Looking for a new GPS that uses Memory Map if possible

reecesanford
reecesanford Posts: 31
edited February 2010 in Road buying advice
Looking at treating myself to a new GPS unit to attach to my road bike.

Ive currently got a RoadAngel Adventurer 7000 which i find great for walking too and i find plotting routes on Memory Map very easy. Plus i have all the OS1:25000 Maps for the UK as qct files and i dont really want to spend a fortune on new maps.
Trouble is the battery life is pretty poor.

So what options do i have using Memory Map files or am i pretty limited?

If its not possible which GPS unit do people recommend

Comments

  • squired
    squired Posts: 1,153
    The new memory map gps system, which you can see on their website, appears to be quite decent. I've seen a few scattered comments about it and they were generally positive.

    http://www.memory-map.co.uk/adventurer/index.html
  • Heckler1974
    Heckler1974 Posts: 479
    I had a roadangel and +1 the battery was a real weak point (plus the size) lost count of the number of times it went flat on a ride. Got a usb charger windmill thingy on the handlebar but it could never keep up, ended up getting a Garmin Edge and biting the bullet and I have to say for cycling it's miles ahead (even if the Topo maps aren't as good).
  • reecesanford
    reecesanford Posts: 31
    Ive been looking at the Garmin's but like you say the mapping would be an issue for me.

    Will take a look at the Memory Map GPS.
  • MickEA
    MickEA Posts: 14
    try the new iphone app.
  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    I have the entire UK on Memory Map at Landranger scale (1:50,000). I find 1:25,000 a bit detailed for road riding, though great for offroad.

    I have the cheapest Garmin Etrex (the chunky yellow one) and use its breadcrumb trail mode for navigation with routes uploaded from MM. As long as you like doing the map reading at home it is perfect. If you like to see the maps on the GPS it obviously isn't because it doesn't allow you to do that! You can pick them up for under £60 now.

    It has been reliable and accurate.

    The battery life is great - 2 high capacity NiMH AA cells give well over 24 hours life between charges (as long as you don't use the backlight).

    Annoyances:
      The bar mounts are a rip-off - over £12 for a couple of bits of plastic! I've bought 3 of them now for various bikes. If you use small AA batteries they can bounce about on rough roads and cut the GPS off. Solution - some cells are slightly physically larger than others. I've found some chunky cells which are a good tight fit. If not, line the battery compartment with paper to give a tight fit. They use an old-style RS232 serial connection and you need a cable with a proprietary connector at the GPS end. I bought one with a USB-RS232 converter built-in off eBay for about £10. No audible warning when approaching waypoints. If you are talking to someone and not looking at the screen, you could miss a turn. That's the only problem I've had and it is rare - you get into the habit of glancing down at the GPS to see how far it is to the next decision point.
  • reecesanford
    reecesanford Posts: 31
    Colin,
    My RoadAngel decided one day to jump out of its holder while i was cycling down Buckstones Road near Shaw if you know the road.I was hitting 45mph and my heart just sank.
    I went back to get the remains and a car was then swerving to avoid it.I couldnt believe it when i found everything in 1 piece and still working and then found the stylus too.

    After then as im lathe turner i made a new holder myself.

    I downloaded all the 1:25,000 maps from the internet and they have saved me a fortune but i know what you mean about having to keep an eye on it as ive missed my turning a few times.Once with an unfit work mate and we had shot down a hill and gone 2 milespast the turning.
  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    reecesanford wrote:
    Colin,
    My RoadAngel decided one day to jump out of its holder while i was cycling down Buckstones Road near Shaw if you know the road.I was hitting 45mph and my heart just sank.
    I went back to get the remains and a car was then swerving to avoid it.I couldnt believe it when i found everything in 1 piece and still working and then found the stylus too.
    I know Buckstones well - a nice road often spoiled by mad motorcyclists!

    It's amazing that any piece of technology would survive that - you were lucky!
    reecesanford wrote:
    i know what you mean about having to keep an eye on it as ive missed my turning a few times.Once with an unfit work mate and we had shot down a hill and gone 2 milespast the turning.
    I bet he wasn't too happy about that! :wink:

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