Garmin 520 or 820 ?
plowmar
Posts: 1,032
Fool that I am I am a bit of a liker for Garmin Bike Computers, having a 705 myself for the last 7/8 years.
My wife has now started to take a greater interest in cycling on her own therefore needs a computer of her own. Hence the question that is coming up - do either or both of the 520 / 820 have quality built in uk road maps or do they have to be upgraded as my 705 was.?
I haven't been able to discern this information from descriptions of the units -doh!- other than routes can be loaded and directions given, not saying whether it is by way of a map or by turns right or left without visuals.
My wife has now started to take a greater interest in cycling on her own therefore needs a computer of her own. Hence the question that is coming up - do either or both of the 520 / 820 have quality built in uk road maps or do they have to be upgraded as my 705 was.?
I haven't been able to discern this information from descriptions of the units -doh!- other than routes can be loaded and directions given, not saying whether it is by way of a map or by turns right or left without visuals.
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Many a true word. If the OP is hell-bent on a Garmin, there will be plenty in the classified ads and on eBay at knock-down prices.
My dream (and I'm sure I'm not alone) of a worthy competitor to Garmin finally emerging seems to have come true.
Suppose I was only half joking as, although the 520 is a nice neat unit with a nice display, I now need the extra battery and storage of the Bolt as I've got some long rides in random places coming up. If anyone does want a two month old 520 then let me know.
How long does the Bolt battery last?
Can see why people like the Bolt though, but with open street map I think the 520 is an excellent piece of kit.
What little setting changes? When you do the initial set up it's all go.
520 and open street maps; provided you don't want to ride outside of your county due to the extremely limited memory.
PM sent.
Had a 520 for 18 months before I got the Bolt. It's much, much better.
Re: comment below about OSM Maps on the 520...they are OK if you have the correct map tiles for where you are. If you ever ride outside the same 50 mile square then it's a comically awful process to get new maps on there. The Bolt has OSM maps for the entire planet installed out the box. And the navigation is much better, and you can zoom in/out on the map on the fly.
I'd guess around 15 hours, maybe slightly more. Did a 6 hour ride with navigation which used just over 30% of the juice, that's the longest I've ridden with the Bolt so far. My Edge 520 would vary between 4hrs-8hrs depending on navigation/backlight etc.
Are they not the Garmin ones then...?
And the worse touch screen ever. Flip a coin for an idea of what the screen response is going to be like. Had one and couldn't get rid of it quick enough.
Went for the bolt and absolutely love it. Maps/routing better than expected and you have like a million data fields to play with. Early days so battery hasn't been tested but down to 50% after 3 rides, 1 was 4 hours long.
Super impressed - and my edge 800 is on ebay now. RIP.
I "bought" a Bolt in March when the mad rush was on but cancelled when they still couldn't give me a firm delivery date by late April.
If I can't get a swap I'll be buying one come the end of the month now they seem to be in stock everywhere!