Cycle computer advice?

lismore7

I have a very basic cycle computer and was thinking of upgrading to a Garmin GPS. However they're very expensive and I'm not sure if the investment would be worth the extra features?
+ which Garmin to choose?

When possible, I'd cycle an average of 180 kms a week, from Spring onwards and do several sportives during the summer.

07Lapierre

Read this...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84587983

then buy the 500.

Alanstrainor

I've been running the 500 for over a year now. Gets used every working day, and then at the weekends too. Still going strong, and really can't complain.

Although the price is still high, I would have thought it would have come down seeing how long its been out.

codie

Having made the upgrade from 500 to 810 and if I were in your position I would buy 500.Most reliable ,cheaper and the 500 for the average cyclist will do more than enough.The live tracking is about the only other useful option the 510 or the 810 will have,unless you run di2, but having said that if I were gone off on the bike and no return I don't know would my wife think of looking at the live tracking option to see where I was.Swimcyclerun.com usually do a good price .

devonp

got a 810 some weeks back on Wiggle for 303 euro, basic head set, but easy to put openstreet maps on courses etc
still playing around with it, but happy

07Lapierre

devonp wrote: »

got a 810 some weeks back on Wiggle for 303 euro, basic head set, but easy to put openstreet maps on courses etc
still playing around with it, but happy

I have the 810..love it! I find the Maps very handy when cycling in Spain. (comes in handy once I'm outside north County Dublin too!)

the.red.baron

lismore7 wrote: »

I have a very basic cycle computer and was thinking of upgrading to a Garmin GPS. However they're very expensive and I'm not sure if the investment would be worth the extra features?
+ which Garmin to choose?

When possible, I'd cycle an average of 180 kms a week, from Spring onwards and do several sportives during the summer.

I am using the MIO 105, i got it on ebay for 63 euro delivered, has ant+, can connect hrm, cadence and power.

Been using it approx 1 year. Have connected all but power.

Seems good. 20plus hrs of battery life, no water ingress.

Even has a limited bread crumb map.

I am using the magellan tool to get the data into strava.

Only issue I have had so far is on the turbo trainer when loading to strava it won't track the indicated speed or distance based on this.

Not that big an issue, but it would be handy to see the indicated effort vs heart rate. it tracks hrm cadence etc all fine.

Puggy

I got a 510, primarily because it has the ability to save rides to my iPhone, which then auto uploads to Garmin. I have My Garmin profile set to sync with Strava. In theory, because the 510 and iPhone only ever work after they are both restarted.

So don't waste money on the 510, as the Bluetooth sync with iPhone is not reliable. Which means you need to plug your Garmin into a PCs or Mac to get the data into Strava.

Wishbone Ash

lismore7 wrote: »

...was thinking of upgrading to a Garmin GPS. However they're very expensive ....

Garmin 500's feature regularly for sale on Cycling Adverts as people upgrade to 510's/800/810's.

Carpenter

Dont forget about the extra weight

Cee-Jay-Cee

I have a Bryton 35 (which has since been superseded by the 40) and it does everything a garmin 500 does except cheaper. I love mine and it has an excellent battery life, usually 30-35hrs. For now I have no reason to change/update it.

lismore7

Can I sync the 500 to Strava?

Skrynesaver

When you say you need to plug in to a PC or Mac, is it just in order to save the file and upload via a web interface, or is there a software package that obfuscates the file upload? (No Windows or Mac machines in the house).

Wishbone Ash

lismore7 wrote: »

Can I sync the 500 to Strava?

Yes via USB cable.

Brian?

Skrynesaver wrote: »

When you say you need to plug in to a PC or Mac, is it just in order to save the file and upload via a web interface, or is there a software package that obfuscates the file upload? (No Windows or Mac machines in the house).

What do you have? It's a simple matter of uploading a .gpx file from your garmin to Strava etc. by USB.

