Which GPS/HRM/Cadence Device

Put your smartphone on airplane mode?

Last time I did a 8 hour ride, this let me record the whole route, with battery to spare.

I have to say that the Garmin Edge 800 is probably the worst gadget I own in terms of quality and value for money, but there's not much competition out there. My £99 smart phone dumps on it for features and build quality. It's even waterproof. It's just a bit hard to mount and the battery won't last much more than 150km.

If anybody knows of an Android-based bike computer, i.e. smartphone functionality (GPS, apps, nice screen) but in a bike-friendly case with a big battery, I'd love to hear about it. If I had any clue about how to build it myself, I would do. Hmm, maybe this is how I make my millions...

So, to the OP, use a phone, mount and external battery until a company makes a product worthy of your £££. The Garmin Edge 800 certainly isn't.

Which GPS/HRM/Cadence Device?

GPS - android smartphone
HRM - sigma sports HRM watch and strap
Cadence - cheap wired bike computer with cadence

That's how i do it, anyway. Others may have different ideas.

+1 for the Garmin 800 and ridewithgps.
Buy it with funds you save not entering sportives and ride the routes without being jeopardized by people taking stupid risks as they think they're racing....

Perhaps it's just mine. Think I'll call helpdesk and get them to update for me. Might as well put them to use. Cheers for the comment glynr36.

Had my 500, with the hrm and cadence, since they came out (2010 I think) never a single fault with it.
I want to replace it with a new one, as I like new things, but it just keeps going!

OKay so after a whiler I plumped for the MIO 305HC, It works just fine, if you don't want to download the free software release just a few months ago. It won't load on my machine, then after over 10 attempts. success. 'Here we go' i htought. NO! now it freezes my laptop every time I open it. Bloody rubbish. Seriously considering sending it back. ( again it already went back when it froze suddenly' any comments from users very much welcome.

Anybody got a MIO cyclo 305HC? this unit is just a bit different from the garmin adn I like the randomizer (3 options) bit. any decent reviews out there? thanks

Only thing I would add is related to Bryton 50T - Bought one from Wiggle and couldn't get the mapping feature to work, also couldn't access the mapping on the "back up" cd rom. Brytons technical support have not responded to any of my requests for help and the "Bryton Bridge" web site does not have the required functionality to manage the unit or provide technical help. After a week of buggering around with it Wiggle thankfully agreed to take it back.

I've got an Edge 500 now and really like it.

Garmin Edge 800 (or new model 810)

You will read some negative stuff on the net.

Mine's been faultless, but the "Instruction Manual" that comes with it is rubbish.

The Garmin Connect web-based software is very good.

Garmin 800. Full maps, easy to navigate. Don't be put off by the occasional moan about problems. Had mine for a couple of years now and never got lost. Use it every week for big 50+ miles down small country roads with no names and even cycled from London to Spain with it. Mapping is easy. Ride with GPS is good although I prefer using google maps and using gmap to gpx to create the gpx file. Best thing I ever bought, after the bike of course!

I'm in the same boat as in lookjng for a mapping GPS - I have read lots and got it down to Grmin 800 or the Mio Cyclo 305HC With Heart Rate and Cadence. Both seem to do the same thing but as a thicko GPX, other softweare required to load or manipulate maps puts me off, Is iot really that difficult....

thanks

use the 800 with openstreet maps and ridewithgps ... pretty
much flawless for recording performance and navigation.

Get the Garmin.

Edge 500 works like a dream with RideWithGPS.com (free!)

I've used it to navigate Audax and general training rides up to 70miles.

As you plot out the course (you can choose google maps, OScycle etc) a route sheet (with readable cues) is created. You download the GPX file, put it in the relevant folder in the Garmin file tree, and it converts it to a tcx file course.

When you 'do' the course, the Garmin displays distance to finish, distance to next cue (direction change), upcoming elevation profile, a cue sheet WITH ROAD NAMES AND DIRECTIONS (i.e 'Left at Yellow Rd), and distances to each, and a breadcrumb trail (zoomable) with arrows at junctions.

Note - as far as I'm aware, the specific arrows and road names etc can only be done with RideWithGPS.

Overall, I find it very easy to use and anticipate turnings once you get used to it (and set your zoom level to one which you can understand). BUT it becomes infinity harder if roads are very close together and there are lots of turnings.

Edge 500 has a course feature which I've found more than sufficient to navigate with, as long as I plan a route beforehand.

Edge 500 is good. Although the bits that go with it aren't so good. I have had to replace a HRM strap and a cadence sensor in less than 6 months of use. Garmin aftersales were very good and replaced quickly.

However if I was buying again I think I would look at something else.

I don't own any of them myself but i've been in the market for one too, the Garmin 800 is very well reviewed!