The Chainlink

GPS and Bicycling

I searched the archive and didn't see anything about this.  Does anyone use a GPS unit while biking? 

 

I admit to being kind of confused by the different kinds of units.  I know that there are turn by turn units that give directions,  hiking units, and then bike computer units with GPS built in.

 

Would it be feasible to have a unit that could do geo-caching and bike computing together?  Perhaps even offer some turn by turn functionality.

 

Anyone use these?  What kind?  How do you use it? What should one look for when purchasing GPS devices?

 

 

 

 

 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jared on April 5, 2010 at 11:24am
My phone has GPS/Google maps built in. It does generate directions but no cycling directions at least with what I have on it now. It can also pinpoint my location so that is useful too.
Permalink Reply by Michael A on April 5, 2010 at 11:27am
After doing a lot of research I bought and use a garmin 705 edge, it has all those capabilities, but it is pricey, The model I have with the heartrate monitor, cadence and the US maps retails at $650. You can also use mapmyride or google maps to make your own route and upload it to the unit. You can share your route with others.

Here are the rides I did from friday, sunday and this morning

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28740478
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28945274
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/29048746

If you want to see it in use just send me a message, we could go for a short ride
Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on April 5, 2010 at 12:01pm
I've got an Android phone I use as a GPS / bike computer / workout logger with the "Cardiotracker" program. It's got voice navigation as well, but while google may have bicycle routing on maps.google.com, it isn't available for the android google maps or navigation.

The cardiotracker program is nice as it gives voice updates at set intervals telling me my pace, distance, time riding, etc, so it works well with headphones.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 5, 2010 at 1:01pm
At a high level you can divide the GPS units in 3 groups:
- Units that record what it is you are doing. (distance, speed, cadence, heart rate, etc). The current Garmin model in this class is the Edge 500. Retails for $249. (but cadence and heartrate will drive up the price above $300) You can upload data to MMR and other sites like it. I believe this model can also give directions back home, but that is not map based.
- Units that do the above and give directions (usually maps based). These come in bike specific models as well as more generic outdoor models. The current bike specific Garmin model is the Edge 705 that Michael mentions. It is quite fancy, with color maps, wireless sharing of routes with other Edge users, power meter integration, etc., but it comes with an exorbitant price tag. The more generic outdoor models (not sure about their model names) might work as well, but they tend to be somewhat bigger, and lack the bike specific features (cadence, etc.). They also tend to be cheaper
- Phones with GPS abilities built in. This is likely the way of the future, but the current models aren't quite on the same level as a dedicated GPS unit. Main problem is battery life. If you want to go for an daylong ride, you might not make it without recharging. This is because these phones typically don't have the map on the phone, instead they download the relevant information. So it makes for continuous data transmission

I used to have a Garmin Forerunner 205. A GPS in wristwatch-form. I used it for running as well as biking and I was quite happy with it. I lost it, so I'm looking for a new one and likely will get a Garmin Edge 500 (I no longer run, so a wristwatch-form is no longer needed).

The big question is whether you need all the extra options? If you plan to ride solo in areas that you are not familiar with and for which you have no turn-by-turn directions available, the 705 might make sense. If you are more into goup rides, or supported rides of some sort, the 500 will likely do.
If directions are your #1 priority and you are not too worried about things like cadence or heart rate one of the outdoor models might do.
If you already have a phone with GPS abilities, you might want to give that a try. It may have some drawbacks, but it is likely the cheapest option
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on April 5, 2010 at 1:03pm
You can do better than my Garmin eTrex Legend CX...but you can find it cheap. You also need to have good eyesight. Garmin also makes you buy the mapsets separately from the unit. There's a disc for trails, topo, cities, etc.

Honestly, people otherwise swear by the Apple I-Phone. Somebody I know is travelling the earth with just that.
Permalink Reply by Michael A on April 5, 2010 at 1:13pm
I had tried a couple apps for my iphone and that is what I was using prior, The data was way off, sometimes my max speed would be 105mph, and the distance measured was always a lot different then my on bike cateye. The gps and directions works ok but when the iphone goes to sleep you have to restart the whole process again each time( not easy to do without stopping)You cannot use it while wearing gloves, brrr. The battery last 3 hrs tops. Worst of all I was pretty lost last yr on a long ride, there was no cell service which made it useless.

Matt M. said:
You can do better than my Garmin eTrex Legend CX...but you can find it cheap. You also need to have good eyesight. Garmin also makes you buy the mapsets separately from the unit. There's a disc for trails, topo, cities, etc.

