GPS useful or not???

Unknown · June 2007

I am thinking of getting this to help speed up wasted time during LeJog this summer. I am also a keen mtber in the winter.

I think this may be a bit overkill???

I will have to buy something like this to use it which pushes the cost up anyway
http://www.anquet.co.uk/product.asp?id=8500

I may get one of these anyway for working out route distances.

Has anyone got one who wouldn't be without it or does it lie unused apart from the odd ride where a map would suffice anyway?

Ed

nmcgann · June 2007

I use a GPS & Tracklogs to plan long training rides.

When I train I am aiming to ride continuously without pauses. The GPS enables me to follow a route using a combination of minor roads and lanes and then ride without having to stop continually to read a map.

I wouldn't be without it as I'd then just have to be on the A and B roads to avoid map reading and I'd miss all the nice lanes.

Neil

Unknown · June 2007

which type do you have?

piedwagtail91 · June 2007

ditto as nmcgann. though i don't train i use it for planning my "century" rides in unfamiliar areas, saves a lot of time messing with maps, which i can do in comfort at home on the pc before loading the tracklog into the gps.
i get to know in advance how much climbing and an estimated time for the ride.for something like lejog, especially at the speed you're doing it, there'd be plenty of romm to store each days ride in the gps. it would just be a case of rechaging high capacity nmhi batteries.
i have a garmin vista c, now cx.i use garmin city select mapping in the gps as a very detailed base map.the tracklog/route plotted on tracklogs software is overlaid on this.

DomT · June 2007

I think it would be very useful for the LeJog - saves you messing around with maps and so will give you more time to relax at the end of each day!

I have just completed a 9 day tour of Scotland and had each day saved to a Vista Cx. I was impressed with it and will use it for future "time of the essence" tours.

Just make sure you know how it works before you venture off!

bike 1 bike 2

Anonymous · June 2007

GPS are great no paper maps and setup your ride/trip at home, but it is only as good as the satellites, this morning I had to wait 10 minutes before I got a fix on my position as I had only one satellite showing instead of 4-6 this has happened three times over the last two weeks

Non Omnis Moriar

woody-som · June 2007

same here as nmcgann, except that I use fugawi for my route planning, down to personal preference. I use a basic etrec yellow, you upload a series of waypoints, known as a route, and just follow the arrow.

Some of the more expensive GPS units will how a map with your route, but I don't need this, and they tend to have a shorter battery run time.

Mapping scale I use, and most AFAIK, would suggest using 1:50,00. It covers a bigger area, without the expense, and includes the smaller roads that maps at 1:100,000 or 1:250,000 would leave out. If you wish to use it with a MTB off-road then 1:25,00 may be of use, but I still find the 1:50,000 Ok for this as well.

chris

greenmarkcp · June 2007

The problem with the GPS for a lejog is that to upload waypoints you're going to need regular access to the a PC and maybe internet access along the way. If you upload the lot then you're going to miss out the opportunity to take whatever route takes your fancy as you go.

piedwagtail91 · June 2007

yes but edddddddddddddd is doing it in 7 days so uploading tracks for each days ride rather than waypoints shouldn't be a problem as he'll have little time to deviate from the route to explore..with a more expensive gps with base mapping you can choose to leave your route to return later or plan one the night before using the gps with it's built in mapping, though i've only done that once as it's a bit/lot tedious.

JWSurrey · June 2007

Got a Garmin 305 - Not good for multi-days due to the 100 waypoint limit, but coupled with multimap it's excellent for my single day rides.
The freedom of riding without needing to stop and pull out the sweaty map from the back of the jersey. It's as if i'm riding a well signed sportive every time I go out!

il_principe · June 2007

Garmin 305 here. GPS won't navigate you like an in car GPS will but mine got me out to Surrey and back yesterday along unfamiliar roads and I didn't get lost once. Fantastic piece of kit.

My Best Bike

The Endorser · June 2007

Etrex - got it for my birthday.

It's a fun toy with some coincidental uefulness - if i go offoading and get lost, I can just reverse until I recognise where I am., altitude is interesting (my toilet is 219 metres ASL!).

