New to GPS cycle computers - what to buy?

Robbiebung

Hi,

I have never ventured into the murky world of GPS cycle computers but having done a fair chunk of internet research I can assume that whatever I buy is going to be at least £300, is this the case?

I am basically looking for a sat-nav for my bike, though the HRM/cadence/speed/power monitors etc are all really cool, I am just bored of sticking to routes that I know. I live in London and there's only so many times I can lap Richmond Park before I get board, not knowing the area well I need something to guide me around so that I can start putting in 70mile + rides without getting dizzy.

I've been looking at the Garmin 500/ 800/ 810 but have noticed that there are some cheaper options out there. Baring in mind my primary focus is something that will be able to guide me around a decent size Box Hill(esq) circuit from my flat in SW London what would people suggest is my best purchase?

Thanks,

Rob

wellbeloved747

Edge 800/810 expensive but does everything and Garmin maps are pretty faultless. if your not bothered by the 810 features just get an 800.

richa

Robbiebung wrote:

whatever I buy is going to be at least £300, is this the case?

I am basically looking for a sat-nav for my bike

If you don't mind pre-planning a route on BikeRouteToaster or similar then you can have a Garmin from £87.

http://www.handtec.co.uk/garmin-edge-200.html
http://www.handtec.co.uk/garmin-edge-50 ... 29-00.html

Sprool

http://www.o-synce.com/en/products/bike/navi2coach.html
€219

carl_p

I think if you find a device similarly priced to a Garmin then you may as well buy a Garmin. I'm getting an 800 in a couple of months, won't bother with the cadence or HR monitors and will download free mapping from RideWithGPS.

Robbiebung

Thanks for the responses,

With the Garmins, it's not that I'm looking to pay £300+ I was just curious what my options were?

Has anyone used the navi2coach which was suggested by Sprool above? Is it any good?

People seem to be having a few waterproofing/cable malfunction issues with their 800s, I'm weary of spending out for top end and then getting stung after 2 rides?

Cheers,

Rob

SoSimple

Been through this whole process myself after buying a Cateye computer and quickly deciding to upgrade to a GPS unit.

There are 2-3 viable alternatives out there but you get what you pay for. Garmin is the market leader and has lots of fans and also a number of detractors. Their products are good but due to lack of serious competition could be much better.

Like an iPhone, love 'em or hate 'em, they are the benchmark and everyone else tries to copy them. So it is with Garmin.

Rather than look at alternatives, I'd work out which features you need then choose the most suitable model. If you want maps, go 800 or 810, if you want a very good GPS without maps go 500 or 510 and if you want basic functions go for a 200.

When it comes to pricing, which for me was important, the current models are at full price and previous models- 800, 500 and 200 are discounted, making them a serious consideration on price alone.

The clincher is whether you 'need' one- the answer is obviously no, but as we all know, that's not really the issue!

FWIW I've just ordered an Edge 800 from Handtec for £235

bernithebiker

Garmin 500, it's all you need. Best compromise of price/performance/size/features.

Robbiebung

Ok great,

So Gamin 500 or 800 it is!

Is the mapping the main improvement from 500 to 800?

Cheers,

Rob

bernithebiker

Yes.

drjs83

Have the same issue myself. Looking to get my first GPS computer. Thinking of a Garmin Edge 200 to see what they are all about and get used to the features like Garmin connect. Worried that I'll love it and want the 510 or 810 after but I think the 200 is a good option for getting acquainted with the tech.

housemunkey

I've got a 200, had it for over a year and its been all the GPS I've needed. Not fussed about HR and cadence so no need to get a 500 for me. If you want the ability to have it, go for the 500. With the 200/500 you can plan a route up front and follow in on screen as a breadcrumb line.Sounds crap but I've never felt I needed more yet. It's guided me on 60+ mile rides without a hiccup and quickly sets off an alarm if you stray from the route.

A mate of mine has an 800 and it's cool, but he wanted the maps for MTB which makes more sense to me than for the road. Just my 2 cents.

norwichdanny

Had my 500 for a year now and completely transformed my riding. The mapping and guidance is easily adequate and with the heart rates and cadence aswell, cycling is no longer a hobby but more of an obsession! With the new garmins recently released there are some good deals to be had too!

