Garmin edge 810 do you really need hr monitor & cadence ?

mosa

As titled I'm more for tracking my miles etc & logging detail. Do I really need the hr & cadence sensor.

paul_smith_srcc

mosa wrote:

As titled I'm more for tracking my miles etc & logging detail. Do I really need the hr & cadence sensor.

I have the 810 and have never used the hr monitor, I did fit the cadence speed sensor though

As the name implies the speed and cadence sensor send speed and cadence data to the unit, although the Garmin 810 uses GPS to obtain the speed data in normal use, there are times when it will switch to the speed sensor should the GPS signal be lost; tunnels for example, so even though I don't really care about cadence data I have still fitted the sensor as it's the same unit that transmits speed to the head unit; one sensor, two magnets on crank and wheel-spoke. That said when I do lose GPS my unit often crashes so as far as I'm concerned the jury is still out if this is worth keeping or not!

I have still fitted a crank magnet to register cadence, although I have not used their 'crank arm magnet' that is designed to be zip tied to the crank as I would have to pack out the magnet significantly to get it close enough to the sensor, as my Ta Carmina Chainset is deeply fluted on the inside; so I adapted a 'Cateye wheel magnet' that I had spare. All I did was remove the plastic housing, cutting the thread down to nib and simply slotting that into the back of the 'Pedal' as shown below, works a treat, sticks out just enough on my wide 'Q factor' triple chain set to bring it near enough to the sensor to achieve pick up, I have seen even neater magnets on Ebay since that don't stick out as far, although these flush magnets would make the distance to the sensor to far away on my bike. As far as I'm concerned it's actually very neat, much neater than their zip tied version in my opinion; you do have to mount the sensor further along the stay if you use that set up of course.



Paul Smith

charlie_potatoes

mosa wrote:

As titled I'm more for tracking my miles etc & logging detail. Do I really need the hr & cadence sensor.

If you don't want HR and cadence do you really need an 810?

If you don't need Sat Nav then you may be better off with something basic?

That said it is easy enough to add on the HR and cadence later if you change your mind.

paul_smith_srcc

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

mosa wrote:

As titled I'm more for tracking my miles etc & logging detail. Do I really need the hr & cadence sensor.

If you don't want HR and cadence do you really need an 810?

If you don't need Sat Nav then you may be better off with something basic?

That said it is easy enough to add on the HR and cadence later if you change your mind.

I bought the 810 with cadence as hoped it would be more reliable when I lost GPS and follow the plotted route instead of crashing!

At the time if they did a smaller neater speed sensor without cadence I would have bought that instead, by the same token I wouldn't have bought the heart rate strap either, it just simply worked out cheaper to get a bundle that included it, than it was to buy the head unit, 'City navigator® europe nt' mapping', with speed and cadence sensor separately!

If I was buying now I would have considered the Edge touring

Paul Smith

NeXXus

Paul_Smith SRCC wrote:

mosa wrote:

As titled I'm more for tracking my miles etc & logging detail. Do I really need the hr & cadence sensor.

although the Garmin 810 uses GPS to obtain the speed data in normal use, there are times when it will switch to the speed sensor should the GPS signal be lost; tunnels for example,

If a speed sensor is fitted(and working correctly) it will automatically be preferred all of the time. The GPS is merely a backup.

so even though I don't really care about cadence data I have still fitted the sensor as it's the same unit that transmits speed to the head unit; one sensor, two magnets on crank and wheel-spoke. That said when I do lose GPS my unit often crashes so as far as I'm concerned the jury is still out if this is worth keeping or not!

It's an 810 and you're essentially a beta tester buying a new garmin product so early :shock:

charlie_potatoes

The HR and Cadence was the main reason for buying my 800 but I have made good use of the Sat Nav.
I don't see the value in the 810 when the 800 can be bought for around £200 and the 500 for under £100?

paul_smith_srcc

NeXXus wrote:

...It's an 810 and you're essentially a beta tester buying a new garmin product so early :shock:

Yes I hadn't realised they would release it so unfinished :shock:

Charlie Potatoes wrote:

The HR and Cadence was the main reason for buying my 800 but I have made good use of the Sat Nav.
I don't see the value in the 810 when the 800 can be bought for around £200 and the 500 for under £100?

My plan was to use it on tours and having a backup of the routes on my smartphone appealed. Plus some of my friends had bought the 810 and I didn't want GPS envy

Paul Smith