Garmin

[kingrollo]

I wonder how far we are from an app on your phone + quadlock.

I think the Karoo runs an android os - if everyone starts doing that and the price of head unit is mobile phone territory it seems the logical next step. A high end app.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I wonder how far we are from an app on your phone + quadlock.

I think the Karoo runs an android os - if everyone starts doing that and the price of head unit is mobile phone territory it seems the logical next step. A high end app.

I once found a smashed phone in the road with half of a broken quadlock mount on it. I've not trusted quadlock since.

 

[vickster]

I had a Mk1 Wahoo Elemnt, hated it, sold it, went back to Garmin. Maybe they're better now, but I'm happy with my Garmin 830, I don't really need to use it in the wet, I mostly just use for recording and uploading to Strava, but when I do use for directions, it's fine bearing in mind I have zero sense of direction in places I don't know. The Garmin is great for downloading routes from Komoot too.
I could never actually get my head around how to follow the Wahoo with it's strange breadcrumb trail and weird flashing lights, just not intuitive for me, but ymmv.
The one time I tried to get directions on the fly, it was appalling and the first thing it tried to do was send me off road down a hidden bridlepath despite asking for road directions! I don't think you could even do that without the smartphone app (which also wasn't fit for purpose with iOS back then).
If you're really a gadget/training/data geek then the Garmin screen set up might be a pita, but I'm not so all good!

 

[kingrollo]

I once found a smashed phone in the road with half of a broken quadlock mount on it. I've not trusted quadlock since.

That's partly my point - a smashed GPS head unit is getting to the same ball park as a smashed phone.

 

[Alex321]

That's partly my point - a smashed GPS head unit is getting to the same ball park as a smashed phone.

But they smash much less easily.

They are built to be more robust, because of the type of intended use, and they also tend to be smaller and lighter, meaning less momentum if they come off and hit the ground.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

I suspect Wahoo uses come very cut down version of android as it doesn’t work natively with a Mac computer. You need to install an android file transfer app first.

 

[Psamathe]

I just thought of something, on my eBike the head unit has a USB out for charging a device. I'll have to plug the Garmin GPS into it and see how much it affects the range.

On my Garmin 1040 Solar doing a couple of hours riding most days I'd charge it every few weeks. Battery life is very good.

On my 1050 the screen is unbelievably clear and bright but that comes at a cost of battery life. Few hours riding and I estimate it would cope with a couple of days 8+ hour rides.

"Range" probably isn't an issue with a Garmin device, more a question of how many days between rechanges.

Ian

 

[Dogtrousers]

Time was when batterly life was a bit of a problem for GPSs. In those days I preferred AA powered ones, and always had a supply of rechargeable AAs. These days only people doing ultra events or those touring and camping and without access to mains at night need worry about battery life because they last more than a day's riding.

Problem is these days they are non-replaceable internal ones so they will limit the life of the device.

 

[si_c]

Problem is these days they are non-replaceable internal ones so they will limit the life of the device.

Maybe, but my experience so far has been that the units are so far out of warranty by the time that this becomes an issue that getting a third party replacement is a viable strategy.

My Edge 1030+ is out of warranty now (and has been for a couple of years) but the battery life is as good as it was when I got it, the 820 is struggling now and does need charging between uses if I leave it more than a few days as it passively discharges, but a third party replacement is only about £30 including fitting.

 

[wiggydiggy]

On my Garmin 1040 Solar doing a couple of hours riding most days I'd charge it every few weeks. Battery life is very good.

On my 1050 the screen is unbelievably clear and bright but that comes at a cost of battery life. Few hours riding and I estimate it would cope with a couple of days 8+ hour rides.

"Range" probably isn't an issue with a Garmin device, more a question of how many days between rechanges.

Ian

I understand, I don't think I can use it after all though as the USB port for it is on the back and will be covered by the holder when riding.

General question though. After I've done a ride how does the ride log get from the Garmin device back to RideWithGPS?

 

[Alex321]

I understand, I don't think I can use it after all though as the USB port for it is on the back and will be covered by the holder when riding.

General question though. After I've done a ride how does the ride log get from the Garmin device back to RideWithGPS?

I don't know specifically about the Garmin, but that is the point with the Wahoo that you do need to connect to your phone, because it is the app there which uploads it to RideWithGPS (and/or Strava and/or Komoot, etc).

 

[ianrauk]

Garmin device back to RideWithGPS?

You have to go into the settings of RWGPS to link it to your Garmin Connect account so it can pull the rides from that.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Time was when batterly life was a bit of a problem for GPSs. In those days I preferred AA powered ones, and always had a supply of rechargeable AAs. These days only people doing ultra events or those touring and camping and without access to mains at night need worry about battery life because they last more than a day's riding.

Problem is these days they are non-replaceable internal ones so they will limit the life of the device.

Power mounts and power packs is the answer. You want 160 hours of riding without plugging into a power outlet. No problem.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I don't know specifically about the Garmin, but that is the point with the Wahoo that you do need to connect to your phone, because it is the app there which uploads it to RideWithGPS (and/or Strava and/or Komoot, etc).

You have to go into the settings of RWGPS to link it to your Garmin Connect account so it can pull the rides from that.

Yeah I got the Garmin Connect App and linked my RWGPS account no problem. Planning a ride Sat morning so will see how it works.

Power mounts and power packs is the answer. You want 160 hours of riding without plugging into a power outlet. No problem.

For sure. I've got a couple of different ones, the largest one will charge my phone to full several times over.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

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.

Later Garmin’s you can also setup on the phone if you want. You have the choice, on device, or on phone.