GPS tracking tools

[americancyclo]

I know that there are data dorks among the cyclist set, and I’m curious how y’all track your rides. I’ve played around with a few apps, and would love to hear others opinions on what works and what doesn’t. I’m only using smartphone apps now, but dream of moving up to a garmin device with cadence and HRM. I like to see how small changes in my route can affect how quickly I can get to/from work.

Runkeeper: I use this the most, but have been annoyed recently with the 30 second delayed start if you don’t have a GPS lock. My evening commute starts in an underground garage with no GPS signal. I like the fact that I can export my ride data as a GPX.

MapMyRide: Started using this during their TdF challenge. Really annoying that ‘Workouts’ can’t be assigned to ‘Routes’ from the mobile app. That’s nearly a dealbreaker for me. I do like the hill climb data on the webpage and the way they identify the classes of climbs.

Strava: Just started using this morning. Simple interface and the competitive aspect of it is interesting.

Anyone have thoughts on these, or experiences with other programs? I know there are a lot out there.

Topic

[PotomacCyclist]

I use a Garmin 305 with the quick release kit (velcro wrist strap for running, quick release bike mount) and SportTracks (though I temporarily lost access to the program since the graphics card on my desktop decided to die this month).

Garmin just released the Forerunner 910XT. Expensive but nice, from what I’ve read. I’d like to get that someday, when I have the available funds. Of course, by that time, Garmin will have released the next generation of the Forerunner.

[Tim Kelley]

@PotomacCyclist 9232 wrote:

I use a Garmin 305 with the quick release kit (velcro wrist strap for running, quick release bike mount) and SportTracks (though I temporarily lost access to the program since the graphics card on my desktop decided to die this month).

Garmin just released the Forerunner 910XT. Expensive but nice, from what I’ve read. I’d like to get that someday, when I have the available funds. Of course, by that time, Garmin will have released the next generation of the Forerunner.

The 305 is an awesome product and is a great value for the money. The 310xt is a nice upgrade, but only if you need the ANT+ interface to work with a power meter or if you need extended battery life for very long efforts (Ironman, 200+ mile rides, ultramarathons).

The 910 includes better swimming tracking than the 310, but I don’t think it’s worth the upgrade from a 310 or even a 305.

[DaveK]

@Tim Kelley 9234 wrote:

The 305 is an awesome product and is a great value for the money. The 310xt is a nice upgrade, but only if you need the ANT+ interface to work with a power meter or if you need extended battery life for very long efforts (Ironman, 200+ mile rides, ultramarathons).

The 910 includes better swimming tracking than the 310, but I don’t think it’s worth the upgrade from a 310 or even a 305.

+1 – I love my 305. It’s around $130 at Amazon and you absolutely can’t beat it for value for money. The quick release kit which includes a much more comfortable wristband and the bike mount is only about $15 more. I actually prefer to keep the space on my bars open so I rigged up a stem mount like this – http://jvanis.blogspot.com/2009/08/installing-garmin-forerunner-305-bike.html – which has worked flawlessly for the year or so I’ve had it. I keep looking for an excuse to buy an Edge 500 other than “because I want it” and I haven’t come up with a good reason yet.

[elcee]

It looks like Garmin is trying to tempt us with its new Edge 200. SRP of $149.99 and available now. This might just push me over the edge.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=90675

[skreaminquadz]

I also use the 705 along with ridewithgps.com and the standard garmin/connect utility as well. I really like the set up.

I have a 305 I no longer use that I’m thinking of parting with. It’s a great unit, I just needed ANT+ for power.

[vvill]

@elcee 9238 wrote:

It looks like Garmin is trying to tempt us with its new Edge 200. SRP of $149.99 and available now. This might just push me over the edge.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=90675

Hooray, < $200! :eek: I might finally join everyone and have a cycling GPS! Although you can't add cadence (which I like to have) or HR (never had but wouldn't mind having). Currently I take the GPS out of my car and put it in a pocket. It’s bulky and annoying but it works, sort of… for a few hours. I’ve actually logged quite a few miles with it on me though. I just pretend it’s 1995 or something and I’m actually ahead of the curve. I use ridewithgps as well. Strava seems ok, but I hate mapmyride.

