Bryton Rider 50 - Any good?

peddlingmadness

Anyone use this gear, is it any good.. Can I use it with strava? Sick of my smartphone letting me down..
feedback appreciated.

http://corp.brytonsport.com/products/rider50?lang=en

mrmahoosive

If you don't need mapping go for the rider 35 (there's one for sale in the road parts section).

I use the 35, and it's cracking. Their online system is a bit crap, but you can use their software locally, save files as TCX then upload to strava. That's what i do....

If you need mapping then I can't comment. If the 50 is as decent as the 35 then i'd go for it.

MountainMonster

They are also a much better price than Garmin. I havn't personally tried one out, but a few people I know have them, and they absolutely love them.

rolf_f

The 50 is pretty good - in some respects it is Brytons best product even though it is the oldest! The main issue for me is that it is a little bulky. But a Bryton 50 and the really neat little Bryton 20 for when you know where you are going is way cheaper than a Garmin 800 and gives you all the emergency backup benefits of having a spare device.

peddlingmadness

Thanks guys, As more and more sportives and personal routes are uploaded I like the idea of downloading a map and just following the route. Yesterday I followed the teamtowend challenge up in the lakes using just a A4 sheet stuck in my back pocket, even though I managed to stay mainly on track I had to keep checking signage and getting the map out and it was that Bleedin windy It was a pain. I've just checked on the bryton website and the bryton 35 seems to have these features and Looking about I could probably pick one up for about £100, Anyone who uses this or something similar then help appreciated.

Two Flat Tyres

I picked up a new 50T off ebay for £170 (£250 elsewhere) and its quite a neat package. I have never used a Garmin so I can't compare the two. It came with heart rate and cadence sensors, which at that price is excellent value. What also swayed me was the reviews and awards in cycling plus an and triathlon magazines. I also sold my other heart rate belt, phone case and trip computer to further reduce the outlaw to about £100.

I've used it for 3 long rides and the data collected has been all but flawless apart from the last ride where it straight-lined a good few miles twice, which can be very frustrating. I don't know if this was down to loss of satellite (which my friends didn't have any issues on their Garmins) or some other issue.

Uploading data to their site is straightforward and easy enough to import to Strava... Endomondo etc.. Planning trips is easy.

The planned route function is a bit hit and miss as I have experienced the computer wanting me to go to a certain point before it would re-route and continue... like turn around and go back to hit that waypoint.. and when you have just done a tough climb the last thing you want to do is do it twice. Again, I don't know why it does this but I'm relatively new to the device so I'm sure I will learn with more use.

rolf_f

peddlingmadness wrote:

Thanks guys, As more and more sportives and personal routes are uploaded I like the idea of downloading a map and just following the route. Yesterday I followed the teamtowend challenge up in the lakes using just a A4 sheet stuck in my back pocket, even though I managed to stay mainly on track I had to keep checking signage and getting the map out and it was that Bleedin windy It was a pain. I've just checked on the bryton website and the bryton 35 seems to have these features and Looking about I could probably pick one up for about £100, Anyone who uses this or something similar then help appreciated.

The 35 and 40 have breadcrumb trail options (a little better on the 40) - you can plot a route and follow it but there are no maps so if you change your mind about a route mid ride you are on your own. Most of the time you don't need the maps but the route on the 50 is easier to follow - you can miss turns with the breadcrumb trail and you'll have gone a 100 yards or so before the unit realises you've gone astray.

@Two Flat Tyres - loss of satellite does afflict Garmins at times. Mostly I've found the Brytons fine but occasionally signal is lost for a minute or two. Then you either carry on regardless or just wait for it to pick up again. It is pretty rare. If the unit thinks you've missed a waypoint just carry on and it will pick up the next waypoint when you get nearer to it. You can get it to replot the route but I tend not to bother. My 50 did once get very confused and it, combined with my obstinacy of carrying on the way I thought was right, resulted in it trying to draw me back to the previous waypoint in a big loop! I realised what was happening when I passed a rider coming the other way for a second time!

Two Flat Tyres

Rolf F wrote:

@Two Flat Tyres - loss of satellite does afflict Garmins at times. Mostly I've found the Brytons fine but occasionally signal is lost for a minute or two. Then you either carry on regardless or just wait for it to pick up again. It is pretty rare. If the unit thinks you've missed a waypoint just carry on and it will pick up the next waypoint when you get nearer to it. You can get it to replot the route but I tend not to bother. My 50 did once get very confused and it, combined with my obstinacy of carrying on the way I thought was right, resulted in it trying to draw me back to the previous waypoint in a big loop! I realised what was happening when I passed a rider coming the other way for a second time!

This is what I have experienced, and when you don't know the area it can be frustrating to be sent backwards to the previous waypoint in order for you to continue your planned route following the device.

Bar Shaker

Your confidence in these devices must be 100% or they will end up left at home.

I am a Garmin user and have never suffered satellite signal loss, but it is possible with any GPS device.

stealf

An alternative to both Garmin and Bryton would be the Mio 305E (£240 odd new if you look about) Comes with Heart rate and cadence, easy to read maps and easy to create and import routes, once you have located and downloaded the instructions from the interweb that is :-(
I have only done 3 long rides on it as only had a week and so far very good. The best bit is gloating at max speed though i cannot seem to view in the MIOshare software, only from the on screen readings after each ride.

rolf_f

Two Flat Tyres wrote:

This is what I have experienced, and when you don't know the area it can be frustrating to be sent backwards to the previous waypoint in order for you to continue your planned route following the device.

You never need to do that though because the whole route is viewable. You may need to zoom out to see the next waypoint but you should never need to have to retreat to a passed waypoint in order to carry on.

IME, when you do miss a waypoint it maybe due to you having been imprecise over it's placement - they can end up somewhat off course if you were in too small a scale when plotting the route.

Bar Shaker wrote:

Your confidence in these devices must be 100% or they will end up left at home.

If that were so you'd never leave the house at all! It's not just GPS that can perform at less than 100%. Puncture anyone?!