing where your co-riders are on a map which would be awesome and easy to do even now - sky's the limit.)

Provided you have a signal, sure. Do you have Garmin 800? Have you used the navigation? I work for Google Maps. I know directions and mapping technology and the stuff my Garmin 800 can do is pretty impressive for what it is. When I am in the Santa Cruz/East Bay hills and have no service, my Garmin has saved my ass multiple times.

Honestly, I don't think phones will ever replace real cycle computers. Sure if you just want to track your route and give you rough speed readings, an iphone/android app will give you that. But for for things like ANT+, cadence, real-time elevation mapping, Powertaps, 8+ hour battery life (while doing all of that), waterproof/shockproof, etc. you need a purpose-built device. The fact of the matter is cellphone companies don't give two ****s about optimizing their products for that. You are the 0.0000001% of the user base. Someone may write a good third-party app, but it's just not enough.

-A map-***-cycling nerd's $0.02

I think that barometric altimeter on the Garmin would be a lot more accurate than the iPhone GPS version.

Another thing an Iphone can't do is withstand a good fall like a Garmin can. I've taken a couple good ones. One of them my garmin mount broke, sending the garmin sliding down the pavement 50 feet after slamming to the ground. Still going.

Really? I don't think battery life has improved much in the last 10 yrs. They're more interested in adding new features than extending battery life.

Tinkertoys
I don't know what makes you so confident. Waterproofing a large device is expensive and unnecessary for 95% of users. Laptops aren't waterproof, what makes you so sure iPhones ever will be?

preloaded maps aren't free and cost more than a barometer.

If you're old and can't see the 500 display I can see how a larger display would be beneficial.

The main problem I see is the size. Most riders prefer the smaller size and cost of the Garmin 500 to the larger displays in a smart phone or even the higher end Edge devices. The 500 seems to have hit the sweet spot of what users want and need in a bike computer. Maybe we'll all eventually have heads up displays in our glasses but I won't hold my breath.

Ignoring that new technology always works better before it is developed than it does afterwards, here is an English translation of the above:

Foregoing core functionality (e.g. batt life, altimeter, etc) for social toys strikes me as something few cyclists would be willing to do. If you really have gotten so far away from your people that you don't know where they are, calling them up seems like a good way to figure out what to do, and that can already be done. If you want to do that without them picking up the phone, you can already do that with google latitude.

Don't forget the add ons (HR, ant+, cadence) already adds more to the price of an iPhone than the garmin costs. I'm just not seeing the incentive unless the goal is to figure out how to do things with an iPhone.

Since I already have an iPhone, I'm not seeing a need to spend several hundred dollars on a Garmin.

To get the functionality of the garmin, you need to spend several hundred dollars more for software and hardware for your iphone.

You will need: mounting hardware, waterproof case that still lets you operate the device, software, HR strap, cadence, and maps. If you want power measurement (i.e. add the ant+ dongle), you'll be out $750 in addition to the iphone.

Garmin
- Ant + HRM, Cadence, Power (if you have the gear)
- Better Battery life
- Waterproof and durable (not made of glass)
- You can have the readout visible throughout the ride without really killing the battery
- Better GPS accuracy including altimeter
- Smaller
- I can preload a route into the Garmin and it will keep me following the route with turn by turn directions.

This is the answer I was looking for. Already have a mounting device. I live in San Diego so waterproofing isn't an issue, not really concerned about cadence, HR or power measurements. I haven't had any isues with the iPhone map functions (haven't been lost in the car or on the bike). I think right now, investing in a Garmin would be a waste of money for me.

Yeah, if you mostly take short trips, dont do route following, dont care about HRM, cadence, or power, then a phone will certainly do the job. If you dont want to look at the current stats as you ride, you dont even need to mount it, just put it in your jersey pocket. I dont normally record my commutes, but I've considered using the Stava app on my phone for my commutes and save the Garmin for long rides.

I can see why an iPhone might work better than a Garmin for you, but that's mainly because you're not interested in the functions that make a Garmin a Garmin.

I have an Android phone that allows me to do all kinds of cool things. Among other things, I can use it for street navigation. I often do this when traveling on business because you can just type in any business name, and it shows it to you on the map as well as how to get there.

But I never mistake my phone for a dedicated unit that does the job better even if I decide that lugging that extra gizmo sometimes isn't worth it.

Our car has a real GPS unit that has a far better antenna, doesn't require a data signal, has a bigger screen that works better for practical usage, is easier to understand because the speaker is larger, and is easier to operate. Likewise, the unit I take when skiing can be operated when it's 10°F outside with gloves on, has great battery life, doesn't require a data signal, can communicate with the HRM, and is waterproof to the point that it floats in water.

If you can live without elevation info, MapDroyd has a bunch of free maps. They're kinda bare bones with just some hotels, and a scattering of restaurants, but all the street info is there. Unfortunately if you're a jetsetter who only knows English, maps of foreign countries are often written in that country's official language.

In a perfect world my Droid would be devoid of camera and have a nice black/silver LCD in its place that could be utilized by Strava, Endomondo, etc. to display current speed, trip odo and average speed without sucking too much battery.

+1

My guess is that we're more likely to get a Garmin with added phone/media player functionality way before we get an iPhone with realistic bike computer functions.

Phones are just too fragile, IMO.