Garmin or fancy android phone

[SadieKate]

I've never lost GPS signal except under heavy tree cover. I cannot say the same for cell phones (smart or dumb). Depends on your cell network, but here in the Wild Wild West I wouldn't substitute a phone for GPS. FYI, they do NOT work off the same satellites.

[zoom-zoom]

I'd go Garmin. Something else I've heard is that the phone GPS systems eat the battery very fast. So unless you're just using it for short rides you could end up far from home with a dead phone and no way to find your way back or call for help.

[Eden]

I don't know either of these for sure - but there are two things I can think of that would give a dedicated GPS an advantage over a phone.

- better battery life. I think using some of the more intense features on my ipod I get 7 or 8 hours of battery. My Garmin (though I don't have the fancy one with maps) gives me more time between charges than that.

- no use of phone min/data plan. I would think to use something like "map my ride" you'd be using something that you have to pay for?

[beccaB]

Those are all good thoughts I hadn't considered. My husband has the lesser Garmin that doesn't give a gps to you at the moment, I think it's the 500. this is a really big birthday for me, and a milestone, considering my mom was in the end stage when she was the age I am now. I am so thankful to be healthy and alive and able to take good care of my health. in other words a celebratory purchase of the higher end Garmin wouldn't be totally frivolous.

[OakLeaf]

Supposedly the newest 4G phones get mondo battery life. If I were due for a new phone I'd be looking very, very hard at a LG Revolution or Samsung Charge. Even so, they claim some 6-7 hours usage time, which even if you finished a ride by then, it would stink to be scrambling to plug in your phone. And it's possible that they only get that kind of life when they're actually receiving 4G signal, which in most places people ride bicycles, you wouldn't be.

My HTC Incredible (first generation) gets just about exactly five hours running iMapMyRide with NO accessories - that's with keeping it on the car charger on the way to the ride, no HRM, no cadence, no power meter, and with the display OFF, just recording the ride to download later (and for the live tracking which I haven't yet been able to get to work). I can easily get 13-14 hours out of either my Garmin 705 or 310XT.

[Velocivixen]

@beccaB, okay, you said it is a "milestone" birthday, so now I want to know how old you'll be?

I have no insight into your original question though. Keep us posted.

[beccaB]

@beccaB, okay, you said it is a "milestone" birthday, so now I want to know how old you'll be?

I have no insight into your original question though. Keep us posted.

The big 50. And I'm not one of those people who gets depressed on birthdays. It's the greatest blessing around!

[TrekTheKaty]

Another advantage or garmin--if you lose gps, then the cadence sensor will "fill in" mileage. I'm probably not explaining it correctly. When i download, mileage is correctly, even if i lost a signal.

[Veronica]

Thom's been using his new Samsung Infuse to record our hikes. I've been using my Garmin - guess whose battery runs out first?

Veronica

[blue_angel]

I have both a fancy Android phone and a Garmin Forerunner 305. The Garmin has the added benefit of being easily mounted onto your bike and working with a cadence sensor. No Android app lets you do that. To be honest, I never use the GPS function on the Garmin, except for when I download my workouts into the software, so I can't speak to that particular aspect, which might be what you care about more than mounting and cadence.

Either way, you'll get something great. And congrats on your milestone birthday!

[TrekTheKaty]

I recommend a garmin. I use the heart rate, cadence, speed and mileage features, along with downloading info to mapmyride (iphone, if we think we're lost). I have a garmin 305 (left over from running days) that DH just confiscated for Strava. Lately, I've been using mapmyride on my iphone. The ant+ handlebar mount is another $100, so i can't see my info while riding (jersey pocket). I also worry about battery life on long rides, so I'll be buying a Garmin 500(?) soon.