Eating baby elephants since 1969

andrew_s · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jashburnham

GPS won't navigate you like an in car GPS <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Mine does (60CSx).
It was dead handy coming back from Aberdeen on the train on Saturday for the Glasgow change of trains. Queen Street station was flooded so we got chucked off at Springburn with instructions to wait for the ??:?? train to get us into Queen St low-level (???) 5 mins before the Plymouth train was due to leave Central station. I was able to just fire up the GPS at Springburn, and ask it to take me straight to Central station. Only a 3km ride, but I wouldn't have known that without the GPS.

il_principe · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by andrew_s

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jashburnham

GPS won't navigate you like an in car GPS <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Mine does (60CSx).
It was dead handy coming back from Aberdeen on the train on Saturday for the Glasgow change of trains. Queen Street station was flooded so we got chucked off at Springburn with instructions to wait for the ??:?? train to get us into Queen St low-level (???) 5 mins before the Plymouth train was due to leave Central station. I was able to just fire up the GPS at Springburn, and ask it to take me straight to Central station. Only a 3km ride, but I wouldn't have known that without the GPS.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That looks great as a standard GPS, but does it offer speed, cadence, HR, data like the Garmin Edge 305 does? ie is it any good as a training aid, or is it soley designed for naviagation?

My Best Bike

Unknown · June 2007

I use a Garmin etrex which is about as basic as it gets, still anymore and I would have become bored with the instructions/ faff etc. I have found the etrex very useful, good battery life and reliable. Easy to use handlebar mounts are availible. I use it to log distance, speed on the road and waypoints when MTBing. Although there is no mapping feature you can set a waypoint (car park/pub etc) and find your way back. PC connectivity is poor but then you should be riding not fiddling around with that sort of stuff. Overall its inexpensive, reliable , provides some stats and stops you getting lost. 8 out of 10. recommended.[8D]

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Unknown · June 2007

would the Garmin Etrec be good enough for doing Le JOG

Unknown · June 2007

Sorry the Yellow Etrex...

SteveGcp · June 2007

Ed, in tandem with some mapping software (as you earlier suggested, though I use Fugawi)then providing you take the time to input the data an etrex would be fine. On "B" roads I find I probably average one waypoint per one and a half miles, so I guess you may need up to 1400 waypoints or considerably less if you keep to the "A" roads.
I'm pretty sure the latest basic (yellow) Etrex has capacity for 20 routes of 125 waypoints each, certainly my Etrex Summit has. You need to check this before buying. I have seen the older Etrex still for sale which only has one route with 50 waypoints.
If you are intending generaly keeping to a set route and are happy to spend a few hours inputing the data then the Etrex is perfect. You will of course need the optional bike mount and PC (serial) interface cable. After that just make sure you set the Etrex to the Ordanance Survey and British grid settings.

Unknown · June 2007

If you get a GPS, I can't think why you would want to ride the length of the country on A roads; there must surely be a reasonably direct route on B roads and lanes.

ScottDougall · June 2007

I had one and after the initial fun wore off I found it to be interesting but not that useful and since I sold it I have really appreciated not having to wait for it to log into satellites

...its the legs that count !

andrew_s · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jashburnham

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by andrew_s

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jashburnham

GPS won't navigate you like an in car GPS <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Mine does (60CSx).
It was dead handy coming back from Aberdeen on the train on Saturday for the Glasgow change of trains. Queen Street station was flooded so we got chucked off at Springburn with instructions to wait for the ??:?? train to get us into Queen St low-level (???) 5 mins before the Plymouth train was due to leave Central station. I was able to just fire up the GPS at Springburn, and ask it to take me straight to Central station. Only a 3km ride, but I wouldn't have known that without the GPS.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That looks great as a standard GPS, but does it offer speed, cadence, HR, data like the Garmin Edge 305 does? ie is it any good as a training aid, or is it soley designed for naviagation?

My Best Bike
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
It's purely a GPS - no cadence, no HR, no comparison with previous rides. It's good on heights, speeds and very much better than the Edge on navigation. It's also not restricted to day rides like the Edge is with its built-in batteries.
I don't do training, I do rides to interesting pubs instead.[:D][:D][:D]

peterbr · June 2007

For navigation, get the cheapest Garmin with a PC interface. Either a Geko or a Foretrex. These can be had for for as little as œ60 on ebay.

Create TRACKS to follow, not routes with waypoints. These have upto 10,000 trackpoints (they are shared with the breadcrumb tail that's recorded as you go) so even for a lejog you can have one every 100-150m or so and hold the whole route (which should be unbelievably tedious to plot unless you can find one online). Use the waypoints to mark important places like campsites so you can use the "navigate to" function should you need it.

I'll repeat the warning again as I do on every GPS thread. THE EDGE SERIES ARE TRAINING TOOLS, they are not so suitable for general navigation either on foot or cycling, for the simple reason you cannot change the map datum - it's fixed to latitude and longitude which means you cannot use it in conjunction an OS map.

As always with electronic devices, you should always take a map and compass and know how to use them. Electronics can fail or run out of power at any time, any place, including in the middle of nowhere. Regard a GPS as convenience rather than rely on it.

