Garmin Edge 520
Comments
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2 downsides I felt before getting it are its small screen and battery life.
Since having it the screen size and basic info have formed part of its charm.
Battery life (I assume its not the actual 8 hours claimed, but maybe it is) is not really an issue for its designed target market.
It works flawlessly. Again, its simplicity helps a lot here too.
There is nothing to get confused about.
I love it for commutes and CX/MTB rides.
I would be happy to take it on most road rides TBH.
It does most of what I mostly use.
Many thanks, sounds like this is all I need.
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Another stupid question I'm afraid.
Coming from a 500 where the battery life seems infinite whatever you're doing with it, with the fancy colour screen and proper maps, what's the 520's battery life when following a route? Is it reduced from the 15 hours claimed maximum.
Does that depend massively on the use of the backlight, and is the backlight needed when navigating?
Sorry if they're basic questions.0 -
How does the course following thing work? I finally managed to get a course onto the thing after a lot of faffing about. Yet on the map screen all I can see is a zoomed out version and I can't seem to zoom in to see any detail. So back to using the OS maps on my phone yesterday!0
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on my 1000 if you tap the screen while following a course it gives you a - and + symbol to click on so you can zoom in and out.0
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on my 1000 if you tap the screen while following a course it gives you a - and + symbol to click on so you can zoom in and out.
Yeah, no screen tapping on the 520!0 -
Would imply those left side buttons?
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/07/garmin-edge-520.html#mapping-included0 -
Those buttons just switch between the different screens.0
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Those buttons just switch between the different screens.
No.
It's like I explained above - that 520 is in Zoom mode, so the buttons now act as Zoom in and Out.
It's not very easy to use - I was guiding last week, and I preferred to use an Iphone.0 -
And zoom isnt as useful if you cant pan too.0
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It's not very easy to use - I was guiding last week, and I preferred to use an Iphone.
Can you give a few more details? How does it compare to the 500? Does it hammer the battery life, does it lose where it is and how clear is the screen?
It's one of the main reasons I'm "upgrading". I followed a 116 mile route on the 500 at the weekend and it's fine but I'd love it to stop beeping Off Course quite as much and actually help at junctions....0 -
It's down to £215 at Wiggle now. Tempted to get one.
Know what Wiggle's returns are like if I decide I don't want to keep it?0 -
Know what Wiggle's returns are like if I decide I don't want to keep it?
Superb - free returns using collect+ and very quick to process them.0 -
Know what Wiggle's returns are like if I decide I don't want to keep it?
The best in the industry. They post out a returns form and label so if you go online and do some foo then use the Collect+ label they send out with the package and you take it to a Collect+ shop, pretty easy.
Usually I have the choice of Evans cycles or Wiggle, but I've been favouring Wiggle just because they send thing out in proper cardboard boxes, not plastic wrap and they have an easy returns procedure. Not to mention the Haribo!0 -
Can you give a few more details? How does it compare to the 500? Does it hammer the battery life, does it lose where it is and how clear is the screen?
It's one of the main reasons I'm "upgrading". I followed a 116 mile route on the 500 at the weekend and it's fine but I'd love it to stop beeping Off Course quite as much and actually help at junctions....
Battery life... I did 100 miles with a cafe stop, screen at 80% brightness and backlight stated on for most of the ride (by accident) and the battery was fine.
Does it lose where it is.... Gets both GPS and GLONASS. When turned on, it gets the fix in seconds and never see. It say it's lost the Gps signal. However there's a seg near me that always says I'm off seg, but that could be the seg route itself that doesnt match the road. One seg I created, I'm sure the start and end points are in different places.
How clear is the screen?... Very clear. Especially when backlit. As good as some mobile phones. I quite like the colour scheme it automatically changes to at sunset too."The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby0 -
Just used this for the first time. Absolutely superb.
Bearing in mind this is not sold as a mapping unit (more a fitness unit with abilty follow courses) the mapping is superb if you uploaded the openstreetmaps as per DC rainmaker. I followed a course on a sportive yesterday and it gave a perfect trail with street by street detail. Very easy to flip between mapping and the data screen with the buttons (far easier than jabbing a touchscreen).
Re: some of the criticisms above, I turned off turn by turn instructions (this isn't as good as an 810 etc but you frankly don't need it if you just look at the map and follow the purple line). As for criticisms of the lack of detail on the streets, just turn off auto zoom and manually set the zoom level to the level you want.
I have an edge touring which does have turn by turn mapping but to be honest the 520 mapping is easily good enough for what I need.0 -
I've recently found that pushing the 'down' button creates a turning force on the unit and risks having it pop out of my Garmin out front mount. This can only get worse with winter gloves so I guess I'll have to use the little string thing as a backup.
Otherwise, all good, the Livetrack is a great gadget, screen very clear, mapping a good bonus (but zoom is hard to use).
Nice, neat small unit.0 -
Had a strange one today a car came past and then I lost connection to all my sensors. After a minute they came back on one by one. Strange. Other than that 100km with no issues.0
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Not to mention the Haribo!
I always seem to get Tangfastic, good job i like them 0 -
Just got around to ordering my Edge 520 the other night and noticed that Evans have now dropped the price by 10%, bringing the bundle down to €334 (only €35 more than what I paid for the unit on its own). Peeved to say the least.
Have the old HRM and Cadence from previous Edge 500 bundle but €35 for both the new sensors would have been sweet.0 -
£187 after Quidco cashback through Bespoke Offers.
