GPS for cycling

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

When touring.

A bog standard e-trex with some mapping software for route planning etc.

It works. It does everything I want except make tea. If money were no object I might go for a
swizzier model but maybe not.

T

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

When touring.

A bog standard e-trex with some mapping software for route planning etc.

It works. It does everything I want except make tea. If money were no object I might go for a
swizzier model but maybe not.

How good is the mapping software? I'm looking for something that can record my route as well as tell
me where I am supposed to be.

Thanks

Nick

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

How good is the mapping software? I'm looking for something that can

record

Quoted message said:

my route as well as tell me where I am supposed to be.

I have Mapsource -- worldwide edition -- because I wanted it to plan and map a tour in India -- so
its pretty damn course. In this country it is pretty much main roads only.

I don't know how good the UK or Europe versions are.

There are some OS based systems that are not many more condoles and give you OS level mapping --
which might be preferable.

T

Doesnotcompute said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

No great answer, but this question has come up in alt.mountain-bike recently, so its wise to deja
there if you havn't already.

Also read alt.satellite.gps and sci.geo.satellite-nav if you don't already.

Steve

Steve Peake said:

Doesnotcompute said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

No great answer, but this question has come up in alt.mountain-bike recently, so its wise to deja
there if you havn't already.

Deja? Does that still exist? I think I'll google for it instead 😉

Quoted message said:

Also read alt.satellite.gps and sci.geo.satellite-nav if you don't already.

The former but not the latter - thanks for the tips
--
Dnc

Doesnotcompute said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

Quoted message said:

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

Garmin eTrex Summit. I'm sufficiently impressed with the utility of having a GPS altitude
autocalibrated barometric altimeter (smoother and more accurate altitude readings) that I'd stick
with this kind of GPSR, but today I might go for one of the later models with this feature, such as
the Geko 301. If you want a mapping unit there's the Garmin Vista and GPSMAP 76S. IMHO so far Garmin
are the only mfr with the extremely useful autocalibration feature on their barometric altimeters. I
would go for the cushioned RAM handlebar mounts rather than the Garmin mounts, since the unit can
get quite a battering from road shocks.

Since I'm as likely to use it on cycle paths and small roads and streets not available on the
proprietary GPSR loadable maps, and I also use it a lot for hillwalking, where the loadable maps
haven't enough off-road detail to be any use, I prefer to use it in combination with paper maps and
computer loadable maps, and forget GPSR loadable maps. I find map-derived waypoints, routes, and
tracks, quite good enough. All units which have data cable options (almost all) can interface with
computer-based mapping programs for deriving tracks form maps, and for displaying tracks on maps,
whether or not they're capable of having internally loadable and displayable maps. The non-mapping
ones still have a map page which displays tracks and waypoints at zoomable detail levels, just no
external map detail such as roads and rivers.

The big reason for having a mapping unit is using it a lot in a car, for which the loadable maps are
designed. If you want a mapping unit, then the quality and cost of the maps available for your area
might be the most important factor, more important than any other features.

All GPSRs eat batteries at roughly a set a full day, so you should consider factoring a good charger
and rechargeables into your purchase plan.

All handheld GPSRs are sufficiently close in general performance features and the important
facilities that you won't go far wrong if you simply buy something cheap and regard it as the cost
of a training course where you get to keep the unit. Technofreaks upgrade a lot so there's always
bargains to be had second hand.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 650 3085 DoD #205 School of Informatics, Edinburgh
University, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2QL, UK. [dai.ed.ac.ukcamOpen ↗ ]

elyob said:

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When touring.

A bog standard e-trex with some mapping software for route planning etc.

It works. It does everything I want except make tea. If money were no object I might go for a
swizzier model but maybe not.

Quoted message said:

How good is the mapping software? I'm looking for something that can record my route as well as
tell me where I am supposed to be.

All GPSRs record your track. All which have a data cable option (almost all) can txfer tracks etc
back and forth from computer map programs to and from GPSR.

There's lots of good mapping software, some of it free. The best allow you to scan in and
calibrate your own maps, which can be anything from standard paper maps to an aerial photo from a
tourist brochure.

See gpsinformation.netgpsinformation.netOpen ↗

IMHO there's a car-driving fat-wallet US bias towards full-featured mapping units there, also
because better map detail is often available for the US.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 650 3085 DoD #205 School of Informatics, Edinburgh
University, 5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2QL, UK. [dai.ed.ac.ukcamOpen ↗ ]

Doesnotcompute said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

I use a eTrex - its about 3 years old now so has probably been superceeded.

I had a bike mount for ages, and was using it with normal paper maps. Which is fine but not much of
an advancement over just using the map.

I recently bought some Mapping software including OS 1:50000 maps - which allows you to draw a route
on the map on the PC, and then download it to the GPS. The GPS then shows you what way to go - this
made it much more useful (imho) as it means you don't have to stop and consult a map nearly so often
(maybe more useful when off-roading).

