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Cycling Gear: Help! Sat Nav recommendation

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    • CommentAuthorFree MemberMattK
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2008
     
    MattK

    I want to buy a GPS product for my rides. I am planning with a few friends to do a long ride through Portugal later this year and have been planning the stages through Mapmyride which is great. I have seen a lot of so so reviews regardiing GAarmin Edge 305 - my needs are purely navigation, speed and time - I don't need to measure my heart beat, download multiple amounts of data on calory burns or hydrations levels I just don't want to get lost when my portugese is so poor.

    If I want to download my rides from Mapmyride without having to call my IT professional mate what is the best devise to use. Or is there a better way to use a navigation tool when out on long ride in strange places.

    Any recommendations or suggestions would be greatly received - thanks!

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberCWSFan
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2008
     
    CWSFan
    I have a Edge 205 and it is great. I plan my rides on mapmyride.com and download it the device. Doing it is real simple and once it is on your device you can just follow the line on the map and you will be set to go. I use it a lot to go through quiet neighbourhoods and never get lost. If you have any questions please let me know.
    • CommentAuthorFree MembermoreRon
    • CommentTimeFeb 7th 2008
     
    moreRon

    I've a Garmin Edge 305 and use it regularly to plan/ride routes I am unfamiliar with BUT wouldn't rely on it for touring for a couple of reasons. The two killers for me are battery and lack of on-board basemap.

    On battery life - one long day will kill it (10hr+ or alternatively 2 shorter days). If you don't have access to power this will be an issue. I do have a battery powered USB charger that can be used at a pinch but is a clunky fix.

    On navigation the 205/305 Edge units don't have a basemap - will only display the route you put in. That might be ok if you never deviate from the planned route but in my experience of touring you almost certainly will (and feel liberated in doing so) and once you are off course they will be near useless for actual navigation.

    The newer 605 Edge should be ok for navigation though you'll have to pay $$$+ both for the unit and the Iberian basemap. Alternatively you could go old school and use a paper touring map along with a regular speedo, no battery issue there!

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberHGNCRVZ
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2008
     
    HGNCRVZ

    I agree with moreRon, if your charting unfamiliar territory I would opt for the base map capacity and then the location specific map on top of the base map. I moved to Pisa Italy and from my experience it is well woth it. I have a Garmin GPSMAP 76 (Marine GPS not cycling) for just such occasions and if I already know the area I use my Garmin Forerunner 301. A suggestion for cost mitigation is to check on ebay for factory refurbished models of the Edge 065/705 for a lot less than new but the same one year factory warranty. I hope this helps.

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberapage4u
    • CommentTimeApr 28th 2008
     
    apage4u
    I have been using a Garmin E trex Ledgen for 3 years. You deffinately need the ability to load base maps. Also carry spare batteries, they only last about 8 hours.
    • CommentAuthorFree Membergferry
    • CommentTimeApr 30th 2008
     
    gferry

    I currently have a Garmin eTrex Vista HCX and an the original Vista.  I used the latter extensively in Italy along with my laptop and "MapSource European Metro Guide"  I would pick out my route on my laptop the night before and download it to my GPS.  I was able to find great "white" roads. 

    The advantage of the HCX is that you can put a 2GB micro SD in it and have a detailed map of Europe in your GPS (though I haven't specifically done this)  You would not need to carry your laptop then, though it sure makes life easier to find your route.  The HCX will also auto-route, though route suggested is typically not so good for bicycles, even when optioned for bicycles.   

    It is very important to practice with your GPS to understand what it is really telling you. 

    Speaking of laptops, I got an Asus EeePC 8G for my next ride.  It weighs 1kg.  I had to load XP on it to run MapSource.  Unfortunately, XP is a far inferior choice to the Linux that comes with it.  I think it will work well.

    You'll be taking pictures.  Handy free programs from Microsoft WWMX Location Stamper geocodes your photos (sync camera time with GPS) from .GPX file (created from MapSource or WWMX utility); WWMX Travelogue makes a web page of geocoded photos located on a map (requires interet connection)

    ditto apage-4u on the batteries.  I had access to AC every day so I charged my rechargeables.  For the next trip I got a USB charge to plug into my laptop

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberRexymorgan
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2008
     
    Rexymorgan
    I use a 305 and also carry a cell phone that has a mapping application on it. For going off-piste the cell phone map works fine. For sticking to the route the 305 is great too.

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