Just do a 'Beat My Price' on the Edge 520 Amazon link (you get £1 Quidco cashback just for getting a quote).
Don't forget to go through Quidco if you go to buy it, then you will get 18% cashback on the £228, making it £187.
Bit off a faff but a decent saving.
http://www.quidco.com/bespoke-offers/?st=bespoke&tr=10838&fn=home&fr=top&si=560a49f0e208d&sv=3
https://www.bespokeoffers.co.uk/consumer/beatmyprice/0 -
Had a strange one today a car came past and then I lost connection to all my sensors. After a minute they came back on one by one. Strange. Other than that 100km with no issues.
Mine worked fine for the first few weeks.
Then in the middle of nowhere ( but no cars around ), it lost connection to all my sensors too ! Its surprising I struggle to cycle without seeing the cadence reading. Then 10 seconds later everything came back. Soon afterwards the screen said it was downloading something.
Ever since then, I haven't had a problem.
If anything the only problems have been bluetooth connection to my phone, I find I have to open then close the Garmin Connect App to sync my phone to the 520."The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby0 -
^^ I have to do the same with regards garmin connect ben.
I bought the 520 as an upgrade from what was a very dependable 500 so I hope I can avoid firmware issues. Just out of interest does anyone receive text notifications etc through their edge? It's not why I upgraded but it doesn't seem to work for me.Cannondale caad7 ultegra
S-works Tarmac sl5 etap
Colnago c64 etap wifli
Brother Swift0 -
^^ I have to do the same with regards garmin connect ben.
I bought the 520 as an upgrade from what was a very dependable 500 so I hope I can avoid firmware issues. Just out of interest does anyone receive text notifications etc through their edge? It's not why I upgraded but it doesn't seem to work for me.
Got the text and phone thing to work in the end, but you have to pair the phone twice, there are two identities. When the second one is paired you get phone calls and texts notified on the 520. Quite handy.0 -
Do you get the actual text?
When I first got the 1000 it just told you that you had a text and who from (which was pretty pointless).
Someone on here said this was a safety feature so that you did not read texts. I said that was BS and something that would change with future updates.
My Edge 25 gave me an actual text message (the first few words) the other day, so guess I was right lol
My Fenix watch lets you scroll down and read everything. It even does emails I think. Quite handy in a watch if you wear it all the time and are happy to have bluetooth turned on permanently.0 -
Do you get the actual text?
When I first got the 1000 it just told you that you had a text and who from (which was pretty pointless).
Someone on here said this was a safety feature so that you did not read texts. I said that was BS and something that would change with future updates.
My Edge 25 gave me an actual text message (the first few words) the other day, so guess I was right lol
My Fenix watch lets you scroll down and read everything. It even does emails I think. Quite handy in a watch if you wear it all the time and are happy to have bluetooth turned on permanently.
No, it just says who it's from, same when someone calls you.0 -
^^ I have to do the same with regards garmin connect ben.
I bought the 520 as an upgrade from what was a very dependable 500 so I hope I can avoid firmware issues. Just out of interest does anyone receive text notifications etc through their edge? It's not why I upgraded but it doesn't seem to work for me.
Got the text and phone thing to work in the end, but you have to pair the phone twice, there are two identities. When the second one is paired you get phone calls and texts notified on the 520. Quite handy.
I paired it twice during set up I think berni. Is it possible I need to have garmin connect open during rides?Cannondale caad7 ultegra
S-works Tarmac sl5 etap
Colnago c64 etap wifli
Brother Swift0 -
Does anyone know whether the 520 has a 'back to start' routing/guidance feature so that it can help you get back to your start point.
I know it doesn't have turn-by-turn directions but some GPS cycle computers can show an arrow to guide you to your start point.0 -
Do you get the actual text?
When I first got the 1000 it just told you that you had a text and who from (which was pretty pointless).
Someone on here said this was a safety feature so that you did not read texts. I said that was BS and something that would change with future updates.
My Edge 25 gave me an actual text message (the first few words) the other day, so guess I was right lol
My Fenix watch lets you scroll down and read everything. It even does emails I think. Quite handy in a watch if you wear it all the time and are happy to have bluetooth turned on permanently.
No, it just says who it's from, same when someone calls you.
Maybe its phone specific?
I was well impressed that the 25 showed the actual text. Its such a cool little Garmin!0 -
^^ I have to do the same with regards garmin connect ben.
I bought the 520 as an upgrade from what was a very dependable 500 so I hope I can avoid firmware issues. Just out of interest does anyone receive text notifications etc through their edge? It's not why I upgraded but it doesn't seem to work for me.
Got the text and phone thing to work in the end, but you have to pair the phone twice, there are two identities. When the second one is paired you get phone calls and texts notified on the 520. Quite handy.
I paired it twice during set up I think berni. Is it possible I need to have garmin connect open during rides?
You should not need to, it just needs to be paired with phone which should happen automatically.
I get a notification saying it is paired a short while after turning on.
Just check it is paired by looking on GC device page if you do not get that.
There are a lot of features that get/got poo poo'd originally, that are actually really useful when the dust settles.
Same as people ranting that you only need the device they have (convenient huh) :roll:
Even I thought a remote control was a bit OTT, but its really useful (why would you want to take your hand off the bars?) and invaluable for live segments IMO.0 -
I'll look out for that, cheersCannondale caad7 ultegra
S-works Tarmac sl5 etap
Colnago c64 etap wifli
Brother Swift0
