Gps vs phone and maps

[Whizzer48]

I would like to know gps vs smart-phone to use for maps?

I been to Holland to play fellow the pack and want to go on mine own. At that time it was paper maps and gps maps was not like they are today. I been testing out the free maps downloads and the one that would have cost me $100 to find out it just a EU gps map only. No extra way-points to help it to find bike path. One thing good it know where the food and beer is at. I have came across http://www.fietsersb...tsroute-planner .It will make up a planner and do a good job on the gps, but I will like to have the bike path number shown on the screen. I have came across http://www.opencyclemap.org and like that map setup. Connect the numbers and dot with not brain needed. I have can across they have a phone app but I would like not to use a cell phone for a map.


1. I know UK opencyclemap is for sale and would like to know what it look like on the gps? Is it like the web page? To see the numbers to make it a fun easy ride.

2. What is better to use on a bike. Gps vs phone?



Thanks for any info/ideas on other good web pages. For all the maps that I have seen if Opencycle map keep going it will be the best out there Openmtbmap has some good looking in Mapsorce but don't know what it look like in gps.

 

[Garz]

I liked using my phone as the gps device however they are not really built to go on bars like a dedicated unit as they don't generally carry the required IP rating for weather proofing and I would be paranoid that it could fly off to be damaged or get stolen (the same could apply to the computer unit I know).

I carry my phone in the saddle bag primarily if I have to make a call, or if I'm at a cafe stop or break it stays in my jersey pocket. Using it to navigate would be ok if I could rely on the mount and weather conditions.

 

[zacklaws]

As mentioned phones do not fit on the bars. I use a Garmin Edge and find it perfect as it is in front of me and usable as I ride, a couple of colleague's use there phone's and think there brilliant, the sad fact is, whilst they use there phone's we have to stop and wait which p****s you off, whilst they get them out of there pockets, twiddle with them and replace them in there pockets before we set off again.

 

[Jezston]

Battery life in a dedicated GPS unit will be overwhelmingly longer than a smart phone! I understand car GPS units usually go on one charge for a few weeks ... if my old HTC Desire wasn't fully charged when I left work/the house I'd be lucky if it lasted any longer than an hour and a half! I expect my new Nokia N8 might, at best, last a day.

What's the battery life like on the Garmin?

 

[StuAff]

Battery life in a dedicated GPS unit will be overwhelmingly longer than a smart phone! I understand car GPS units usually go on one charge for a few weeks ... if my old HTC Desire wasn't fully charged when I left work/the house I'd be lucky if it lasted any longer than an hour and a half! I expect my new Nokia N8 might, at best, last a day.

What's the battery life like on the Garmin?

My Edge 705 has a claimed battery life of 15 hours, and it will actually last that long (obviously it helps to use the backlight as little as possible, not fiddle around with settings etc too much..) . On the Loughborough-London ride last year, I had it on the whole time (13 hours back to Waterloo), stops included, and it still had juice to spare.

 

[Norm]

My TomTom Rider (which is about 5 years old) GPS unit will go for about 8-10 hours on a full charge. My Desire went from fully charged to 25% in about 2 hours yesterday. Luckily, a car charger only costs about a fiver, and a spare HTC battery was about £20.

 

[snorri]

I been to Holland to play fellow the pack and want to go on mine own.

I have found paper maps obtained from VVV in The Netherlands quite adequate for navigation over there, and no worries about security of expensive gear or power supplies. Being a heavily populated country there is usually someone around to ask if you get lost, and most speak English.
It would be helpful to acquaint yourself with the Knooppunt route finding system before you leave home.
http://maastrichtminutiae.com/2010/07/14/whats-a-knooppunt/

 

[nightoff]

Could you not fit a bar bag with waterproof map holder and put the phone in there?