GPS Navigation - What are people using?

[wiggydiggy]

I like the Edge Explore 1 too. I did hit a snag on the weekend though when I created a route with Komoot, but you need a paid subscription to transfer it to Garmin. Luckily I can export a gpx file of the route, load it into RideWithGPS and sync it to Garmin from there.

The only thing I haven't figured out yet is how to load a GPX directly to the Edge without plugging it into my computer.

 

[Psamathe]

if you take wrong turn, shows climb info even if not on a pre-planned route etc.
I know some Garmins also do the above I believe but I've heard a lot of mixed reports on customer service and firmware bugs etc whereas Wahoo have been excellent.

Off-course recovery (getting back on route when you depart from set route) used to be not great on Garmin but in recent years it has become good. So mixed reports probably depend on how long ago people used in on their Garmin (or when they formed their views).

The climb feature on Garmin devices looks targeted as a training aid so might not be available on the full range (on mine but check your intended model if purchasing). But I find it brilliant for touring as on a long day route you can check ahead where the hard climbs are (how many, how bad and how far away). Good whilst on the climb eg "over the worst now", " just another ½ mile", etc. It does look ahead when not following a set route.

Customer Service in my experience is variable. They have been very helpful when I broke one Edge GPS (my fault) but also been very unhelpful when I gave up on my Garmin watch (top of the range and complete rubbish) - I did get a full refund in the end but it took a lot of arguments.

Ian

 

[PaulSB]

Two pleasant update on this:

- Activities from eTrex Touch (both 25 and 35) auto sync from Garmin Connect to Strava / Komoot. I just needed to TURN OFF auto-pause! (Garmin forum thread: Strava sync issue - is it because the .GPX file is from dated device?)
- I got a bargain Edge Explore (v1). Oh so much simpler with seamless Bluetooth connectivity and full sync with Garmin Connect, Strava & Komoot. No more relying on USB data transfer (still need USB for charging).

So in my head I've got it as:

• eTrex Touch 25 (The "old school" experience) - A pleasant "wired" multi-activity device which relies on USB data transfer and BaseCamp to plan your activities.
• eTrex Touch 35t (The "neo-traditional" experience) - A somewhat "wireless capable" multi-activity device that has some connectivity perks but still allows USB data transfer and geeky BaseCamp for activity routes.
• Edge Explore (The "new school" experience) - A "wireless" device that can do pretty much everything without UBS cable (other than charging)?

I'll keep Edge Explore as the device and sell on the other two. Explore v1 is pretty nifty device despite being released 7 years ago (Aug 2018). I wonder that more recent Edge devices can do!

Thanks and happy cycling!

"account deleted" Has the poster departed? Anyway it's good to read he/she reached a satisfactory conclusion.

I've just read the whole thread and was struck by how very complex some solutions are. As a Wahoo Roam user I find life could not be any simpler. I also used a Wahoo Elemnt until it was written off in an RTC.

Add one's chosen/favourite route planner(s) as "authorised apps" in the Elemnt app. Plan a route. Open the Elemnt app, go to "View Routes," find route and do "Select Route." The route loads on the Wahoo and is ready to navigate. That's it!

By syncing the Wahoo one can add all routes to the device meaning the smart phone isn't needed. It is a bit slow scrolling through routes on the device.

I don't use a Garmin, I'm not a fan, but I'm sure there will be a similar device.

 

[Punkawallah]

I don’t? I plot a route on the desktop, make notes of road changes on a pocket-sized piece of paper with villages(towns I’m heading for, and check Google Maps on a smart-phone if the signage is poor. If in doubt, ask a native.

 

[yello]

Still using my Garmin Edge 305, albeit 2nd battery and repaired buttons. Bought a 2nd hand 705 cheap locally last year, just because. Cute having maps but I prefer the 305 because I'm used to it.

I rarely plot rides as I ride locally and know the area. My Edge is used mainly for recording rides. If I plot, I use RwGPS.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Ive just read the whole thread and was struck by how very complex some solutions are.

I think this is mainly a function of history. Consumer GPS tech is relatively new. They have changed rapidly and it was only a few years ago that things had to be synced by cable and it was all very complex.

These days it's all smartphones and Bluetooth synchronisation and user friendly.

I miss the GPSbabel program and weird custom cables. Not.

 

[PaulSB]

I think this is mainly a function of history. Consumer GPS tech is relatively new. They have changed rapidly and it was only a few years ago that things had to be synced by cable and it was all very complex.

These days it's all smartphones and Bluetooth synchronisation and user friendly.

I miss the GPSbabel program and weird custom cables. Not.

Yes, I'm sure you're right and I well recall the joy of needing the club ride route at the last minute. Booting up the laptop, finding a cable, etc. A real pain on a Sunday morning!!

I am often surprised by the number of people with new devices who haven't understood that downloading, pinning, renaming, adding to favourites etc. is no longer necessary on their device, I've given up trying to explain!

 

[MadMalx]

Quite happy with my Edge Explore (first version). Battery life isn't huge but piggy back on a small 5000mah (Anker) battery bank and it will last days.

My first version explore was garbage for battery life and synching to download routes, and lots if hanging problems while navigating.
Explore 2 has been a revelation - fast charge, excellent battery life, easy synch with Garmin Connect. Very happy with the explore 2, and relatively cheap.

 

[Binky]

One of the great joys for me when out riding is to come across a tiny country backroad and wonder "where does that go" and so head off exploring.

Conversely a frustration is taking wrong turn and wondering where the hell I am.

Better bike computers sholdn't change first point but hopefully eliminate the second.

 

[ianrauk]

My first version explore was garbage for battery life and synching to download routes, and lots if hanging problems while navigating.
Explore 2 has been a revelation - fast charge, excellent battery life, easy synch with Garmin Connect. Very happy with the explore 2, and relatively cheap

This is my experience 100%
The Explore 2 is on a completely different level compared to the Explore 1.

