Garmin Question (GPX v TCX)

[TwoWheelsDC]

My understanding is that TCX will give you turn-by-turn on the 800/810/1000 (generated from the cue sheet that RWGPS generates as you draw your route), while GPX just has basic directional data (breadcrumbs) for the 200/500/510 units. I’m guessing that a GPX route also won’t have speed/elevation data, whereas a GPX track would (?). I’m pretty sure that Garmins record your rides as GPX track files, whereas TCX files are strictly routing files.

I have an 800 and export everything as TCX from RWGPS and turn-by-turn generally works like a charm. I’ve also used GPX files on a 200 and 510 to get a breadcrumb route, since there’s no maps on those.

[bluerider]

If you use the TCX file on a Edge 200 and 500, you also get turn-by-turn on your breadcrumb trail. It actually beeps and puts up a little left/right turn arrow like a road sign to warning you of the approaching turn which is really nice. When I have the option I always go for the TCX file on my Edge 200.

[Phatboing]

@TwoWheelsDC 105406 wrote:

turn-by-turn generally works like a charm

Your Garmin is clearly smarter than mine.

To save on battery, I use Tim Kelley’s suggestion: open the route map on the Garmin, but don’t start navigation. Then, when you press the ‘start ride’ button, it starts recording, and your route is all marked for you, but now you can navigate using your brain parts instead of the annoying boopidypoops.

[americancyclo]

@Subby 105405 wrote:

My wife gave a garmin to me for Xmas and I want to load some of Pete’s routes from Ridewithgps on it.

I have done a little reading, but it is still not clear in what type of format I should d/l the rides – tcx, gpx route or gpx track.

I d/led one of Vin’s rides from Strava and they recommend GPX but don’t differentiate between route or track.

The garmin is an edge 1000.

Thanks!

I download all of Pete’s rides as .tcx files for my garmin 800. works flawlessly most of the time. Haven’t had as good luck with the gpx files from strava.

@TwoWheelsDC 105406 wrote:

I’m pretty sure that Garmins record your rides as GPX track files, whereas TCX files are strictly routing files.

My garmin 800 records activites as .fit files

[TwoWheelsDC]

@americancyclo 105456 wrote:

I download all of Pete’s rides as .tcx files for my garmin 800. works flawlessly most of the time. Haven’t had as good luck with the gpx files from strava.

My garmin 800 records activites as .fit files

Yeah, you’re right…I was thinking GPX because that’s what you get when you download a ride from Strava.

[Dirt]

I’ve found that TCX files work best for turn by turn directions. How well they work depends on the quality of the TCX file as well as the maps you have loaded in your Garmin. I bounce around a bit with what I put on the MicroSD card. Most of the last few years I’ve been using Open Street Maps. When the directions start getting wonky, it is usually a sign that it is time for me to update the maps. I don’t fully understand why that is the case, but I’ve found it to be true.

Most recently I went back to using official Garmin maps in my 800 and it is working well.

It is possible to get a TCX file from a Strava GPX. I download the GPX file from Strava, then upload that to RideWithGPS as a route. I then can download it to my Garmin as a TCX file.

Hope that helps a little.

Pete

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