Today I put my MTB on the rack on the car and drove to Glenrock for a ride with the kids. When I arrived my bike computer has decided it want to go on holiday without me. I rode some out the route when I got back home but it's gone.
I use my smart phone to track Strava and have tracked rides for a couple of years, but the phone stays in a pocket or backpack. I like to have a speed/distance display on the bars of the bike for longer rides and enduro events. I also have multiple bikes for different purposes. So far haven't tracked cadence and have only experimented with HRM
Question time: Which way to jump? Cheapish basic computer or dedicated GPS device (I don't know other than Garmin). If you are recommending a GPS device which is good?
Discuss...
New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
- bychosis
- Posts: 7250
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
- Location: Lake Macquarie
New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby bychosis » Sun Sep 30, 2012 8:58 pm
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.
- hiflange
- Posts: 1938
- Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 9:27 pm
- Location: Perth
- Contact:
Re: New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby hiflange » Sun Sep 30, 2012 10:05 pm
I went from bike computers to a Garmin 800 with a bit of iPhone use now and again. The bike computers are fine for giving you a dashboard readout, but they're a bit of a pain if you ride several bikes as I do. You can use the same head unit but you'll need a sender unit and magnet on the front wheel of each bike.
You could get a handlebar cradle for the phone. I've never had one so I can't comment.
I'm not alone in being in love with my Garmin. You don't need any bike specific stuff except the cheap plastic mount with it's laccy bands. If you must know your speed through GPS unfriendly areas like tunnels and jungles you'd need to add a speed sensor and magnet to each bike. You can add sensors for cadence and heart rate as well. I haven't bothered with any of that. The display on the Garmin is easily tailored to show the info you want. The two easy to read parts of mine are set to current speed and ride distance, the minor displays are set to time of day and average speed but you can change the display very quickly to give you the most obscure (useless ??) info imaginable;
The battery life of the Garmin is better than my phone for longer rides and being able to upload GPX files for navigation for rides is great. It's useful for general navigation once you're off the phone grid too. Biiig jump in price though from the phone cradle/bike computer realm
You could get a handlebar cradle for the phone. I've never had one so I can't comment.
I'm not alone in being in love with my Garmin. You don't need any bike specific stuff except the cheap plastic mount with it's laccy bands. If you must know your speed through GPS unfriendly areas like tunnels and jungles you'd need to add a speed sensor and magnet to each bike. You can add sensors for cadence and heart rate as well. I haven't bothered with any of that. The display on the Garmin is easily tailored to show the info you want. The two easy to read parts of mine are set to current speed and ride distance, the minor displays are set to time of day and average speed but you can change the display very quickly to give you the most obscure (useless ??) info imaginable;
The battery life of the Garmin is better than my phone for longer rides and being able to upload GPX files for navigation for rides is great. It's useful for general navigation once you're off the phone grid too. Biiig jump in price though from the phone cradle/bike computer realm
- bychosis
- Posts: 7250
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
- Location: Lake Macquarie
Re: New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby bychosis » Tue Oct 02, 2012 2:37 pm
I have just found a MainNAV mg600 at a price that is significantly less than a Garmin. Has anyone used one of these as a comparison? Particularly interested to know how it goes in the bush, under trees etc. considering they seem to be going for around $50 on eBay I could almost by one for each bike for the same price as a Garmin.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.
- Xplora
- Posts: 8272
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:33 am
- Location: TL;DR
Re: New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby Xplora » Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:19 pm
If it seems too good to be true, it is.bychosis wrote:I have just found a MainNAV mg600 at a price that is significantly less than a Garmin. Has anyone used one of these as a comparison? Particularly interested to know how it goes in the bush, under trees etc. considering they seem to be going for around $50 on eBay I could almost by one for each bike for the same price as a Garmin.
You get what you pay for.
Other random value quote.
- ozdavo
- Posts: 997
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:03 pm
- Location: Gold Coast (nth)
Re: New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby ozdavo » Wed Oct 03, 2012 7:51 am
Look at the Bryton Rider 20 ($120 at Cell Bikes), same as the Garmin Edge 200 but includes ANT+ form connecting sensors (speed, cadence, HRM, etc)
Always looking for new rides & ride partners in SE QLD area
- Aushiker
- Posts: 22392
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 1:55 pm
- Location: Walyalup land
- Contact:
Re: New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby Aushiker » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:16 pm
I would go with the Garmin Edge 2000. Rob at Highly Tuned Athletes sells the Bryton computers but has advised me stick with Garmin over the Bryton.
Andrew
Andrew
Andrew
Aushiker.com
Aushiker.com
- bychosis
- Posts: 7250
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
- Location: Lake Macquarie
Re: New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby bychosis » Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:45 pm
Decided the best value for money right now is a $15 aldi wireless computer. Leaves more dish for spending on actual bike parts, not just accessories.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:46 pm
Re: New bike computer or GPS? and which one?
Postby Jamster » Sun Oct 07, 2012 6:45 pm
I used strava cycling today on my iPhone. Surprisingly, it is quite good. It's free, records my track on google maps, average speed and time. I couldn't find speed however. Records each trip and all associated stats. Great app.
Return to “Buying a bike / parts”
Jump to
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Cycling Brands
- Cannondale
- Garmin
- Giant
- Shimano
- Trek
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot]
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
Brought to you by Bicycles Network Australia | © 1999 - 2024 | Powered by phpBB ®
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.