Bike computer and Camera

bolterixus · 20 Aug 2015 at 19:29

Hi

I am think of getting a GPS for a bike like a garmin edge. Would you recommend getting one? I had a look at them and the prices are quite high. Also I am thinking of getting a GoPro. Should I get like GoPro Hero 3+ silver or should I go for the gopro hero. I never had a camera like that before. Also are you able to change the battery on GoPro Hero 3+silver as I heard that the GoPro Hero only works for like 1-2 years because of the batter.

Thanks

booyaka · 20 Aug 2015 at 20:11

basic garmin 200 is around £75 - depends if you want maps etc then it starts to get expensive for the 800/1000 series

Go pro 3+ silver are good, change batteries etc - check 2nd hand prices since the new go pro landed there are good 2nd hand deals to be had.

bolterixus · 20 Aug 2015 at 20:54

What does the basic garmin 200 do. Does it show me a way around like any sort of map?

savagesam117 · 20 Aug 2015 at 21:25

I've got the 1000 and it's an awesome bit of kit. I don't use it to it's full potential to be honest but still, it looks cool, makes me want to stay on my bike more as it costs so much if i fall off and it breaks

The 200 will show you a basic map of where you are going I believe but not a planable route like on the next one up with the touch screen. And just your basic stuff, how fast, how long etc. Not worth it personally, i'd just get a cycle computer, id go for the 510 upwards

Vonhelmet · 20 Aug 2015 at 22:23

They're expensive, yes, but the £100 I spent on a Garmin 500 last year ranks as one of the best bike purchases I've made. It only does breadcrumb trail navigation, rather than proper on map directions, and it's not dynamic, but it's taken me miles and miles and miles. It's great.

lordrobs · 20 Aug 2015 at 23:55

Vonhelmet said:
They're expensive, yes, but the £100 I spent on a Garmin 500 last year ranks as one of the best bike purchases I've made. It only does breadcrumb trail navigation, rather than proper on map directions, and it's not dynamic, but it's taken me miles and miles and miles. It's great.

Same for my Garmin Edge 200. I'm happy to go to completely uncharted territory with just the breadcrumb trail guiding me and I'd rank it in my top purchases. I do wish I'd gone for the 500 though as it can be a bit patchy on my MTB without a speed sensor.

Roady · 21 Aug 2015 at 11:16

I bought an 810 expecting turn by turn navigation like a car satnav, it isn't. I would probably have been just as happy with a 510. Although there are 810 features I do use and would miss.

#Chri5# · 21 Aug 2015 at 11:24

If you want mapping but are happy without HRM, cadence sensors etc, the Edge Touring looks pretty good value on Wiggle at £155.

DC Rainmaker has his usual good review here

#Chri5# · 21 Aug 2015 at 11:26

Roady said:
I bought an 810 expecting turn by turn navigation like a car satnav, it isn't. I would probably have been just as happy with a 510. Although there are 810 features I do use and would miss.

I get TbT on my Edge 800 using routes (GPX track) from RidewithGPS. It doesn't always give instructions at a cross-roads if going straight over but for 95% (or more) of junctions, I'll get the beep to warn of the turn and show details on the display.

FrenchTart · 21 Aug 2015 at 11:28

#Chri5# said:
I get TbT on my Edge 800 using routes (GPX track) from RidewithGPS. It doesn't always give instructions at a cross-roads if going straight over but for 95% (or more) of junctions, I'll get the beep to warn of the turn and the turn show on the display.

Same for me.

I think the breadcrumb trail on the 510 (etc) is usable and seeing Von navigate with it I was surprised at how good it was. That said, I wouldn't want to get anything with less map detail than my 810.

If you have the budget, get the Mio 503. It has maps and if you hook it up to your phone via bluetooth you can also get audio turn-by-turn directions. I've been on a ride where I navigated with maps and a friend used audio directions and it was really great - both filled in the gaps when the other was lacking in detail/unclear. This is for 100-200 mile rides in uncharted territory so it was really important to not go the wrong way or slow down too much to check things.

