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GPS for bike

spokeslady	29 Jul 06:05
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile	I am very interested in what ne1 thinks of these. I love the idea of being able to plot an accurate route and transferring it to GE. Never getting lost. Using/transferring electronic maps. But they are a bit pricey at the moment, hopefully will come down. Does ne1 own one already?
My Latest Route: Mar 2010 Ebury Way

qmulguy	29 Jul 08:27
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Bike:	I use a GARMIN Foretrex 101 which mounts very nicely on the handlebars. I have used this extensively for plotting routes that I am riding and then use the data with the Memory Map Software which contains an Ordnance Survye map of the area that I plot the GPS data on. The Foretrex 101 seems quite accurate in terms of position on the ground, but its reported elevations are not too good. If yo are really interested in elevation data, you really need a GPS with a proper altimeter included. However, as a general guide to the profile of the ride, its acceptable.

qmulguy

29 Jul 08:27

Joined: 29 Jul 2006

Posts: 4

Bike:

I use a GARMIN Foretrex 101 which mounts very nicely on the handlebars. I have used this extensively for plotting routes that I am riding and then use the data with the Memory Map Software which contains an Ordnance Survye map of the area that I plot the GPS data on.

The Foretrex 101 seems quite accurate in terms of position on the ground, but its reported elevations are not too good. If yo are really interested in elevation data, you really need a GPS with a proper altimeter included. However, as a general guide to the profile of the ride, its acceptable.

happy	29 Jul 08:49
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile	What sort of price are we talking about for these devices. I always wandered whether it would be worth getting one myself. Not that I get lost often, lol. Alan
My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

qmulguy	29 Jul 11:48
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Bike:	I paid around £100 for the unit itself. The handlebar mount was around £10 and the data link cable for connection to the computer was around the same price. The only thing to be aware of with the data connection is that many of the newer units connects by USB to the computer, but this one connects by the SERIAL PORT which many computers today do not have. In my case, it was OK as I had already had to purchase a USB to SERIAL converter for another application, but these do not come cheap and the cheapest I found was around £30.

qmulguy

29 Jul 11:48

Joined: 29 Jul 2006

Posts: 4

Bike:

I paid around £100 for the unit itself. The handlebar mount was around £10 and the data link cable for connection to the computer was around the same price. The only thing to be aware of with the data connection is that many of the newer units connects by USB to the computer, but this one connects by the SERIAL PORT which many computers today do not have. In my case, it was OK as I had already had to purchase a USB to SERIAL converter for another application, but these do not come cheap and the cheapest I found was around £30.

happy	29 Jul 12:28
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile	yeah it can be a little annoying when a company don't make things too easier for you. I think the real aim for me with one of these would be when I'm in forests, if you wander off the main paths for a bit looking for a good down hill track or technical section, it would be nice to know just how far you have gone. Is the detail that good do you think for that sort of application? Thanks Alan
My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

qmulguy	29 Jul 14:02
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Bike:	The one problem with GPS is that you really need good visibility of the GPS satellites to maintain your position and in forest areas or areas where in general there is thick overhead vegetation it can be difficult for the GPS to maintain its satellite connection. Providing that you are not constantly in a forest it should be good enough. As I live in cambridgeshire, I don't tend to have too much problem with forests and so cannot really say how the unit performs in such situations and most of my riding tends to be on-road as well. One other thing with the GPS that I have is that it doesn't have maps built in or allow you to download them. If you wanted to be able to do this, then you would have to consider some of the more advanced and more expensive GPS units, but the same issues will apply to being in foresty areas.

qmulguy

29 Jul 14:02

Joined: 29 Jul 2006

Posts: 4

Bike:

The one problem with GPS is that you really need good visibility of the GPS satellites to maintain your position and in forest areas or areas where in general there is thick overhead vegetation it can be difficult for the GPS to maintain its satellite connection.

Providing that you are not constantly in a forest it should be good enough. As I live in cambridgeshire, I don't tend to have too much problem with forests and so cannot really say how the unit performs in such situations and most of my riding tends to be on-road as well.

