Getting What You Need From a Cycling GPS

[peterh_nz]

I mapped out a 60km ride on the Ride with GPS site.
The Garmin Edge 530 was right on the money at the end.

Similar "on the money" results for today's ride:

Ebike-connect (via display internal GPS) 36.5km
Ebike trip distance (internal bike odometer?) 36.5 km
Remote Tracking (via phone GPS) 36.51km
Osmand (OpenStreetMap) route planning 36.6km (about 0.3% higher)

Close enough!

The trip was 50:50 urban and rural riding.

Cheers

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt V2

Vado 5.0, the wheel circumference of 2255 mm specified for 29x2.0" Electrak tyres. Accuracy 0.3%. (The data given by TCD-w display are greatly off, as the wheel circumference stored in the bike -- and it is a read-only value for my specific e-bike -- of 2300 mm is absolutely wrong).
Vado SL, the default wheel circumference of 2180 mm specified for 38-622 Pathtfinder Pro. Accuracy: 2%. (The data given by TCD display are really off).

Necessary to mention I stopped worrying, and did not calibrate the Wheel Circumference for my SL this Summer. I was very meticulous about that for my Winter tyres though.
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I agree with @mschwett that elevation gain data recorded by the barometric altimeter are pretty off the reality. I was hoping the Bolt v2 (in which the maps include the elevation data) would be more accurate then the Roam. Yes, Bolt v2 is more accurate regarding the elevation gain but still off compared to map data. If one is concerned with precise elevation gain data, the "Correct Elevation" button in Strava is the only remedy.

 

[PSm]

Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt V2

Vado 5.0, the wheel circumference of 2255 mm specified for 29x2.0" Electrak tyres. Accuracy 0.3%. (The data given by TCD-w display are greatly off, as the wheel circumference stored in the bike -- and it is a read-only value for my specific e-bike -- of 2300 mm is absolutely wrong).
Vado SL, the default wheel circumference of 2180 mm specified for 38-622 Pathtfinder Pro. Accuracy: 2%. (The data given by TCD display are really off).

Necessary to mention I stopped worrying, and did not calibrate the Wheel Circumference for my SL this Summer. I was very meticulous about that for my Winter tyres though.
----------------
I agree with @mschwett that elevation gain data recorded by the barometric altimeter are pretty off the reality. I was hoping the Bolt v2 (in which the maps include the elevation data) would be more accurate then the Roam. Yes, Bolt v2 is more accurate regarding the elevation gain but still off compared to map data. If one is concerned with precise elevation gain data, the "Correct Elevation" button in Strava is the only remedy.

As mentioned often by others, "perfect is the enemy of good enough," so I won't worry about it

 

[6zfshdb]

Hi all, I'm looking for the right GPS computer for trail navigation, ride data will be useful but not really bothered about all the fitness info etc. these devices can provide.
Essentially I would like to download good routes/trails as GPX files etc. and upload them to the GPS/computer and ride the route. I've looked at a few YouTube vids for Garmin and Wahoo, but nearly all videos focus on ride/fitness stats and road navigation - not trail/bridleway/footpath navigation.
Does anyone have any experience of using Garmin 530/830 or Wahoo Elemnt Roam for following preloaded mtb trails. Specifically what happens when the device does not recognise where you are, ie no road or track shown on the device map - does it still carry on navigating you on your chosen route?

I'm not sure if this helps since I have no experience with the Garmin 530/830, and I don't fully understand your navigation question.

As I mentioned in post #25, I use a Garmin Montana 700i as a bike computer. It does not have all the fitness trackers, which I don't need. I download off-road .GPX files from a variety of sources for trail riding. Most are topographic maps that show trails. Unfortunately, these files are not comprehensive and many of the trails I ride aren't shown. The GPS will always show your position on a trail but very few are routable.

Most of the trails I ride are remote with no cellular coverage. The Garmin 700i does double duty as a satellite communicator for emergencies.

I usually create my own .GPX trail files using Garmin's Basecamp software, the appropriate topo map, and Google earth. None however are routable. A sample .GPX file for the Great Allegheny Passage in western PA can be downloaded from this link:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41476

Others are available, mostly in the northeastern US if you're interested.

