Strava & bike computers

GT_TDI_150

Guys,

What is best value for money bike computer(with hr monitor) that works with the likes of strava?

Thanks

jimm

Garmin Edge 500, or the 800 if you want maps.

triggermortis

jimm wrote: »

Garmin Edge 500, or the 800 if you want maps.

+1

Koobcam

Get a forerunner 610, you can use it for running as wells the bike

lennymc

edge 500 definately.

colm_gti

Edge 500 without a doubt, or edge 200 if you think you'll never need a HRM or cadence...you can pick them up for €130 in halfords, and get €30 back from garmin.

I tried to get a cheaper alternative (bryton rider 35), but learned my lesson when it self destructed on me after 4 months.

Get a garmin edge.

Cyclepath

I prefer the Garmin watches to the Edge. As Koobcam says, you can wear it for running too (not that I've actually used mine for that...) but also because it's on your wrist you don't have to worry about mounting and dismounting it from the bike.

I got a Forerunner 410 cheap on amazon and it can do cadence too with the optional speed/cadence sensor. Unless you want to spend serious cash or you really need very small maps on your handlebars, I'd give the Edge a miss!

I'm using my Forerunner 410 with Strava every day btw, but before you buy go here to make sure that Strava can upload for the model you buy:

https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/20426376-which-gps-devices-do-you-support

billyhead

Might get the Garmin from Halfords. How does the cashback offer work? Do they post you out a cheque to your home address or something?

Iwernia

I think the garmin edge is an essential piece of kit.

Seve OB

+1 for the Edge 500

Cyclepath wrote: »

Unless you want to spend serious cash or you really need very small maps on your handlebars, I'd give the Edge a miss!

But the Edge 500 doesn't give you any kind of maps, let alone very small ones!

colm_gti

stevieob wrote: »

+1 for the Edge 500



But the Edge 500 doesn't give you any kind of maps, let alone very small ones!

You can use it to guide you around a pre-planned route, albeit only by a breadcrumb style route map...though I've yet to try it, I've heard it works ok...

Seve OB

colm_gti wrote: »

You can use it to guide you around a pre-planned route, albeit only by a breadcrumb style route map...though I've yet to try it, I've heard it works ok...

it does, but I would hardly call it a map. and they way it zooms, you will most likely just see a line on the page which indicates the next couple of hunders meters or so

Cyclepath

stevieob wrote: »

it does, but I would hardly call it a map. and they way it zooms, you will most likely just see a line on the page which indicates the next couple of hunders meters or so

That's exactly why I wouldn't bother! unless you shell out serious yoyos for an edge 800, you may as well have a small screen and wear it on your wrist...

Soarer

I've just posted this in the Bargain thread, but the Garmin forerunner 410 with heart monitor is available from Amazon for £165 delivered.

Fairly cheap for that.

Seve OB

Cyclepath wrote: »

That's exactly why I wouldn't bother! unless you shell out serious yoyos for an edge 800, you may as well have a small screen and wear it on your wrist...

I disagree. most people who want a cycle computer will not necessarily need or want the maps, but rather just want it for the data it gives you. Most people will more than likely be cycling on routes they are somewhat familiar with, so don't need a navigation system.

The route planner on the Edge 500 gives you 2 things.
1. If you are riding a new route which you have pre-mapped on the internet, the Edge 500 shows you where the course goes and works perfectly well.
2. You can use it as a training tool for routes as it gives you a virtual partner to cycle with. You can program times etc. It will tell you how far behind/ahead in distance and time you are against your virtual partner. this is a great feature if you are trying to better your PB times etc.

Also I think you are contradicting yourself with regard to giving the Edge a miss over the Forerunner based on price. you are not saving much if any at all and I haven't even looked to see what the postage costs!

Edge 500 in wheelworx with Premium HR strap & Speed/Cadence Sensor cost me €288. (Was only €256 on special 2 weeks ago)
Garmin 410 with HR strap on amazon £160 (€200)
Bike mount £10 (€13)
Cadence Sensor £40 (€50)

C3PO

Cyclepath wrote: »

That's exactly why I wouldn't bother! unless you shell out serious yoyos for an edge 800, you may as well have a small screen and wear it on your wrist...

