why buy a Garmin?

[gavroche]

indeed, why? It is an expensive bit if kit and why not get s normal car gps? I know it is bulkier and don't give you bike related info but you have a bigger screen and can use app on your mobile for the rest. I think if you din't go off road; it is a good alternative at a fraction of the cost.

 

[Rob3rt]

indeed, why? It is an expensive bit if kit and why not get s normal car gps? I know it is bulkier and don't give you bike related info but you have a bigger screen and can use app on your mobile for the rest. I think if you din't go off road; it is a good alternative at a fraction of the cost.

Do you really need to ask?

Because it is weatherproof, robust, compact, pairs with ANT+ sensors, gives you cycling specific stats in real time and post ride, uploads your data to various websites and software for tracking and training or indeed general interest purposes, probably has longer battery life, being that a car gps is typically connected to a power supply within your vehicle for very long journeys.

 

[zizou]

size is an issue when its on your bars or stem, plus battery life and weatherproofing are pretty crucial too.

So not a good alternative even if cheaper and i'd rather go without a gps than have a car one on the bike

 

[sddg7tfl]

If you already have a smartphone, download one of the many mapping apps that can store map tiles for offline (out of coverage) navigation, then load up areas of interest while your phone is connected
to your home wifi.

Once map tiles are cached, the phone won't bother using the internet while mobile (extending battery life)

I've had 14 hours continuous navigation use from a HTC Desire C with it in a waterproof handlebar
case .... which is better battery life than my Multimap AR2800 that i used to navigate over Snowdon
last year.

 

[uphillstruggler]

If you already have a smartphone, download one of the many mapping apps that can store map tiles for offline (out of coverage) navigation, then load up areas of interest while your phone is connected
to your home wifi.

Once map tiles are cached, the phone won't bother using the internet while mobile (extending battery life)

I've had 14 hours continuous navigation use from a HTC Desire C with it in a waterproof handlebar
case .... which is better battery life than my Multimap AR2800 that i used to navigate over Snowdon
last year.

if you dont mind me asking, which app did you use?

 

[Lee_M]

Do you really need to ask?

Because it is weatherproof, robust, compact, pairs with ANT+ sensors, gives you cycling specific stats in real time and post ride, uploads your data to various websites and software for tracking and training or indeed general interest purposes, probably has longer battery life, being that a car gps is typically connected to a power supply within your vehicle for very long journeys.

all what he said...twice!

 

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

Because they are superior to any other device inc: phone?

 

[Mike!]

I have mine for the reasons mentioned and prefer not to use my phone due to battery drain. If I have an emergency I want to be sure my phone has power!

 

[derrick]

+1

 

[sddg7tfl]

if you dont mind me asking, which app did you use?

I use "gvsig mini maps" on Android.

It doesn't record cycling specific data the original poster said this wasn't an issue.
Just make sure you set the app for offline caching, then zoom into the areas of interest (along a route maybe) and the
phone will store these "tiles" in its memory.

 

[uphillstruggler]

I use "gvsig mini maps" on Android.

It doesn't record cycling specific data the original poster said this wasn't an issue.
Just make sure you set the app for offline caching, then zoom into the areas of interest (along a route maybe) and the
phone will store these "tiles" in its memory.

Cheers for that