Honestly, people otherwise swear by the Apple I-Phone. Somebody I know is travelling the earth with just that.
Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on April 5, 2010 at 1:49pm
Oh, man. That's good to know! Says alot about my buddy's nav skills. In that case I'll hold onto the eTrex...but only because I don't need glasses to see it. I also know how to program trails into it without too much trouble.

Michael A said:
I had tried a couple apps for my iphone and that is what I was using prior, The data was way off, sometimes my max speed would be 105mph, and the distance measured was always a lot different then my on bike cateye. The gps and directions works ok but when the iphone goes to sleep you have to restart the whole process again each time( not easy to do without stopping)You cannot use it while wearing gloves, brrr. The battery last 3 hrs tops. Worst of all I was pretty lost last yr on a long ride, there was no cell service which made it useless.

Matt M. said:
You can do better than my Garmin eTrex Legend CX...but you can find it cheap. You also need to have good eyesight. Garmin also makes you buy the mapsets separately from the unit. There's a disc for trails, topo, cities, etc.

Honestly, people otherwise swear by the Apple I-Phone. Somebody I know is travelling the earth with just that.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on April 5, 2010 at 4:55pm
Sounds like you need to add some weight to your Colnago, Michael.

Michael A said:
I had tried a couple apps for my iphone and that is what I was using prior, The data was way off, sometimes my max speed would be 105mph

Matt M. said:
You can do better than my Garmin eTrex Legend CX...but you can find it cheap. You also need to have good eyesight. Garmin also makes you buy the mapsets separately from the unit. There's a disc for trails, topo, cities, etc.

Honestly, people otherwise swear by the Apple I-Phone. Somebody I know is travelling the earth with just that.
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on April 5, 2010 at 4:59pm
Thanks for the information. I probably won't buy one soon, but I was curious about them. Hopefully I can see Michael's 705 on a ride soon!
Permalink Reply by Larry Mysz on April 8, 2010 at 8:30pm
A lot depends on what GPS features are important to you. I didn't want one for local riding, but did want something for touring.

For me, the key features were finding routes to points of interest, like campgrounds, motels, restaurants, or convenience stores. I also wanted mapping and route finding capability to get around detours or to get unlost. Long battery life was important, as was a weatherproof case. Features like cadence, heart rate, or calorie consumption weren't of particular interest.

Phone based systems wouldn't work for me because I got out of cell range too often.

I settled for a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx, a small hand held unit with handlebar mounts that runs 25 to 30 hours on a set of AA batteries.
Permalink Reply by Michael A on May 17, 2010 at 10:48am
check the battery life , I am pretty sure 2 hrs is max for those big bright screens

Korvas Black said:
I was looking into bike GPS options today. I sold my car and bought a bike about a month ago, and I have a GPS that's been going to waste in my bag. A coworker is looking into joining me in the saddle for his commute too and had me look into options for his GPS as well. We have standard car GPS models, mine a Garmin StreetPilot C330, his a Garmin Nuvi 205W, which suit our commuting and city riding needs for the time being, and we're going to get RAM mounts for our respective models. The mounts are intended for motorcycles, but a handlebar is a handlebar. My mount is about $30 and his is about $40, so they're not cheap, but they're cheaper than a new GPS. I wouldn't mind some of the exercise or biking specific features that earlier posts mention for more advanced or bike specific models, but I really just need it to serve the same function on my bike that it did on my car: keeping me from getting lost in my new hometown of Chicago.
Permalink Reply by Michael A on May 17, 2010 at 11:26am
nice, I have a navigon full size in my car, that thing never makes it more then a couple hours. Once you live in the city a while you will find your fav routes home and end up sticking to em.

Korvas Black said:
Michael A said:
check the battery life , I am pretty sure 2 hrs is max for those big bright screens

I have my screen brightness turned down to a level that works well for me and I usually get four or five hours of constant usage out of it. I drive the short bus for a living (seriously), and some of the vehicles I've been assigned don't have working power sockets, so I have plenty of experience using it without being able to recharge it until I get home. Given that I'm very unlikely to be actively using it for more than a couple of hours of riding a day and can shut it off and stash it in my bag between uses, its battery life is more than sufficient for my purposes. Even if I did only get a couple of hours, my morning commute is 45 minutes, then it's charging in my work vehicle all day (my current assigned vehicle does have a working socket), then another 45 minutes home, where I have the option of charging it through my computer if I'm worried about the morning ride. Around town I rarely ride more than 15 minutes at a stretch (I'm something of a homebody).

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