 

[mschwett]

I'm not sure if this helps since I have no experience with the Garmin 530/830, and I don't fully understand your navigation question.

As I mentioned in post #25, I use a Garmin Montana 700i as a bike computer. It does not have all the fitness trackers, which I don't need. I download off-road .GPX files from a variety of sources for trail riding. Most are topographic maps that show trails. Unfortunately, these files are not comprehensive and many of the trails I ride aren't shown. The GPS will always show your position on a trail but very few are routable.

Most of the trails I ride are remote with no cellular coverage. The Garmin 700i does double duty as a satellite communicator for emergencies.

I usually create my own .GPX trail files using Garmin's Basecamp software, the appropriate topo map, and Google earth. None however are routable. A sample .GPX file for the Great Allegheny Passage in western PA can be downloaded from this link:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41476

Others are available, mostly in the northeastern US if you're interested.

my understanding is that the GPX files you generate from a mapping site, strava, rideWithGPS etc are just a track of coordinates. you can open them up with various editing programs (even notepad or wordpad, they’re often plain text) and see that it’s just a list of GPS values.

garmin uses their own proprietary format (“img,” which is really a collection of files in other formats) format to store the base maps, which is where the topo and “routable” map network is. so to do any rerouting you’d need that underlying data to show your possible paths and the adjacent ones. but it should show the path in the GPX file and your position relative to it in any case?

 

[Jim1348]

Great topic.

Following.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I have a Galaxy Note 10.1, that I would like to put a Navigation app on.

Recommendations for lower cost or free? My traveling will be up the Hudson River, Champlain Canal and Lake Champlain possibly some Erie Canal.

I know I get what I pay for but don't necessarily need alot of bells and whistles to start with. The only other electronic device on the boat is a small Garmin plotter, don't recall which off the top of my head.

Thanks!

I use the premium Android version of RideWithGPS on a Note20. Does everything I need at a fair price, but there's also a free version.

No need for a separate bike computer in my case. To see cadence in real time, I just connected the app to a cheap Bluetooth RPM sensor on my left crank.

Just one downside: The tempting screen-always-on option kills my phone battery in under 20 miles. Powering the phone from the 1.2A USB port on my bike battery just keeps up with the drain.

 

[Jim1348]

Just one downside: The tempting screen-always-on option kills my phone battery in under 20 miles. Powering the phone from the 1.2A USB port on my bike battery just keeps up with the drain.

I use a Garmin Zumo XT on my bikes. That device is actually a motorcycle GPS, not a bike GPS. I want it for navigation. It does have an internal battery, but it won't last on longer rides so I have power banks that I put in the handlebar-mounted water bottle holder to extend run time.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I use the premium Android version of RideWithGPS on a Note20. Does everything I need at a fair price, but there's also a free version.

Unfortunately, Jeremy, the free version of RWGPS does not allow smartphone GPS navigation.

I could recommend Komoot. The only thing you need to pay is a one-time payment to "unlock regions". While it is possible to pay really a little for a few regions, most riders unlock all regions as it is only something you pay once.

 

[6zfshdb]

I have a Galaxy Note 10.1, that I would like to put a Navigation app on.

Recommendations for lower cost or free? My traveling will be up the Hudson River, Champlain Canal and Lake Champlain possibly some Erie Canal.

I know I get what I pay for but don't necessarily need alot of bells and whistles to start with. The only other electronic device on the boat is a small Garmin plotter, don't recall which off the top of my head.

Thanks!

Check out Garmin's Navionics app for Android:

Navionics Boating App | U.S. & Canada - Lakes, Rivers and Coastal

Navionics Boating app one-year subscription for U.S. & Canada - Lakes, Rivers and Coastal by Garmin - Navionics.

www.garmin.com

Chart subscriptions are $49 / year.

If you buy charts, they will likely be out of date after a year anyway.

You might also check to see if can get updated charts for your chart plotter.

Charts and Maps | Garmin

Shop for Garmin - Navionics detail-rich mapping of coastal waters, lakes and rivers around the world.

www.garmin.com