Talk to me about...GPS Units

j_mcd

I've currently got a Cateye Stealth 50, and it's bloody awful. Principally, it takes ages to get a signal and has no way to start or stop recording a ride, it just records everything which means all journeys need to be edited.

So, to remedy this I tend to use an old iPhone 4 that i've got lying around but the battery life isn't great and it obviously won't connect to the speed/cadence sensor. Which means I tend to have both on the handlebars taking up space and looking messy.

As I've got a (big) birthday coming up, I thought I might treat myself to something better. I've been looking at the Garmin range but if there are other options out there then I'd be interested to know.

Garmin-wise, what do I get with the 810 that I don't with the 510?

dhope

J_MCD wrote:

Garmin-wise, what do I get with the 810 that I don't with the 510?

Maps

markhewitt1978

J_MCD wrote:

I've currently got a Cateye Stealth 50, and it's bloody awful. Principally, it takes ages to get a signal and has no way to start or stop recording a ride, it just records everything which means all journeys need to be edited.

Really? that sounds quite odd!

So, to remedy this I tend to use an old iPhone 4 that i've got lying around but the battery life isn't great

I use one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005 ... d_i=468294 enough to keep my phone at 100% all day.

and it obviously won't connect to the speed/cadence sensor.

Speed is done by GPS anyway, I have a Wahoo RPM cadence sensor which talks to the phone - not sure if this works with the iPhone 4 might be 4S+ only.

Which means I tend to have both on the handlebars taking up space and looking messy.

Put the iPhone in your back pocket.

As I've got a (big) birthday coming up, I thought I might treat myself to something better. I've been looking at the Garmin range but if there are other options out there then I'd be interested to know.

Garmin-wise, what do I get with the 810 that I don't with the 510?

Garmin is pretty much the ruler, there are other options but Garmin is pretty much where it's at. The 810 is a bit bigger and you can download maps to it and use it for navigation. The 510 can follow a pre plotted route but you don't get maps.

j_mcd

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Really? that sounds quite odd!

Odd is one way of putting it. As soon as you turn it on, it starts recording. Which is fine for a nice Sunday ride but for my commute, which is broken up by a train ride, it gets annoying fast. Also, the on/off switch is stuck on the back of the unit and tricky to use with gloves.

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Speed is done by GPS anyway, I have a Wahoo RPM cadence sensor which talks to the phone - not sure if this works with the iPhone 4 might be 4S+ only.

I think that later phones do have Ant+ capability but the 4 is just a bit too old.

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Garmin is pretty much the ruler, there are other options but Garmin is pretty much where it's at. The 810 is a bit bigger and you can download maps to it and use it for navigation. The 510 can follow a pre plotted route but you don't get maps.

Hmm, so, is it worth the extra 30 quid or so. Possibly I suppose as I'd rather spend the money and get everything I need and more rather than find that I need a feature later on.

Thanks for all the info.

dhope

markhewitt1978 wrote:

iphone stuff

Problem with the iPhone is the GPS is a bit crap. Certainly good enough for Google Maps but if you want to get speed/cadence stats then having a sensor on the wheel paired with GPS is going to be a lot better than just the GPS from an iPhone which is heavily affected by trees, buildings etc. - a number of times I've apparently commuted down the middle of the Thames while recording with the iPhone. iPhone can't connect to ANT+ devices without a separate dongle (Wahoo uses Bluetooth)
That's not to say an iPhone isn't good enough. It certainly is if you just want to use maps or record the ride using Strava.

Would suggest the 810 if you're getting something new. Or if you're not fussed about power meters then maybe look into the Garmin Touring. 1000 is overkill (I have one, expensive and prettier maps but meh)

j_mcd

Garmin Touring? Great, another toy thrown into the mix!

[scurries off to look up what a Touring is]

markhewitt1978

J_MCD wrote:

Hmm, so, is it worth the extra 30 quid or so. Possibly I suppose as I'd rather spend the money and get everything I need and more rather than find that I need a feature later on.

Thanks for all the info.

Yes; I would say it's worth the extra £30 to get the maps and bigger screen etc.

jedi_master

J_MCD wrote:

has no way to start or stop recording a ride, it just records everything which means all journeys need to be edited

You hold the button on the front down before and after a journey to reset it. Each ride/journey records separately. The info is in the pdf manual on page 15.

stu-bim

Check out doc rainmaker for the best sport related tech review, here's the 810

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/01/garm ... pth-review.

And the best place to buying

Handtec.co.uk

meanredspider

stu-bim wrote:

.

And the best place to buying

Handtec.co.uk

I think it's cheaper here

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/garm ... oCrerw_wcB

€6 shipping.

stu-bim

MRS - Nice price

meanredspider

stu-bim wrote:

MRS - Nice price

I think it's because the Euro is weak right now. I'm ignoring the fact that I'm paid in Euros