advice on buying a Garmin
- oldnewby
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advice on buying a Garmin
Postby oldnewby » Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:29 pm
Long rides and i phone batteries don't go well, so I'm wondering about buying a Garmin. Hoping to spend as little as possible, and just want it to put basic info into Strava - distance, avg speed, max speed, elevation gain.
Anyone's feedback & advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby macca33 » Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:35 pm
As the 'new' Garmins have just been released, you may be able to track down an 'old' version at a very good price at the moment.
I purchased the Edge 500 - HRM / Cadence pack for $250 from ProBikeKit in the US. Other retailers will probably have similar prices.
cheers
- stinhambo
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby stinhambo » Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:24 pm
- HLC
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby HLC » Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:43 pm
- oldnewby
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby oldnewby » Mon Jan 14, 2013 7:57 am
You've sold me - Garmin 200 it is, I looked online and thought that would be the one for me - I just wasn't sure (by the product description) if it did elevation.
Thanks again guys!
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby stinhambo » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:37 am
You're welcome and enjoy!oldnewby wrote:thanks HLC, stinhambo, and macca.
You've sold me - Garmin 200 it is, I looked online and thought that would be the one for me - I just wasn't sure (by the product description) if it did elevation.
Thanks again guys!
If you're a premium Strava user, you can scope out local rides and download them as .GPX files. Simply hook up your Garmin to the computer and browse it like a hard drive. Place the .GPX file into the /newfiles folder and it will add them to the list when you restart.
Choose the course and follow!
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby __PG__ » Mon Jan 14, 2013 1:58 pm
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby Pravda » Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:22 pm
Yup. If you're onky going to have speed and the other normal garmin settings I wouldn't bother. Cadence and hrm are the two best things about garmins and other computers. Edge 500 is where it's at.__PG__ wrote:I would regard a bike computer without a cadence sensor as largely useless. Especially for a relatively in-experienced rider.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby grantw » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:01 pm
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby stinhambo » Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:54 pm
In what scenario? Enjoying a weekend cycle?__PG__ wrote:I would regard a bike computer without a cadence sensor as largely useless. Especially for a relatively in-experienced rider.
How did we all get along before cadence monitors?
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby __PG__ » Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:05 pm
We rode along with our 53-42T chainrings and mashed the pedals as hard as we could. We all got sore knees and lots of lactic build-up.stinhambo wrote: How did we all get along before cadence monitors?
If you are starting off in cycling and looking to improve in any way, IMO a cadence monitor is the most important. The second is clipless pedals.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby Mrfenejeans » Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:16 pm
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby Pravda » Mon Jan 14, 2013 5:46 pm
That said going by current wiggle prices s 500 with hrm and cadence ($250) will cost you double what a 200 ($129) will.
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- oldnewby
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby oldnewby » Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:37 pm
I get what you mean about cadence, heart rate etc, and perhaps one day I'll use those things...
But although I do enjoy my cycling (a lot), and I am looking to improve, I am completely 'recreational'.
The compromise may be (as someone suggested), by the 500, but without the hrm or cadence.
I'd still say at this point, it will be the 200 for price.
Thanks again tho everyone, I really do appreciate it.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby 50cal » Tue Jan 15, 2013 6:40 am
If your on strava this will upload everything. You want gradients on road etc it is full house. You'll outlay at the start approx $460 however it will serve you for the long haul. Bear in mind it's a full Tri watch swim run bike. It captures everything and yes it has gps too.
Go ahead look at the reviews then make your final call. FYI the cadence kit has a kit for the watch to be quick release and your able to put it on your bike.
- The Walrus
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby The Walrus » Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:11 am
Frankly it has far too much for my own needs. LBS said if I got the 200 I'd regret it, I can't answer that as I got the 800 and its complete overkill 'for me'.
I get a bit sick of people (LBS, forums, group rides etc) making these grand statements like 'without cadence it's pointless'...well maybe in your opinion but I've never used cadence or HRM, and won't.
Unless you know exactly what someone is going to use it for, or likely to use it for, then don't dismiss a lesser model based in your own snobbery or obsessions!
The constant pissing contest in this hobby is so boring. I think people need to get a grip.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby __PG__ » Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:29 am
The original poster has stated that he wants a computer to log all his rides, to keep a historical record. Now, you would only be interested in this if you were looking at it from a training point of view. How much did I ride last month? What was my best time on my favourite hill? Otherwise you'd just stick with a basic Cateye.
When I started riding I slammed it into top gear as soon as I could on the flats and only changed down at the lights and at hills. Luckily I met up with a friend who was doing a bit of racing and he taught me a bit more about cadence and how it helps muscle endurance etc. A few years later I upgraded my Cateye to one with a cadence sensor. I've had that bike computer for about 10 years and along with a smart phone it gives you pretty much everything you need.
