Which GPS

[emmadilemma]

Hi there,

my husband has been getting into his cycling over the last year. He commutes to work on his bike most days and is training for the London - Brighton bike ride.

I would like to get him a GPS for his birthday. My budget is around the £170 mark and I have been looking at the Garmin Edge 200 or 500. Can anyone offer any advice or suggest any alternatives. Do either of the models I am looking at have any functionality missing that my hubbie might need? He wouldnt need all singing all dancing but something to replace his current runkeeper on his phone.

Thanks!

 

[HLaB]

The biggest difference between the 200 and the 500 is the 500 can operate with additional sensors for Heart Rate and Cadence; its up to you if you feel they are needed. Other options are Bryton and Holux.

 

[ianrauk]

The 200 and the 500 are basically the same machines except the 500 has options for a Heart Rate Monitor and a Cadence monitor. If your husband just wants to record his rides then the 200 is fine. If he want's to record his rides, heart rate and cadence then the 500 is the way to go.

 

[emmadilemma]

i noticed some comment about not having sat nav, does that matter? I had a little look at Bryton but some reviews seemed to think that it was more complicated to use....

Thanks

 

[ianrauk]

i noticed some comment about not having sat nav, does that matter? I had a little look at Bryton but some reviews seemed to think that it was more complicated to use....

Thanks

They do not have sat nav no.
What they do have is a function where you can preload a gpx route and follow that. (It's just a grey line that you follow).
For mapping then you need to look at either the 705 or 800 machines.

 

[sabian92]

What they do have is a function where you can preload a gpx route and follow that.
For mapping then you need to look at either the 705 or 800.

Indeed - they will give you a mile count down of the next direction change you've set and which way it is but won't display it as a car sat nav would.

 

[emmadilemma]

Thanks for that. Just wondering if it is worth having sat nav as my husband plans his training routes before he goes out. Is the route planning software good. At the minute he's using runkeeper and it seems to take forever!

Thanks for all the help...

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks for that. Just wondering if it is worth having sat nav as my husband plans his training routes before he goes out. Is the route planning software good. At the minute he's using runkeeper and it seems to take forever!

Thanks for all the help...

If he plans his route before hand and it's a set route that he will be doing then the 200 and 500 will be fine.
If he wants on the fly navigation with full colour mapping and turn by turn instructions then the 705 or 800 is the way to go.

 

[emmadilemma]

Thanks for the advice. Is there much difference in features between the 705 & 800?

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks for the advice. Is there much difference in features between the 705 & 800?

The 800 is the updated version of the 705.
The 800 being a smaller machine with an updated software package.

Put it this way... he will certainly not be disappointed finding an 800 as a birthday pressie... boys toys and all that.
But your budget of £170 won't stretch to either a 705 or 800.

 

[emmadilemma]

Thanks! I get the impression Bryton doesnt live up to Garmin???

 

[HLaB]

Thanks for that. Just wondering if it is worth having sat nav as my husband plans his training routes before he goes out. Is the route planning software good. At the minute he's using runkeeper and it seems to take forever!

Thanks for all the help...

I have the 305 the pre runner to the 500 and now I know about training files (.tcx) I say yes its good for training runs, having the rough line to follow but not having to concentrate on it with indication when you've went off route is useful, it lets me complete courses relatively quickly. I use a online package ridewithGPS and download the tcx from there and import it to my garmin.

 

[emmadilemma]

I had been looking at the Bryton Rider 50.....

 

[Nebulous]

Garmin is the big daddy that has been developing outdoors based gps machines for ever. Bryton is the new kid on the block trying to muscle in and selling at a keener price to do so. You'll get devotees of both on here and the arguments will go on and on forever.

I got the basic 500 in an exceptionally good deal last year and have absolutely no regrets about it. I've since added the cadence/speed sensor, and will add the Heart rate monitor once my current watch based polar one gives up. That's one possible way of keeping the price down, buying a cutdown package and getting the add-ons later, though it might work out dearer in the long run. I have no experience of Brytons. The Garmin 500 is very good, with just a few small niggles that hold it back.

 

[Mike!]

A while ago I got the Holux GPS Sport 260 here it has been great for my needs, you can setup routes to follow (although not using trails / offroad as the system uses google maps) and of course download all of your data into the app to analise it / upload to online things such as Strava. I didn't go for the cadance / heart rate monitor as at the time I didn't think I would need them but I think in future I may upgrade.

The same thing but with cadence, HRM & speed can be found here for £144.95

You can get extra bike mounts for under £10 so it's easy to switch it around