Bike GPS vs iPhone with GPS app

whitestar1

I am trying to decide between using my iPhone 4S with app or getting a bike GPS like the Mio or Garmin. Issues
1 can't afford the Garmin 800 or 500
2 want turn by turn navigation
3 want all the technical data will get ANT and the other monitors over time

I am buying a Tigra Sport Bike Console Mount. Any better case out there?

VTech

I dont know enough about the cycle gps systems but you would be hard pushed to beat the 4s, ive had 2 work iphones stolen and got them back through gps tracking within 45 minutes each time.
I can even find out which bedroom one of the kids has left their iPods using the gps.

freezing77

whitestar1 wrote:

I am trying to decide between using my iPhone 4S with app or getting a bike GPS like the Mio or Garmin. Issues
1 can't afford the Garmin 800 or 500
2 want turn by turn navigation
3 want all the technical data will get ANT and the other monitors over time

I am buying a Tigra Sport Bike Console Mount. Any better case out there?

It all comes down to battery life.
Garmin 800 say 15 hours
Garmin etrex say 20 hours and uses standard AA batteries therefore can be swapped mid ride.
Iphone using GPS and turn by turn directions say 4-5 hours

p1tse

I wouldn't like to put the iphone on handlebar even with a specific case and put it through its paces
Moisture can wipe these phones and cost more

Saying that I got a used garmin edge 200, good little bit of kit but tbh if I can I would like the 500 for Hr and cadence too

Before that I had the 4s in my pocket running the garmin app which for the money is good, although it wasn't as accurate as it gave me a peak speed of almost 60mph lol

Also why do you need nav, are you going to new places ?

dab_32

I started using Strava on my 4S and now use an Edge 500 and upload to Strava. The funny thing is, even seven months and lots of cycling later, I find it really hard to get any PB's on the same routes I rode 7 months ago.

This leads me to a few conclusions. Im defo fitter and stronger than when I started so either:

1) I'm slower in winter due to wet roads, cold temps etc

2) My Garmin is more accurate than my iPhone

3) The psychology of starting cycling again made me push harder so I got better times and now I'm lazy.

I much prefer the edge and having been knocked off the other day, I'm glad my iPhone wasn't on my bars.

lotus49

Having read quite a bit, both positive and negative on this forum about bike specific GPS devices, I am thoroughly unconvinced that they offer anything significant in terms of functionality over a smartphone and the right apps.

However, freezing77 above is right, battery life on most recent smartphones (eg iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3) is woeful and if you need turn-by-turn navigation and mapping for more than about 4 hours, you will have to shell out for something with better battery life.

whitestar1

p1tse wrote:

I wouldn't like to put the iphone on handlebar even with a specific case and put it through its paces
Moisture can wipe these phones and cost more

Saying that I got a used garmin edge 200, good little bit of kit but tbh if I can I would like the 500 for Hr and cadence too

Before that I had the 4s in my pocket running the garmin app which for the money is good, although it wasn't as accurate as it gave me a peak speed of almost 60mph lol

Also why do you need nav, are you going to new places ?

Going Wales for two days cycle trip and want to beable to have maps. I know, it would be easier to have a print out, but on a device would be so much easier.

whitestar1

So it all boils down to battery life and the gps devices wins hands down on that issue. Yet why are they so expensive? I mean look at the cost of a low end TomTom!

VTech

whitestar1 wrote:

So it all boils down to battery life and the gps devices wins hands down on that issue. Yet why are they so expensive? I mean look at the cost of a low end TomTom!

You really don't want to go there my friend. I came to the forum for help and advice and made the wrong comment and now I'm more frowned upon than an 80's pop star shouting "dya wanna be in my gang" whilst in a classroom full of 8 year olds.

whitestar1

VTech wrote:

You really don't want to go there my friend. I came to the forum for help and advice and made the wrong comment and now I'm more frowned upon than an 80's pop star shouting "dya wanna be in my gang" whilst in a classroom full of 8 year olds.

Well I work at a school, so classroom isn't a strange place

VTech

Where abouts in the midlands are you based ?

MisterMuncher

whitestar1 wrote:

So it all boils down to battery life and the gps devices wins hands down on that issue. Yet why are they so expensive? I mean look at the cost of a low end TomTom!

It's the weatherproofing, miniaturising, internal power and suchlike, it all adds up. The small amount of competing players in the market probably doesn't help, but it's evidently not just as simple as sticking a car nav in a smaller box and hoping for the best, or all the firms in that arena would be hard at it. Bryton devices are a fair bit cheaper, I believe the 35 does turn-by-turn Nav if routes are planned online (can't do it live) and even the basic 20 supports ANT+ cadence, speed. The 35 and up support power metering too.


Saw this t'other day, can't say I'm not tempted.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Boxed-Bry ... 2327b1bab6

Couldn't beat that with a big stick.

vorsprung

freezing77 wrote:

Garmin etrex say 20 hours and uses standard AA batteries therefore can be swapped mid ride.
Iphone using GPS and turn by turn directions say 4-5 hours

My eTrex 20 will do more than 24h on a fresh pair of sonyo black enloop hybrid batteries

Couple of things on the blog about the Etrex and using a Android phone as a GPS

http://audaxing.wordpress.com/tag/GPS/