Roady · 21 Aug 2015 at 12:22

#Chri5# said:
I get TbT on my Edge 800 using routes (GPX track) from RidewithGPS. It doesn't always give instructions at a cross-roads if going straight over but for 95% (or more) of junctions, I'll get the beep to warn of the turn and show details on the display.

FrenchTart said:
Same for me.

Oh it works, I'm not disputing that, it just isn't as good as I expected (high expectations of a £200 navigational device compared to a cheap £100 good navigational device).

FrenchTart · 21 Aug 2015 at 12:25

I haven't really used a car GPS so I can't comment/compare

Egon · 21 Aug 2015 at 12:33

Can you link in to strava with them?

Those who own them, do you not take your mobile phone out with you?

FrenchTart · 21 Aug 2015 at 12:35

Garmins 510/810 and 1000 all have automatic Strava sync via bluetooth. I take my phone with me on my rides but it's just there as a phone, not for navigation or recording.

grudas · 21 Aug 2015 at 12:52

I use garmin 800 + garmin virb !

awesome quality, video starts as soon as garmin does and stops as soon as garmin stops (start/stop of my ride, no pause)

a few videos -;

Jono · 21 Aug 2015 at 14:09

What sort of runtime/recording do you get out of those things, mr Grudas?

grudas · 21 Aug 2015 at 14:26

Jono said:
What sort of runtime/recording do you get out of those things, mr Grudas?

around 2 hours

so it lasts on my way to work(45ish mins) and way back(45ish mins) but won't do another ride fully, will crap out at around 30mins

I have had it for a while tho and battery has got a little worse over time

FishFluff · 27 Aug 2015 at 12:37

Late to the party on this thread, but I struggled to see any reason to buy a Garmin more expensive then the 500 and have been really happy with mine. I was worried that the navigation on it would be crap, but it's actually pretty good. If you plot your route in advance on a site like ridewithgps, it will even tell you the names of the roads you should be turning down.

As for cameras, I've just ordered a Xioami Yi for £60. Supposed to be one of the better chinese GoPro knockoffs, with a Sony image sensor and 1080p/60fps. Will be fun to overlay the video with data recorded with the Garmin (using the Virb Edit software on the Garmin webiste)!

Roady · 27 Aug 2015 at 13:54

Egon said:
Can you link in to strava with them?

Those who own them, do you not take your mobile phone out with you?

Same as FT, I take mine but it's only for normal mobile stuff, just the 810's BT sync is a nice feature, means my rides are on Strava 90% of the time before I am after riding.

Jono said:
What sort of runtime/recording do you get out of those things, mr Grudas?

grudas said:
around 2 hours so it lasts on my way to work(45ish mins) and way back(45ish mins) but won't do another ride fully, will crap out at around 30mins

I have had it for a while tho and battery has got a little worse over time

I get 3-3.5 hours out of mine as I can get 4 days commuting (8*20mins) but not 5 days. I bought a cheapy knockoff ebay special battery for £12 and it works but won't charge in the VIRB. It's less mAh too so going to return it. Looks like I'm going to bite the bullet and buy the separate charger at the same time as a genuine battery, Evans' is the only place which seem to stock the chargers and the batteries. Unless someone knows somewhere else? (Wiggle only have the chargers but never on a good sale).

FishFluff said:
Will be fun to overlay the video with data recorded with the Garmin (using the Virb Edit software on the Garmin webiste)!

The VIRB software is awesome, very quick and easy... One comment would be - IIRC it looks for garmin rides which match the video from an attached device. I'm unsure how that would work with a non-garmin and unsure if 100% compatible with the 500.

Jono · 27 Aug 2015 at 14:20

I think I'm gonna order a virb from sportspersuit. Is that what Grudas has got his little speed indicator thingy working with on the bottom two videos?