Best GPS for Cycling

[jvanv8]

I'm looking for a good GPS Unit for biking. Like most everyone I have a simple cyclocomputer so I don't need the basics (distance,time,odometer) Here is what I would like to use it for:
-Road cycling but possibly offroad as well from time to time.
-Good maps so I can make impromptu routes but still make it back so I'm not late for work :)
-Large-ish color screen
-Must function in US and Europe
-Waterproof
-Crash resistant :)

Possible features but not extreme necessities:
-Download rides/data to computer for added geek euphoria.
-Ability to use it off the bike - such as in the car or while skiing.
-Cadence / Heart Rate functions, although I can always use a standard computer for this.

So far, the best cycling gps devices I have been able to find are:
TomTom Rider Motorcycle GPS (http://www.gosale.com/show_product.php/4657014-148330/-tomtom-rider-gps-navigation-for-motorcycles-and-scooters)
Good
-Touch screen (works with gloves), battery powered, color display, 3D Navigation.
-Bluetooth headset can speak directions to you.
-Can make phone calls with wireless bluetooth headset (honey, I found a killer switchback climb, I'm going to be late).
-Weather conditions, traffic congestion
-Works in car as well.

Bad
-No cadence or heart rate.
-Not specifically designed for bicycling (but the motorcycle features have advantages)
-Mixed user reviews
-Pricy at $795.24 (too high for me)


Mio 269 (http://www.gosale.com/show_product.php/4604230-148330/-mio-269-mobile-96-mb-gps-system-with-visual-and-voice-guidance)
Good
-Very portable
-Mp3 player
-4.5 hours of battery life
-Weighs just 205 grams
-Bicycle mount included.
-Voice guidence
-Notifies you when you are speeding (yes!)
-Affordable
Bad
-Can't use MP3 Player at same time as GPS
-UI isn't as friendly as other models

Price: around $375.00


Garmin zumo 550 Motorcycle GPS (http://www.gosale.com/show_product.php/4900167-148330/-garmin-zumo-550-motorcycle-navigator-gps)
-Brighest screen
-Waterproof
-Battery powered
-Glove friendly touch screen
-Left handed controls
-Make phone calls with bluetooth headset
-XM Radio ready
-Traffic congestion capabilities
** View your route in Google Earth --- very nice!
-Various bike mounts included
Price: around $999.99 ...ouch (too high for me, again :( )

Garmin Edge 305 with Heart Rate & Cadence (http://www.gosale.com/show_product.php/4661743-620/-garmin-edge-305-bundle-with-heart-rate-and-cadence-010-00447-30-)
Good
-Bicycling specific functions (heart rate, speed, cadence)
-Virtual partner lets you "race" a virtual competitor
-Wireless
-Heart Rate
-Altitude, climbing ft, decending ft
-Training Software included
-Auto-Pause feature pauses training when speed drops in urban areas (red lights, traffic etc) to maintain data.
-Waterproof
-Weighs 88 grams
-MotionBased subscription will get you added features such as Google Earth mapping

Bad
-Black and White display
-Software doesn't work with Macs
-Calorie count can be misleading
-Tends to lose signal in thick woods
-no Odometer (a software download and update is supposidly in the works to add this functionality)
-Weak GPS functions: No 3D Map View, No Turn-By-Turn Directions, No voice prompts (for car use)
-Can't upload maps
-No additional memory for maps
-Can't use in a car for vehicle navigation.
Price: $294.34 (reg. $429.99)

The Edge 305 seems to be all about Cycling and fitness which is great but I think I would also make good use of normal GPS navigation functions. I think I would really like the "Virtual Partner" as I always ride alone and the software would keep me motivated. Still I wish it had better navigation features. Anything in between? I guess I wouldn't mind going with a good GPS for navigation then add a decent bike computer with heart rate & altimeter.

Has anyone tried any of these for biking? Is it worth it? Are there other alternativies that work for you?
Thanks
John

[tismith22]

I've got a Garmin Etrex Vista Cx on my bike and it works beautifully.

It's got an electronic compass and altimeter in addition to standard GPS features (tracks, waypoints, routing etc). I've also got a official garmin handlebar mount that locks the GPS unit in fairly securely (I'm not sure if there are cheaper third party alternative mounts).

It's even survived a fairly nasty crash that bent my bar-ends inwards about 10 degrees - the gps didn't come out of the bracket and didn't even lose gps lock!

It's more designed for hiking and the like, so the button placement is better suited for hand-held use, but I've had no troubles using it on the handlebars.

In combination with the open source gpsbabel and google earth, it also works fine with my Macbook to upload and download waypoints, tracks and routes. So even though there's no offical garmin software, I'm able to maintain logs and tracks on my computer (and google earth is much prettier than the windows garmin software!).

Hope this helps.
--Toby

Edit: I can't spell!

[sogood]

Yep, the choices are Garmin eTrex Vista Cx or GPSMaps60CSx. Both can be mounted on the handlebar.

[Stunslinger]

i have a garmin edge 305. you can find it for $250 shipped with cadence and heartrate monitor. it's not bad...it comes with training center program you can upload stuff. there are plenty of sites out there that will take the xml this thing spits out and give you graphs, maps, etc. www.mapitpronto.com is one. i find the altimeter is a little misleading...i.e. multiple rides of the same route shows elevation graph that looks the same, but the total ascent/descent can be off by several hundred feet! i've used it on trails and that works just as well as road. it may not give turn by turn directions, but it will show you as a arrow on a map following a route and tell you when you're off course. it's not difficult to follow a course using just the gps as the cue sheet.

[jvanv8]

Thanks, I am going to look into the Garmin 60CSx and Vista Cx.

I still really WANT to WANT the Edge 305 for the cool bike functions but I guess I need more convincing that the Edge 305 is better than my Specialized Pro (I forget the exact model, its the Festina model from a few years back) that has a very good Altimeter, inclometer, cadence measurements. Still no computer hook up for post-ride analysis geek euphoria.

Do any of these GPS's for cars and hiking have similar software to at least analyze a few things like route, time, speed, altitude?

[sogood]

Do any of these GPS's for cars and hiking have similar software to at least analyze a few things like route, time, speed, altitude?
Yes, it's done within Garmin's Mapsource software. You can also get third party softwares and plug the GPS data in for additional analysis.