Garmin edge 200 vs edge 500

colm_gti

Looking to place an order for one of the above and was wondering if it's worth going for the 500 over the 200, considering the £40 price difference when buying off handtec.

HRM and cadence aren't really necessary features for me at the moment, I don't really do any zone training, and if I do decide to start, I have a wristwatch HRM. For the minute I really just want a cycle computer that will tell me my distance travelled, the time and maybe my average speed, and allow me to upload my data to strava. I have been using strava on my iPhone, but it's not overly accurate, and I would like the option to see the above info in front of me without strapping my iPhone to my handlebars.

The only real difference I can pick out between the 200 and the 500 (apart from the option to add cadence and HRM of course) is that the 500 has a barometric altimeter. Is this beneficial to the accuracy of readings, and does it warrant the extra £40 over the 200?

Beasty

Previous thread

manafana

for the extra money get the 500, its not going be 100% accurate either but you will notice difference.

im not sure how much diff barometer makes but i know for alot of stuff on strava for the comps etc you need it, being able add cadence is useful,

i paid 240euro for whole package heart monitor and cadence not long ago.

C3PO

If you can afford it go for the 500, in my opinion having the option of HRM/Cadence is well worth the extra €45.

ashleey

The altimeter has some use while riding to get an idea of climbs etc but I do find that when uploaded to garmin connect I get the data corrected to match the map data rather than using the not totally reliable calculations from the unit itself. I'm not sure if that helps with your decision. I don't use the Hrm or cadence or training zones but am otherwise happy with the 500

seamus

You'll get the 200 and in six months time you'll want to know about your cadence and HR. Go for the 500.

colm_gti

No question about it by the looks of things, 500 it is :cool:

velopeloton

deffo the 500. The 200 will be no more accurate for altitude than the iphone.

furiousox

I recently "upgraded" from a 205 to a 500 and I much prefer the 500.
The cadence function alone has made a big difference to my training.
Got mine from amazon uk.

Four of a kind

ashleey wrote: »

The altimeter has some use while riding to get an idea of climbs etc but I do find that when uploaded to garmin connect I get the data corrected to match the map data rather than using the not totally reliable calculations from the unit itself. I'm not sure if that helps with your decision. I don't use the Hrm or cadence or training zones but am otherwise happy with the 500

How does one go about correcting the data to match the map data?

pump

I use a 200 as I just use it for weekend cycling as am not huge into cycling. Bought it a few wks ago and find it great but sounds like you best to go for the 500 as a more serious training aid

velopeloton

Four of a kind wrote: »

How does one go about correcting the data to match the map data?

In a device with a barometric altimeter like the 500 or 800. The altitude date captured by the device itself is much better than the map correction.

If for instance you were riding through somewhere like Gorge de Luz, where the walls of the gorge are over 1km high, the 500 will record your location and altitude. The altitude gain is worked out by the change in the measurements taken by the barometric altimeter. With a 200 or smart-phone which have no barometric altimeter, the altitude is worked out by your location data and map correction. The problem is if the location is out by as little as 10m in Gorge de Luz you would gain several hundred metres. The hillier the terrain the less accurate they are. You can set "elevation points" in a 500, which make it even more accurate.

By default Garmin Connect has Elevation Correction enabled for devices without a barometric altimeter and disabled for those with one. On the details page for any activity, on the bottom left below "Laps" you can enable/disable it.

My ride today had 2022m gain, if I use "Elevation Correction" I get 2635m gain which is clearly way out.

TommyTheGun

velopeloton wrote: »

In a device with a barometric altimeter like the 500 or 800. The altitude date captured by the device itself is much better than the map correction.

If for instance you were riding through somewhere like Gorge de Luz, where the walls of the gorge are over 1km high, the 500 will record your location and altitude. The altitude gain is worked out by the change in the measurements taken by the barometric altimeter. With a 200 or smart-phone which have no barometric altimeter, the altitude is worked out by your location data and map correction. The problem is if the location is out by as little as 10m in Gorge de Luz you would gain several hundred metres. The hillier the terrain the less accurate they are. You can set "elevation points" in a 500, which make it even more accurate.

By default Garmin Connect has Elevation Correction enabled for devices without a barometric altimeter and disabled for those with one. On the details page for any activity, on the bottom left below "Laps" you can enable/disable it.