I just bought a Garmin 500 a few months ago and the only advantages are battery life (my iPhone 3GS runs out after about 3.5 hours on the bike) and the heart-rate monitor. The HRM is an interesting feature which I'm getting to grips with, but IMO it's not as essential as a cadence sensor for developing your riding skills.
IMO spending $130 on a bike computer without a cadence sensor is a complete waste of money. You can buy a Cateye with a cadence sensor for half that. Getting a Garmin 500 base unit for $200 (or less) is a much better option in the long term as it gives you an upgrade path.
It's got nothing to do with a 'pissing contest'. It's about making the $$'s work to give you the best outcomes, which in this case are helping you ride faster/longer/stronger.
That's just my 2 cents, but I've ridden with/without cadence and for me the difference in having awareness of your cadence (and developing your muscles to spin at an efficient RPM) versus just riding along pushing your pedals...is night and day and I'm not going to ditch it yet.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby simonn » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:03 am
I just got a Garmin Edge 800 bundle, which slices and dices, and grabs a beer out of the fridge for you, so I now have cadence. It is way up there, on training rides above 90 avg. IOW, cadence, like speed and endurance, will come with time. What strava does best is keep you motivated, which IMHO is more important. You need a gps for that really.
Saying that though, I would agree that if you are going to buy a 200 you may as well go the 500 (or even 800), as the 200 offers nothing over a phone (other than I personally would not want my phone on my bars waiting for a minor stack to damage it!).
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby simonn » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 am
In the context of the OP already having a gps logging device (i.e. phone) for Strava the 200 is "pointless", meaning the 200 offers very little above what they already have.The Walrus wrote: I get a bit sick of people (LBS, forums, group rides etc) making these grand statements like 'without cadence it's pointless'...well maybe in your opinion but I've never used cadence or HRM, and won't.
This is not a "pissing contest", just a logical evaluation of features.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby BrisVegas » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:20 am
Otherwise, a runout Garmin 500 bundle for <$250 seems to do it all in one.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby jasonc » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:21 am
+1__PG__ wrote:If you are buying a computer as a training tool, then there is no point getting one without a cadence sensor IMO
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby stinhambo » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:54 am
I disagree. GPS on the smartphone can be hit and miss and can suck the battery, I've lost a few rides worth of data because Strava stopped while I took a call or took a picture. Plus I like to glance at my computer to see how I'm doing. And I don't want it getting damaged in the rain. All in all I think the 200 is a good purchase.simonn wrote:In the context of the OP already having a gps logging device (i.e. phone) for Strava the 200 is "pointless", meaning the 200 offers very little above what they already have.The Walrus wrote: I get a bit sick of people (LBS, forums, group rides etc) making these grand statements like 'without cadence it's pointless'...well maybe in your opinion but I've never used cadence or HRM, and won't.
This is not a "pissing contest", just a logical evaluation of features.
The 500 does not cost $200 or less, they are advertised at $300+ for all the HR and Cadence sensors - http://www.this link is broken/Garmin-500- ... ory=150339" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'm no expert but I can tell if I'm pushing on the pedals rather than spinning. It won't be as accurate as a cadence sensor by a long way but I don't pedal in 18th gear all day either.
If you can find a used one then more power to you.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby jasonc » Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:09 pm
wiggle have them for $260stinhambo wrote: The 500 does not cost $200 or less, they are advertised at $300+ for all the HR and Cadence sensors - http://www.this link is broken/Garmin-500- ... ory=150339" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby sblack » Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:33 pm
Whilse the ANT+ for future upgrades on the 500 makes sense to many, whether that's worth the extra cost is really a personal thing. A couple of other things to consider though.
The 500 has barometric altimeter whilst the 200 does not. This is a big plus for the 500 since you're tracking your climbing.oldnewby wrote:thanks HLC, stinhambo, and macca.
You've sold me - Garmin 200 it is, I looked online and thought that would be the one for me - I just wasn't sure (by the product description) if it did elevation.
Also, I don't know what longer rides you may be considering but the battery life on the 200 is listed as 14 hours as opposed to 18 on the 500. For me that means I'm confident of the 500 lasting a 300km ride but I wouldn't be with the 200.
Finally, the 500 has customisable screens whereas the 200 doesn't. That may not matter to many but to others being able to display what data you want is a big plus, again if your interested in climbing information then there is none available to you during the ride on the 200.
Of course, as well as the sale prices on the 500 with the release of the 510 it may also be worth keeping an eye out for people who feel the need to upgrade offloading their 500 and note that if it's still within the warranty period then the warranty transfers with ownership.
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Re: advice on buying a Garmin
Postby stinhambo » Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:03 pm
With no Australian warranty.jasonc wrote:wiggle have them for $260stinhambo wrote: The 500 does not cost $200 or less, they are advertised at $300+ for all the HR and Cadence sensors - http://www.this link is broken/Garmin-500- ... ory=150339" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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