GPS

MegaCycle

does anyone know if there is a small GPS unit suitable for use on a bike? I'd like to not get lost!

Also if it records where I have been, climbs etc that would be great too.

Thanks

Chirg

Garmin Edge 605 or 705 are about to arrive in the shops. They both do sat nav and lots more including speed, distance, time and altitude. All of this is uploadable to a pc and 705 does heart rate and cadence as well.

MegaCycle

cool! Thanks for that. I can feel some more retail therapy coming...

popette

hiya MegaCycle,

The garmin 205 and 305 do the same at much lower cost than the 605/705.

I originally was going to wait for the 705 to be released but when I compared the features on the Garmin website, I decided that the new features didn't warrant the additional expense and I bought a 305, which I've been really happy with. It's not a GPS in a traditional sense though - you couldn't just put a postcode in and tell it to route you there. Instead, you plan routes and upload them to Garmin. The 705 may handle this differently though - might be worth checking that out if it's something that you really wanted to have.

The variety of my routes has increased massively. I'm going out all over cheshire now whereas before I stuck to the routes I knew because I didn't want to start reading maps again.

two more things, I got my garmin from Halfords for about £140.
Here's a review of the 705 if that's the way that you want to go
http://tinyurl.com/ynp259.

Have fun with it. I'm out on a new route today with my Garmin 8)

MegaCycle

Hi there Popette

Thanks for the info. I haven’t looked into this area before, but I just got a bit of surprise dosh and am splashing out a bit! (got some very fancy new wheels for the Etape…)

I would quite like a traditional GPS facility too, then I can use it in the car too. I just like the idea of expanding my routes as you say you have. I currently always ride the White Horse Hill and it’s getting boring. Also want to know how much I climb in a given day. Somewhere there must be a comparison chart showing all the features of the various models.

Is Garmin basically the market leader here then? Or are there other companies?

You still doing the Cheshire Cat? I looked it up to see if I might make it up there and stay with my folks, but I can’t make that date 

Cheers

MC

Kafka\'s Doll

The SatMap Active 10 is another alternative -- and seems to be available now. There are a number of threads involving those of us who are frustrated that the 705 still hasn't been released.

The Mechanic

I have a Garmin Etrex Vista HCX with Mapsource maps. I used it for the first time on an audax last weekend and directions were spot on. Highly recomended.

MegaCycle

The Mechanic wrote:

I have a Garmin Etrex Vista HCX with Mapsource maps. I used it for the first time on an audax last weekend and directions were spot on. Highly recomended.

does that record climbed altitude and power?

killiekosmos

I've got a Fujitsu Seimens Loox N520 PDA which comes with GPS and Navigon Satnav. It was sourced through the Home Computer Initiative at work. I use it for lots of things: photos, mp3 music, calendar, contacts et as it synchronises to my PC at home (it also has wireless networking capability. I don't have a bike mount for it although I do have a SatNav mount in the car.

Anyway, I got this cheap bit of software 'Active track' from Vito Software ($7 US). I put the PDA in my saddle bag and it records my track. It gives stats on speed, altitude, distance, in lots of ways AND if I copy the file to my PC it shows everything on Google Earth. I'm well impressed.

MegaCycle

that sounds cool. Thanks for the advice

Chirg

Hi MegaCycle

Just to note I have a phone with sat nav that I thought I could use on the bike, but haven't found anything suitable to mount it on the handlebars and when you put it in your back pocket all the buttons are 'live' (not keylocked) whilst in navigation mode so it rings random people! Its not waterproof either, but if you have panniers or carry a bag it should work abet you can't see the screen.

Definitely after a Garmin 705 now as just like you I am bored of my normal routes.

sloxam

thishttp://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/keymaze-300-20957205/ looks a bargain

Cunobelin

What no-one has mentioned is the additional expenses!

To navigate, you need some form of software with maps and this is a problem.

Ordnance Survey have retrit the map data so that the maps are incompatible between versions of the same Software never mind between software programs.

