hi looking to buy a bike computer / gps.

Cycle Republic and a great offer on the Garmin 820. Granted it's been superseded recently by the 830 but with a circa 60% it's the one that's caught my eye.

would like any advice / suggestions from those in the know.

the big motivating force behind the purchase is to ensure I don't get lost on the first and probably most difficult day of my upcoming pilgrimage which leads me to my mean question. day 1 will be up n over the Pyrenees. Assuming I can find the relevant gpx file for the route how does this work in terms of background mapping? does the gpx file hold this info, does the garmin come with all relevant maps or will I have to buy the European maps and down load this onto the garmin?

many thanks

Hi Caterham

All of the bike Garmin’s come with free maps and free upgrades (the ones that support turn by turn nav, not the cheaper ones with breadcrumb trails). If you buy one in the UK you will get Euro Maps installed on a mini SD card so will be fine in the Pyrenees. Plotting a route directly on the Garmin is a bit hit and miss so I always plot a route externally and then download the .gpx or .tcx to the device. I use the Garmin app, plot-a-route or Strava (Strava has the advantage of highlighting the most popular cycling routes so prevents you inadvertently sending yourself down a motorway or busy dual carriageway).

I bought the Garmin Touring - was relatively cheap compared to the Edge series and is ‘just’ a bike sat-nav - I have a multi-sport watch for all the Edge ‘training’ features. The only downside is the micro SD card supplied is too small to easily upgrade the map updates, it can be done but with a bit of faffing. I use it a lot and it works OK with bike suitable directions most of the time - you just have to get the settings right or it sometimes takes you astray just so it can fit in a bit of towpath 🙄 (this can be prevented by following the caveat above and disabling auto route correction). 2012 110 XS SW Orkney Grey
2003 D2 Td5 Black [SOLD]

Edge 1000 here, I use Strava to help me plot the route in the Garmin tools and then download it onto the 1000.

I use the included maps, I have also heard great things about Open Street Maps which are supported on the gamins.

Some of the Garmins don't have best reputation, the software is buggy/crashy.  1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW
2006 D110 CSW (Dad's)

Nanocom, IID, Forscan and Webasto diagnostics available in North Oxfordshire

thanks guys.

where you've mentioned Strava for planning routes is this on the 'summit' version ie not the free version?


Martin - you don't know which ones are on the 'crashy' list do you ?

AFAIK route plotting is on the free Strava - I’m on a free trial at the mo, so can’t check for sure. I’m certain I never had any issues as I’ve never paid for the full version (get a few months per year free).

Garmin seem to pretty bad at making early adopters their guinea pigs - new intros seem to be very buggy which then stabilise over time. I’ve had 2 Garmin Touring GPS’s (left the first one on the Defender’s rear step whilst putting my bike in the back and forgot about it ). The replacement was much more stable 2012 110 XS SW Orkney Grey
2003 D2 Td5 Black [SOLD]

STRAVA

STUPID
TWA-TS
RACING
AGAINST
VIRTUAL
AS_HOLES

In case you were wondering  instagram @v8_scumbag @green_lane_escapes

Whichever set up you use, I cannot recommend GPSies highly enough for route planning. https://www.gpsies.com/

I’ve used a handful of Garmins. Currently I just use my Fenix 3, as I lost my Edge, and it does the job. The Fenix 5 allows for better mapping, but I tend know where I am going so use it less for route selection, more for recording data, timing, etc. But i like the flexibility of having a watch, using it for walking, running, skiing etc. Great bit of kit, but as Martin said, it does have software wobbles every now and then.

Also, for those that are interested, i’d Also recommend Relive for post-ride 3D visualisation. Great tool. https://www.relive.cc/?hl=en

Happy riding....  Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey

GREENI wrote:

STRAVA

STUPID
TWA-TS
RACING
AGAINST
VIRTUAL
AS_HOLES

In case you were wondering

I once left Strava on accidentally driving home from hamsterly forest. Needless to say I set a few “king of the hills” on mtb on the way home. The abuse I got from the strava community was both swift and relentless, getting called all the names under the sun! It took me about an hour to realise what I had done and cancel the run and in that time I was called a fraud and cheat by 12 different members!! Friendly and forgiving bunch!  Instagram @richmond_custom

Hahahah.

I have had people going nuts at me, telling me they cannot ride their bike as their Garmin had broke

Zwift is where it's at now. One of the lads at work stole all the office cooling fans, to keep him cool as he was spending his nights racing.... In the garage ! instagram @v8_scumbag @green_lane_escapes

telling me they cannot ride their bike as their Garmin had broke

/\ I'm not sure what's so funny about that comment. I've been struggling to get out recently as I keen finding my garmin watch has discharged not charged when I connect it up. clearly without it there's no point in going out cycling as I won't be able to record the statistics.







interesting useful comments as ever - thank you.

ps. Greeni - I love strava but understand the comments. I'm just happy to race myself....can't get all this poxy kudos crap either.

Grenadier wrote:

Whichever set up you use, I cannot recommend GPSies highly enough for route planning. https://www.gpsies.com/

I’ve used a handful of Garmins. Currently I just use my Fenix 3, as I lost my Edge, and it does the job. The Fenix 5 allows for better mapping, but I tend know where I am going so use it less for route selection, more for recording data, timing, etc. But i like the flexibility of having a watch, using it for walking, running, skiing etc. Great bit of kit, but as Martin said, it does have software wobbles every now and then.

Also, for those that are interested, i’d Also recommend Relive for post-ride 3D visualisation. Great tool. https://www.relive.cc/?hl=en

Happy riding....

Really surprised by the Garmin feedback, I ran them for maybe 10 years without faults I have had them for Golf, Cycling and Running in various forms and they have been faultless.

I have however now switched the using my Apple Watch for most things, but thats a convenience thing. The Edge 1000 comes out when I need to properly route.

Strava

Came off Strava years ago as I found I was acting like a dick to try and improve times* Went for a gap between two buses on the way home from work one morning "because I was on a time!" and nearly got pancaked. Got through it, pulled over a little further along once I regained my composure, switched off the Strava and rode home at a more sedate pace.

*I suspect I am not alone in this respect!

Quote:

Zwift is where it's at now. One of the lads at work stole all the office cooling fans, to keep him cool as he was spending his nights racing.... In the garage !

as with most things it's not the app, tool, machine etc that's the problem it's the moron operating it.

zwift and all that can be a great tool to exercise indoors during the winter months for example but why on earth you'd wanna be doing that next to Lake Garda heaven knows


...,.oops. just realised. sorry mussed wasn't referring to you as a moron - it's just what can happen