[DaveK]

@vvill 9254 wrote:

Hooray, < $200! :eek: I might finally join everyone and have a cycling GPS! Although you can't add cadence (which I like to have) or HR (never had but wouldn't mind having). Currently I take the GPS out of my car and put it in a pocket. It’s bulky and annoying but it works, sort of… for a few hours. I’ve actually logged quite a few miles with it on me though. I just pretend it’s 1995 or something and I’m actually ahead of the curve. I use ridewithgps as well. Strava seems ok, but I hate mapmyride.

FR 305 can add cadence and it’s even cheaper. It’s more clunky looking though – the Edge line looks like they’re actually meant to mount on a bike.

[americancyclo]

@elcee 9238 wrote:

It looks like Garmin is trying to tempt us with its new Edge 200. SRP of $149.99 and available now. This might just push me over the edge.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=90675

Does this add any more functionality than my old school wired cateye cyclocomputer, along with my smartphone offers? just combined in one unit?

[americancyclo]

@DaveK 9235 wrote:

I keep looking for an excuse to buy an Edge 500 other than “because I want it” and I haven’t come up with a good reason yet.

The ability to load and navigate a cue sheet is a big reason for me. Connection to HR and cadence is desirable, but the navigation by cue sheets seems like the “big win” that the 705 has over all the others. To be fair, I don’t know how easy it is, though.

[DaveK]

@americancyclo 9262 wrote:

The ability to load and navigate a cue sheet is a big reason for me. Connection to HR and cadence is desirable, but the navigation by cue sheets seems like the “big win” that the 705 has over all the others. To be fair, I don’t know how easy it is, though.

The 705 (and the newer 800) has maps just like a car GPS would. You can follow a selected route along a displayed map which is very easy to upload through Garmin Connect or any number of other software. The Edge 500 and Forerunners have a very limited capability of showing “bread crumbs” along a route and displaying a pointer direction straight to that point. It might get you home but you don’t want to rely on it for a new route. I’ve never been able to get that to work correctly either.

[americancyclo]

Wanted to add some experience I had in trying to find a navigation app that I could use on my smartphone to follow a cue sheet. I downloaded OSMAnd the Open Street Map (Android Version) and loaded up a cue sheet I created in RideWithGPS. You can use a downloaded map, so it won’t require tons of data, and it has voice navigation, which I really liked. I placed it in my back pocket, and listened for directions. It worked marginally well. It was confused a few times when I veered off route to see if it would navigate me back on track. I think this might work well if it was mounted on the handlebars, so you could see the screen, but then that might kill the battery. I thought it was a good effort, but wasn’t super impressed. At least not impressed enough to purchase a handlebar mount to further research. I haven’t uninstalled it from my phone yet, so there may still be hope, but I don’t think it quite lives up to the potential out there, and from what I gather, isn’t quite as reliable as a Garmin 705 or 800 for following a cue sheet. I may yet take it out again for a portion of the Kill Bill Ride, to see how it does. I know it seems odd to write about a product I wasn’t in love with, but I figured I’d share my experience in case there were folks looking for this kind of information.

[mrkenny83]

I adore MapMyRun.

[MCL1981]

I use an Android app called MyTracks. It will GPS datalog. The app overlays your tracks on a google map which is handy when I get lost. And when you’re done it will upload to your google account creating a google map, and if you use Google Docs, it will make a spreadsheet for you too. It talks too. I have it set to announce in my earphones every 15 minutes my time, distance, and speed.

[DaveK]

I’m keeping a close eye on this – http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/11/motorola-motoactv-in-depth-review.html

[Mark Blacknell]

@americancyclo 10751 wrote:

I may yet take it out again for a portion of the Kill Bill Ride, to see how it does.

Nearly willing to guarantee failure. Something like Kill Bill confuses most any GPS. That’s why we still have paper. Or Dirt.

(Also, phone-based GPS solutions have a fatal flaw on the bike – battery life. When the power runs down, not only are you lost, but you have no way to call home.)

[Author]

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