To navigate at cycle level you need to buy additional software for products like the Garmin. Their "MapSource" is road only, whereas Memory-Map, Tracklogs, Anquet, Fugawi allow navigation at OS level. They are not cheap however..Southern England (Chepstow- Colchester and below is about £50). Tracklogs used to give a 50 mile radius free if you bought your GPS through them.


There are demos of these available on the websites

These are compatible between most general GPS units, but wilst routes are compatible, the maps are not - you cannot upload the map data.

If you are "Flush" with cash have a look at the n

MegaCycle

Blimey! Thanks for that Cunobelin, hadn't realised maps were extra.

But as I was reading, you were cut off in your prime! Care to complete your post?

Ta

Cunobelin

MegaCycle wrote:

Blimey! Thanks for that Cunobelin, hadn't realised maps were extra.

But as I was reading, you were cut off in your prime! Care to complete your post?

Ta

..... new "SatMap" although I think there are concerns over the fact that the mapping software and maps are on the handheld, and you will need to buy maps (as above) for the computer as well as the SD cards for the unit itself.

It should also be noted that although the spes satys "Windows CE" it only acts as an operating system for the mapping software - you do not get full PDA functionality.

http://www.satmap.com

My personal set up is:

Garmin Etrex (Touring) Garmin 305 (Commuting and training) with Memory-Map and the pocket version (included) on a Dell PDA, or a sub-notebook PC

I don't use electronic maps on the road. I tend to set up on the PDA / PC in the evening, download and simply follow the screen instructions, then upload the track of what I have done in the evening.

a_n_t

think the 705 comes with a base map, whatever that is?

Cunobelin

Garmin have two map systems in house... I believe that the map using GPS usie "Topo"

Info here:



http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/garmin-mapsource-topo-great-britain-v2-description.html?PHPSESSID=99fed7f910312d9079704ae3b88b928f

a_n_t

Cunobelin wrote:

Garmin have two map systems in house... I believe that the map using GPS usie "Topo"

Info here:



http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/garmin-mapsource-topo-great-britain-v2-description.html?PHPSESSID=99fed7f910312d9079704ae3b88b928f

so thats built in to the 705? no need to buy any other maps of GB?

cougie

Has anyone here used their Nokia N95 and Sportracker software on the bike ?

whyamihere

cougie wrote:

Has anyone here used their Nokia N95 and Sportracker software on the bike ?

I've just downloaded it, and I'm soon to buy this: http://www.buybits.com/product/sku_hr-s ... a-n95.aspx

I'll probably add a zip tie to make sure it can't slip out, but it should be an excellent solution for hardly any money, considering I already had the phone before I discovered the SportTracker software.

geoff_ss

I was looking at the Gamin Edge 205/305 cycle specific GPS systems in Decathlon yesterday. However, I love maps. I particularly love the OS Landranger 1:50,000 maps and large parts of sheet 119 (Buxton and Matlock) are stored in my head - perhaps because we live in the SE corner of it

I have no problem working out routes and, if they're fairly local (ie within 30/40 miles - more, in some directions), I have a pretty good idea where they all go. The only real use I can see for a GPS system is to pinpoint me on the map and to give me altitude information.

The beauty of maps is that they they can provide information about terrain and its relationship to the various political/geographic/geological features of the landscape. As far as I can see a GPS route would be like riding in blinkers if it wasn't used in conjunction with a map.

Because I'm a retired electronics engineer I like gadgets and I've fancied a GPS thing for some time. I just don't see what it will do for me. What will it do? I want to be persuaded.

Geoff

Rob Sallnow

Geoff_SS wrote:

I was looking at the Gamin Edge 205/305 cycle specific GPS systems in Decathlon yesterday. However, I love maps. I particularly love the OS Landranger 1:50,000 maps and large parts of sheet 119 (Buxton and Matlock) are stored in my head - perhaps because we live in the SE corner of it

I have no problem working out routes and, if they're fairly local (ie within 30/40 miles - more, in some directions), I have a pretty good idea where they all go. The only real use I can see for a GPS system is to pinpoint me on the map and to give me altitude information.

