Garmin Forerunner 201

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Soldato
Joined
28 Oct 2006
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Location
Sufferlandria
I need a GPS. It will be used to tell me speed/average speed/distance/altitudes etc whilst cycling my bike. (May also be used for snowboarding - but thats less important) If possible, i'd like one that i can download the data onto my computer to analyse and to keep a record of everything i'v done.

Im looking at a Garmin Forerunner 201 and wondering if anybody has any views on them? Or if anybody can suggest a good alternative for <£100
Thanks
 
I use the forerunner 305 for my running training, its pretty much identical, but with the HRM aswell.

I'd probably suggest the Forerunner 205 instead of the 201, it is a lot less bulky, and the gps system is a lot more reliable. However it retails around £100, so you will be at the top end of your budget. It uploads to a PC (201 probably does aswell). The graphing is very usefull, and can even show your route.

I'd be lost without the 305. Most of my training runs are programmed into it, it copes well with interval training, beeping to inform me when my pace is off, and it has a virtual training partner so I can see whether I'm behind or infront of my planned times. The software has all of my runs going back to when I bought it, so I can track improvements in pace/distance/heart rate. Its great.
 
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branddaly said:
I'd be lost without the 305. Most of my training runs are programmed into it, it copes well with interval training, beeping to inform me when my pace is off, and it has a virtual training partner so I can see whether I'm behind or infront of my planned times. The software has all of my runs going back to when I bought it, so I can track improvements in pace/distance/heart rate. Its great.
Click to expand...

Yeah i have a 305 as well. pretty nice piece of kit, only problem is, in front of my house and in front of my work it's almost impossible to get a satellite lock, and that's where i start most of my journeys :(
Need to order the bike mount for it, because bringing my arm of the handle and looking down at my wrist isn't the safest of moved while negotiating London rush hour :p
 
I also use the 305. It's fantastic. I use it for running and on the bike.

Just this morning I came to work on the bike:

8.75 miles
35:22 min:sec
average speed 14.8 mph
max speed 36.2 mph
562 kcal burned - damn, need a 2nd breakfast!
 
Got my wife the 405 for her birthday and it's excellent. Signal pick-up is much quicker than the 305 and obviously it's more 'watch' sized.

You get less data on the screen, but it's easy to scroll through.

I've got the 50 with footpod and it's pretty accurate compared to GPS, maybe only 200m out after 10k.
 
Update:
I went and bought the 201 last friday and have clocked up over 100 miles on it now.
Very happy with it so far, it does everything i wanted it to do.
The only problem is that it uses a serial connection which i havnt got on my current pc, so i'll need to set up an old pc i have to use it with.
 
touch said:
Update:
I went and bought the 201 last friday and have clocked up over 100 miles on it now.
Very happy with it so far, it does everything i wanted it to do.
The only problem is that it uses a serial connection which i havnt got on my current pc, so i'll need to set up an old pc i have to use it with.
Click to expand...

Might be worth taking a look around for a serial-to-usb adaptor, though I'm not sure how well it will work.
 
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Whats the accuracy like on these? I have a Nokia N95 with their sports tracker installed, and on a 5 miles run, it can be as far as 1/2 mile out, which isnt a big problem, but I cant really put a work out in it, as it doesnt have a HRM built in.

I wouldnt want to invest in a Garmin, if the GPS quality isnt any better than what I have already.I could just get a HRM instead, actually can you get a HRM watch, ie no chest strap?
 
wohoo said:
Whats the accuracy like on these? I have a Nokia N95 with their sports tracker installed, and on a 5 miles run, it can be as far as 1/2 mile out, which isnt a big problem, but I cant really put a work out in it, as it doesnt have a HRM built in.

I wouldnt want to invest in a Garmin, if the GPS quality isnt any better than what I have already.I could just get a HRM instead, actually can you get a HRM watch, ie no chest strap?
Click to expand...


The accuracy is around +/- 2.5%, though mine seems to be with 200 meters at the end of a 10 mile run. It samples postion every 2 seconds (if I've read the literature correctly), for up to 3 hours, and I guess less often for longer excersise periods. I don't know of a HRM that doesn't have a chest strap, I used to use Polar ones, and those had them aswell.

The main advantage of the Garmin, apart from GPS and HRM, is the ability to program in training routines. You can create them with the supplied Training Centre software and then download them onto the Garmin. This means that on any given day I can just select that days work out and press start. The device then knows what paces and distances (including intervals) I should be aiming for and help me keep there, very useful for speedwork days when I fail to keep count of the splits, or can't add up the distances on the fly.
 
touch said:
Update:
I went and bought the 201 last friday and have clocked up over 100 miles on it now.
Very happy with it so far, it does everything i wanted it to do.
The only problem is that it uses a serial connection which i havnt got on my current pc, so i'll need to set up an old pc i have to use it with.
Click to expand...
Surprised to hear that, I had nothing but trouble with my 201. It struggled to maintain accuracy under trees, and around lots of tall buildings. So I sent it back and got a 305.
 
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