Which bike computer? Automatic Garmin to Strava sync?

If you find you’re in need of
If you find you’re in need of a map and prompted directions, then the 810 is necessary over the 510. If not, then save yourself the ££.

I have the 810, as I’ve just moved to a new city and I get lost ALL THE BLOODY TIME! After a ride, I’ll save the ride on the Garmin, turn on Bluetooth on phone & Garmin (you can leave these on permanently if you wish – or if you want to livetrack your ride) Then the phone and Garmin will auto sync, and – as if by magic – your ride is on your garmin connect account, and more importantly, Strava. (When setting up, you’ll need to go to Strava and connect your GarminConnect account and select auto upload to Strava)

For me, on 2 occasions it’s not uploaded to Strava for a few hours. Can’t seem to find a reason for this or a way to speed it up. Just have to get over it & wait.

Battery life is around 6-8 hours, or around a week’s worth of 30 minute e/w commutes plus syncing. The fact that I bring the garmin indoors to sync means charging it has become 2nd nature and I tend to charge it every other evening, just in case I decide to add a loop onto my commute home.

As for uploading Strava routes to the Garmin, I’ve not tried it, but I guess it’ll be as simple as copying a gpx file onto the correct folder on the garmin when plugged in to laptop. I tend to create routes on Garmin Connect, then sync with my phone and the route is there ready to follow.

Hope to have helped.

http://www.bike-discount.de/e
http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/garmin-edge-810-bundle-citynavigator-82069?currency=3&delivery_country=190

Just been through this
Just been through this myself. For me, with no desire for mapping the Garmin 510 was the best option although I was very tempted by the Cateye Strada Smart. There were too many reviews saying it was unreliable though, similarly the Wahoo device, so Garmin won the day. Syncs wirelessly using my phone as above (remember to link Strava and Garmin Connect before your first upload though).

Only downside for me is the 510 does seem a bit bulky when compared to say the 500. And the price of course, although Handtec did it for £223 inc Vat with HR and cadence sensors which was cheaper than most.

It does feel like in about 18 months someone is going to get the whole smartphone with separate display thing to work but apparently it’s not there yet.

I have the EDGE 510 and it’s
I have the EDGE 510 and it’s linked to my smartphone via bluetooth (no Wifi). As I press the stop button and then save it is automatically uploaded via the Garmin Connect app on the phone. My Garmin and Strava accounts are linked so I very quickly (usually) get a notification from the Strava app that the ride is ready. I just confirm which bike I was using and then “save activity” and there it is. All this can be done without turning on a laptop or using any cables.

The EDGE 510 itself is pretty small, battery last for ages (>10 hours), and looks good on the bike, particularly if you have an out-front mount. The speed and cadence sensors also work well.

If i were you i would sit
If i were you i would sit down with a piece of paper and list all the things you want and rank them in order.
I would also list all the things that you would perceive as bad an rank them in order.
So now attribute all the things you want and bad things against each device. Add the good, subtract the bad. Bob’s your uncle, you have a winner.

I have a garmin edge 500. Post ride ritual is come home take the garmin off the bike. Fire up the laptop and plug in garmin. Wash bike, have shower, get something to eat. Sit down at the laptop which has automatically loaded to garmin connect and strava. Job done. Turn off the laptop. Job done.

Do the new Edge x10 range connect to Wifi? Can uploads be done straight through Wifi with no need for a computer?

Buy right, buy once 🙂