The beauty of maps is that they they can provide information about terrain and its relationship to the various political/geographic/geological features of the landscape. As far as I can see a GPS route would be like riding in blinkers if it wasn't used in conjunction with a map.

Because I'm a retired electronics engineer I like gadgets and I've fancied a GPS thing for some time. I just don't see what it will do for me. What will it do? I want to be persuaded.

Geoff

That's why I love my Satmap so much...I don't want to just follow a line or an arrow I want to see the area as a Landranger map whilst I ride....which is what it does

sufferingpete

Are any of the Garmin Etrex series capable of displaying the OS memory map?

The problem with the edge series is that they have an internal battery with a life of circa 12 hrs. So for a weekend trip you would have to take a charger. And for me the thought of getting to the end of an long day and the battery running out when you are tired and just want to finish is not acceptable.

cougie

Cheers for that why - yeah - I'd be a lil bit reluctant to trust my phone to that clampy thing ?

feel

My two pennyworth

firstly i know nothing about garmin, gps or most things technical, but last week bought the satnav from aldi for £119, mainly to stop the wife getting lost. It turns out it also has a bike and pedestrian mode. Have used it in the car a couple of times and it has been very good. It "listens" to local traffic reports and routes you accordingly and it certainly worked for me going around Grantham in the rush hour on tiny little roads. It has all the maps for the UK already loaded plus loads of other info and it warns you of speed cameras. I have also used it on the bike (wearing it in my top pocket) and it speaks to me saying when to turn etc, it records average speed and distance travelled but nothing about altitude. It tracks where you are and will instantly give you a route to get home. It is also fairly easy to work out circular routes and it has even the tiniest lanes on it. I suspect on a long ride the battery might only have about 2.5 hours of life though, but you can start with it off. (in the car it is connected to the cigarette lighter.
Having said all that i have no idea if it represents good value because i know nothing about what other devices do :roll: Link HERE if interested.

whyamihere

cougie wrote:

Cheers for that why - yeah - I'd be a lil bit reluctant to trust my phone to that clampy thing ?

At only a tenner, I thought I may as well try it. At worst, it'll get chucked in a drawer, never to see the light of day again. At best, I've saved over £100 on getting a GPS device for my bike.

cougie

Ebay it if it doesnt work for you ! Its certainly worth a punt !

Cunobelin

a_n_t wrote:

Cunobelin wrote:

Garmin have two map systems in house... I believe that the map using GPS usie "Topo"

Info here:



http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/garmin-mapsource-topo-great-britain-v2-description.html?PHPSESSID=99fed7f910312d9079704ae3b88b928f

so thats built in to the 705? no need to buy any other maps of GB?

Note - I believe......

These things change so check the specs...

The Mechanic

The Etrex HCX records climbing and gives you a route profile from the recorded track. No power measurement though.

pjh

cougie wrote:

Has anyone here used their Nokia N95 and Sportracker software on the bike ?

Cougie ... I have an N95 and have used the sporttracker. Main observation is that you need a holder for the phone as if you stick in the rear pocket of your jersey or even in a saddle bag .... the pickup/reception of satellites can be dodgy.

As for the results on Google Earth, I found it OK and easy to upload. Gives a mainly accurate route (wanders and cuts corners a bit from the actual routes you ride) and provides fastest speed, highest and lowest point etc.

As for the accuracy ... I'm not convinced as it's considerably different to the information provided by my cycle computer (esp max speed).

Personally I think a proper cycle specific device mounted on the handlebars i.e. 705 would be better.

Does anyone know why the 605/705 launch date keeps getting put back?

sloxam

605 and 705 aside. is there a cycling specific computer out there that takes base maps, can read hr, altitude and cadence?