Irritated Garmin Edge user lookin to commiserate

[tctrek]

Looks like Sportstracks doesn't support MAC?

[gnat23]

I miss the "weather" info. I liked comparing rides based on the headwind I was experiencing at the time to see if that was a valid excuse for a lower speeds.

-- gnat!

[Mr. Bloom]

Generally, I don't like change...and this change is no exception. This too will pass.

For some time, I've been hoping to have "smoothed" graphs...but now that I do, I don't like it...but this too will pass.

I had a heck of a time figuring out how to get GC installed and working...I kept clicking circuitous links in a vicious circle...and now, some of my rides are duplicated...and I'm not sure all of them have migrated yet...

[pinkbikes]

Generally, I don't like change...and this change is no exception. This too will pass.

For some time, I've been hoping to have "smoothed" graphs...but now that I do, I don't like it...but this too will pass.

I had a heck of a time figuring out how to get GC installed and working...I kept clicking circuitous links in a vicious circle...and now, some of my rides are duplicated...and I'm not sure all of them have migrated yet...

Ooh yeah! I hate those smooth and useless graphs. I only used Motion Based a few times with DH's 305 when he had it, but I liked its versatility in setting up graphs to compare different data sets.

Since getting my 705 and using GC I have been disppointed with the lack of ability to customise those smooth graphs and see how long you are in various heart rate ranges etc. It seems there is not much flexibilty (unless I'm missing something?

In the end I downloaded Training Centre to my pc and I find it much more useful for data. The only thing it doesn't do that GC does (that I can find anyways) is show your route on satellite photo.

[roguedog]

i'm debating getting a 705 or a suunto t6c. how do you guys like your 705s aside from the software issues? do you find the gps stuff handy? how's it helped your cycling?

[OakLeaf]

I LOVE my 705. Besides being a total data geek, the mapping capability is an enormous comfort to me, since I have the world's worst sense of direction. And, anyone can miss turns in an unfamiliar area, and cue sheets and road markings aren't always what they should be.

People will tell you not to rely on any electronic gadget, and that's good advice - I try to always carry a paper map when I'm in an unfamiliar area, and the small screen on the Garmin makes it hard to create a route on the fly when you need to make a detour, etc. - but it's enormously valuable to me. Even when you do decide to pull the paper map out, the map can't tell you where you are.

Firmware version 2.6 has been stable and trouble-free for me and for most users. If you go to the MotionBased forums, I'm pretty sure there's a link to where you can download a patch to revert your firmware back to 2.6.

The drowning cadence sensors are a bigger issue than the firmware bugs IMO, and I see no good reason why Garmin can't have waterproofed the things after all these years. It wouldn't keep me from buying another Garmin product - especially since they're willing to replace the cadence sensors under warranty with very little hassle - but it's still a PITA going without it when it drowns.

My advice would be to take the cadence sensor off whenever you wash your bike, and carry a small pair of side cutters in your tool kit to remove it and stash it in your waterproof storage with your phone and paperwork whenever it starts to rain during a ride.

I don't use a power meter and I've never seen the Suunto unit, so I can't comment on those. But I don't believe any other GPS has mapping capability.


ETA: I don't "train" on the bike - I just ride . But I have a Garmin Forerunner that I use for running, and I really like the ability to create various interval and tempo workouts. So many people here do their intervals on the treadmill just to be able to have pace monitoring . GPS isn't ever going to be as consistent as a treadmill, but the benefits of being able to do my speedwork outdoors FAR outweigh any accuracy glitches, IMO. It'll give audible and visible alerts so you don't have to be constantly looking at the screen to know when you're outside your target speed or HR range, or when you're about to go to the next segment (which you can set for time, distance, or whenever your HR reaches a particular target).

[pinkbikes]

I absolutely love mine. I'm just a big old data geek and enjoy looking at the stats in Training Centre.

Like Oakleaf I carry a paper map too if I'm somewhere I don't know well, but I have found the screen ok if I really need to find where I am. Just takes a bit of practice to get the right resolution and move around. Fortunately, some geek with too much time on his hands has put together a far better topographical map for Australia than the one that comes standard, so I will have the hiking trail to the top of Mt Barney (I'm hiking up it this coming weekend) if I take my 705. And some other lovely geek has mapped all of the MTB trails in south east Queensland and put them up for us to download, so when I am in the forest I can tell which trail I'm on too.

The only thing I seem to be having trouble with at the moment is that the altimeter is a little bit wonky the last few weeks. I am not sure why but every few rides it seems to throw up some pretty dodgy elevations. For example I ride a loop from home and back to home but the closing error is very large (like 30m). I seem to recall somebody talking about periodically recalibrating the barometric altimeter using satellite data (or vice versa?) but there is nothing in the manual about it and I can't remember where I saw it. Might have to ask Garmin for assistance since it is still under warranty.

I've never had a drama with the cadence sensor - didn't even realise they do drown! I had it on my MTB briefly in case of lost signal in the forest and needing the speed override, but I rarely if ever lose signal and I find cadence on the MTB so variable with the terrain as to be kind of useless from a stats point of view. So I put it on the roadie instead where I find measuring cadence much more useful. The only time I have ever got it good and wet was in the Mooloolaba Triathlon when it poured cats and dogs but it didn't seem to bother it at all.

[kenyonchris]

i'm debating getting a 705 or a suunto t6c. how do you guys like your 705s aside from the software issues? do you find the gps stuff handy? how's it helped your cycling?

OK WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT???
I gather it is some sort of new fangled computer dealie. Am I behind on the times? An oldster? A techno-dwarf? I have a little computer on my mtb to tell me that i have sweated my a$$ off for 11 miles, averaging 13 mph, for 54 minutes. I have a little computer on my road bike telling me I have sweated my a$$ off for 54 miles, at 20 mph average, for two and a half hours. The road bike one has a little blinky light on it too, that I notices blinks in time with my pedal stroke.
Is there something I am missing?

[Pedal Wench]

Is there something I am missing?

The Garmin Edge will tell you exactly where you sweated your a$$ off.

I preload routes in mine (immensely valuable on brevets) and I use it as confirmation with the cue sheets. A turn-by-turn guide on the ride. Today, I was helping out at a breast cancer training walk, and I preloaded their route. Using the maps, I could easily jump ahead on the route shortcutting the walkers. On self-supported rides, I can see where there are stores for water and nature breaks.

Then, after the ride, you can see where you were, elevation profiles, speeds during the ride, heart rate and cadence placed over time or elevation or speed, etc. Fun stuff!