Bike computer w/ GPS?

[Blueberry]

I believe the only one that does HR, Cadance and all the other stuff is the Garmin Edge 305 - but, it's lacking in the way point department (and in the battery life department from what I hear...)

I'm in the market for something to track altitude (the polar I had which did altitude just didn't track very accurately - I'd come back from a ride, and it would tell me -400 cumulative climbing even though I always calibrated it).

So.....I've been looking at GPS units which track altitude, so I'm interested in what others have to say too

[SadieKate]

CA_in_NC, I've found my Polar to be pretty accurate. Start and stop altitude may be different but that is a factor of barometic altimeters which, from what I've read, are always more accurate than waypoint-based measurements (that's why Topozone, routeslip, etc., are always off).

Have you called Polar? Mine is very consistent with reading I get from a Ciclosport. However, maillotpois has commented that her Ciclo is always low. I have the luxury of two barometric altimeter readiings from the Polar and Ciclo so I get a better idea of real altitude gain/loss.

Roguedog, V's GPS is just that, a GPS, not a cycle computer. I'm with you on the lack of route info. Their advertisements are confusing because they state that "you always know where you are." But Thom and V told me yesterday that they don't think the 305 has traditional GPS functions the way we all think of GPS functioning.

[maillotpois]

I just took my new Garmin Edge 305 out on its first trip. I didn't use my "main" bike on which the cadence sensor is installed, and we found out later that I had a bum battery in the HRM strap but the good news is it worked great on the whole map and data part. It is very cool to come back and download to the training center they have, and you see a map of what you did.

I have a friend who downloads all his Garmin rides into Motion Based, so you can see his routes. I could then download one of his routes into my computer and "race" against him or simply follow his route, as it would give me directions. He's truly geeky and then loads them into Google earth... I am not worthy.

[maillotpois]

Oh - and on the battery life concern (no small concern as I do long rides), it was suggested that I buy a little separate charger that runs off AA batteries and charges the unit beyond the 7 - 12 hours it runs on its own. Have not tested that out yet but will before the end of the month. Caligurl uses this and it seems to work for her after she got over a learning curve with it.

[Blueberry]

CA_in_NC, I've found my Polar to be pretty accurate. Start and stop altitude may be different but that is a factor of barometic altimeters which, from what I've read, are always more accurate than waypoint-based measurements (that's why Topozone, routeslip, etc., are always off).

Have you called Polar? Mine is very consistent with reading I get from a Ciclosport. However, maillotpois has commented that her Ciclo is always low. I have the luxury of two barometric altimeter readiings from the Polar and Ciclo so I get a better idea of real altitude gain/loss.

I gave up after working with the tech gurus at REI - they took it back (gotta love REI). I'd get back from a ride that had lots of climbing, and my computer would say that the cumulative elevation gain was -400. They had no explanation for it. I highly suspect it was a defective unit, but didn't want to fiddle with getting another one. I'll be looking for something else in the near future, but want to get something that's easily transferable between bikes - with 4 main bikes, it's pricey.

Carrie Anne

[Veronica]

I transfer my Polar between my two road bikes and my mountain bike. I have mounts on all three, speed sensors on all three, cadence on the two road bikes... I just have to switch bikes on the unit itself.

V.