DaithiMC

Skrynesaver wrote: »

When you say you need to plug in to a PC or Mac, is it just in order to save the file and upload via a web interface, or is there a software package that obfuscates the file upload? (No Windows or Mac machines in the house).

Strava (and Garmin Connect) have plugins that allow you to do it directly, i.e., miss out the step of having to take the file out of the Activities folder, save it and then locate it through the web interface. When the BT upload via the Smartphone works, it is great, but I too have found that to be flaky on the 510.

One other advantage of the GPS devices I use a lot is being able to use routes created in the various websites. The turn by turn or breadcrumbs work well when you are in unfamiliar territory and saves lots of time not having to stop at corners to pull out a map or phone to check a map. I assume that is a function on most of the GPS enabled computers.

triggermortis

I had a 500 and found most of the features great. The breadcrumb trail navigation was a bit hit-and0miss with it often telling me I was off course, when I was on the only road for miles. Upgraded to the 800 as I wanted maps after a move abroad, and no local language, and it is excellent.
I would definitely recommend a Garmin.

G1032

lismore7 wrote: »

Can I sync the 500 to Strava?

Yes. What I do anymore is connect the 500 to my phone via OTG cable and automatically upload to Garmin Connect with this app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carlopescio.uploader

It automatically syncs then to Strava within 20 to 30 seconds.

No need to bother with the laptop anymore.

Wishbone Ash

triggermortis wrote: »

....The breadcrumb trail navigation was a bit hit-and0miss with it often telling me I was off course, when I was on the only road for miles....

Yes, it's crap. As well as continually telling you you are off course it also likes to inform you of a turn after you've passed it. I gave up using that feature. Otherwise it has served me well.

Skrynesaver

Brian? wrote: »

What do you have? It's a simple matter of uploading a .gpx file from your garmin to Strava etc. by USB.

Fedora and centos mostly, one BSD box. It seems Strava has a published web API so mount USB find latest .gpx and upload should be scriptable...

crosstownk

I'll give my 2c.

I'm not into heart rate monitoring or cadence. I don't dispute the advantage that these measurements can offer but they're just not what I want.

Based on the above I went for a Garmin Edge 200. It cost me €85 with a deal in Halfords. It uploads to Strava too. Long battery life and easy to use.

Wishbone Ash

crosstownk wrote: »

...Based on the above I went for a Garmin Edge 200....

This might seem trivial but the biggest drawback with the 200 IMO is the lack of time of day. (Very important when commuting or getting rides in between the school runs).

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Garmin 500's feature regularly for sale on Cycling Adverts as people upgrade to 510's/800/810's.

That didn't take long!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=94282849#post94282849

neris

I have the 810 its good but few issues. The opensource maps i downloaded arent great for navigating off the colours dont stand out. Cant get the hear rate monitor or cadence to work. Not that i really need them but would like the option as i get less fat

iwillhtfu

I know someone selling a barely used 200 for €70 I think if that's any use to you. It does the job of tracking your rides if you're not into cadence or HRM then the models above are and expense you don't need.

rtmie

Skrynesaver wrote:

Fedora and centos mostly, one BSD box. It seems Strava has a published web API so mount USB find latest .gpx and upload should be scriptable...

You will still be able to upload to strava/garmin connect no problem. I do all the time on fedora. The only difference is that you will have to do it as a manual file import(the garmin will be seen as a USB storage device) .
Garmin have a browser plugin that doesn't work on Linux that will automatically find files on the device that have not already been uploaded. But really it takes a couple of seconds to go through the file upload dialogue so not t a problem.
There was an opensource Linux project that provided a Linux driver to do the same but I think recent changes garmin website mean it no longer works.

Kinet1c

I've got the 200 about 7/8 months now, works really well and can upload to strava via USB. I opted for the 200 as I was just recently in to the cycling game and I didn't want to invest too much if I wasn't going to continue at it. With me still in the game now, I'll probably start looking at 500 or 510 so I can get cadence and HR (not all that important to me). Then the next step is a power meter