Re: Cycle computers - wired or wireless? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

12-26-2006, 03:38 AM

In article <Xns98A1D2A57F334newsNOshierSPAMcom@216.196.97.136 >,
Solvang Cyclist <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> Unfortunately this thing is not too useful for bike rides (from the web
> site):
>
> >> The record interval is adjustable to anything between 1 and 15
> >> minutes

It all depends what you want from it but, yeah, a 1 minute minimum is a
bit high. I've since found this, which is a lot better:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

> I haven't found a GPS that's ideal for biking. The Garmin
> bicycle-specific units don't offer maps or routes. Ideally, a bike GPS
> should allow you to download a route to the unit and then give
> turn-by-turn directions to tell you how to stay on the route (or get
> back to it when you miss a turn.) It should also have Bluetooth to allow
> you to share the route you programmed with others at the start of a club
> ride and to upload your ride information to a computer.

You're putting too much functionality into one device. I'm still most
interested in a cheap GPS unit that mainly logs data. Bluetooth is a
welcome way to bridge to a display device, since I'm getting pretty
tired of every single device in my pocket having its own screen. That
leaves it up to me to decide if I want to take a fancy mapping PDA with
me.

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12-26-2006, 07:38 PM

Doc O'Leary <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]-sjc.supernews.net:

> In article <Xns98A1D2A57F334newsNOshierSPAMcom@216.196.97.136 >,
> Solvang Cyclist <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>> Unfortunately this thing is not too useful for bike rides (from the
>> web site):
>>
>> >> The record interval is adjustable to anything between 1 and 15
>> >> minutes
>
> It all depends what you want from it but, yeah, a 1 minute minimum is
> a bit high. I've since found this, which is a lot better:
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>> I haven't found a GPS that's ideal for biking. The Garmin
>> bicycle-specific units don't offer maps or routes. Ideally, a bike
>> GPS should allow you to download a route to the unit and then give
>> turn-by-turn directions to tell you how to stay on the route (or get
>> back to it when you miss a turn.) It should also have Bluetooth to
>> allow you to share the route you programmed with others at the start
>> of a club ride and to upload your ride information to a computer.
>
> You're putting too much functionality into one device. I'm still most
> interested in a cheap GPS unit that mainly logs data. Bluetooth is a
> welcome way to bridge to a display device, since I'm getting pretty
> tired of every single device in my pocket having its own screen. That
> leaves it up to me to decide if I want to take a fancy mapping PDA
> with me.
>

Obviously we have differing needs/desires for a GPS device. I would
prefer to have only one device on my bike. With the exception of a map
and maintaining a route, everything that a GPS can provide can be done
by a cheap cycle computer. I can always map my routes after I return
using a site such as bikely.com. Instead, if I'm going to add a GSP, I
want it to provide a moving map display. The rest would be simple to do.

Cheers,
David

12-27-2006, 04:54 AM

In article <Xns98A5C7CA445A5newsNOshierSPAMcom@216.196.97.136 >,
Solvang Cyclist <news@NOshierSPAM.com> wrote:

> Obviously we have differing needs/desires for a GPS device. I would
> prefer to have only one device on my bike.

So would I, but it's getting to be impossible. I already have my cell
phone with me. I also bring my iPod sometimes. If it's dark, I have
lights. While I could add a big honking GPS display to the mix, I would
much rather use one of the displays I already have with me.

> With the exception of a map
> and maintaining a route, everything that a GPS can provide can be done
> by a cheap cycle computer. I can always map my routes after I return
> using a site such as bikely.com.

This is where our needs obviously differ. I'm of the opinion that most
of the "instant" feedback is useless, but logging data over time paints
a rich picture. Your cheap bike computer won't be the best device to
tell you how you've been improving, say, on a particularly tough hill.
It won't be at all helpful in trying out different routes and seeing
which sections are faster on average.

> Instead, if I'm going to add a GSP, I
> want it to provide a moving map display. The rest would be simple to do.

While that can be handy at times, would you *really* say you need to be
looking at a moving map 90% of the time you're on a bike? I still think
a simple logger is a great start, and if I'm lost and need to see a map
I could whip out my cell phone.

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12-27-2006, 10:31 PM

Doc O'Leary <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]-sjc.supernews.net:

> While that can be handy at times, would you *really* say you need to be
> looking at a moving map 90% of the time you're on a bike? I still think
> a simple logger is a great start, and if I'm lost and need to see a map
> I could whip out my cell phone.
>

90% of the time? No. But for organized rides it would be much easier with a
moving map and turn directions than the "classic" routeslips in your jersey
pocket.

Cheers,
David

12-28-2006, 05:16 AM

In article <Xns98A6E5353324DnewsNOshierSPAMcom@216.196.97.136 >,
Solvang Cyclist <news@NOshierSPAM.com> wrote:

> Doc O'Leary <droleary.usenet@4q2006.subsume.com> wrote in
> news:droleary.usenet-893386.06540127122006@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net:
>
> > While that can be handy at times, would you *really* say you need to be
> > looking at a moving map 90% of the time you're on a bike? I still think
> > a simple logger is a great start, and if I'm lost and need to see a map
> > I could whip out my cell phone.
> >
>
> 90% of the time? No. But for organized rides it would be much easier with a
> moving map and turn directions than the "classic" routeslips in your jersey
> pocket.

But then why buy a kitchen sink unit for the 5% scenario? Most GPS
units like that are big and expensive and chew up batteries. I still
say there is a lot to be said for having a simple $50 receiver/logger
that will Bluetooth to some other device for whatever extra immediate
use you might have. For example, I'd be *very* interested in seeing
something like the Nike+iPod that is instead based off of GPS data.

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