One other thing with the GPS that I have is that it doesn't have maps built in or allow you to download them. If you wanted to be able to do this, then you would have to consider some of the more advanced and more expensive GPS units, but the same issues will apply to being in foresty areas.

jimboalee	15 May 10:23
Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 4 Bike:	I use a Garmin eTrex Legend C. I have Topo GB and Metroguide mapping ( but I cannot mix the two ). It is great, except it gets confused in the city between the high-rise, due to reflections. The rubber bumper strip adhesive is its major fault. If you leave it in a hot car, the glue goes gooey and the mess needs replacing with double-sided tape. Hard job, but worth it. Topo allows 'follow road' routing, but metroguide doesn't. Some 200km AUK rides go beyond the units map memory capabilities, so Metroguide is used with 'stringers' between junctions. It works well. Visit Audax UK's website to get a good tutorial on Garmin GPS units. AUK rides are pre-planned. I construct the route and download it to the handset. Just follow the thick pink line! My unit is the C model with 24meg. Today's model, HCx, has a SD card slot, so it can have 2Gig. Enough to take all of Topo GB, thats if you are on a LE2JOG in 116 hours. 2700 mAhr NiMh batteries last 24 hours with no backlight, or about 16 hours with 50% backlight. Recorded tracks are not lost when the batteries are removed, so if the battery change is done when stationary, the tracks can be joined when they are uploaded onto your PC. There is much more I could say, but it is on AUDAX UK's website.

jimboalee

15 May 10:23

Joined: 15 May 2008

Posts: 4

Bike:

I use a Garmin eTrex Legend C. I have Topo GB and Metroguide mapping ( but I cannot mix the two ). It is great, except it gets confused in the city between the high-rise, due to reflections.
The rubber bumper strip adhesive is its major fault. If you leave it in a hot car, the glue goes gooey and the mess needs replacing with double-sided tape. Hard job, but worth it.
Topo allows 'follow road' routing, but metroguide doesn't. Some 200km AUK rides go beyond the units map memory capabilities, so Metroguide is used with 'stringers' between junctions. It works well.

Visit Audax UK's website to get a good tutorial on Garmin GPS units.

AUK rides are pre-planned. I construct the route and download it to the handset. Just follow the thick pink line!

My unit is the C model with 24meg. Today's model, HCx, has a SD card slot, so it can have 2Gig. Enough to take all of Topo GB, thats if you are on a LE2JOG in 116 hours.

2700 mAhr NiMh batteries last 24 hours with no backlight, or about 16 hours with 50% backlight. Recorded tracks are not lost when the batteries are removed, so if the battery change is done when stationary, the tracks can be joined when they are uploaded onto your PC.

There is much more I could say, but it is on AUDAX UK's website.

captgeoff	29 May 05:04
Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 36 Bike: My Profile	I also use a garmin e trex legend c. I use metroguide europe v7 software. Create routes in memory map or get routes from here and the CTC website. Download to the garmin and away I go. Works well I find. I also convert my tracks to routes on the pc.
My Latest Route: Feb 2009 Brabourne to Kingsnorth Circular

happy	29 May 16:41
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile	Hey CaptGeoff, Have you tried loading any of the routes from the site on your GPX. Not sure we have had much uptake on it. Looking for a member to try it out :D Happy
My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

captgeoff	30 May 03:31
Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 36 Bike: My Profile	Hi Happy Yes they go into my garmin map source software with no problems, from there to my gps. Haven't riden one yet but will soon. I can't foresee any problems. Will let you know how I get on when I complete one. Geoff
My Latest Route: Feb 2009 Brabourne to Kingsnorth Circular

