Choose me a GPS!

bennyj
bennyj Posts: 3
edited October 2011 in Road buying advice
New to the forum so hello all!

In a nutshell, looking at a GPS unit for the bike.

Looking at either the Edge 500 or the new 200 and my quandary is whether to go for the 500 on the basis that it will take cadence/HR sensors etc if I want those down the line. I would be interested to know what sort of cadence I'm doing but I can't see any of the other extra functions really appealing.

Do people (apart from those doing "serious" training) actually use these functions? Will I be missing out or is the extra £100 just not worth it.

Thoughts please...

Comments

  • McBain_v1
    McBain_v1 Posts: 5,237
    Personally I am going to treat myself to the Garmin edge 200. I train with cadence on my turbo trainer every morning and so am reasonably steady at pedalling now. I like the uncomplicated look of the Edge 200 and it will be one of the first bike-related Christmas presents I treat myself to.

    When it comes to having maps displayed on a unit, I rely on my Garmin Dakota. It is bulky but for that reason it is more likely to survive a tumble.
    What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    McBain_v1 wrote:
    When it comes to having maps displayed on a unit, I rely on my Garmin Dakota. It is bulky but for that reason it is more likely to survive a tumble.
    The Dakota also has the great advantage of AA batteries so if you ever want to do multi-day tours you don't need mains to recharge. It works with cadence and hrm also.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Given that the Edge 500 (without HR and GSC-10) can be had for very little more than the Edge 200 at the moment, I'd recommend the 500. At least then if you decide later you want to use HR/cadence then you won't have to fork out for a new GPS.

    I can't really understand why Garmin bothered making the Edge 200 actually.
    More problems but still living....
  • McBain_v1
    McBain_v1 Posts: 5,237
    @alfablue
    Another good point in its favour :)

    Did see a bloke with his Samsung Galaxy S II strapped to his handlebars! It must have been a company phone - there is no way I would risk it. Besides which, his battery life must have been terrible - and I've no idea how he expected to hear the audio directions either.
    What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    I was going to buy a Sigma 2209 but I've just bought a Garmin 500 with HRM and cadence. It's stat overload :-)

    The 200 looks like a bit of a rip off IMO.
  • kev77
    kev77 Posts: 433
    I have just got the Garmin Edge 800, absolute quality piece of kit.

    You can get the basic Edge 800 for £280.90 get a micro SD card from tesco with a reader and download any maps you like of the world wide web!

    And if you shop about you can get hold of the HRM and cadence sensor on the cheap,
    and still come in at a nice price!
  • bennyj
    bennyj Posts: 3
    the 800 looks awesome but pretty sure I don't need it - learnt that lesson buying a Macbook that plays DVDs and runs Word really well... :lol:
  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    Anyone have any screenshots or photos of an 800 running OSM maps?

    Interested to see, the screen looks quite low resolution to me. Its a shame they dont make one with a high res screen like your average smartphone really.
  • McBain_v1
    McBain_v1 Posts: 5,237
    Why would you want a high-res screen on something designed to be strapped to your bike bars? You are meant to be watching where you are going, not farting around zooming in on an OS map :!:
    What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!
  • McBain_v1
    McBain_v1 Posts: 5,237
    Why would you want a high-res screen on something designed to be strapped to your bike bars? You are meant to be watching where you are going, not farting around zooming in on an OS map :!:
    What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    I think the edge 200 is steep for what it is, I was torn between the 500 and 800 but went for a bryton rider 35 in the end. I wanted the HR for training and I fancied the ability to follow a pre planned route for sportives and the like but the 800 was just too much cash.
    The bryton does everything I want and cost 170 quid.
    Drawbacks are, its nowhere near as well supported as the garmin by sites like strava and the bryton sport site is still in beta so it doesn't look very slick. I haven't tested extensively yet but there are some good reviews and the price is great.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • McBain_v1
    McBain_v1 Posts: 5,237
    @prawny

    The Bryton Rider 35 actually looks like a nice unit but if the support software is still in BETA version how can you be sure that the hardware inside the unit itself isn't in a similar condition?

    I had never heard of this make before your post and it certainly bears further evaluation. If only there was a cycling mag able to undertake reviews of GPS units under 200 quid...
    What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!
  • kev77
    kev77 Posts: 433
    McBain_v1 wrote:
    Why would you want a high-res screen on something designed to be strapped to your bike bars? You are meant to be watching where you are going, not farting around zooming in on an OS map :!:

    :lol:
  • kev77
    kev77 Posts: 433
    mfin wrote:
    Anyone have any screenshots or photos of an 800 running OSM maps?

    Interested to see, the screen looks quite low resolution to me. Its a shame they dont make one with a high res screen like your average smartphone really.

    http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps-screenshots.htm

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