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spokeslady
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29-07-2006 11:05 AM
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Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 14
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| I am very interested in what ne1 thinks of these. I love the idea of being able to plot an accurate route and transferring it to GE. Never getting lost. Using/transferring electronic maps. But they are a bit pricey at the moment, hopefully will come down. Does ne1 own one already?
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My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Bricket Wood to Harpenden
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qmulguy
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29-07-2006 01:27 PM
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Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 4
Bike:
| I use a GARMIN Foretrex 101 which mounts very nicely on the handlebars. I have used this extensively for plotting routes that I am riding and then use the data with the Memory Map Software which contains an Ordnance Survye map of the area that I plot the GPS data on.
The Foretrex 101 seems quite accurate in terms of position on the ground, but its reported elevations are not too good. If yo are really interested in elevation data, you really need a GPS with a proper altimeter included. However, as a general guide to the profile of the ride, its acceptable.
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happy
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29-07-2006 01:49 PM
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 132
Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset
My Profile
| What sort of price are we talking about for these devices. I always wandered whether it would be worth getting one myself.
Not that I get lost often, lol.
Alan
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My Latest Route: Dec 2007 Chester Centre to Docks Road
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qmulguy
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29-07-2006 04:48 PM
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Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 4
Bike:
| I paid around £100 for the unit itself. The handlebar mount was around £10 and the data link cable for connection to the computer was around the same price. The only thing to be aware of with the data connection is that many of the newer units connects by USB to the computer, but this one connects by the SERIAL PORT which many computers today do not have. In my case, it was OK as I had already had to purchase a USB to SERIAL converter for another application, but these do not come cheap and the cheapest I found was around £30.
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happy
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29-07-2006 05:28 PM
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 132
Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset
My Profile
| yeah it can be a little annoying when a company don't make things too easier for you.
I think the real aim for me with one of these would be when I'm in forests, if you wander off the main paths for a bit looking for a good down hill track or technical section, it would be nice to know just how far you have gone.
Is the detail that good do you think for that sort of application?
Thanks
Alan
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My Latest Route: Dec 2007 Chester Centre to Docks Road
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qmulguy
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29-07-2006 07:02 PM
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Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 4
Bike:
| The one problem with GPS is that you really need good visibility of the GPS satellites to maintain your position and in forest areas or areas where in general there is thick overhead vegetation it can be difficult for the GPS to maintain its satellite connection.
Providing that you are not constantly in a forest it should be good enough. As I live in cambridgeshire, I don't tend to have too much problem with forests and so cannot really say how the unit performs in such situations and most of my riding tends to be on-road as well.
One other thing with the GPS that I have is that it doesn't have maps built in or allow you to download them. If you wanted to be able to do this, then you would have to consider some of the more advanced and more expensive GPS units, but the same issues will apply to being in foresty areas.
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jimboalee
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15-05-2008 03:23 PM
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Joined: 15 May 2008
Posts: 4
Bike:
| I use a Garmin eTrex Legend C. I have Topo GB and Metroguide mapping ( but I cannot mix the two ). It is great, except it gets confused in the city between the high-rise, due to reflections.
The rubber bumper strip adhesive is its major fault. If you leave it in a hot car, the glue goes gooey and the mess needs replacing with double-sided tape. Hard job, but worth it.
Topo allows 'follow road' routing, but metroguide doesn't. Some 200km AUK rides go beyond the units map memory capabilities, so Metroguide is used with 'stringers' between junctions. It works well.
Visit Audax UK's website to get a good tutorial on Garmin GPS units.
AUK rides are pre-planned. I construct the route and download it to the handset. Just follow the thick pink line!
My unit is the C model with 24meg. Today's model, HCx, has a SD card slot, so it can have 2Gig. Enough to take all of Topo GB, thats if you are on a LE2JOG in 116 hours.
2700 mAhr NiMh batteries last 24 hours with no backlight, or about 16 hours with 50% backlight. Recorded tracks are not lost when the batteries are removed, so if the battery change is done when stationary, the tracks can be joined when they are uploaded onto your PC.
There is much more I could say, but it is on AUDAX UK's website.
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captgeoff
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29-05-2008 10:04 AM
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 2
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| I also use a garmin e trex legend c. I use metroguide europe v7 software. Create routes in memory map or get routes from here and the CTC website. Download to the garmin and away I go. Works well I find. I also convert my tracks to routes on the pc.
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My Latest Route: Jul 2008 Richmond Park To Hampton Court
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happy
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29-05-2008 09:41 PM
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 132
Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset
My Profile
| Hey CaptGeoff,
Have you tried loading any of the routes from the site on your GPX. Not sure we have had much uptake on it. Looking for a member to try it out :D
Happy
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My Latest Route: Dec 2007 Chester Centre to Docks Road
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captgeoff
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30-05-2008 08:31 AM
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Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 2
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| Hi Happy
Yes they go into my garmin map source software with no problems, from there to my gps. Haven't riden one yet but will soon. I can't foresee any problems. Will let you know how I get on when I complete one.
Geoff
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My Latest Route: Jul 2008 Richmond Park To Hampton Court
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Darkrider
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30-05-2008 11:31 PM
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Joined: 30 May 2008
Posts: 13
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| Hi Spokelady
Call me old fashioned but give me an OS map and a Compass any day LOL
no batteries to die and certainly less to go wrong and best of all a lot cheaper
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My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Willen Loop
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happy
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31-05-2008 09:27 AM
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 132
Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset
My Profile
| Hi DarkRider,
Yeah I think technology certainly makes us lazy. There is probably nothing wrong with both methods, each have their advantages.
I suppose a satnav system will always (or should always) have the most recent data, whereas a map could be out of date. But then as you say, a map will never run out of batteries.
Happy
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My Latest Route: Dec 2007 Chester Centre to Docks Road
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spokeslady
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14-06-2008 08:54 AM
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Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 14
Bike:
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| Update: since starting this thread I bought the Garmin Geko 201 and it's been a love affair ever since! I plot my routes using Google Earth, convert to gpx format, onto the geko and off I go. So far i've cycled around Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and soon Belgium. I Follow the route and no time is wasted in getting lost or looking at maps, just pure cycle enjoyment.
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My Latest Route: Aug 2006 Bricket Wood to Harpenden
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happy
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14-06-2008 09:26 AM
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Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 132
Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset
My Profile
| Hi Spokeslady,
Sounds brilliant. How much did you pay for it if you don't mind me asking?
Happy
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My Latest Route: Dec 2007 Chester Centre to Docks Road
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