Which Garmin?

The_Eggman
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Which Garmin?

Postby The_Eggman » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:51 pm

Hey

I've currently got a Garmin 200 which has been serving me fine. I am though keen to get a HR monitor. I'm getting somewhat serious and structured in terms of my training (albeit I'm not going to be riding the Giro or 4000m Olympic pursuit any time soon), and in that sense a HR monitor seemed a sensible addition.

To my way of thinking, the neatest and simplest solution would just be to upgrade my Garmin and I get a HR monitor integrated in that same unit.

So which one is the model of the day? The 500, the 800 or the 1000? There's plenty of reviews of them singularly out there, but I can't find a sensible/reputable article that makes a decent case that model x is the one to buy. So I thought I'd ask you lot. I like functions but only if the are truely useful, and cost is a factor, but far from the only one.

Feel free to suggest other options that may well suit or glaring holes in my logic.

Cheers

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ni78ck
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby ni78ck » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:53 pm

I have a garmin 800 and its great but ive never used the maps on it so if I was to lose it I would go get a 510!
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gorilla monsoon
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby gorilla monsoon » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:54 pm

Why not keep the 200 if it is functioning properly and buy a separate HR monitor? It would have to be a cheaper option, wouldn't it?
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The_Eggman
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby The_Eggman » Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:59 pm

Gorilla - How easy will it be to integrate outputs from two separate units on Strava, training peaks, etc and make sense of it?

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cancan64
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby cancan64 » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:34 pm

I just sold a 500 and have replaced it with a 1000.
I was happy with the 500.... Keeping track of rides and I used it for traning plans... But for longer rides I am hopeless with remembering where to turn so I wanted maps... Also I wanted faster start up in the cbd and I do like the larger real estate ... There are a few other features that I like but I would look at the feature list and tick what you realistically would use and go for the unit that tick the most boxes
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flashpixx
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby flashpixx » Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:23 pm

Have the 500. Apart from the slow start up it does what I need it to do. Use the HR monitor but not cadence. Recommend it if you don't want maps (Samsung S4 does maps better anyway - just not "live" on your headstem)
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TouringPhil
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby TouringPhil » Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:18 pm

I own the 1000. Excellent GPS. Very happy with it, its easy to use and has loads of great features.

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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby macca33 » Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:23 pm

Get a Edge 500 secondhand - or new (they are good prices at present), otherwise a 510 - you don't sound as though you'd need any more than those.

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g-boaf
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby g-boaf » Mon Sep 22, 2014 8:58 pm

I have an Edge 800 that I've had since my first bike. It has been superb.

I'd gladly get an 810 or a 1000 if needed. I have used the navigation features a few times.

I use cadence, HR and 3sec power displays on mine, along with distance and elapsed time. Very useful gadget.

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V17L
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby V17L » Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:18 pm

Hi,
I have both the 500 and 800 (500 is the backup unit). The 800 is my preferred unit, as it displays more information on the same screen, eg battery reserve time, clock, HR, distance, speed, etc. I haven't used the maps yet. The 500 shows a subset of this data on the main screen. If you are happy with changing screens to get the info, then the 500 is not a problem. There has been in the past some firmware issues, so do a search on the forums as the current status.
Riding in the dark I prefer the garmin to have a backlight on all the time, and this does reduce the battery reserve time. In the daytime, I turn the backlight off.
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Xplora
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby Xplora » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:11 am

IMO your choices are decided by these things.

Ant+ HR/speed sensor required? Bluetooth HR sensor /speed sensor required?
Touchscreen?
Maps?
Biggest screen possible?

No ANT sensors = 200
If you want BT HR straps = 1000
Maps = 800, 810 and 1000
Touchscreen = 800, 510, 810 and 1000.
Huge screen = 1000

The 500 is by far and away the most common unit for anyone capable of riding 100kms in 4 hours, most of the bunch and racing community.

Just work out what you really want, the main purpose of the Garmin is uploading your data to Strava and real time sensor data. I have an 800 because of the touchscreen, Ant+ and maps, although I have never ever used the maps in 6 months. Really the bigger touchscreen and ant+ is the real reason I like it.

Good luck.

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kb
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Which Garmin?

Postby kb » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:54 am

510 is the only unit with GLONASS and has better battery life than the other touch screens.

