Growing tired of Free Apps - Thinking of an upgrade

Seve OB

So I use the free apps on my phone to track my rides and upload them to strava. I also have a Cateye Cycle computer which does work great.

I am doing a good bit on the bike now so maybe it is time to upgrade to something like a Garmin, but I know nothing about them and what options are out there?

Would they be usable for going running as well as cycling? Wouldn't mind one that could track my heart rate and any other extra benefits that might be available?

It the Edge 500 the way to go for these options or is there an alternative to Garmin.

Do you have to plug them all into a computer to upload your data or do any of them come with Wifi that would upload straight to the net through my router, or even use my phones net connection to go online.

Does the 800 have maps on it, and is it worth it?

or am i mad and should i just stick to the free apps, though i do see garmin have an app i might try for €0.79 - anyone on this?

Lumen

Edge 500 or one of the Bryton equivalents.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bryton/?s=gps

No experience of Bryton, but my Edge 500 is reliable enough.

Lumen

There's also this which I've never heard of before.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/satmap-active-10-bike-sports-gps/

macnab

I use a Garmin Forerunner 305, it does every thing I need and then some. USB upload to PC and about 10 hours battery time. It is slightly bulky on my arm so I usually strap it to the handlebars.

Seve OB

macnab wrote: »

I use a Garmin Forerunner 305, it does every thing I need and then some. USB upload to PC and about 10 hours battery time. It is slightly bulky on my arm so I usually strap it to the handlebars.

Are the Forerunners old stock now?

Battery time is a good point. I would consider 10 hours crap tbh. What is the battery like on the other units? I haven't changed the battery in my Cateye in years. It is old style lithium battery with a LCD screen. Looks similar to the 500, so I would have thought the battery on these units would be similar and last a long time. One of the reasons why I am thinking of upgrading

lennymc

the edge 500 battery time seems good. ive done a couple fo 12 hour days on the bike with about 50% indicated remaining battery time.

i also have a forerunner 110 and the battery time is not great on that.

colm_gti

I have bryton rider 35 with HR and cadence, and apart from the battery going in my HRM I haven't had any trouble with it. I'm sure it's much the same as an edge 500, was just cheaper at the time of purchase so went with that one. It does have a bigger screen though I think, and lists a 35hr battery time, which I have yet to test :rolleyes:

hardCopy

I got the Garmin 310XT a few months back. I find it great, although I have had trouble sending pre-mapped courses to the device (this would seem to be particular to my device as nobody on the internet seems to have had the same problem).

Currently 30% off on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Forerunner-310XT-Heart-Monitor/dp/B0025VKUPM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340797698&sr=8-1

mel.b

While you can use the edge 500 for cycling as well as running it is a bit big & bulky for running IMHO. maybe look at one of the polar devices which seem a bit smaller?

Seve OB

Am I right in saying that the Garmin forerunners are basically watches?

lennymc

stevieob wrote: »

Am I right in saying that the Garmin forerunners are basically watches?

no. they are gps recodring devices that track heart rate and route, as well as pace and some other things. They also tell the time

My wife uses mine on her bike, and apart from the really bike specific stuff, like cadence and power, it does provide quite useful information.

seamus

Forerunner is for running, edge is for cycling. While you can cross over to some degree, both are good at what they're designed for but not great at anythin else.

The forerunner has some bike functions so it can be used for tri/duathlon but if you're not doing triathlons then the edge is the way to go.

I have one of each, the battery life is designed for about two epic days - so ten hours of running and 24 hours of cycling, respectively.

Worth noting though that the battery life on the edge is reduced by about 30% when you're not using the speed/cadence sensor.

monkeypants

seamus wrote: »

Worth noting though that the battery life on the edge is reduced by about 30% when you're not using the speed/cadence sensor.

Sorry Seamus, can I just clarify this; the battery life is reduced by not using a feature?

seamus

monkeypants wrote: »

seamus wrote: »

Worth noting though that the battery life on the edge is reduced by about 30% when you're not using the speed/cadence sensor.

Sorry Seamus, can I just clarify this; the battery life is reduced by not using a feature?

In my experience, yes. The only guess I can make is that because the unit must estimate speed based on GPS signal when operated sans-sensor, this requires more power in order to get a sharper lock on the satellites.
With the sensor in place, less power is required to communicate with it, and you don't need the same accuracy of GPS, so less power is used.

That's just a guess, but my actual experience is that the battery drains noticeably faster without the sensor. Even when the edge doesn't think a sensor exists (ie it's not searching for one)

Lumen

I have vowed for mental health reasons never to attempt a cycle long enough to drain the battery on my Edge 500, with or without speed/cadence sensor.

Seve OB

Went into wheelworx on the way home to get some de-greaser.
Came out with a Garmin edge 500.

Problem solved!