Darkrider	30 May 18:31
Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 13 Bike: My Profile	Hi Spokelady Call me old fashioned but give me an OS map and a Compass any day LOL no batteries to die and certainly less to go wrong and best of all a lot cheaper
My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop

happy	31 May 04:27
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile	Hi DarkRider, Yeah I think technology certainly makes us lazy. There is probably nothing wrong with both methods, each have their advantages. I suppose a satnav system will always (or should always) have the most recent data, whereas a map could be out of date. But then as you say, a map will never run out of batteries. Happy
My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

spokeslady	14 Jun 03:54
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile	Update: since starting this thread I bought the Garmin Geko 201 and it's been a love affair ever since! I plot my routes using Google Earth, convert to gpx format, onto the geko and off I go. So far i've cycled around Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and soon Belgium. I Follow the route and no time is wasted in getting lost or looking at maps, just pure cycle enjoyment.
My Latest Route: Mar 2010 Ebury Way

happy	14 Jun 04:26
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 302 Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset My Profile	Hi Spokeslady, Sounds brilliant. How much did you pay for it if you don't mind me asking? Happy
My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

GaryK	14 Aug 14:55
Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Bike: My Profile	I've been using a new service from Nokia for their gps enabled phones. It's called sports tracker and monitors your route, average speed, altitude etc. It's available from http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/main/index.do. It may not have all the features of most purchasable products but if you have a compatible phone it's hard to beat considering it's free
My Latest Route: Jan 2009 Kirkby Rainford Round Trip

rich123	14 Aug 17:48
Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 2 Bike:	Hi this is something I've been trying to find out about! I'd love to follow the routes on this site but i don't want to start printing off mega pages. I'd like to use the .gpx wayfinder routes on the site but what equipment do i need to read them and what's the end product - what does the route look like on the gps device? Does that make sense? How do i know if I'm going wrong? Pretty basic I know - is it like the sat nav in the car "go left, go right" and all that?

rich123

14 Aug 17:48

Joined: 14 Aug 2008

Posts: 2

Bike:

Hi this is something I've been trying to find out about!

I'd love to follow the routes on this site but i don't want to start printing off mega pages.

I'd like to use the .gpx wayfinder routes on the site but what equipment do i need to read them and what's the end product - what does the route look like on the gps device? Does that make sense? How do i know if I'm going wrong? Pretty basic I know - is it like the sat nav in the car "go left, go right" and all that?

mbailey	15 Feb 16:07
Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 2 Bike:	I've been experimenting with this: http://www.ttsm.com/ You can either use a mobile phone with built in GPS, or use an external bluetooth GPS unit. It appears to work very well.

dave1979	03 Jul 14:57
Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	hi im looking for some advice - im getting a garmin 705 but confused about the maps would i be better off with the memory card or with the topo dvd to add routes, and make my own? dave

globalfish	27 Nov 20:33
Joined: 27 Nov 2009 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile	I use a Edge 205 and Memory Map - it's main use is for plotting routes when on the MTB and posting on our blog after a ride for the benefit of all the newer guys. I can stick a little jpeg link on the site and aslo link the Motion Based (now Connect) player too. I'm sure this helps attracts people to the site. The 205 was going for about Â£50 recently in Halfords and other places - bargain. I'm on my 2nd in 2 years but it was replaced FOC after it locked out on a software/firmware upgrade. Credit to Garmin there. See jpeg of Memory Map & motion based player here... http://rwhitemedia.co.uk/2009/06/05/wet/

globalfish

27 Nov 20:33

Joined: 27 Nov 2009

Posts: 14

Bike:

My Profile

I use a Edge 205 and Memory Map - it's main use is for plotting routes when on the MTB and posting on our blog after a ride for the benefit of all the newer guys. I can stick a little jpeg link on the site and aslo link the Motion Based (now Connect) player too. I'm sure this helps attracts people to the site. The 205 was going for about Â£50 recently in Halfords and other places - bargain. I'm on my 2nd in 2 years but it was replaced FOC after it locked out on a software/firmware upgrade. Credit to Garmin there.

