Garmin Edge 200 for navigation

chrb8

I am thinking in investing in a Garmin Edge 200 and am reasonably happy with the level of information in provides - as this is basically the same as what my Cateye Strada provides at the moment. What I am more interested in is the ability to upload routes to the unit in order to provide a basic navigation funtion when trying out new routes. I can see that this would be useful to be able to download routes that other people have created or create my own in order to explore different areas.

What I would like to know is people's view on the Garmin Edge 200's performance as a navigation unit. I know it has no mapping, but it really is just an aid to following a pre-determined course that I am after (to stop me having to keep stopping and getting a map out whilst out riding).

Any thoughts?

kingrollo

Well I use the older 205 - and the navigation is limited but fine. What I used to do was 'record' the club run whilst I was cycling it - then follow the route when I was out on my own. ......its not as advanced as the higher end units -....but you won't get lost.

bilsea159

I bought an edge 200 and found the basic "breadcrumb" line and simple arrow okay for a route you have already completed, but I have on the odd occasion not taken a turn as it did not update the screen quickly enough and you see the message "off course" and it will not navigate you back on course, so therefore if you for example loaded someone elses route on to the unit to follow and you did not know exactly where the route starts from it will not navigate you to the start or to a part of the route, it would say "off Course", so in summary not ideal for route planning, just an indicator for a route you are going to start from home that you are riding and saving to follow again.

rolf_f

chrb8 wrote:

What I would like to know is people's view on the Garmin Edge 200's performance as a navigation unit. I know it has no mapping, but it really is just an aid to following a pre-determined course that I am after (to stop me having to keep stopping and getting a map out whilst out riding).

It should be perfectly fine. However, I wouldn't bother downloading anyone elses routes. The critical thing with navigating on any GPS unit is where you put the waypoints. If I get the Garmin 200 (and 500 functionality correctly) the scale you see is determined by the distance between waypoints. Therefore, the more waypoints you use the more detailed the trail on the screen. As long as you think carefully when you plot the route, you should be able to highlight locations where there maybe an unclear choice of routes with a couple of closely spaced waypoints. It doesn't take long to plot your own routes anyway.

To some extent, the mapping is over-rated. Where it really comes into its own is if you are forced off route - then the mapping can bring you back to the route whereas without mapping you have to guess. Otherwise, it can be easier without maps as the trail is clearer without the background distraction.

Pot Odds

Spotted this useful guide to courses on the Edge 200 linked from another forum:

http://velogps.com/garmin-edge-200-turn ... irections/