Bike Computer Advice - Garmin Vs iPhone

badhorsy

Hi guys,
looking for some advice.

I currently have an iPhone 4 - bike wise, I currently use a couple of apps to track my basic riding stats, and provide mapping. I haven't yet attached it to my handlebars, largely out of concern for how fragile and non-waterproof the device is.

I've been thinking for a long time about splashing out on a Garmin. I've noticed that the new Edge 800 has come out, which looks pretty awesome.

Is the Edge 800 worth the price tag, or should I just carry on using the iPhone and invest in a handlebar mount?

Thanks!

black20vt

Depends what you want it for.

I don't think you can get Heart Rate and Cadence data monitored via iphone
Garmin you can.
If you use the iphone for navigation I guess the battery life could be an issue.

You can get waterproof cases and extra battery packs for iphone - which would be cheaper than an edge 800.

but the Edge is built for the job

If you mounted the iphone on the bars you would be forever stroking it and updating your twitterbook status 'on the bike for a ride LOL !!:)'

I use Runkeeper on iphone and just stick it in my back pocket - I need a mobile with me anyway so it works ok although in very cold weather it grinds to a hault - but I will get an edge at some point so I can get cadence and Heart rate and all the other data in one device.

Its a lot of dosh though....

amaferanga

An iPhone is a phone. A Garmin Edge is designed for use on the bike. There's absolutely no question about which is best. If you ever ride for more than a few hours at a time then its an absolute no-brainer.

I've never known anyone buy a Garmin and regret it.

I am the god of hell fire

I have an HTC, broadly similar but I appreciate not the same

If I run cardiotrainer/mytracks with GPS the battery lasts about 5h

So if you go out on a big trip and have a problem over the 5h mark then take some 10p's for phone boxes!

redvision

personally i would go for the garmin everytime (there will be lots of 705s drastically reduced on ebay now the 800 is out).

if you do go the iphone way then there are some new gadgets to improve its capability to be a bike computer - such as this:
http://www.heartratewatchcompany.com/ip ... dapter.htm

only real issue i can see with iphone is battery life

would still recommend garmin tho!

cougie

My mate has the garmin and whilst its fine for recording data - I've not been impressed with its navigation features.

If you don't need navigation - I'd stick with your phone in your pocket. I'm not really bothered with being able to see data on the go.

sampras38

amaferanga wrote:

An iPhone is a phone. A Garmin Edge is designed for use on the bike. There's absolutely no question about which is best. If you ever ride for more than a few hours at a time then its an absolute no-brainer.

I've never known anyone buy a Garmin and regret it.

This^

Iphone is next to useless on a bike (I own one and a Garmin) and not to mention the shocking battery life on the Iphone.

ShutUpLegs

I am the god of hell fire wrote:

I have an HTC, broadly similar but I appreciate not the same

If I run cardiotrainer/mytracks with GPS the battery lasts about 5h

So if you go out on a big trip and have a problem over the 5h mark then take some 10p's for phone boxes!

Take a spare battery?

*not for iphone users

andreaslc

You can get around the shocking battery life by buying some kind of charger, putting the brightness off, turning off the 3G, Wifi and Bluetooth and also closing down any open apps. (double tap home key - or whatever its called)

I've written tons about this on my cycling blog just browse the iPhone tag.

Actually something specifically about what you're talking about here.

Bar Shaker

I use my iPhone running Motion X for off road nav, I just stick to my bike computer on the road bike with occasional reference to Apple Maps when lost or undecided which way to head.

I have an external battery and dock extender lead for long mtb trips. This gives me 6-8 hours Motion X depending on temp. I have the phone on my bars on the mtb, using a dedicated RAM mount (Ezi or something like that). . The fit is very secure and has survived all of my crashes.

Garmins, as good as they are, have no terrain/trail/footpath maps so are for road nav only.