RideWithGPS

[Jeremy McCreary]

We used to call those "cigarette lighter" sockets in the old days.

Boy, you're really old. Did they have TV back then?

 

[stompandgo]

Black and white. It had a record player above it.

 

[Nvreloader]

Don't be confused about the 12V, that could be referencing a 12V power port charger. We used to call those "cigarette lighter" sockets in the old days.

Plus 2, I know and still use them, to this day.
I never had TV until 1969/70.

 

[PCeBiker]

Don't be confused about the 12V, that could be referencing a 12V power port charger. We used to call those "cigarette lighter" sockets in the old days.

I drove a 2002 Mazda Protégé until it died 3 years ago. It came complete with a 12 volt cigarette lighter, an ashtray, and a CD player.

The cigarette lighter is supposed to pop out when it gets hot, but mine wouldn't stay in, so I had to hold it in until it got hot.

My 12V compressor would work plugged into the outlet, but my lighter wouldn't work in one of those fancy new "12V power ports".

 

[Nvreloader]

In 2005, I installed a Cig plug on my Honda Rubicon 500 ATV,
so I could run my 60csx GPS as it had no power ports to run anything, I also installed two in my 2005 Toy PU for the same reason.
ymmv

 

[PCeBiker]

They're got these adapters too for the "cigarette lighter",..

Interestingly, if you use a cheap one from the dollar store in a newer car, it can mess up your car.

The cheap ones give off too much interference and it screws up the wifi type communication that some cars use to "connect" to sensors around the car.

You're supposed to spend about $30 to get a good one that won't make your car go crazy .

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Just wonder why long distance riders use a Wahoo or Garmin or Hammerhead or IGPSport GPS bike computers and only plan their rides in RWGPS, Komoot or Strava Even an Ultramarathon rider (400-500 km) uses a big Garmin Edge, and carries a powerbank for even longer distances...

 

[Chazmo]

Just wonder why long distance riders use a Wahoo or Garmin or Hammerhead or IGPSport GPS bike computers and only plan their rides in RWGPS, Komoot or Strava Even an Ultramarathon rider (400-500 km) uses a big Garmin Edge, and carries a powerbank for even longer distances...

I’m thinking force of habit or maybe it has to do with cell coverage. Or maybe they prefer to have dedicated devices on their bikes rather than cellphones -- I guess cellphones are also (I understand) thief-bait.

I’ve been using smart phone GPS apps for my car journeys for over 10 years now. I have had no need or desire to carry anything but my iPhone with me everywhere, and CarPlay makes (mostly) hands-free operation in the car and touch-screen operation of the GPS a pretty non-distracting thing.

It might indeed be something else, though, as you mentioned for long-distance bike riders, Stefan. Would be interesting to know their thoughts. I remember talking to someone on this forum that had two mounts on his handlebars (for two different GPS devices, IIRC).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Chaz, the reasons to use a GPS bike computer are:

• Great battery life with or without power saving options
• Super accurate GPS without any hiccups (often a Dual GPS)
• Small footprint and light weight
• It is virtually impossible to damage the device in a crash; it won't be sent flying because of the terrain vibration either
• Rainproof. Even the touch screen devices can have the screen locked and be operated by buttons
• Workout data. Some compatible e-bikes even connect their sensors to the device.
• Pin-point accurate satnav with optional Auto-Reroute based on routes created in any major cycling app or even in the device's own app (I love Wahoo's 'Take me home' or 'Retrace ride' or 'Ride to the route start'!)
• Precise climb information based on the route or even by map awareness of the surrounding hills!
• Automatic or on demand ride upload to any major sports tracker app
• No need for network coverage.

I was using the best phone mounts and still could manage damaging several smartphones in rough terrain. My cycling life has positively changed since my first Wahoo purchase in September 2021.

On last Sunday, I asked Google maps for a nearest service station in an area I've never been before. Then I entered that address in Komoot and automatically had the route in Wahoo. After I completed shopping at the station, I said 'Retrace ride' to my Wahoo.