Robbiebung

Wicked,

Thanks for everyone's 2 cents, I still haven't made the leap yet but I think I'm going to go for the 500.

Thanks again,

Rob

doug5_10

For my unknown/first time rides:

-Plan ride with mapmyride
-Sticker with main directions on top tube/stem
-Record on Strava
Done

But then again I'm skint

cattytown

Actually what the OP describes the Mio 305 is worth a thought. The major plus point is "surprise me". Tell it where you want to go - to home, to work or a loop back to your current position, and how far you want the ride to be and it will calculate a route. Down sides are it does not lay nicely with Strava for HR/Cadence data - the GPX file will work for routes and timings though. The not playing nicely is why mine is on eBay (without the HR/Cadence sensors) as I have bought an 810.

Paul.

arran77

HouseMunkey wrote:

I've got a 200, had it for over a year and its been all the GPS I've needed. Not fussed about HR and cadence so no need to get a 500 for me. If you want the ability to have it, go for the 500. With the 200/500 you can plan a route up front and follow in on screen as a breadcrumb line.Sounds crap but I've never felt I needed more yet. It's guided me on 60+ mile rides without a hiccup and quickly sets off an alarm if you stray from the route.

A mate of mine has an 800 and it's cool, but he wanted the maps for MTB which makes more sense to me than for the road. Just my 2 cents.

I've been looking to get a garmin recently but thought the edge 200 couldn't load routes to follow as a breadcrumb trail, if they can then I'm even closer to buying, quite a bit cheaper than a 500

rudivoller22

Has anyone got a 705? Are the newer ones that much better? Can pick it up reasonable cheaply now and does most things. What is the mapping like? Have always used my cateye but fed up of the slightest bump knocking the magnet out of line.

wilkidj

Went though a similar thought process about 2 years ago, and ended up buying a Garmin Foretrex 401 (mainly on price).
The thinking was that I would plot the route on Memory Map or something similar, and just use the Garmin to follow a breadcrumb trail.
I must say, that with the backup of Memory Map on my phone, this combination worked really well for about 18 months.
Then you start thinking about all the little things you want improving, like:
1. Maps on the GPS, for in ride re-routing, without having to rely on the phone maps. (Useful when the road is closed due to flooding, or weekend roadworks).
2. Better options and functions all round. Too numerous to list, but my favourites are; touch screen, big screen to show lots of stats (getting a HRM can make you quote obsessive about zones!), good battery life.
3. Sounds silly but the mounting of the Garmin 800 makes it really easy to take on/off.

My niggles are mostly minor, but the big stinker is the price!

wilkidj

Sorry - meant to add - I bought the Edge 800 six months ago!

smoggysteve

norwichdanny wrote:

Had my 500 for a year now and completely transformed my riding. The mapping and guidance is easily adequate and with the heart rates and cadence aswell, cycling is no longer a hobby but more of an obsession! With the new garmins recently released there are some good deals to be had too!

Same here. If anything, I seem to ignore the GPS elements and concentrate more on the Cadence and heart rate for my training. With the 500, although the guidance is useful, you really have to be careful when route making that you make turns in well signposted or obvious areas. Many a time I have taken a wrong turn even though the road was going in a more obvious direction according to the bread crumb line. And if you do end up going off route its not exactly easy to get back on it if you don't know the roads that well.

Yorkshireman2

Perhaps this is also a consideration: Garmin connect doesn't run on apple computers (someone please correct me if this has changed since I bought a 705 a few years back)

cattytown

I use my 810 with my mac. It was mapsource that was the real problem, but basecamp runs, and the plugins to direct upload to strava are fine on chrome on the mac.

Paul.

rolf_f

Bryton 40 - pretty similar to a 500 but better looking and much cheaper. Has its faults but don't they all?

stealf

Hi RBung:

I just recently got the MIO 305HC - after initial set up issues (compatibility with my PC) it works a treat, I can plan routes and they appear on the unit, or the suprise me function is lovley. I too live in London Finchley, and it seems to know that the best way for me out to country side is up the A1000 for a few miles then out on the country lanes. 50 miles nabvigated with ease. The gripes would be that there is no system for setting it up out front of the bars, stem so you have to look down under your chin which is okay but not ideal.

thought i'd chuck in my 2 pence worth