Regarding GPS computer

[scrangelina]

Okay hoping somebody can advise on a purchase I'd like to make. What I'm looking for is something that attaches to the handlebars of my road bike and shows me my route, which I'd like to be able to pre-plan at home and upload to the device before I leave the house.

I already have a Polar Beat HRM strap and the app on my iPhone 4s that tracks every details of my ride. However, not only do I not like to attach my iPhone to my handlebars, but also my rides drain it off all its juice, which I may need in an emergency. That gives me plenty of excellent feedback about my ride.

What I want doesn't need to show my heart rate or link into anything wirelessly. But it does need to have the ability for me to plan and upload routes. I should add that I already own a Garmin Oregon but that it's OS map layout doesn't work well for me on the bike - I just need a simplistic road route with an arrow that represents where I am and in which direction I need to go.

Can anybody point me in the right direction? Many thanks in advance.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Garmin 200

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Garmin Edge 200

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Garmin etrex10 - does exactly what you want and uses the same bike bracket as your Oregon. Takes AA batteries too

 

[ushills]

I have a 200 and an etrex, both will do what you want. The 200 is easier to use on the bike but you follow breadcrumbs, the etrex says when to to turn if you use a route.

However I use tracks with either and equally good.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

500 will give you a breadcrumb and also turn warns, if you plan with the right software. as will the Bryton 40 i belive, and both have H.R. and Sp/Cad if you want in the future.

 

[lpretro1]

Garmin Edge 800 -or newer 810 - get the bundle that gives you the OS maps. It also allows you to add on a HRM later if you want to. The newer 810 is only different if you want bluetooth etc

 

[derrick]

Garmin 800 or 810 they are great, would not ride with out mine.

 

[fullcycle]

Has anyone ever had an issue with the holders for the handlebars? always a good point to bear in mind as certain brands can tend to rattle a bit

 

[derrick]

Been using one of these for the last couple of weeks, holds rock solid.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products...=mkwid__pcrid_19994915456_kword__match__plid_

 

[fullcycle]

Been using one of these for the last couple of weeks, holds rock solid.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products...=mkwid__pcrid_19994915456_kword__match__plid_

Looks a good sturdy design really good price too

 

[mcshroom]

If you already have an Oregon, how about using some different maps like Talkytoaster

I use the standard OpenStreetMap packages from there on my Etrex 20 for Audaxes

 

[derrick]

Looks a good sturdy design really good price too

Am really pleased with it, holds the garmin in the perfect position.

 

[scrangelina]

Thanks guys, just popped back to see all these great responses. I do need to be told when to turn though as the routes I plan are complex lane routes, so I'll read through all these now - there's plenty of food for thought.

One more thing though... I now have an iMac. I used to like memory-map's interface but that time (a few years ago) the open source stuff wasn't that great - functional but not fun to use. Is memory map compatible with iMacs now as it would be on my iMac that I'd like to plan my adventures.

 

[PK99]

Thanks guys, just popped back to see all these great responses. I do need to be told when to turn though as the routes I plan are complex lane routes, so I'll read through all these now - there's plenty of food for thought.

.

The garmin 800/810 has an "Auto motive mode" map display option, which shows a tom-tom like fly-over route - just keep the arrow between the tram tracks and it bleeps if you go off track, no map reading to do. i find that better than using the turn by turn directions- i too plot complex routes though the lanes of Surrey