Garmin

[Oldhippy]

With retirement around the corner and having watched a number of travelogues on cycle touring recently I am finally considering getting a Garmin thingy and spending huge amountsoftimegettingout and about. It appears on many cycle handlebars. Some questions, is it idiot proof? Does it have to be connected to the Internet constantly? Are all routes already 'programmed' on it or do you put start point and end point? Apologies for sounding dumb but it is a whole new area for me and I go out of my way to avoid technology generally unless I have no choice. Sat nav does look useful however if the travelogues are any indication.

 

[PaulSB]

Wahoo is much closer to idiot proof and very simple to operate as it's all done from a smartphone app.

I have experience of Garmin and Wahoo. I would always choose Wahoo. I've recently bought my second as the first was written off in an RTA.

Neither have to be constantly connected to the Internet.

The routes are not preprogrammed. Most people create their own and load them on to the device.

You can put in a start and end point but you won't necessarily get the most desirable route

There are plenty of ways you can grab good routes others have created

 

[Dogtrousers]

First of all, there are other brands apart from Garmin, Wahoo is one. There are others too ...

That said:
- Is it idiot proof? Not really. You will probably be baffled at first, but once you figure out how to do the few things you really want to do (in amongst the zillion other options) it becomes easier. Wahoos are supposedly significantly more user friendly than Garmins.

- Does it have to be connected to the internet constantly? No. Most bike GPSs have the option to be permanently hooked up to your phone via Bluetooth, and phones are connected to the internet so it can relay text message alerts and missed calls etc. to the screen (if you want it to) - but you can also use it with no phone connected and no internet connection. That said, the phone app can be important for some features so with the more recent ones its best to have your phone with you.

- Are routes already programmed? There are basically two options:
1) You go out on your bike and ask the GPS to route you to somewhere. Maybe you enter a postcode or point of interest like you would a car Satnav. You then trust the GPS to work out a route. I never use that option. I'm suspicious of what it will come up with. I like to know my route ahead of time.

2) You go to a website and plan your route, or you find a pre-prepared route. You then transfer this to your GPS. This is easier these days than it used to be but the different ways you do it depend on your GPS. Popular route planning websites include ridewithgps.com, cycle.travel and Strava.

 

[Psamathe]

Re: Routes
I can only speak about the units I have as different units have different functions. I have the 1040 (Solar) and a 1050.

You can create routes on the device with no internet but small screen makes in not ideal. I create routes using the internet on https://cycle.travel (free). Register, connect to your Garmin online account and from then on, create your route on cycle.travel press the "Send to GPS" and it appears on the Garmin device. Much easier on camping tour.

As to "idiot proof" probably depends on what you want to do with the device. Doing more complex stuff is more complex to do whereas doing minimal simple thinhgs is straightforward. Maybe clarify what you are looking to achive on the device. eg many people domn't use routes, don't use turn by turn directions, don't use the training features, etc. Similarly, a lot depends on what device(s) you are considering.

Ian

 

[Psamathe]

Wahoo is much closer to idiot proof

First of all, there are other brands apart from Garmin, Wahoo is one.

Personally I wont touch Whaoo again. Badly let down mid-tour by one (that said the shop had warned me they were useless). https://psamathe.net/wahoo-elemnt-navigation-review/ I did get a complete refund from the shop I purchased it from.

Ian

 

[Oldhippy]

Maps only and perhaps mileage and speed like my cycle computer. Phone is permanently on airplane and no interest in having it Bluetooth to anything. I guess I'd load it up from PC at home. Someone mentioned garmin account? I need this to make it work?

 

[wiggydiggy]

I've just bought a Garmin Edge Explore from someone on this site, from my little play with it yesterday I've downloaded a phone app to sync with it and thats worked ok so far. I looked up how to get routes on it and if I was to create any GPX files (or download them) I would put them on my phone and the app will sync them to the device. I've yet to try any of that though.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Maps only and perhaps mileage and speed like my cycle computer. Phone is permanently on airplane and no interest in having it Bluetooth to anything. I guess I'd load it up from PC at home. Someone mentioned garmin account? I need this to make it work?

If you have a Garmin (obvs) then you pretty much need a Garmin account. It's a free thingy that you set up on their website. Could you get by without it? Possibly - but I can't see why you would try. It's not onerous. It will also ensure that map and other updates get applied to your device. Presumably there is an equivalent for Wahoo.

You really don't need your phone to actually use it for what you want. I think if you had a Wahoo then the phone app is necessary to set up the device, whereas with a Garmin you do that using (very fiddly) menus on the device. By "Set up" I mean choose what data fields you want to show on the display etc. So it's always handy to have your phone with you even if it's switched off/on airplane.

 

[Psamathe]

Maps are preloaded (at home, at your convenience you can update them - I end-up doing this every few years).