<hr noshade size="1">
"Europe's nations should be guided towards a superstate without their people understanding what is happening. This can be accomplished by successive steps, each disguised as having an economic purpose, but which will eventually and irreversibly lead to federation"
Jean Monnet, founding father of the EU.

piedwagtail91 · June 2007

i'll second creating tracks, far easier than routes with waypoints.if you use tracklogs software for creating tracks ( don't know about the others)there is a tool in the new beta version for filtering the trackpoints down to 500 which is the maximum number of points in a saved track. thats plenty to get you through 100- 140 miles.it's an "intelligent" filter which won't remove any points that cover a change of direction,be it a bend in the road or a junction.
you'll need a gps to save about a dozen tracks to be on the safe side.
with something like a vista c/cx you could select to show them all on screen which would save you having to load a new track each day.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by peterbr

...Create TRACKS to follow, not routes with waypoints. These have upto 10,000 trackpoints...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">On the yellow Etrex, at least, tracks are limited to no more than 125 (in theory - 124 in practice) trackpoints; but you can have 10 of them.

freddered · June 2007

I used Garmin Geko 201 & Fugawi Digital Maps to get me from Hampshire to Manchester in a day on Country Lanes. I didn't refer to a map all day (although you'd be foolish not to take maps as well....but you can print them from Fugawi).

The Garmin Geko will accept 10,000 track points from Fugawi, more than enough for a LEJoG.

If you want to keep moving then buy a GPS.

Geko 201 - œ80
Cable - œ7 (ebay)
Fugawi - all of UK œ30 (Ebay)

Plot a very rough track by putting a track point in each town you want to go thru. That will give you a few straight lines to use as a reference.

Next plot more detailed tracks using those initial lines, keep repeating process until you are happy with track.

Upload to GPS and follow the arrow.

Unknown · June 2007

Brilliant advice everyone.

Many thanks

Ed

Unknown · June 2007

etrex

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/starseven1968/DSC00370.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/starseven1968/DSC00371.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/starseven1968/DSC00372.jpg

bit bored today.

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Greenbank · June 2007

Bought an eTrex (the basic yellow one) from www.blokesstuff.com a week ago. œ60 plus another œ11 for the handlebar mount. Cable from eBay.

GPS was delivered (by Royal Mail) in 2 days. Cable took only 4 days to come all the way from Hong Kong.

Absolutely excellent. Well recommended.

Will be using it for Audaxes and long training rides (not so useful on the commute!)

Get some good rechargable batteries, and a good charger!

--
If I had a baby elephant signature, I'd use that.

Unknown · June 2007

It looks like I might go for a Geko.

Will it interfere with my heart rate monitor?
I can out my HRM near bottle somehow I'm sure.

Also am I right in thinking I could plot the whole Lejog route before I go and not need a computer at all during the ride?

Once again great advice. Thanks

freddered · June 2007

GPS is passive, ie. It doesn't broadcast anything.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Also am I right in thinking I could plot the whole Lejog route before I go and not need a computer at all during the ride?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes you are right.

However, my experience is that it's better to plot a few smaller tracks. You can even plot some tracks to take you into and out of town centres if you need.

The biggest track I would do (if I were doing LEJoG again) is a daily one.

Remember ...you can accidentally delete a track.

It took me a few weeks to learn how to make the best of GPS.

TIP. Only plot a trackpoint at a point just AFTER (like 30 metres) a significant turning. Why?

The Geko points an arrow directly at the trackpoint. When you pass that trackpoint, it points directly at the next.

1) If you plot a trackpoint just before a junction the arrow will point dead ahead until you arrive at the junction. You may not get much notice of the turn ahead.

2) If you plot the trackpoint 30 meters AFTER the turn, the arrow will start to turn as you approach the junction (it will point directly at the trackpoint down the road you need)

3) NEVER plot a trackpoint near to a junction you won't be turning at. If you do, the arrow may give the impression you need to turn (a GPS is not accurate to 1cm, sometimes it may be 10 metres out).

Using these tips I KNOW that if the GPS says "Waypoint in 50 metres" and there is a junction about 50 metres ahead, then I am going to be turning. About the same time the arrow will start to slowly turn left or right. As I get to the junction the arrow will be 90 degress left or right.

I bloody love my Geko

Unknown · June 2007

Im getting convinced by the tracks idea, if I get a cable (USB) type from ebay. Does the mapping software fugawi/tracklogs etc come with the software required to upload into an Etrex? or just Gecko or is that another item altogether?

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GPS useful or not???

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