A nice and carefree 15 km ride in Varmia. My Wahoo was not recharged post my race the day before but I needed not to worry

 

[stompandgo]

Just wonder why long distance riders use a Wahoo or Garmin or Hammerhead or IGPSport GPS bike computers and only plan their rides in RWGPS, Komoot or Strava Even an Ultramarathon rider (400-500 km) uses a big Garmin Edge, and carries a powerbank for even longer distances...

I'm not a long distance rider, but since I've moved here, I've planned every ride that goes off of the rail trail, mainly for safety reasons. I have to stay off of main roads as much as possible. That may mean riding through a residential neighborhood to avoid a half mile of state road. It has also helped me find non-automobile paths like the beach path on my last ride.

 

[jabberwocky]

Advantages of dedicated units over a phone are:
-Considerably better battery life when tracking.
-Units are much more durable and much less expensive.
-Accuracy is better with dedicated units, though phones have gotten a lot better.
-Interface is really designed with exercise in mind.
-I consider my phone a piece of safety equipment, so even without all that I like a separate unit because if it falls off or gets damaged in a crash I still have my phone to call for assistance.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

if it falls off or gets damaged in a crash

I have never heard of anyone damaging their GPS bike computer in a crash. Damaging a phone mounted on the handlebars is inevitable
The computer mounts are as reliable as I've never heard of a Garmin or Wahoo sent flying Garmin uses a security strap as an extra safety measure but it is like wearing braces together with a belt for trousers.

 

[6zfshdb]

I have never heard of anyone damaging their GPS bike computer in a crash. Damaging a phone mounted on the handlebars is inevitable

I've dropped my bike several times and have never damaged any of my Garmin's.

If I drop the bike and get hurt, I want the phone in my pocket where I can get to it, not attached to the bike that may be out of reach.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Just wonder why long distance riders use a Wahoo or Garmin or Hammerhead or IGPSport GPS bike computers and only plan their rides in RWGPS, Komoot or Strava Even an Ultramarathon rider (400-500 km) uses a big Garmin Edge, and carries a powerbank for even longer distances...

• Battery life
• Phones perform poorly (*) in both very hot and very cold conditions. Sometimes it is very hot or very cold when you are riding a bike.
• Touchscreens can be totally unusable in wet conditions. Sometimes it rains when you are riding a bike.
• Phones are generally bigger and heavier and take up more cockpit space, and phone mounts aren't as secure as GPS mounts generally are.
• Did I mention battery life?

* When I say "perform poorly" I mean "sometimes shut down and not function at all". That can easily happen if your phone is in some kind of protected plastic case that keeps the heat in even on a merely warm sunny day.

Having said all that, RWGPS has the very best turn-by-turn navigation of any app or device that I've seen. Except for the fact that you probably need a headset or earbuds to hear the cues over traffic noise.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@Mr. Coffee, it was a rhetorical question, which I needed to post when other people here started considering powering their smartphones from the e-bike battery
All good! All correct what you said!

 

[jabberwocky]

I have never heard of anyone damaging their GPS bike computer in a crash. Damaging a phone mounted on the handlebars is inevitable
The computer mounts are as reliable as I've never heard of a Garmin or Wahoo sent flying Garmin uses a security strap as an extra safety measure but it is like wearing braces together with a belt for trousers.

I've snapped mounts in crashes a few times. Depends where you mount it. But if its on the bars and you endo, it will likely be one of the things hitting the ground, and on a lot of my MTB riding the ground is jagged rocks. I think the tabs on the garmin quarter turn mount are kinda designed to snap in an impact to protect the computer itself. I actually snapped an out front mount once on the MTB (the arm actually broke off, computer was still mounted to the end).

Its reasonably certain that a phone would have been damaged in at least some of those crashes unless it was in a really serious impact protective case.

• Phones perform poorly (*) in both very hot and very cold conditions. Sometimes it is very hot or very cold when you are riding a bike.
• Touchscreens can be totally unusable in wet conditions. Sometimes it rains when you are riding a bike.