When I go out for a ride I do have my phone bluetooth connected to my GPS but only because alerts arriving at the phone in my panniers (text messages, Signal messages, etc.) can be passed to the GPS unit and pop-up on the display. A habit I got into when parents were very ill so I can always be contacted and still do. Otherwise when out for a ride the connection serves no purpose. Of course if you want eg partners to "Live Track" your position on a map ... then it does become more complex but not something I've every bothered with.

I'm a bit of a numbers geek, not for training but record my route and once home store it on my laptop so I do more complex stuff that maybe some others do but that isn't mandatory.

Garmin account (on the web) is free and easy (as teh actress said to the bishop ...). If you create routes on eg cycle.travel (I mentioned above then your Garmin account is used but you don't have to use it - when you press the "Send to GPS" button cycle.travel sends the created route to your Garmin account which automatically sends it on to your phone and GPS device.

I can't comment on aspects of using it without a Garmin "account" (more a registration) as I've never done this as the account is free and easy to use.

Remember, if you are designing and creating a route, then sending it between devices to give you turn by turn directions on the device - that already must have complexities and require some computer capability. My view is it's the sort of thing you might spend some time becoming familiar with first time you do it but from then on it's something you don't notice, don't think about.

Ian

 

[chriswoody]

I have a Garmin Edge Explore 2, a brilliant little unit that once you get over the initial learning curve is a great GPS unit with brilliant battery life.

My personal opinion is that both Wahoo and Garmin make fantastic head units these days, the current crop of Garmin Edge units are easily comparable to the current Wahoo units and rather than a straight Wahoo vs Garmin it should be a case of what features do you want and base your decision from there. One of the reasons I explicitly went with Garmin was because for the most part, I don't need to use my phone with it which given that I ride in a lot of areas without phone reception is a blessing.

I went with the Edge Explore 2 over the 540/840 because I don't need or want all of the training stuff that comes on it. The possible downside to the Explore 2 is the touchscreen. I prefer that, but many won't, especially because it's hard to use with gloves on.

With the Explore 2 you do need a Garmin account, but that's no big problem, you will also need the Garmin connect app on your phone. You also need to sync whatever ride creation software you are using with Garmin, again, it's a one time deal and simple to do. When I first switched the Garmin on I plugged it into my computer and it needed a big update that took a while, but after that I rarely attach it.

With routes I create them on Ride With GPS, then "pin" them. All I then need to do is open Garmin connect on my phone, switch bluetooth on and the app syncs with the Edge Explore 2 my route pops up and I'm ready to ride. It takes more effort to type and explain it that actually do it, it really is seamless and then my phone goes off and into a bag for the rest of the day.

One last thought was I was really taken aback by how small these modern GPS units are, when you are used to the bigger phones we have these days. The Explore 2 is bigger than the Edge 540/840 and to be honest the screen is only just big enough for me!

 

[Oldhippy]

All very useful thank you. So, if I wanted to do the Rebellion Way or the C2C for example I find them online and send to the Garmin?

 

[fossyant]

The newer machines are much improved over the older ones for routes. You generally plan a route on your computer then send it to the device by either wires or connected by Bluetooth to your phone. You'll use the Garmin or Wahoo app to do this. It's actually pretty seamless when set up. I'll plan a route or get a route that's been saved on line, upload the route from either my laptop or phone to my Garmin account. Then next time I turn the Garmin on it will connect via my phone to the Garmin account and download the routs automatically. You can also physically connect by a wire to the PC.

Not idiot proof but easy. I can recommend the Explore or Explore 2 if you want a bigger screen and don't want some of the training add ones or power metre stuff. Battery life can take a hammering if you leave the Bluetooth on so for all day rides this is turned off.

 

[Dogtrousers]

All very useful thank you. So, if I wanted to do the Rebellion Way or the C2C for example I find them online and send to the Garmin?

Yup. It would all depend on where and how the author had published the route so it could vary from easy peasy* to a bit of a fiddle

*Provided that you are over the initial basic learning curve

 

[fossyant]

All very useful thank you. So, if I wanted to do the Rebellion Way or the C2C for example I find them online and send to the Garmin?

Yes

 

[Psamathe]

I don't need to use my phone with it which given that I ride in a lot of areas without phone reception is a blessing.

WhenI was let down badly mid 2 month cycle tour by my Wahoo I ended-up having to buy whatever the local cycle shop had in stock which was then a Garmin 1030 (over specified for my use but that or nothing so it was that). But I really like the slightly larger screen (makes maps far easier to use) and after a few weeks with the device I was already thinking that if I had a free choice again I'd buy the same Garmin. Since then I've moved through the Edge 1040 Solar and now an Edge 1050.

But the ability to create routes on the device without any internet connection was and still is a massive benefit for my use. Sometimes iun rural France you end-up at a campsite with no Wi-Fi, no GSM phone coverage and need to create a route for tomorrow (nb I don't plan ahead, just plan tomorrow each evening). The on-device, no connection routing is a fabulous backup if you can't use the internet to create tomorrows route.

Ian