 

[accountdeleted]

Wow, lots of comments! And I'm still here!

Just goes to show this is very much a topic of personal preference and how you like to ride a "route."

I'm sure my use of GPS device will change over time. Currently I like to use it as turn-by-turn navigation to help me get home in minimal time (time poor with little kids to look after and very small window of opportunity to ride!), help me explore local routes (only just recent that I've taken recreational riding instead of just cycle commuting) and look as some basic stats on the go (average speed, miles covered, elevation, etc.).

Once I get familiar and comfortable with local roads (and when kids are less time demanding 😅), I'd definitely want to allow myself to get "lost" and explore where that little single track take me to, etc. I'd assume I'll look around much more and stop more often to see the GPS map to see where one road takes me to.

Over 20yrs ago, I remember having a glance and printing a section on Google Map, hop on a train and trail back on South Downs Way (I was at uni so LOADS of spare time!) without any sort of navigation other than relying on the wooden post signs. Absolute freedom. But now, thinking of doing that gives me a slight panic! 🤣

 

[Dogtrousers]

A bit of Garmin reminiscing

My first GPS was a handheld brick Garmin 76S in about 2001. I've also got a GPSMap 60CSX (2004?) which is just the best. Unbreakable and resilient. Has suffered much abuse. I still use it with OSM maps on an SD card.

I've also got an Oregon (2013-ish) which I used on my bike as it was roughly the right size - a bit bigger than the Edges - still not cycling specific but pretty good and has bluetooth so some degree of synchronisation with the phone worked. But still mainly a wired device. It has OS maps too, which I really like. It was a fairly big lump on the handlebars, but a fantastically capable device. It doesn't have turn-by-turn, it was follow-the-track navigation.

In about 2015 (out of warranty) I knackered the screen on the Oregon and Garmin replaced it with a refurbed device for a real bargain amount. Sadly they don't do this any more and charge quite a bit for replacements. The new one even had a camera built in, but I've never used that.

I got my first Garmin Edge device in about 2013?. I forget what it was, I got it second hand. It was garbage compared to the handhelds. It felt like a cheap toy, the menus were sluggish, the graphics really chunky, it kept freezing up. It didn't have a fat lot in the way of features. Battery life was poor. They had squeezed too much complexity into too little processing/memory. I never used it much as the Oregon was worlds better. I think I gave it away.

Then I got an Edge Touring Plus in 2015-ish. This was the first recognisably decent Edge that I'd had, it had turn by turn routing that worked properly, but it was still underpowered compared to the bigger handheld Oregon. It was ... quirky. It would do things like have a nervous breakdown if I loaded routes that were too long. The battery life wasn't stellar. It couldn't charge and record at the same time. But despite these shortcomings it was a nice device, but needed sympathetic handling. I think also it was cable-only.

Next was an Edge 530 that I got around 2000-ish. The first Edge device that was really good, with no real flaws, didn't hang up, has turn-by-turn, reasonable battery life, bluetooth sync and all that. Finally they had got it right. I think it took that long for the hardware to be properly capable of what the software wanted.

Now I use an Edge 1040 (2023). That has more battery life than I need and a zillion features. I didn't need it over the 530 but I just felt it was time to buy another gadget.

So what's my point? In less than 10 years Garmin Edge devices went from tamagotchi-like rubbish toy to really capable cycling computers with more features than most people could ever want.

By the way, I'm not bigging up Garmin in comparison with others here, I'm sure that Wahoo, Bryton, Cateye etc are all equally capable. Competition means that consumer devices are all much of a muchness.

 

[ianrauk]

So what's my point? In less than 10 years Garmin Edge devices went from tamagotchi-like rubbish toy to really capable cycling computers with more features than most people could ever want.

By the way, I'm not bigging up Garmin in comparison with others here, I'm sure that Wahoo, Bryton, Cateye etc are all equally capable. Competition means that consumer devices are all much of a muchness.

And that's the rub. I think a lot of us Garmin users have tried a good few of their devices with mixed results. With the latest machines it seems they have finally listened to their customers and possibly DC Rainmaker, stopped using them/us as Beta testers and finally got them right and working properly.
Perhaps the emergence of Wahoo and Hammerhead made them up their game somewhat. However, they nearly lost me to Wahoo but with my Explore 2, I am firmly back in the Garmin camp.

 

[yello]

I miss the GPSbabel program and weird custom cables. Not.

Oh. I'd best go now....

....I think I had some friends down at the end of the garden...

 

[PaulSB]

And that's the rub. I think a lot of us Garmin users have tried a good few of their devices with mixed results. With the latest machines it seems they have finally listened to their customers and possibly DC Rainmaker, stopped using them/us as Beta testers and got finally got them right and working properly.
Perhaps the emergence of Wahoo and Hammerhead made them up their game somewhat. However, they nearly lost me to Wahoo but with my Explore 2, I am firmly back in the Garmin camp.

I think you have hit the nail on the head with this remark. I had a Garmin 830 when it was the latest version. Awful. Garmin replaced for £85 after a cracked screen. Awful.

I moved to Wahoo and have been delighted with the device. I would never risk my money going back to Garmin. I'm sure Garmin have great products these days but it's the risk factor. Why would I pay £3 - 400 for a product which might be poor? Especially when I can buy a Wahoo with confidence.

When I gave up on Garmin a friend was looking for one. I warned him of the issues I experienced, he borrowed it for a month and finally agreed a price of £80. A few months later I saw him with a Wahoo. I asked why, he answered "you were right." He had sold the 830 for £50, a loss of £30. He refused my offer to refund him so I paid for the coffee.....