See jpeg of Memory Map & motion based player here...

http://rwhitemedia.co.uk/2009/06/05/wet/

jamie8375	15 Dec 15:00
Joined: 15 Dec 2009 Posts: 1 Bike:	Hi, I use a Garmin Oregon with onscreen mapping, (Â£330) within the GPS I use a Garmin OS 1:50,000 national parks map, which has all the UK's National Park areas. I plan my route with memory map National Parks, (Â£25) which has the same mapping as the GPS, and then upload to GPS. This enables me to follow the onscreen map on my GPS and takes the pain and effort out of map reading and seems to work pretty well for me. I agree with many of the comments that this is an expensive way to navigate and that you should just rely on map and compass, but I can assure you I'm a competant map reader and still I don't think you can beat doing your planning on a laptop and then having a hassle free ride, withiout interruption and backtracking and having to stop and check every track and junction. If you can afford to fork out (Â£330 gps + Â£25 for memory map)Â£355 it's a great mountain bike investment and has allowed to create about 30 routes in my local area (Yorkshire Moors/Dales) of which I've only managed to ride about 20 of them up to now, so i'm looking forward to working my way through the rest of the routes.

jamie8375

15 Dec 15:00

Joined: 15 Dec 2009

Posts: 1

Bike:

Hi, I use a Garmin Oregon with onscreen mapping, (Â£330) within the GPS I use a Garmin OS 1:50,000 national parks map, which has all the UK's National Park areas. I plan my route with memory map National Parks, (Â£25) which has the same mapping as the GPS, and then upload to GPS.

This enables me to follow the onscreen map on my GPS and takes the pain and effort out of map reading and seems to work pretty well for me.

I agree with many of the comments that this is an expensive way to navigate and that you should just rely on map and compass, but I can assure you I'm a competant map reader and still I don't think you can beat doing your planning on a laptop and then having a hassle free ride, withiout interruption and backtracking and having to stop and check every track and junction.

If you can afford to fork out (Â£330 gps + Â£25 for memory map)Â£355 it's a great mountain bike investment and has allowed to create about 30 routes in my local area (Yorkshire Moors/Dales) of which I've only managed to ride about 20 of them up to now, so i'm looking forward to working my way through the rest of the routes.

spike	18 Dec 16:32
Joined: 04 Aug 2009 Posts: 12 Bike: My Profile	Something else to consider is an Android phone. (Not sure if the iphone has the app or maps). I have a phone running Android. My Tracks is a free app and the phone has google maps already loaded. It can track you to within a couple of metres, shows the route you have taken, records max speed, average speed, elevation gain, max gradient... The app shows the profile of your route. Another app shows you all the interesting information about the area you are in for pubs, cafes, scenery...etc. You can immediately upload the info to google maps for storing / analysing. Great bit of kit, and obviously it's also a phone. Also has Google Latitude - handy if you fall off or get injured as someone at home could see exactly where you are on the computer - not so handy if you are in the pub and you haven't turned the gps off.
My Latest Route: Sep 2009 North Coventry Circular via Keresley and Church End

spike

18 Dec 16:32

Joined: 04 Aug 2009

Posts: 12

Bike:

My Profile

Something else to consider is an Android phone. (Not sure if the iphone has the app or maps).

I have a phone running Android. My Tracks is a free app and the phone has google maps already loaded.

It can track you to within a couple of metres, shows the route you have taken, records max speed, average speed, elevation gain, max gradient... The app shows the profile of your route. Another app shows you all the interesting information about the area you are in for pubs, cafes, scenery...etc.

You can immediately upload the info to google maps for storing / analysing.

Great bit of kit, and obviously it's also a phone.

Also has Google Latitude - handy if you fall off or get injured as someone at home could see exactly where you are on the computer - not so handy if you are in the pub and you haven't turned the gps off.

My Latest Route: Sep 2009 North Coventry Circular via Keresley and Church End

jonearnshaw	31 Dec 05:41
Joined: 31 Dec 2009 Posts: 1 Bike: My Profile	I have used a Garmin Edge 605 for over a year and it's amazing! One area where its particularly strong is the Online dashboard that lets you upload your routes and view them full screen in Google maps (using an API). you can then see charts that show your speed /altitude at various points on your route. Easy to download GPX files and load onto the device. Even works well on a mac!!! Was thinking about upgrading to the 705 but I already have a separate pulse monitor - so probably not worth it. IMHO - an excellent piece of kit - extremely well supported online! jon
My Latest Route: Jan 2010 Welwyn Garden City Off Road Loop via Ayot St Lawrence

jonearnshaw

31 Dec 05:41

Joined: 31 Dec 2009

Posts: 1

Bike:

My Profile

I have used a Garmin Edge 605 for over a year and it's amazing!

