Budget tracking / GPS system

Sebastian Dangerfield

Im hoping to build up my fitness on my bike so would like to track distance cycled, incline etc when I go out. Can someone recommend a budget GPS or tracking device please?

Ive used Google maps before, but my last phone packed in due to water damage so dont want to take my new one out. Ive got an ipod touch which Ill have with me anyway, but without a phone signal and assuming I wont be near WiFi, I dont think that will be any use.

Thanks

ruffmut

I am just after buying a garmin edge 200 in halfords last week for €120. It is waterproof and simple to use. I upload the data to garmin connect and endomondo afterward to view the stats.

Sebastian Dangerfield

Thanks - Im very much starting out so was hoping to pay no more than €50, but from what Ive seen there isnt too much out there at the price range.

marketty

Edge 200 is the cheapest you will find. I would suggest reconsidering using your phone, stick it in a ziplock bag or a special waterproof cover made for the particular model. Any android/iPhone with GPS should run the strava app which has loads of features, highly recommended for spins of up to a couple of hours, battery life won't be as good as garmin though.

Sebastian Dangerfield

Thanks.

Any experience of a GPS watch? They all seem to describe uses for running, but if they have gps in them I assume theyll be fine for cycling too. There are some Timex ones for €60-70, or I could get a used Garmin on ebay.

Or perhaps the Nike+ sensor. Do you need the propoer Nike shoes, or does it just have a nice holder for the sensor?

Sorry for all the questions.

blorg

The watches should all work fine, you just need something at the end of the day that will record points with enough frequency and export in a format that Strava will accept (which is most of them.)

If literally all you want is something that will let you upload the track to Strava you could possibly even make do with a GPS tracker/logger- these are just small little boxes where you press a button to start and stop tracking. They don't have a display or whatever, but you can connect them up with a PC and download the tracks after.

http://dx.com/p/holux-m-1000c-rechargeable-bluetooth-car-gps-receiver-with-data-logger-travel-recorder-24907

http://www.holux-uk.co.uk/gps-logger.php?ca=54

Holox also make GPSes specifically for running/biking, a bit cheaper than Garmin:

http://www.holux-uk.co.uk/outdoor-gps.php?ca=53

The GPSport 245 is 59 GBP including a bike mount (the more expensive 260 got a good BikeRadar review):

http://www.holux-uk.co.uk/holux-gpsport-245.php?it=173&ca=53&p=1&so=0

As far as I'm aware the Nike+ sensor is a pedometer, not a GPS, so it wouldn't work on a bike. It also just streams the data to a phone which is responsible for any data storage.

You can also get a second Android smartphone with GPS from 49 EUR, which you could just run Strava on directly:

http://www.carphonewarehouse.ie/category/Pay-As-You-Go-Smartphones/1_3

The main negatives with this one would be battery life. Note GPS tracking should work even without network service (so you wouldn't have to maintain a SIM in the thing) BUT smartphones generally use assisted GPS which can work much worse without network coverage (the device uses nearby cell towers to give itself a rough location when acquiring the GPS fix.)

I've only owned Garmin (Edge 305/705/800) and Android smartphones, so I have no personal experience with any of the above, but there is no reason they shouldn't work for uploading to Strava.

If I was in your situation I think I'd go for the Holux GPSport 245 @59 GBP, it's a lot nicer to have something with reasonable battery life, waterproof, a screen that shows things, that is somewhat ruggedised and that is actually designed to stick on your bars.

lennymc

i carry my phone in a ziplock bag, and its never got a good soaking, even in our glorious lovely irish summer!

The cheapest option is strava on your phone, but battery life will suffer.
Alternatively, ridewithgps.com lets you map your ride after you have done it, so you dont need anything with you at all.

shigllgetcha

Go to vodafone and buy a smart 2 for €70 and put it in a zip lock bag as someone suggested. Fire the sim in the bin if you want to. or go on ebay and buy the cheapest used android phone you can find.

Itll log your ride with GPS, logging with wifi isnt very accurate at all. Use strava or anyother exercise logger to log your rides

lennymc

battery life on the phone when track your ride is generally about 2 hours (at least in my experience - using iphone 3gs, and a couple of different android phones). I have an edge 500 so dont really use phones for tracking.

gman2k

Garmin eTrex, a SH one would be cheap. No mapping though....

ThisRegard

lennymc wrote: »

battery life on the phone when track your ride is generally about 2 hours (at least in my experience - using iphone 3gs, and a couple of different android phones). I have an edge 500 so dont really use phones for tracking.

Using a Galaxy S1 I've tracked for up to 3 hours and still had a couple of hours battery life remaining. It could be down to whatever app you use but I've had data off and only phone and GPS enabled.

rp

Cheapest Garmin is the FR60, here's one for 80 quids sterling, if you're ok with the Colour Lilac:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-FR60-Heart-Rate-Monitor/dp/B001S2RCX2/ref=sr_1_24?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1358428418&sr=1-24

dewindygap

This is what I use when away touring. Very handy, small, easy to use and you can upload data on to your pc. No HRM or anything specialized like that on it, just speed, altitude and the route you take. I picked mine up , new, on eBay for 40 yoyo's but prices do vary from site to site.

http://global.mobileaction.com/product/product_i-gotU_USB.jsp

clog

Buy a nokia 5230 for about 25 euro load endomondo onto it and away you go battery life is much better compared to more modern smartphones (8-10hr). The phone won't handle strava but you can upload tcx file from endomondo.

Sebastian Dangerfield

Cheers everyone

emtroche

If its just distance and incline you need then the cheapest option is to use one of the online mapping sites like www.ridewithgps.com pre or post ride.