Sharing a Garmin Edge 520

Neil Grubb

I'm considering buying a Garmin Edge 520, for both my wife and myself. We usually cycle separately because we have a 2 year old daughter and few childcare options! We both got into road cycling this year and love it. I know we can swap the Edge 520 between bikes no problem but my question is about Strava data - we both like challenging ourselves on familiar routes. How are Strava segments loaded on to the Edge ? From phone ? How easy is it to delete Strava data for one user and upload it for another prior to a ride ? I don't want to buy two Garmins if we can share one.

ugo.santalucia

Worse come to worse, you can download via a USB cable on a laptop.

I don't think it is a problem to be honest

veryslowtwitch

Edge data uploads automatically from phone after you hit <save ride>. Usually works very well without touching phone and is very convenient. It uploads through GarminConnect app on phone. So if two of you have separate accounts on separate phones then rides should be allocated to latest rider.
But of course sometimes there are wireless probs, it doesn't upload automatically or there are problems with edge finding phone or you don't have phone and you have to use cable. And then it is a real pain because you have to ensure you are logged into correct strava account. And I can almost guarantee that you will upload rides to wrong account. They can be reloaded on the right account but it is a pain. Speaking from experience I suspect your wife will be delighted with loads of Qoms only to find it's one of your rides on her account. This causes unhappiness and will drive you both mental.
And one day you will ride together and want two garmin anyway.
So highly recommend you buy another for sanity.
Regards
Alan

veryslowtwitch

Or buy two of the cheaper ones but the wireless function on 520 is super and if you ride a lot then you will appreciate the convenience of auto upload.

Neil Grubb

Thanks for replies so far. What about Strava live segments ? The Garmin will need either my segment data or Lisa's loaded before the ride starts for that to work (and yes, we will both need Premium accounts). Is that easy to do ? Via phone or via PC ?

Garry H

Can't you just also use the Strava app on your phone?

benjamess

Neil Grubb wrote:

Thanks for replies so far. What about Strava live segments ? The Garmin will need either my segment data or Lisa's loaded before the ride starts for that to work (and yes, we will both need Premium accounts). Is that easy to do ? Via phone or via PC ?

i think if you synced your phone before each ride it would erase all the segments on the device then replace with your own, would be a bit of a faff but only takes a minute or two on each changeover.

Also I think your phone will sync with all of the garmins saved rides so once you get the garmin back it will put all of your other halve's rides on thinking you had forgot to upload them (meaning you might need to delete rides off the device prior to a sync)

benjamess

benjamess wrote:

Neil Grubb wrote:

Thanks for replies so far. What about Strava live segments ? The Garmin will need either my segment data or Lisa's loaded before the ride starts for that to work (and yes, we will both need Premium accounts). Is that easy to do ? Via phone or via PC ?

i think if you synced your phone before each ride it would erase all the segments on the device then replace with your own, would be a bit of a faff but only takes a minute or two on each changeover.

Also I think your phone will sync with all of the garmins saved rides so once you get the garmin back it will put all of your other halve's rides on thinking you had forgot to upload them (meaning you might need to delete rides off the device prior to a sync)

but honestly I would just buy two cheap secondhand 510's. I've had mine for 3 years now using it 8-10 hours a week 12 months a year and battery still lasts way over 10 hours if I'm on a long ride and it's never missed a beat.

veryslowtwitch

I have played with Live Segments and I'm sure there are people here who can easily clear and reset their Garmin in seconds but if you have Premium then you are really heading for two units. I agree with above that cheapos are fine but you'll probably end up with 520s.
If you don't buy two now then you'll definitely do it once you've accidentally deleted your wife's 100k ride with 5 QOMs before it's uploaded.