But much more difficult to see the data as you're riding?

ashleey

Regarding strava, should I pause my edge 500 when I stop for lunch on a sportive ride. That is, does strava rank by elapsed time or moving time?

(some mad person added strava to our club site and now it's going to get competitive!)

doozerie

ashleey wrote: »

Regarding strava, should I pause my edge 500 when I stop for lunch on a sportive ride. That is, does strava rank by elapsed time or moving time?

(some mad person added strava to our club site and now it's going to get competitive!)

If you have autostart (or "autopause" or whatever the option is called) enabled then it'll save you the hassle of having to remember to press the stop/start button each time.

Strava shows both your "Time" and "Elapsed Time" though, and I think that the likes of average speed are based on the elapsed time figure. I used to never stop my Garmin mid-ride and didn't have auto start/stop enabled either, just relying on both Garmin's and Strava's websites to strip out any stopped periods. However, at one point several months back Strava disabled the functionality to strip out dead times and started showing all average figures based on elapsed time, which messed up my figures. They reverted that change though after pleas from their users.

I subsequently enabled the auto stop/start option on my Garmin and it works well, though the "beep!" when stopping at the likes of traffic lights can be annoying, particularly if you are riding with a bunch of other people whose Garmins are equally vocal. It can sound like a bad 80's electronica musical group. Also, if you do enable that option, try to avoid using the "Detect" option for your cadence sensor if there are other Garmin devices on bikes nearby 'cos it seems to send the Garmin a bit loopy - mine reports multiple sensors found and crankily insists that I'm actually stationary until I disable the auto feature, successfully detect my cadence sensor, and re-enable the auto feature again. Garmins! - can't live with 'em, can't seem to live without 'em.

doozerie

As regards best value for money, I too am inclined to think the Garmin Edge 500 is the best candidate. I've not tried any other brands though so that view is very much based on simply what I know. I have the Edge 705, which has basically been replaced by the Edge 800 but I think the Edge 500 is what I'd choose if I had to replace my 705.

Magellan is a brand that I've not read much about but I seem to recall reading some good reviews of their GPS devices for hikers a while back. They do a watch variant for sports now, these ones, but they are well into the price category of Garmin Edge devices (or more even, when you add in VAT and import duty) so whether they offer similar or better value I don't know. They don't obviously seem to record cadence though, just from a quick glance at the specs, which I'd miss if I didn't have it. - correction, they do support a cadence sensor, now that I've looked at the specs more carefully. What the spec don't say is what format it produces/exports files in, but I presume it supports TCX (and others) just like the Garmins, though that'd be something to check.

cantalach

doozerie wrote: »

If you have autostart (or "autopause" or whatever the option is called) enabled then it'll save you the hassle of having to remember to press the stop/start button each time.

Yes, but when auto-paused, it often starts and stops repeatedly all by itself if your bike is parked somewhere that affects the signal quality, e.g. in a narrow street or under the canopy of a petrol station forecourt. This phantom movement really messes with your moving average. Best to actually do a manual pause when stopped for coffee. On a very long day, it's a good idea to switch the unit off completely during your food stops because a full battery can run out - happened to me a few months ago with 2km to go in a 281km cycle. Now that was annoying.

doozerie wrote: »

Strava shows both your "Time" and "Elapsed Time" though, and I think that the likes of average speed are based on the elapsed time figure.

Depends. The overall ride average speed is moving time. The average speed in a segment is based on elapsed time.

doozerie wrote: »

Garmins! - can't live with 'em, can't seem to live without 'em.

You said it!

ashleey

I noticed that. I have just started using Strava. I uploaded yesterday's Leinster Loop and as I leave the Garmin on auto pause (avoids the 'forgetting to switch back on after food stop' nightmare), it used elapsed time in my ranking rather than moving time. I wouldn't mind but I reckon the lads ahead pressed 'stop' on theirs!

ashleey

ashleey wrote: »

I noticed that. I have just started using Strava. I uploaded yesterday's Leinster Loop and as I leave the Garmin on auto pause (avoids the 'forgetting to switch back on after food stop' nightmare), it used elapsed time in my ranking rather than moving time. I wouldn't mind but I reckon the lads ahead pressed 'stop' on theirs!