One area where its particularly strong is the Online dashboard that lets you upload your routes and view them full screen in Google maps (using an API). you can then see charts that show your speed /altitude at various points on your route.

Easy to download GPX files and load onto the device. Even works well on a mac!!!

Was thinking about upgrading to the 705 but I already have a separate pulse monitor - so probably not worth it.

IMHO - an excellent piece of kit - extremely well supported online!

jon

My Latest Route: Jan 2010 Welwyn Garden City Off Road Loop via Ayot St Lawrence

Tex Gore	02 Jan 08:42
Joined: 02 Jan 2010 Posts: 5 Bike:	Aye up, Being a keen hiker and Triathlete for many years (and awful with money) I am fortunate enough to be quite replete on the GPS front. On the bike I use a Garmin Forerunner 405 and a SatMap Active10 Plus. For the former (which is a watch, although a bike mount is available I believe), I also have the optional rear-wheel sensor and chest strap. As such, this device gives me all the usual such as speed/distance/pace/gradient/altitude/calories/heart rate but with the rear sensor also gives me cadence. I doubt very much that this is anywhere near as accurate as the rather expensive rear wheel sensors (about which I know very little) but for training purposes it's an indication at least. The SatMap is (in my opinion) one of the best mapping GPS' around (or it was when I bought it) as it provides full graphical mapping in either the in-built roadmap (UK Wide, free with the unit for Europe (if you get the plus) or OS maps (which are cost options on SD cards). I have the bike mount for this so it sits on the end of my Tri-Bars helping the man with the least sense of direction in the known universe (and I've been lost in most of it) to not get so lost. It also has a Lithium battery but also a useful caddy such that I can use normal batteries if I can't charge it. Battery life is good though - 2-3 full days if I'm frugal with the backlight and so on. So between them, including the Garmin training centre software (free with the 405) I can get very detailed information on my training, and not get lost whilst doing so. They also both record my tracks (where I have been) in case I do manage to take an unforeseen detour. But, as with anything like this, you have to be super-careful not to spend so much time looking at the GPS whilst riding that you are expertly directed straight into that tree/bus/pensioner. Cheers Tex

Tex Gore

02 Jan 08:42

Joined: 02 Jan 2010

Posts: 5

Bike:

Aye up,

Being a keen hiker and Triathlete for many years (and awful with money) I am fortunate enough to be quite replete on the GPS front.

On the bike I use a Garmin Forerunner 405 and a SatMap Active10 Plus. For the former (which is a watch, although a bike mount is available I believe), I also have the optional rear-wheel sensor and chest strap. As such, this device gives me all the usual such as speed/distance/pace/gradient/altitude/calories/heart rate but with the rear sensor also gives me cadence. I doubt very much that this is anywhere near as accurate as the rather expensive rear wheel sensors (about which I know very little) but for training purposes it's an indication at least.

The SatMap is (in my opinion) one of the best mapping GPS' around (or it was when I bought it) as it provides full graphical mapping in either the in-built roadmap (UK Wide, free with the unit for Europe (if you get the plus) or OS maps (which are cost options on SD cards). I have the bike mount for this so it sits on the end of my Tri-Bars helping the man with the least sense of direction in the known universe (and I've been lost in most of it) to not get so lost. It also has a Lithium battery but also a useful caddy such that I can use normal batteries if I can't charge it. Battery life is good though - 2-3 full days if I'm frugal with the backlight and so on.

So between them, including the Garmin training centre software (free with the 405) I can get very detailed information on my training, and not get lost whilst doing so. They also both record my tracks (where I have been) in case I do manage to take an unforeseen detour.

But, as with anything like this, you have to be super-careful not to spend so much time looking at the GPS whilst riding that you are expertly directed straight into that tree/bus/pensioner.

Cheers

Tex

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