Car Sat Nav attached on my bike....good idea?

topshopper19

Hi guys,

Many of these Bike Computers (like the Garmin Edge models) just seem substantially overpriced. So i've come up with an idea - you decide if its a good idea or if i'm bonkers.

I want to buy a car sat nav which is quite small in size. Then somehow attach it to the handlebars, perhaps with zip ties?

If it rains, I'll put some kind of transparant plastic over it.

Any objections?

oxoman

Why would you want a satnav on a bike, most people use their garmins for recording the ride not following.

cooldad

And how do you power it? Unless your bike has a cigarette lighter.

And as oxman says, quite different functions.

cougie

If I'm doing a long ride in unknown territory I'll check the route and write village names in sharpy on duck tape and put it over the top of my shoes.

And a smart phone in the back pocket if I have to check.

sniper68

If you want navigation buy a bike specific gps.
If you want speed/distance etc but don’t want to pay for a gps just get a Cateye wireless cycle computer etc.Cheap as chips.

Bottom briquettes

I can’t see any sensible argument for doing this at all. Bike specific systems are designed to work well on bikes, car systems aren’t.

oxoman

Can't see a TomTom lasting long at Llandegla, Cannock or heaven forbid at BPW/ Bike Park Wales on the handle bars.

lettingthedaysgoby

This is a terrible idea.

craker

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

This is a terrible idea.

but at least you'll know what lane to be in at busy motorway intersections.

oxoman

That's only an option for foreign cyclists as seen in and around the London area / M25,M40.

lettingthedaysgoby

oxoman wrote:

That's only an option for foreign cyclists as seen in and around the London area / M25,M40.

Or Uber Eats riders in Birmingham

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... m-45183556

fenix

Where are you navigating ?

wolfsbane2k

Likely answer is NO, depending on actual use case.

Car GPs units will route you done motorways, dual carriageways.
Cycling GPS units should take into account modal filters, cycle lanes, no cycling routes etc.
And I've yet to find a car GPS that records ANT+ data, or completes 8 hours without charge.

Different tools, different uses.

topshopper19

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

This is a terrible idea.

thanks

topshopper19

Fenix wrote:

Where are you navigating ?

all across London. Mainly east London several times a day due to new business.

topshopper19

oxoman wrote:

That's only an option for foreign cyclists as seen in and around the London area / M25,M40.

topshopper19

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Likely answer is NO, depending on actual use case.

Car GPs units will route you done motorways, dual carriageways.
Cycling GPS units should take into account modal filters, cycle lanes, no cycling routes etc.
And I've yet to find a car GPS that records ANT+ data, or completes 8 hours without charge.

Different tools, different uses.

Thanks.

big_harv

A to Z and one of those handlebar map holder things.

hairysaddlebags

Maybe use Google maps on your phone, you can set that for cycling rather than car use and you can get a gadget that will attach it to your handlebars.