Garmin eTrex

rodgers73

I'd never come across these before until I was doing an audax in September.

I'm guessing they're only a GPS mapping device not a cycle computer on top?

Has anyone used these while cycling? How do they perform? Can you see where you're going as you cycle or do you have to stop and consult it?

wongataa

Etrex' are regular handheld GPS units. Not all the models support mapping. The higher end ones have some ANT+ connectivity options. You can get a handlebar mount for them. As with all GPS units you can display distance travelled and speed.

See the Garmin website for full range information.

bobmcstuff

I have an older cheaper one which I use for hiking and other outdoors stuff. Mine doesn't have maps so still need a paper map, the more expensive ones did have maps though.

The obvious advantage for audax is that it takes AA batteries and you can change the batteries without losing your GPS log. The batteries on my cheap one last for days as it is (since it has no maps, Bluetooth/ANT or even a backlight...)

rodgers73

So the main purpose is to tell you where you are, rather than mapping a route for you to follow like, say, an Edge unit would?

wongataa

rodgers73 wrote:

So the main purpose is to tell you where you are, rather than mapping a route for you to follow like, say, an Edge unit would?

You can follow a route with an eTrex.

rodgers73

How do you plot the route? Garmin Connect etc?

freezing77

rodgers73 wrote:

How do you plot the route? Garmin Connect etc?

You can use any of the many mapping websites to generate a gpx file as this is the format for the majority of gps units that navigate.
I would recommend the website ridewithgps.

With the mapping etrex you can either use the map view which will flag up direction arrows at turns or use the pointer/compass view which always points in the direction you need to go.

desweller

If you have routable maps you can use the unit to generate a route for you from waypoints (based on my etrex 30), so you don't need to use a computer to plot a route; handy for touring.

You can also upload a route that you've plotted on a PC.

You can follow tracks of previous rides (providing you don't delete them from your etrex).

It is also ANT+ compatible so I believe you can hook it up to ANT+ devices like HRM or cadence sensors, although I've not tried this. I don't think it will do things like training zones though.

The battery life is excellent; on my last short tour I got nearly 30 hours out of a set of batteries.

freezing77

Supports cadence but not speed or HRM. This is the new etrex series, 20 and 30

Mad_Malx

Etrex 30 has both cadence and hrm linking capabilities.

I use mine for both bike and walking. on real maps I love Ordenance survey because I can read the terrain, but open source maps are better for the bike routes.

desweller

It's also worth noting that they're pretty strong. Mine's fallen off the bike numerous times and even been driven over by passing traffic. It's not totally watertight any more (gets a bit misty sometimes) but it still works just fine.