(I use fugawi-uk software - but I expect any other software based on the same maps will work
just as well).

John

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

Now you got me looking at them again ... Vista looks good. Prices are ridiculous though. £187 in the
states and £272 here for the same thing, except basemap is US. You can always buy a metroguide
afterwards.

Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

I use an etrex eMap, it's great.

I was going for etrex Vista, but eMap has a much bigger display, but less supplied memory. The Vista
is fixed at 24Mbyte though & is not expandable (I think), while I bought a 64Mbyte mem card for the
eMap, 128 is available. The 64Mbyte card holds all the European Metroguide MapSource data for Wales
& Sth England, a 128Mbyte would probably do whole of UK.

I run MapSource s/w on my laptop, with European Metroguide, which goes right down to street level in
the UK (seems to be every last little lane too). It does NOT cover bridleways though, shame as that
could be MTB useful, but I'm 90% roadie.

The eMap records tracks which you can then upload to laptop. You can plan routes on the laptop and
download to eMap which will then navigate you to your destination, with beeps before every turn!
Great for driving (sorry, but bike in boot) to new places.

It is a bit pricey, but if your a gadget freak like me, you'll love it!

Niv.

I use an e-trex, simply because it's a robust little unit and when something goes wrong with it
Garmin are more than happy to send out replacement parts or repair it for you.

Gadget

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

Did you get much help on the GPS? I was sent a few emails letting me know where to try for a UK
etrex vista at a decent price.

elyob said:

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

Did you get much help on the GPS? I was sent a few emails letting me know where to try for a UK
etrex vista at a decent price.

I established that it's a complete minefield of a topic, that you can't have enough money, that you
don't need a mapping unit to do maps (?).

I think the Sportrak Pro would be best for me, but I haven't got that amount of "toy fund" available
yet. However that is an opinion based on having not handled any GPS units at all. So perhaps I
should start there.

--
Dnc

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

elyob said:

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

Did you get much help on the GPS? I was sent a few emails letting me

know

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

where to try for a UK etrex vista at a decent price.

I established that it's a complete minefield of a topic, that you can't have enough money, that
you don't need a mapping unit to do maps (?).

I think the Sportrak Pro would be best for me, but I haven't got that amount of "toy fund"
available yet. However that is an opinion based on having not handled any GPS units at all. So
perhaps I should start there.

Yeah, I'm still fighting my purchase conscience. I've just bought a heart rate monitor, as I know
where I am most of the time, but want to get fitter quicker. So, I have a little while before I need
to purchase something else.

I wouldn't mind trying one first though, and seeing whether it something i'd use often (i.e. I'd
start planning trips somewhere new every weekend) or whether it'll sit in my drawer for months. It's
a lot of money for something you won't use regularly. I'm also a bit concerned that everyone will
take the p**s for having so much equipment on my bike. I've already got a cycle computer, lumicycle
lights, two panniers etc etc ... start bolting electronics on and its a rocky road (e.g.
billcotton.comtripmate.htmOpen ↗)

Cheers

Nick

Quoted message said:

start bolting electronics on and its a rocky road (e.g. billcotton.comtripmate.htmOpen ↗)

Check out the 2nd to last photo .... 🙂

"Doesnotcompute" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Do any of you use GPS equipment whilst cycling?

If so what do you use, how do you find it and would you buy the same unit again?

--
Dnc

Sorry. Late in on this.

I've been using GPS for mountain biking for 3 years. It's superb and it just got better thanks to
Tracklogs new digital mapping. www.tracklogs.co.uk They are bikers, nice people and sell all the kit
and all the mapping as cheaply as anybody. I use an eTrex Venture and Tracklogs digital mapping

Basic use is plan the route in the PC at home, drop it in the GPS, put the GPS on the handlebars and
follow the screen. No more fumbling with maps and scratching heads at junctions.

Peter

"Peter Wallace" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Sorry. Late in on this.

I've been using GPS for mountain biking for 3 years. It's superb and it just got better thanks
to Tracklogs new digital mapping. www.tracklogs.co.uk They are bikers, nice people and sell
all the kit and all the mapping as cheaply as anybody. I use an eTrex Venture and Tracklogs
digital mapping

Basic use is plan the route in the PC at home, drop it in the GPS, put the GPS on the handlebars
and follow the screen. No more fumbling with maps and scratching heads at junctions.

How far do you cycle .. ? I'm not sure whether a GPS is a gimick (which I love), or a useful tool. I
just got a heart rate monitor .. a couple of times and I've figured out what 190bpm feels like ... I
already knew .. it's bloody hard work .. 🙂

I'm sweating far too much to look at the monitor, but it does tell me when I hit 135, and it's time
to push harder .. shaved 7 minutes off my 1 hour ride in the last week .... 🙂 Well, it's 53m53' ...
so 54m really ..... Still .....