My mistake, Strava used last year's route for some of the rankings. It was 10k longer this year!

Cyclepath

stevieob wrote: »

I disagree. most people who want a cycle computer will not necessarily need or want the maps, but rather just want it for the data it gives you. Most people will more than likely be cycling on routes they are somewhat familiar with, so don't need a navigation system.

The route planner on the Edge 500 gives you 2 things.
1. If you are riding a new route which you have pre-mapped on the internet, the Edge 500 shows you where the course goes and works perfectly well.
2. You can use it as a training tool for routes as it gives you a virtual partner to cycle with. You can program times etc. It will tell you how far behind/ahead in distance and time you are against your virtual partner. this is a great feature if you are trying to better your PB times etc.

Also I think you are contradicting yourself with regard to giving the Edge a miss over the Forerunner based on price. you are not saving much if any at all and I haven't even looked to see what the postage costs!

Edge 500 in wheelworx with Premium HR strap & Speed/Cadence Sensor cost me €288. (Was only €256 on special 2 weeks ago)
Garmin 410 with HR strap on amazon £160 (€200)
Bike mount £10 (€13)
Cadence Sensor £40 (€50)

Ah, right. Looks like I got the bargain of the month then 'cos i got my 410 with HRM and cadence sensor for under €200 all in! The 410 can also do the virtual partner thing, though I don't actually use it as I'm commuting most of the time. But yeah the ability to load a route onto the edge is handy, if only to tell you when to turn...

Seve OB

doozerie wrote: »

I subsequently enabled the auto stop/start option on my Garmin and it works well, though the "beep!" when stopping at the likes of traffic lights can be annoying, particularly if you are riding with a bunch of other people whose Garmins are equally vocal. It can sound like a bad 80's electronica musical group.

Know exactly what you mean, was bugging the hell out of me also... till I figured out that you can turn it off!

Surinam

Cyclepath wrote: »

Ah, right. Looks like I got the bargain of the month then 'cos i got my 410 with HRM and cadence sensor for under €200 all in! The 410 can also do the virtual partner thing, though I don't actually use it as I'm commuting most of the time. But yeah the ability to load a route onto the edge is handy, if only to tell you when to turn...

The more I read up on the whole Garmin thing the more tempted I am to buy one! That virtual partner thing especially sounds like a real motivator. I'm currently using my phone in the back pocket for gps tracking and a cateye on the bars for speed, neither do heartrate - I don't really care about cadence.

Am looking at the forerunner 410 with heart rate monitor and bike mount - how do you find it on the bike, is it easy enough to read the screen? My budget is tight at the moment and the edge 500 would be out of reach unless I wait to save up. Can anyone with experience of either recommend one over the other?

Cyclepath

Surinam wrote: »

...

Am looking at the forerunner 410 with heart rate monitor and bike mount - how do you find it on the bike, is it easy enough to read the screen? My budget is tight at the moment and the edge 500 would be out of reach unless I wait to save up. Can anyone with experience of either recommend one over the other?

I find the 410 fine on the wrist. You can configure several screens worth of info that can be auto scrolled as you ride, or you can tap the bezel to go from screen to screen. I have one screen set up to the heart rate in large numerals for example. You can also get a handlebar mount for it if you want, and combined with the velcro strap they give you, it wouldn't be too much hassle mounting and dismounting. Good review of the watch here:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/01/garmin-forerunner-410-in-depth-review.html

Surinam

Ye it was that review which really got me interested in the 410. I'd buy the bike mount if I was getting it but I'd just be worried that the screen would be too small to see the figures from that distance?

colm_gti

Find it unusual why you'd choose a watch with gps features over a dedicated bike computer...maybe it's the Tri forum you're looking for?