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View Full Version : Garmin Edge on Mountain Bike?


Alex
02-24-2008, 07:52 AM
This morning, as I sit staring at my lovely, new, dual suspension mountain bike, purchased yesterday from my LBS, I'm wondering whether I should get an extra mount so that I can transfer my Edge from my road bike to my mountain bike and back again. Here's the thing. The mountain biking around here can get very, very dusty, and I'm concerned that all the dust could cause some damage to the Edge. I have a Polar cycle computer that I used on my old hardtail and I can use that instead, but I've gotten to really enjoy uploading and analyzing all the data from my Garmin after my road rides. Plus, I can email all the Garmin data to my CTS coach and I can't do that with the Polar.

What do you all think? Might it cause irreparable damage to the Edge?

Alex
maillotpois
02-24-2008, 07:56 AM
We use our Edges on our MTBs. (Frankly what I was most concerned about was crashing and damaging the unit.) I think as long as that plug for the charger is pushed in tightly, it should be okay. It's great to have the data for the MTB rides in the same place as the road rides.
SouthernBelle
02-24-2008, 09:17 AM
I would go with it. If the terrain is too bad, pop it in your pocket for protection. That really shouldn't affect the reception.

Or just carry it in your pocket, period. It doesn't HAVE to be on the bars.
7rider
02-24-2008, 10:54 AM
I use my Edge all the time on my mtb. Works fine, although I do occasionally have reception issues. Of course, it could be that I ride so slowly, it thinks I'm stopped and shuts off! :rolleyes:
As others have said, it should be fine. I've skied with it in my jacket pocket and it worked fine for tracking my runs (I did that just for giggles to see if it would work..it did). So, it does receive fine in a pocket, too.
Alex
02-24-2008, 06:43 PM
Thanks, everyone! :)

Alex
SadieKate
02-25-2008, 06:02 AM
Should be just fine on a mtb. I use mine. For peace of mind, use a large O-ring (all kinds o' sizes at the hardware store) wrapped around the bar and unit to help secure and stabilize it. It may obscure a bit of the screen but you shouldn't be looking at thing while you ride anyway.

Dust? That's dust? I thought it was my tan?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/Oregon/TOES_SUE_BEND006.jpg
sundial
02-25-2008, 10:05 AM
This morning, as I sit staring at my lovely, new, dual suspension mountain bike, purchased yesterday from my LBS....

I wanna see!! Where are the pics of your new hot ride??
Alex
02-25-2008, 04:49 PM
Here you go! She's a pearlized creamy white, but you can't really tell that from the photo.
Alex
02-25-2008, 04:52 PM
SK,

Do you put the Garmin on your bar or on your stem? On my road bike, I put it on the stem, but if I can put it on the handlebars on the mtb, I wouldn't have to buy a new mount.

And, yeah, if I'm looking at the screen instead of the trail, I've got bigger problems than dust! :p

Alex
SadieKate
02-25-2008, 05:12 PM
I'd put it on the stem though then you can't use an O-ring. Even without the O-ring, I think it would be a lot less likely to get thwacked there. You could use zip-ties but then it would be hard to move from bike to bike.

I wouldn't put it on the bars without a proper mount anyway. The O-ring is just a stabilizer, not a mount.
melissam
02-25-2008, 05:18 PM
SK,

Do you put the Garmin on your bar or on your stem? On my road bike, I put it on the stem, but if I can put it on the handlebars on the mtb, I wouldn't have to buy a new mount.

And, yeah, if I'm looking at the screen instead of the trail, I've got bigger problems than dust! :p

Alex

Alex,

Hey, I have a Garmin Edge 305 that I would like to mount on a second bike using the bar mount. I can't use the stem mount for a variety of reasons that are just too boring to list.

Would like like to trade a bar mount for a stem mount?

-- Melissa
Alex
02-25-2008, 07:06 PM
Melissa,

Great idea! I sent you a PM about the swap.

Alex
melissam
02-25-2008, 07:14 PM
Melissa,

Great idea! I sent you a PM about the swap.

Alex

Excellent!

Check your PMs!! :)

--Melissa
sundial
02-26-2008, 01:01 AM
Ooooooooohhh! What a sweet ride! :)
velogirl
02-26-2008, 09:42 PM
you guys realize you can just swap the rubber part out (ie turn it 90 degrees) and you can use the stem mount as a bar mount or the bar mount as a stem mount. right? so you shouldn't need a new mount.
TsPoet
02-28-2008, 06:57 AM
you guys realize you can just swap the rubber part out (ie turn it 90 degrees) and you can use the stem mount as a bar mount or the bar mount as a stem mount. right? so you shouldn't need a new mount.

Depending on how old the mount is. When I got mine, it came with 2 mounts, precisely because that feature didn't work. It was in the manual that it could be done, but it couldn't. I assume they've figure that out and the mount can now be swapped. Worked out perfect for me, have one mount on 2 different bikes.
Also on topic - mine has been dropped, run in the washing machine, lost in a winter coat and run through I don't know what and ... my Edge is one ugly piece of bike equipment at this point but it works great. I doubt it has any water resistance left, so I am watching for that. So, based on how tough I am on things, I think it'll be fine on an MTB!
If you want cadence, you'll have to buy another cadence sensor, and it'll need initialized to them both.