Oh yeah, these two for sure. Modern phones don't like being out in direct sunlight for long and definitely don't have trustworthy water protection.

 

[Nvreloader]

I've dropped my bike several times and have never damaged any of my Garmin's.

If I drop the bike and get hurt, I want the phone in my pocket where I can get to it, not attached to the bike that may be out of reach.

6zfshdb
Plus 2 on that,
around here there are numerous areas that have no cell service,
That is one reason I carry the sat ph, but the son has it now.

So I am looking for a backup to the c ph/sat ph combo.
Garmin has the "in Reach" system (I just found out about) that should work OK?, and it's correct lon/lat readings will be very close to the locations I may need help in, via any rescue service.

I don't trust the ph systems/maps after finding out there is a co road about a couple of miles from the house that shows up on the c ph map's, But is really a ditch that leads to no where. So much for accuracy....

I trust my GPS system, once it's dialed in, I ride cross country on cow/horse tails and may be several miles 5+ from the nearest road and help.
I need to know, and have the better half stop chipping her teeth at me, that I have as best of chance of people contact/rescue as possible, reason for my dual system.
I have most all the survival items/tools/parts needed on the bike on every ride, plus H20 supplies and ways to make good clean water from the local springs when found etc. yrmv
Tia,
Don

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

When I say "perform poorly" I mean "sometimes shut down and not function at all". That can easily happen if your phone is in some kind of protected plastic case that keeps the heat in even on a merely warm sunny day.

I've seen that message once on my Android with Quadlock case after leaving it face-up on a table in bright direct sun for maybe 30 minutes.

Same phone has had many 3-hour and countless 1-hour exposures to direct sun on my handlebar with nary a squawk. No evidence of screen damage in 5,000 miles on the bars.

The same phone popped off its mount once in a crash but wasn't damaged.

You guys make a lot of good arguments for a separate bike computer, and maybe someday I'll spring for one. But for now, Specialized app on phone on bar with later ride export to RideWithGPS does everything I need, and a range extender (about the same price) is a much higher spending priority.

 

[6zfshdb]

6zfshdb
Plus 2 on that,
around here there are numerous areas that have no cell service,
That is one reason I carry the sat ph, but the son has it now.

So I am looking for a backup to the c ph/sat ph combo.
Garmin has the "in Reach" system (I just found out about) that should work OK?, and it's correct lon/lat readings will be very close to the locations I may need help in, via any rescue service.

I don't trust the ph systems/maps after finding out there is a co road about a couple of miles from the house that shows up on the c ph map's, But is really a ditch that leads to no where. So much for accuracy....

I trust my GPS system, once it's dialed in, I ride cross country on cow/horse tails and may be several miles 5+ from the nearest road and help.
I need to know, and have the better half stop chipping her teeth at me, that I have as best of chance of people contact/rescue as possible, reason for my dual system.
I have most all the survival items/tools/parts needed on the bike on every ride, plus H20 supplies and ways to make good clean water from the local springs when found etc. yrmv
Tia,
Don

I've been using Garmin's Inreach satellite service for 3 years now on my Montana GPS and I have yet to find a place where it does not work. IMO, it's well worth the $16 /mo subscription price.

 

[Chazmo]

Yes, these are great arguments. Thanks for those, guys! I will say that I am not as worried about damaging the phone since its position on my handlebar (which is not straight) kind of protects it. In fact it might be better to have it where it is than, say, in my pocket in the event of a spill. There is a padded pocket in my backpack (which I always carry) which would probably prevent damage; I used to do that before I had the bar mount. Also, while a concern for Don in NV, cell service where I ride is a non-issue.

But, again, great arguments. I think if I were exploring new trails every day and venturing more than (avg.) 20 miles/day, I’d have to give this some serious thought.

Oh, here’s my phone mount (it’s a little blurry right by the stem). You can probably see why I’m not worried, given the shape of my handlebar. Also, I’m able to charge the phone while I ride; the display provides sufficient power to do that: