Garmin Edge (or Wahoo Elemnt Roam) and Specialized Turbo e-bikes [RESOLVED]

[Stefan Mikes]

So far, everything has been so nice and easy with my Vado and Vado SL:

• A TCD(-w) on the handlebars, giving me all quick ride information;
• A smartphone on the bars, running Mapy.cz for route planning and GPS navitation; and BLEvo for motor tuning, all e-bike/ride parameters and ride recording, with data export to Strava and Excel.

It has been so easy until I recollected my smartphone experiences during last two cold seasons: It is very hard to operate a smartphone when you're riding in gloves... Another matter is any long ride required recharging the smartphone from a battery pack: a complication.

Hence, a thought: Perhaps I could replace the smartphone with a Garmin Edge?

• It has to be a button version. A touch-screen version is of no interest to me;
• The Garmin model has to be able to understand I rode off the route, and to re-plan the route instantly (as any good car GPS navigation would do; Mapy.cz do it actually)
• Possibly large screen and loud audio
• Connectivity with the TCU: What Data Fields do you think are the best for Spesh e-bikes?

I ask you for a good advice.

 

[fooferdoggie]

the touch screen works with gloves. only when you needed to open a map you would need your finger. otherwise I can do it all with my gloves.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

only when you needed to open a map you would need your finger

Could you elaborate on that, Steve? What do you exactly mean by "opening a map"?
If you are telling me I could operate the 1030+ in gloves, then the Garmin Edge Explore is the answer: Half the price, only all roadie related workout features are not there.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Could you elaborate on that, Steve? What do you exactly mean by "opening a map"?
If you are telling me I could operate the 1030+ in gloves, then the Garmin Edge Explore is the answer: Half the price, only all roadie related workout features are not there.

the screen iis ok to save a ride and choose power off with gloves. but ifyiu want a map you need finger. for my daily rides I can do it all with gloves. but the explore can be buggy. it was ok but it seems to have gotten worse and the battery life can really go fast sometimes. its not as loud as the 1030+ the 520 was really quiet. using buttons is such a clumsy thing and it takes a lot of them to get around.

Why no love for the Garmin edge explore? - Bike Forums

Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Why no love for the Garmin edge explore? - It seems whenever I read reviews of bike computers the Garmin range is assumed to be 130-530-830-1030 and the Garmin edge explore is ignored. I'm looking for a new device and the large screen & good mapping of the...

www.bikeforums.net

 

[kahn]

The Edge 1030+ buttons are very small so using with gloves might be a problem. I've not tried to match it fully with the Creo so I'm not sure what fields it can grab from the bike's internal info. There are touch-screen gloves/fingers. I don't think it talks but I've not really used Navigation. I know its beeps are NOT very loud but I am a bit hard of hearing.

 

[fooferdoggie]

been hearing good things about this guy.

Hammerhead Karoo – The Most Advanced Yet Intuitive Cycling Computer

Enjoy every ride without compromise with the world's most advanced yet intuitive cycling computer. With industry-leading navigation and visualizations, next-gen usability, and advanced connectivity with your favorite cycling tech, Hammerhead Karoo makes every ride better than the last.

www.hammerhead.io

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It looks the Explore is missing Power data, and no Strava Live Segments (I'd like to have both features).
1030+ is prohibitively expensive. Any thoughts on the 830? (I know the limitations of the 530: the thing goes crazy if you ride off your route).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@ava1ar: I know you ride an e-bike of another brand but you have bought the Edge Explore. I'd be happy if you could report your experiences after several days of using the Explore here. Positive and negative experiences if possible. I'm not in hurry but the navigation capabilities of the Explore are of interest to me.

 

[Allan47.7339]

I use a Garmin 1030+ for navigation and ride data recording with the phone put away for backup. I don't use the e-bike screens other than the power meter. I didn't use the TCD that came with the Vado SL and after the first couple of rides I left it at home. This chart from a CDN shop is a good comparison of the Garmin models and features. The 830 looks pretty good. It shows the Edge Explorer as not connecting to e-bikes but I can't confirm.

Garmin Edge Series GPS Comparison | GPS Central Canada

Compare the new Garmin Edge units - Edge 130 Plus, 530, 830, 1030 Plus, 1040, 1040 Solar and Edge Explore 2 and see how they are different.

www.gpscentral.ca

For some reason the link highlight shows the old models but they don't show on the chart.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It shows the Edge Explorer as not connecting to e-bikes but I can't confirm.

We have had a Forum user who confirmed his Explore could connect to his SL e-bike. (What was his name...)
@Sunshine2021 are you here?

An interesting article:

Garmin Edge bike computers: buyer’s guide to all the models

We explain them all, from the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar all the way down to the Edge 130 Plus

www.bikeradar.com

 

[Allan47.7339]

This is a good review of the Edge Explore:

Garmin’s New $249 Edge Explore Full Mapping & Navigation Bike GPS: Everything you ever wanted to know

In the lead-up to Eurobike, today Garmin announced the new Edge Explore. Now, you’ve probably heard the Edge Explore or ‘Touring’ names battered around for half a decade or so. Usually along with a numerical identifier like ‘Edge Explore 1000’,

www.dcrainmaker.com

It's also a good site to follow.

Searching the forums using the name you listed:

Mission Control with a Garmin or Wahoo

Hello all I apologize if this has already been addressed but I have searched google and can’t seem to find the answer so I thought maybe the forum could help. I have a Turbo Vado SL and would like to buy either a Garmin 830 or 1030. I have been using my phone mount and the mission control app...

electricbikereview.com

The Garmin Edge Explore needs an IQ app to connect to a Creo (and Vado SL). Ebike Field by JanCapek.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This is a good review of the Edge Explore:

Garmin’s New $249 Edge Explore Full Mapping & Navigation Bike GPS: Everything you ever wanted to know

In the lead-up to Eurobike, today Garmin announced the new Edge Explore. Now, you’ve probably heard the Edge Explore or ‘Touring’ names battered around for half a decade or so. Usually along with a numerical identifier like ‘Edge Explore 1000’,

www.dcrainmaker.com

It's also a good site to follow.

Searching the forums using the name you listed:

Mission Control with a Garmin or Wahoo

Hello all I apologize if this has already been addressed but I have searched google and can’t seem to find the answer so I thought maybe the forum could help. I have a Turbo Vado SL and would like to buy either a Garmin 830 or 1030. I have been using my phone mount and the mission control app...

electricbikereview.com

The Garmin Edge Explore needs an IQ app to connect to a Creo (and Vado SL). Ebike Field by JanCapek.

All of that gives me a lot of thinking My brother's 530 seems to experience problems after he rode off the selected route. The Explore has no barometric altimeter, no power meter data, etc. Perhaps the 830 could be the answer...

 

[Vamos]

You should look at the Wahoo Element Roam. Works great on my Creo, the Wahoo system is more intuitive than Garmin’s.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You should look at the Wahoo Element Roam. Works great on my Creo, the Wahoo system is more intuitive than Garmin’s.

If you say it works with Creo that is a good thing. Does Wahoo work with Strava?

 

[mschwett]

If you say it works with Creo that is a good thing. Does Wahoo work with Strava?

of course! live segments, even. (i still don’t prefer a dedicated computer to a phone )

 

[Stefan Mikes]

of course! live segments, even. (i still don’t prefer a dedicated computer to a phone )

I value a smartphone on the handlebar very much. Only it doesn't work very well in Winter or in rain

 

[DaveMatthews]

I got around some of the limitations of the Garmin 530 buttons by adding a remote.



This allows me to change pages/views, and start/stop a ride recording without taking my hands (gloved or not) off of the grips. No need to stop.
That said I agree, the 530 is not the best choice at all to create routes on the fly/whilst out riding already. A touch screen would be best for that.
So if you plan routes at home on a PC etc a 530 is great, but if you want to do that on the fly an 830/1030 would be better.
A friend has the Karoo 2 and he likes it a lot except for the fact it uses Open Maps which causes him problems. He says they are responsive to queries/questions/comments though. Also an issue with elevation sometimes I think.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

he likes it a lot except for the fact it uses Open Maps which causes him problems.

Interesting. Mapy.cz app uses Open Maps and they prove very well in my region. I only don't know how good Karoo 2 is with respect to e-bike connectivity.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Interesting. Mapy.cz app uses Open Maps and they prove very well in my region. I only don't know how good Karoo 2 is with respect to e-bike connectivity.

This is 3 months old, but don't hold your breath...

Ebikemotion

Hi. I am new to using a Karoo 2. I have previously used a GarminEdge 820 and could add the bike as a sensor which allowed me to see the remaining battery and also to increase or decrease the assist...

support.hammerhead.io

 

[kahn]

I got around some of the limitations of the Garmin 530 buttons by adding a remote.



This allows me to change pages/views, and start/stop a ride recording without taking my hands (gloved or not) off of the grips. No need to stop.
That said I agree, the 530 is not the best choice at all to create routes on the fly/whilst out riding already. A touch screen would be best for that.
So if you plan routes at home on a PC etc a 530 is great, but if you want to do that on the fly an 830/1030 would be better.
A friend has the Karoo 2 and he likes it a lot except for the fact it uses Open Maps which causes him problems. He says they are responsive to queries/questions/comments though. Also an issue with elevation sometimes I think.

A name and link to that remote might be helpful. Thanks.