Anyone here use a GPS unit for biking?

[Rontele]

If so, which one do you suggest? Does it mount straight to your bar?

[mrryde]

I use a garmin C60sx with a handlebar mount. Its bigger than the Garmin Edge, but it has a shit ton of other non biking uses. The only drawback is - no lap counter and no integrated HRM, but OTOH I get turn by turn directions while driving, I use it hiking, kayaking, and whatever else I want. Plus its color and much more mapping options

[Rontele]

I use a garmin C60sx with a handlebar mount. Its bigger than the Garmin Edge, but it has a shit ton of other non biking uses. The only drawback is - no lap counter and no integrated HRM, but OTOH I get turn by turn directions while driving, I use it hiking, kayaking, and whatever else I want. Plus its color and much more mapping options

I would use this for backcountry ski touring too. Thanks for the insight.

[mrryde]

I would use this for backcountry ski touring too. Thanks for the insight.

You can get 24K topos for these places

http://www.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/graphics/topo24knpwest/USTopo24kMap2.gif

The other topo software is U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000-scale

The C60sx also has an altimeter

[snow_slider]

I just got a Garmin Forerunner 305 and I'll be taking it out on it's maiden mtb voyage tonight. I hope it works ok in the tree cover. I'll be on some pretty tight singletrack.

[fatback]

I use the Garmin Edge 305. It came with two stem mounts and sits perfectly on the stem. I use it on both my road and mountain bike.

It would not be very useful for routefinding. It is a kick ass bike computer though. If you get one I would suggest uploading the data at www.motionbased.com. The site gives you a ton of information and allows you to view your route in google earth.

[Rontele]

I use the Garmin Edge 305. It came with two stem mounts and sits perfectly on the stem. I use it on both my road and mountain bike.

It would not be very useful for routefinding. It is a kick ass bike computer though. If you get one I would suggest uploading the data at www.motionbased.com. The site gives you a ton of information and allows you to view your route in google earth.

Why isnt this a good one for routefinding. That is what I am primiarly interested in. Are there specific models that are better for routefinding over others.

[fatback]

It has a really small screen and no option for uploading topos to it nor does it come with any maps loaded on it. It was designed to be used strictly as a bike a computer.

I would look at another model if you want a unit that would work well for skiing and biking.

[mrryde]

Why isnt this a good one for routefinding. That is what I am primiarly interested in. Are there specific models that are better for routefinding over others.

simply put, no maps. with the better GArmin models you can map your intended route on the pc and download it to the GPS and then follow that route.

[The Reverend Floater]

As Chopper says, heart monitors are for people with poodle scars. I can't imagine where GPS falls into. ;)

[SKISC]

I use the Garmin 305. I like the software that goes with for mapping your ride and also the sattelite image with the map. Mine came with one stem mount and one handlebar mount. I need another stem mount for my other bike.

[steadieflow]

I have the Garmin Edge 205...as others have said great bike computer, but not good to route finding. As far as route finding functionality look into GPS units that have more way points, that will provide better and more accurate route finding. I got the 205 because it small and fits on the stem of the bike and gives me milage, speed, elevation gain/loss....as far as route finding I just felt when biking you are on trail and there are plenty of maps so that functionality wasn't as important.

[Nitro]

I love my Edge 305 from Garmin. Just got it and it is sweet. Does way more stuff than I could ever think of. I love the link to motionbase and the stats it provides. It is also great for mapping the courses here at Snowmass and then posting them via Google Earth. Very cool.

[wintermittent]

Another Garmin Edge 305 user here. Highly recommended. It is a great training tool and plenty fine for basic navigation. I'm not sure why everyone else thinks it sucks for route finding... It's true it's not as intuitive/easy as other GPSs to record waypoints on-the-fly. But you can upload and download tracks, waypoints, etc. and do basic PTP route finding and backtracking with it.

As with any GPS unit in an unfamiliar area/backcountry, I would not rely solely on it. It's another tool, not a substitute for route planning, map, and a compass.

One minor complaint -- Edge battery is a non-replaceable li-ion unit, and runs 3-6 hours continuous. If you use the wireless gadgets (hrm, cadence transmitter, etc.) runtime is shorter.


Mine came with one stem mount and one handlebar mount. I need another stem mount for my other bike.
I think you might be able to un-snap the handlebar one and rotate it 90 degrees to make it into a stem mount. It worked for me, but maybe you have a different part than mine.

[shirk]

So are people still happy with the Edge 205 and 305?

I was given a crappy low end Garmin unit for Chirstmas that hasn't worked right since I tried to track the flight home from Toronto to Vancouver at Christmas. Going to take it back to Costco and they have the 205 and 305's on their website.

Primary use will be logging rides and maybe log some ski touring.

I havn't looked at all the functions, but why go 305 over the 205?

[Pegleg]

This might be a stupid question but... any idea if the new 3G Iphone, which has a GPS, could be of any use for riding/skiing/general BC use? I don't think there's a real GPS app available yet, but I imagine there will be.

[pechelman]

for ski touring double duty, check out the etrex vista hcx
ive been liking mine
has great battery life and you can mount it directly to your hbar

go this route if you want, greater batt life and dont care about HR or Cadence.

[LeeLau]

for ski touring double duty, check out the etrex vista hcx
ive been liking mine
has great battery life and you can mount it directly to your hbar

go this route if you want, greater batt life and dont care about HR or Cadence.

shirk = i agree with pechelman. There's lots of threads about GPS but tough to search about it as the GPS search term is too short. The Vista HCX is small, you can fit in a jacket pocket or shorts. You can put it in a case to protect it. You can also get free Canadian maps for it.

[sethschmautz]

I use my Forerunner 305 for kayaking, backcountry skiing, running, road biking, hiking, races (single sport and multi-sport) and mountain biking. As many others have written, it does a great job of tracking what you're doing/have done, but I haven't found a great way to create routes and upload them to the device to follow. I know that it's possible, but I haven't put in the time to figure it out. From the limited research that I've done, this sounds like I'm not the only one with this problem.

It does a great job of keeping track of what you've done and where you've gone, so if this is your primary use, I'd highly recommend it. The forerunner model is a wrist watch style, so it obviously moves very easily between all of the above sports. You can get a foot pod for it if you want to work out inside, and you can also purchase a handlebar mount and a cadence counter. The 305 comes with a HRM, but the 205 does not. I've been very satisfied with the device, and am only slightly frustrated that I can't upload a map and follow a course.

If you do many multi-sport races, it allows you program the watch for each of your activities (i.e. Ski, bike, paddle, run) and then when you hit the "lap" button, it stops your event timer and starts your transition timer. "Lap" again starts the timer on the next activity. Very cool functionaltiy.

Battery life (3-6 hours is acurate) is also frustrating. I would have loved to take this with me when I went on a 5-day backpacking trip a few weeks ago, but the battery never would have lasted. I'd give it an 8 out of 10. It does many things very well, but is quite limited in range (batteries) and scope (maps, directions, etc.). Still really good for a small wrist watch device.

[homi]

I have the one pechelman has ^^. Pretty good screen/info/routefinding. it's too bulky to fit into a jersey.

I also have a suunto x9i, which is cool, but the software blows ass. Anyone want it? good price for you!

[Danno]

This might be a stupid question but... any idea if the new 3G Iphone, which has a GPS, could be of any use for riding/skiing/general BC use? I don't think there's a real GPS app available yet, but I imagine there will be.

i have wondered the same thing.

[pechelman]

I have the one pechelman has ^^. Pretty good screen/info/routefinding. it's too bulky to fit into a jersey.


well i personally think it fits fine into the back pocket of a roadie jerzey, but i feel that if i leave it in a pocket or in my pack a lot, that im not getting the full benefit of having the gps

so i got this
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1056

crashed hard with it once and it held on fine
i do wrap the lanyard from the gps around the mount though to make it more rigid and to make it impossible for the springy tab to allow the unit to fall off.

[davep]

There's lots of threads about GPS but tough to search about it as the GPS search term is too short.

search: 'GPS*'
works for any 3 letter search term.
Or, use google.

[LeeLau]

search: 'GPS*'
works for any 3 letter search term.
Or, use google.

I mean - search by way of using the TGR search engine.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69620 - most relevant thread.

can search by using this search term in google site://tetongravity.com gps

[davep]

I mean - search by way of using the TGR search engine.


yeah that's what I mean too - TGR's search engine lets you search for 3-letter words if you pad them with a *, ie "GPS*"

Or at least I think that's what you meant?

[LeeLau]

ok - i didn't know that about the wildcards. good to know!

[khakis]

can any of the compact units do maximum speed? Was thinking this would be really fun for skiing/longboarding

[sethschmautz]

Yes. At least the 305 can. With the software like Motion Based,Garmin Traning Center or Sport Tracks you can look at all of your statistics. You can even see what your speed and heart rate were when you were at different places in your ski/ride/run. Pretty powerful.

[Rontele]

My 60CSx owns for biking.

[rideit]

Anyone want a Garmin Edge Etrex Vista, cheap?
I am upgrading for a more 'pro' mapping unit.
$75.00, shipped?

[50kLeg]

Garmin users: how does it work in heavy tree cover. I have a mid level Garmin handheld from a few years back and it flat out sucks in tree cover of any kind. Hiking through Yosemite it only mapped about half the actual route that we took. Seeing as I primarily MTB I want to make sure its going to work find in moderate to heavy tree cover.

[Jonathan S.]

Garmin users: how does it work in heavy tree cover. I have a mid level Garmin handheld from a few years back and it flat out sucks in tree cover of any kind. Hiking through Yosemite it only mapped about half the actual route that we took. Seeing as I primarily MTB I want to make sure its going to work find in moderate to heavy tree cover.
The new high-sensitivity chips in Garmin units are amazing. Previously available only in the 60/76 Cx/CSx, they're now also available in the H-designated eTrex models, and the two top models in the Rhino line. Tree cover isn't even a challenge for my 60Cx -- it even works in basements with only the teeniest windows, and window-less office building stairwells. (I discovered the latter by mistake when I left the track log on...)
I use my 60Cx for skiing, mountain biking, road biking, and driving -- a bit big compared to the recently upgraded eTrex models that now seem to have pretty much the same capabilities, but otherwise perfect.

[pechelman]

2nd^

the only difficulty my etrex unit has in heavily treed or sheltered areas\places is when first turning it on an acquiring enough sats

[vanisle]

^3rded
As long as i get a good satellite fix out in the open with my 60Cx i can throw it in my pack and no amount of forest cover seems to faze it.

[Lev]

My 60CSx owns for biking.

Hey Rontele, to resurrect this thread, how do you normally carry your 60CSx when riding? Just got one as a gift. Really don't want to do the dorky handlebar mount. Just curious. Thanks!

[Rontele]

Hey Rontele, to resurrect this thread, how do you normally carry your 60CSx when riding? Just got one as a gift. Really don't want to do the dorky handlebar mount. Just curious. Thanks!

Side pocket of my pack.

[frorider]

i just got a 60csx. i've heard there are sites where you can download maps for free. too lazy to research this right now.

[skiing-in-jackson]

I do as much exploring as anybody (read: getting lost) and I think the handlebar mount is worthless. Inside the pack is where it is at.

The handlebar mounts break if a twin runs across the your bars. Then you are stuck looking for the unit on some trail.

I rarely use the GPS for navigation on a ride. I may take it out to reference elevation, but that's it.

[SuperChief]

Garmin users: how does it work in heavy tree cover. I have a mid level Garmin handheld from a few years back and it flat out sucks in tree cover of any kind. Hiking through Yosemite it only mapped about half the actual route that we took. Seeing as I primarily MTB I want to make sure its going to work find in moderate to heavy tree cover.

all GPS suck in tree cover and downpours, you may get a signal but the accuracy is degraded.

Max speed will always show errors if you are in and out of trees.

Look at the Garmin Vistas, they aren't as portable as a 205/305 but they have a decent color screen. Which make them good for driving,

I hate the Garmin software, it's non-existent on a mac. so I use a MN DNR tool and export to GIS shapefile.

I never use GPS for navigation, so I keep it in my pack, tied off so the antennae is exposed, or I slip it into my wifes pack's mesh pocket.

I don't think the Iphone will be replacing my Garmin, I haven't found any topogaphic base layers, or ways to import my own base layers. which would be cool to use aerial photos or whatever I can make in a GIS.

[Lev]

Hey Mac users, what software are you using? Specifically for the 60csx of that matters.

Took my new GPS out for a spin yesterday. I'm really impressed, but I haven't figured out how to offload the data to my comp. Prbly should just google, but I was curious which programs the collective here is using. Thanks

[Rontele]

Hey Mac users, what software are you using? Specifically for the 60csx of that matters.

Took my new GPS out for a spin yesterday. I'm really impressed, but I haven't figured out how to offload the data to my comp. Prbly should just google, but I was curious which programs the collective here is using. Thanks

Doubtful the data is compatible with anything but Motionbased for a mac.