I'd be happy with my 800 except it's missing some features wrt vector power meter: torque test, pedal smoothness, pedal effectiveness and upcoming standing / seated analysis, power phase and platform centre offset. These may of course, be totally useless for me :-)

What I'd really like is a programmable / OS accessible unit with good battery life. This seems either too hard or too little demand though.
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Xplora
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby Xplora » Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:18 am

My cousin sold his 510 to stay with the 500, had trouble seeing the screen during the day. Prescription Oakleys might have affected this though?

DuncanS
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby DuncanS » Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:41 am

I haven't had issues seeing 510 display with polarized prescription Oakley. I did have to play with the brightness/back light settings a bit.

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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby V8rider » Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:42 am

I have a 510 with cadence and HR and think it's great. I use the mapping function a lot, where you plot it out in garmin connect, then follow the turn cues. It doesn't give you a proper map with street names etc, that the higher spec units give, you just get a breadcrumb type route, but it's pretty useful if you're riding in unfamiliar areas or hopeless with directions like I am. I also like the ability to connect with my phone, especially now that Strava will pull straight from garmin connect. So now I finish a ride, save it, and it's on Strava before I've even got the bike in the shed with no mucking around. My missus quite likes the live track function if I'm on a big ride and happy wife = happy life.

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CXCommuter
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby CXCommuter » Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:51 pm

I have the 500 and 800- prefer the 800- easier to see, touch screen (510 is touchscreen I understand), it also seems to be more powerful- i.e. it starts up quicker, downloads quicker etc. The 500 seems clunky in comparison. Also the 800 is much easier to play around with if you want to scroll through things. The 500 can be tedious (think an old Nokia phone compared to a smart phone).

These are my observations only.
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby lobstermash » Tue Sep 23, 2014 1:01 pm

I find the 510 pretty good. I got it for fast GPS lock (GLONASS) and ease of uploading rides (via bluetooth). It's been great for everything except fairly regular (once or twice a week) issues with bluetooth and my Android phone.
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby cancan64 » Tue Sep 23, 2014 1:03 pm

On the 1000 I do like the blue tooth connection to my mobile... As mentioned a bit above... I save the ride when I pull up in the driveway and by the time the bike is in the shed the ride is on strava..no plugging into a computer... Also like being the sms /call notification...I know when I should be home
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Xplora
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby Xplora » Tue Sep 23, 2014 1:10 pm

If I was made of money I'd get the 1000, I've attracted a few laughs at the amount of info I've got on my 800, and honestly I could do with some more ;)

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biker jk
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby biker jk » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:29 pm

Xplora wrote:If I was made of money I'd get the 1000, I've attracted a few laughs at the amount of info I've got on my 800, and honestly I could do with some more ;)
You must ride like Froome. :lol:

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Xplora
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby Xplora » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:38 pm

The SRM doesn't even have CLOSE to enough data. You need at least 7 screens, allowing for one extra big one at the top. Preferably 3s or 10s power 8)

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Xplora
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby Xplora » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:45 pm

biker jk wrote:
Xplora wrote:If I was made of money I'd get the 1000, I've attracted a few laughs at the amount of info I've got on my 800, and honestly I could do with some more ;)
You must ride like Froome. :lol:

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Gosh that's much more entertaining than it should be :lol: :lol: :lol:

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cjrich
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby cjrich » Thu Sep 25, 2014 5:27 am

Had nothing but problems with my Edge 500. Poor GPS accuracy, very long satellite acquisition time, losing satelites mid ride, non existant customer service, etc etc.
My next computer will probably be a Magellan.
Last edited by cjrich on Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Xplora
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby Xplora » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:09 am

You are on the latest firmware? I don't doubt you at all, I ask because some really hate their garmin, but the 500 really is the default choice for everyone. Richer folks might have a 510 but the general vibe is positive?

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cjrich
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Re: Which Garmin?

Postby cjrich » Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:35 am

Xplora wrote:You are on the latest firmware? I don't doubt you at all, I ask because some really hate their garmin, but the 500 really is the default choice for everyone. Richer folks might have a 510 but the general vibe is positive?
Probably for another thread, but since you asked, yep, latest firmware, tried factory reset's several times. Incidentally it worked perfectly for the 1st 12 months until 1st upgrade. Rolled back to old firmware but still had issues. Almost tossed it into Tuggerah Lake a couple of times on my rides :evil:
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