My ride today had 2022m gain, if I use "Elevation Correction" I get 2635m gain which is clearly way out.

I know this maybe isnt the right thread, but I use my 500 for cycling obviously, but would like to use it for running too. Does anybody know of anywhere they could recommend i get a wrist strap to adapt to my edge 500 so as I can use it for this purpose also?

Thanks,
Tom

Plastik

Google DC Rainmaker Edge 500 and it will give you details of which wrist strap will fit for running. It's a little bulky when on the wrist but does the job just fine.

colm_gti

So I, like Colm18 got advice on which was the best to go for, and then disregarded all of it and went for the 200 anyway:rolleyes: Used it for one spin and kinda regretted it very soon after, given its lack of ANT+ support and the option to add any extra sensors, especially HRM (considering I wanted to start doing some interval training). So thankfully I had kept all the packaging and no damage had been done, as the lads in the shop I bought it were able to give me a full refund, fair play to them.

Went to my LBS and picked up a Bryton Rider 35 with HR and cadence sensors for a great price! Has all the same features as a garmin edge 500 without leaving my wallet feeling taken advantage of. Granted it doesn't look as nice as the garmin and isn't QUITE as easy to use, and won't let me directly upload to strava (have to upload to brytonsport and export as .gpx file), it matches the colour of my bike a little better and does what I want it to do. My only issue with it (and a very minor one at that) is that it came with a cadence OR speed ONLY sensor, so if I get to the stage where I want to train indoors and get an overall measurement of my workout I'll have to upgrade to a dual sensor, no biggie.

Hoping to get out on my first spin with it this evening, so if anyone is interested I can let you know how I get on with it in comparison to an edge 200 or my iPhone...

lennymc

Plastik wrote: »

Google DC Rainmaker Edge 500 and it will give you details of which wrist strap will fit for running. It's a little bulky when on the wrist but does the job just fine.

i got one of these recently (thanks to plastik for the recomendation) and its fine for running. Got it from amazon. As plastik says, its a little bulky, but fine. I wear it on the inside of my wrist.

manafana

colm_gti wrote: »

So I, like Colm18 got advice on which was the best to go for, and then disregarded all of it and went for the 200 anyway:rolleyes: Used it for one spin and kinda regretted it very soon after, given its lack of ANT+ support and the option to add any extra sensors, especially HRM (considering I wanted to start doing some interval training). So thankfully I had kept all the packaging and no damage had been done, as the lads in the shop I bought it were able to give me a full refund, fair play to them.

Went to my LBS and picked up a Bryton Rider 35 with HR and cadence sensors for a great price! Has all the same features as a garmin edge 500 without leaving my wallet feeling taken advantage of. Granted it doesn't look as nice as the garmin and isn't QUITE as easy to use, and won't let me directly upload to strava (have to upload to brytonsport and export as .gpx file), it matches the colour of my bike a little better and does what I want it to do. My only issue with it (and a very minor one at that) is that it came with a cadence OR speed ONLY sensor, so if I get to the stage where I want to train indoors and get an overall measurement of my workout I'll have to upgrade to a dual sensor, no biggie.

Hoping to get out on my first spin with it this evening, so if anyone is interested I can let you know how I get on with it in comparison to an edge 200 or my iPhone...

good move, even if you didnt opt for 500, as mentioned its a long term investment so paying bit more for better detail and recording was worth it, i noticed your reading from your 200, read different to what i had on the 500.

brayblue24

seamus wrote: »

You'll get the 200 and in six 2 months time you'll want to know about your cadence and HR. Go for the 500.

Least that's how long it took me to upgrage. No comparison.

colm_gti

brayblue24 wrote: »

Least that's how long it took me to upgrage. No comparison.

Took me 1 weekend :rolleyes:

clod71

I am looking to buy one of these as it's the second time that my iPhone goes dead after 90k while using Strava and I can't cope with that anymore. :mad:
I was looking at CRC they have a 15 euro discount 'till tomorrow.

Question:
if I want to get the 500 with HRM and cadence is this the deal?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44124

I am just worried 'cause in the description it says HRM: NO and cadence: NO
Looking at what's in the box there's no mention of the strap either...

but if so what is the bundle and the 55 quid more for???

Thanks

seamus

I'd email them tbh. Everything in the description says that it's just the base unit with no sensor or strap.