There have been a lot of computer threads lately, and one thing I find interesting is the number of people that keep really detailed data about their rides. The other thing I find curious is how many people have computers but care more about the historical data than the live data. How do you use this info other than track progress over time? Or is that the main idea?

My experience is that instantaneous HR, cadence, and odometer do a pretty decent job of helping you manage your effort and letting you know where you are. But I'm intrigued by the Garmin 500 as I'm wondering if it could tell me something I'm doing wrong that I don't know about.

I have a Garmin 500 and a Quarq. I track data over time using the free traininpeaks.com website. I use Golden Cheetah for power analysis. For real time data, I have my screens set like this:

Screen 1: 3s power, lap power, lap time. This is for intervals. I try to make the 3s and lap power numbers equal my target wattage for the interval. It's a trick I learned about here on BF from the exiled umd.

Screen 2: Speed, total time, total distance. This is pretty generic riding around data and it's what I usually look at when I'm on a group ride or on one of my Quarq-less bikes.

Screen 3: HR, cadence, kj, time of day, and average speed. This is the kitchen sink screen. Sometimes when I'm up at the lake, I'll also add elevation or elevation gain just for fun.

I've got a Powertap and a Garmin500...

I use both as a training tool and have the Powertap for all rides. I use the Garmin to view real time data so I know how I'm doing at the specific point in the training ride. I'm most concerned about time and power when viewing the Garmin during a training ride, but also look at speed, distance, time, HR and cadence. When racing the Garmin is more of a recording device since I only glance down periodically...Unless I'm trying to breakaway/bridge, then I'm concerned about power so I don't blow up to quickly...

After the ride/race I download the data, quickly review it and pass it on to the coach...

For me the data is a way to track my progress and plan the next training phase...

I keep mine on cadence nearly all the time and keep track of my current speed and cadence to make sure I'm not slacking.

I don't have a garmin, though, I use a Cateye Strada Cadence.

I have the Garmin 500 but I just use it as a toy.

I purposely don't even display speed much of the time because I find it encourages me to work too hard. HR + cadence strike me as a good way to make sure effort is where it needs to be.

I agree, and that's what I'll often use when I'm on a non-Quarq ride. I will use speed on team rides when working on paceline skills. Most folks have a tendency to accelerate when they hit the front of the line and keeping an eye on speed is a good way to get in the habit of backing off the power just slightly to make a good transition.

Garmin 500
PowerTap

You can figure out the rest.

I really don't use the computers on my other bikes or they don't have computers, if they do, maybe I just glance at the clock once in a while to know what time it is.

I use my computer just to surf and hang out in the interwebs...going to BF, downloading illegal crap, You Tube, wasting time at work. And then some duffus the other day told me that they have porn on the webs...imagine that


















or did you mean that little liar you put on your bike to tell your average speed???

I pitched my computer a couple years ago.

One of the best moves I ever made!

I really like maps. I have a paper map of the city hanging up on one of my walls at home, and every time I ride a new route, I'll mark that section on the map with a highlighter. Seattle is mostly filled in. I enjoy having scrollable, zoomable topo sat maps that show my latest ride. It's kind of neat, but not as much, to also have charts of stuff that link to the map, so I can click somewhere on the speed graph and see exactly where I was when I hit 43 mph.

Also the (live) speedometer comes in handy fairly often. While I'm riding I occasionally get curious about how much time and mileage I've put in so far, and the feet ascended thing helps me pace myself on long, local exploring rides. Sometimes HR + cad alerts help me stay where I should be, whether it's a training or recovery ride.

It's pretty important to me to have an odometer. Hard to say why. I put the total mileage into a spreadsheet once a week, and have a graph showing my weekly mileage. I like it.

Other than that, I have a folder full of files. Every now and then I'll use them to see how much climbing I've done for the year, or something like that. It's nifty to be able to, but doesn't open many new doors or anything.

I use the speed display not because I'm trying to go a certain speed, but so I can learn to sense more about what a certain speed feels like on a bike. Without it, I would not really know what it means to go 22-23 on a flat road (for me) or what 40 down a hill feels like. I guess once you get enough data you probably don't need more, but I don't think I'm there. It's also just fun to glance down and say wow, I'm doing 24 or seriously? I'm only doing 14!

I have Current Speed, Elapsed time, Distance, Heart Rate and Cadence on my main screen. Screen 2 has Bearing, % Grade, ave and max speed just for grins. I like having the real time numbers and recorded data if I'm doing a training or hard effort type ride. On my commutes, I rarely record and dont wear the heart monitor, but like looking at speed from time to time if I feel like doing a sprint or see how fast I can get up a hill. If I'm going to do a long unsupported ride or brevet, I like to have the route entered and follow it so I don't get lost.

I don't have the option to turn off the speed part, but if you know what gear you're in and your cadence, the speed kinda comes naturally anyway.

Sadly, I do know my speed within 0.1 to 0.2 mph for a number of cadence and gear combos. I try to just focus on the cadence though. Watching your speed is a great way to torture yourself.

PR's on Strava feed my Ego

I was told by a guy I work with that does the Iron man thing, that you should use cadence, and try to stay between 95 and 100. So that is what I use mine for. He also suggested a heart rate monitor, but don't have one yet.

My computer tells me distance. So I enter that number into a multi-sheet Excel spreadsheet of my own creation, into Bikejournal, and into BigDogs.

I also enter an estimated time for the ride because the online journals require me to do that.

While I ride, I check the distance to see how far I've gone, to calculate how much further I have to go, and to ensure I'm on the right route in comparison with the paper map in my map case.

I look at the time to see how the day is progressing and whether or not I need to cut the ride short or pick up the pace. Time is also useful on randonneuring events to ensure I arrive at the next control in time.

Occasionally I look at the speed as well just for interest sake.

For intervals, I look at time and 3second power.
For long fun rides I look at total distance and time of day.
For steady state efforts (time trial, ftp test, 20min interval) I watch HR and 3second power.
For long climbs, I look at elevation because I know the altitude of various peaks. It helps me stay motivated as well as pace.

So, only one or two numbers are important at any given time.

I use my computer for email and posting on BF and downloading dwarf on midget p0rn.

Paper maps are awkward, particularly when the weather sucks. On routes I don't know, I write the critical mileage points on my arm. On climbing rides, I use symbols to indicate the beginnings and ends of significant climbs to help prepare mentally for them.

A watch is useful for knowing how much time you have to spare on cutoffs so you know how much time you have for horsing around if you feel like taking breaks.

I like paper maps, and I've rarely found them awkward. Get a good map case and there shouldn't be a problem.

I see people using those but I can't get myself to do it as I like a minimalist approach too much.

The map starts folded up in a pocket, but I find that when I'm trying to use it while moving, it gets wadded up rather than folded which doesn't work so well (particularly once it's soaked). Within a few hours, I usually have a pocket full of garbage. I can't put as much detail on my arm, but I've found I can consult what I have easily on a frequent basis. Decent ink stays on for quite awhile, even when wet.

In real time I only care about cadence and HR, when I wear my HR stuff.

I do record my ride times, avg speed and distance for every ride along with weekly, monthly and yearly totals. I do this on an excel spread sheet. Doing this is fun for me, I track my best times and once a month or so I will select a commute or ride where I try to set a PR, or a PR for the year I'm in. I will also try to beat a PR regarding weekly or monthly totals.

It is a motivational tool for I have always enjoyed competition and there is really no better competition than with oneself.

It is enjoyable and helps me get in better shape. I don’t share the info with anybody; my family thinks I’m silly.