Garmin 500 VAM reading?

sancho_panza

Hi there

Am considering a Garmin 500 - does anyone know if I can get a VAM (vertical ascent metres) reading while riding? Can't seem to work this out from the website. Also, does it give gradient while riding, or only once data is uploaded?

Thanks in advance

Sancho

sharky1029

Yes you can, you can also have decent as well and pretty much anything you can think off.

It can also do directions which is a little known fact just not as well as the 800.

You just need to upload a tcx with cue sheet onto it plotted using bikeroutetoaster.com or similar.

More instructions on that here: http://ridewithgps.com/edge_500

sancho_panza

thanks man - I rode with some guys in Vancouver who reckoned VAM was almost as useful as a power meter in some situations. Not getting a power meter so I'll not find out!

Cheers

Sancho

amaferanga

I doubt the realtime vertical ascent on the Garmin will be accurate enough to be of any use whatsoever and it certainly won't be more useful than power.