Which GPS for directions?

[RhythMick]

I'd be very happy to use the iPhone - which apps use the gpx files? The other problem is battery power, I'd really be aiming to have it switched on all the time - I hear gps devices have a much longer battery life?

As for the map reading - believe me, I've tried and failed, the invention of the SatNav changed my life, I'm hoping for a similar solution for the bike.

I'd happily recommend ViewRanger. iPhone, Android and Browser software, almost free to buy. Software is excellent for creating and following routes


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Gary E]

Hi Sara, I bought a Garmin Edge 705 a couple of years ago and it completely revolutionised my riding. I get lost going to the shops and so all my rides had to have the minimum of turns and stick to main roads or I'd get lost.
The Egde has made it possible for me to go places I'd never have found on my own without worrying about getting lost
I just bought the Egde 800 (which I'm still trying to come to terms with ).
Both units are great for navigating but as has already been said they don't come cheap, but I wouldn't be without mine now

 

[Sara_H]

Hi Sara, I bought a Garmin Edge 705 a couple of years ago and it completely revolutionised my riding. I get lost going to the shops and so all my rides had to have the minimum of turns and stick to main roads or I'd get lost.
The Egde has made it possible for me to go places I'd never have found on my own without worrying about getting lost
I just bought the Egde 800 (which I'm still trying to come to terms with ).
Both units are great for navigating but as has already been said they don't come cheap, but I wouldn't be without mine now

I had a similar experience when I first bought a Satnav - I'd seperated from my ex husband and couldn't go anywhere cos I'd just get lost - bought a satnav and a few weeks later I drove myself to Paris!

Now I'm having a similar experience with the bike - I'm desperate to get some longer rides in, but am reliant on th OH to navigate, a bike navigation device would make a massive difference.

Just a shame they're so expensive.

 

[Gary E]

I was put off for a while, not least by people on CC who told me all I needed was a map but who the hell wants to get off a bike every 100 yards to check a map? (OK slight exaggeration there, but not by much).
Prior to the GPS I'd set off on a planned 50 miler and end up doing 70 after getting lost (sounds good but not if your PB is 50!).
The Garmin was a god-send for me. I can set off to somewhere I've never been before on roads that I've never been on and expect to get there! I can now enjoy the ride and stop worrying constantly where I am .
Some of my mates seem to have built in GPS, I don't!

 

[MattHB]

Does cyclometer do turn by turn directions? I use it but haven't seen that!?

No it doesn't, but it highlights the route on a birds eye map which is zoomable, so it's pretty impossible to get lost. Best thing to do is draw your route using a web app like mapmyride, save the klm file to Dropbox, then open it onto the phone. Cyclemeter will then import it and voila.

 

[Sara_H]

I was put off for a while, not least by people on CC who told me all I needed was a map but who the hell wants to get off a bike every 100 yards to check a map? (OK slight exaggeration there, but not by much).
Prior to the GPS I'd set off on a planned 50 miler and end up doing 70 after getting lost (sounds good but not if your PB is 50!).
The Garmin was a god-send for me. I can set off to somewhere I've never been before on roads that I've never been on and expect to get there! I can now enjoy the ride and stop worrying constantly where I am .
Some of my mates seem to have built in GPS, I don't!

Just like me!

Ho hum, dont think I can stretch to a Garmin Edge yet, Have to hope I find one in a gutter somewhere!

 

[NotthatJasonKenny]

IPhone plus a waterproof holder and copilot app, it has car, bicycle and walking settings to alter your route.

 

[zoxed]

My Garmin 305 works great, for me ! No map, but your plan your ride on a PC, download it and then follow the breadcrumb trail on the ride. The device gives upcoming turn indications with a countdown, including a beep (useful if you are whizzing along chatting away and about to miss your turn !!
It is also great not having to stop often to check map (when out with my g/f we often follow the maze of forest tracks around here which all look the same and only sometimes have route indication. And the trees hide a lot of the usual visual clues used for map reading !!)

 

[PpPete]

Now slightly "old-school" and chunky looking compared with the Edge... but Garmin Legend HCx (£95 here) will show mapping and you can load GPX tracks on it. Garmin would have you spend another £100 on top for maps, but the free downloadable OSM maps (from the likes of talky-toaster) are getting better and better.

 

[musa]

you can get a dakota or smaller garmin like edge 200 for 100 odd mark

 

[Hebe]

I have a Garmin Dakota 20 (orginally bought for geocaching) that works for me. Downloading maps from TalkyToaster did make it about 10 times more useful in as many minutes as the basemap that came with it was not very good for around here.

 

[User269]

My Garmin 305 works great, for me ! No map, but your plan your ride on a PC, download it and then follow the breadcrumb trail on the ride. The device gives upcoming turn indications with a countdown, including a beep (useful if you are whizzing along chatting away and about to miss your turn !!
It is also great not having to stop often to check map (when out with my g/f we often follow the maze of forest tracks around here which all look the same and only sometimes have route indication. And the trees hide a lot of the usual visual clues used for map reading !!)

+1. I was quite happy navigating with my 305 years ago, and the breadcrumb trail does the trick OK. Obviously my 800 is much better, but at a cost; financial and educational! I'm not familiar with the 500, but wonder if it does the same?

 

[amaferanga]

IPhone plus a waterproof holder and copilot app, it has car, bicycle and walking settings to alter your route.

What if you want to cycle for more than a few hours?

 

[NotthatJasonKenny]

What if you want to cycle for more than a few hours?

If you need a map for more than a few hours then it won't last as the GPS really doesn't last but I've had cycle meter running for 6.5 hours (cat and fiddle) and it was fine!