back up computer to use with edge?

[caligurl]

OK..... so the honeymoon is over with my edge.... i still do like what it can do.. when it works... but i did read (here? another forum? that the best HRM is one that is RELIABLE!) and this is the 2nd time the edge has messed up an important ride's data.... i'm not giving it another chance persay...

i can't return it... the place i bought it had a 30 day return... i did receive a new one from garmin today (it's charging)..... but before the next big ride or so.... (and DEFINITELY by breathless agony) i want a back up to at least give me the bare minimum and show me a mileage number (i "live" for that number on a ride!)

SO... that said... i have a couple of ideas or options (and request any input from you ladies!)

first and foremost.... i want to buy the back up at performance so that if there are ANY issues... i can return it easily.. no quesions asked!

ok.... soooo should i just get a bare bones... super cheap version that gives me miles and whatever else (for example... performance's current 3 cheapest?

ascent for $20

the axiom for $20

cateye for $22

OR...............

should i perhaps get the polar cs100 which is more expensive (could price matce for 69.99) BUT i then could stop wearing my polar f11 to get a better calorie count! (currently the edge is WAY off on calories... so i wear/take my polar f11 fitness HRM to get a better calories burned number.... if i get a cheap HRM... i will still end up wearing the polar f11... it i get the polar cs100... which has owncal calorie counter) i could leave the polar f11 to what it was purchased for: fitness workouts!

SOOOOOOOOO ladies..... some input/suggestions/comments, please!

thanx!

p.s. there's also the cs200 which is a new version.. but hubby thinks it's overkill as a backup!

[TsPoet]

Have you downloaded the upgraded software? I haven't had any trouble with mine sence doing so.
But, I've never had an HR trouble with mine. I had mine tell me I was going 301 mph for awhile.
I guess all that means is I have proof that I am the fastest person on 2 wheels - proof I say, it's on my computer and measured during a TT, so it must be real.

Sue

[caligurl]

my edge? won't even power up! yes... it had the latest software! but it died... and nothing i do will make it come on (the girl at garmin support had me press a bunch of buttons.. NOTHING! ZILCH! NADA!

so one of my most important rides of the year... i have no info on except for what is on the route sheet (and calories/HR info cuz i had my polar f11 on!)

[Running Mommy]

OH MAN!!! I just got the 205 today!! I didn't need the HRM so I went w/ the cheaper model. Hopefully *it* doesn't have issues. UGH!! And I was sooo excited about it!
I have had to return the forerunner. It died awhile back. But the folks at Garmin were totally cool about it. I was training for the NYCM at the time so I was freaking out. They cross shipped a new one to me to minimize downtime.
So is the data unreliable? That one post said 300 mph?? WTF is that about?
Ugh... I guess I'll have to road test mine and see what happens. OY! I did not spend 250 clams for something unrelaible!! Hmmm... better go back and look at REI's return policy just in case.

[caligurl]

my data was reliable............... it was the edge itself! froze up during one ride... but got it to come back one... was doing fine on the last ride... but then just died... and won't come back.... so i have NOTHING.... not even the first part of the ride i rely on following miles on the route slip.... so i want a back up in case the new edge dies midride!

[maillotpois]

DH had that happen with his 205. It died once and he exchanged it and then it died again, but came back. Weird. That is WAY too expensive a piece of equipment to be so unreliable.

[Eden]

Sigma Sport BC 1200 Bike Computer

Its simple to use, easy to install, super easy to read, can mount in any direction (I have mine mounted to my stem now) very reliable even in the pouring rain and on sale at REI for $13 right now.

and btw - REI has an extremely good return policy, they took back a waterproof breathable jacket that was delaminating after about 3 or 4 years, no questions, no hassle - they just exchanged it for the newest model. I would have never thought to return something so old, but my husband and I had the exact same jacket and mine was fine - his the coating was peeling right off in big strips. They owned up that some of the jackets had a problem and just took it back. I'm pretty sure they are like Nordstroms - no questions asked return policy.

[Blueberry]

I'm glad I didn't jump the gun and order the Garmin - I was *so* tempted (I posted recently about what kind of bike gadgets are good for altitude). Hmmm....choices seem to be wait for Garmin to fix the bugs (though I worry a bit amout the battery life - *if* I get into the more "epic" rides eventually - I think it's only 10 hours).

I'm leaning towards the Polar 720i since it's the only one I haven't heard complaints about. Hmmm....decisions, decisions....

No matter what, I'm leaving my basic specialized wireless computer on the bike - it works great and was very inexpensive. Has distance, current speed, average speed and time. Just about all I really *need*

By the way, I have to second the comment on REI's return policy. They are GREAT! Hadn't heard that amount Nordstrom - good to know (though I'm a bit peeved at them right now - went clothes shopping for the new job and they told me my eyebrows looked terrible and I had to have them waxed. No thanks!).

[caligurl]

CA in NC..... i had a polar 720i before the edge... i like it (at least the calorie count was better! lol!) the only problem/issue i has was being affected (effected?) by outside sources... i.e. power lines.... but that didn't happen too often where i ride....

i loved the calendar that it uploaded too (the polar software)....

i've owned 3 polars.... and i always feel you can't go wrong with them.... (i just really LOVE toys and REALLY wanted the garmin! but i shoulda known to wait until they worked out the bugs... just like with first model year cars... never buy them!) maybe they've worked out some bugs in the one they sent me!

[TsPoet]

I'm glad I didn't jump the gun and order the Garmin - I was *so* tempted (I posted recently about what kind of bike gadgets are good for altitude). Hmmm....choices seem to be wait for Garmin to fix the bugs (though I worry a bit amout the battery life - *if* I get into the more "epic" rides eventually - I think it's only 10 hours).
.

I absolutely love my EDGE. They put out software upgrades occasionally, and I upgraded to one that didn't work (you mean I can't convince you that I rode 301 mph?). The next upgrade fixed the problem. Never had the problem before/since.
Sence I ride recumbent, I can't use the speed sensor and am dependent upon the GPS for distance/speed (equivalent to the 205). I have found that wet weather (not just clouds, has to be high humidity/rain) and the GPS can't get a very good lock. I left my old computer on the bike. They compare well as long as it isn't raining.
I have been doing TTs - it's been great to race myself, I improve everytime by seeing what I've done in the past. It also gives tons of information for any ride - HR, speed... elevation gain... I haven't used it with MotionBased, but everyone says that's where it really shines.
And there are a number of battery backup option available to extend the life. The farthest I've ridden since getting it was 48 miles, so I can't speak to the power question. but, I've bought a Solio solar charger for tours and I have a battery charger on order - for $15 it can sit next to the unit and, I'm told, add 4x as much time to the power.

Sue

[caligurl]

*sigh* here, too!

i didn't/don't want this to turn into a garmin thread..... i REALLY want opinions, options, suggestions, recommendations for a back up computer..... i have my opininion of the edge... other's have there's... but here.. please recommend a GOOD back up! cuz i HAVE had issues... and HAVE lost data on two IMPORTANT rides... and don't want it to happen again!

i just had another thought, too... the shimano one? is that any good as a back up??

i just made a thread to talk about the edge!

[Blueberry]

I have a very basic specialized - I think it's called the speedzone elite. It's wireless, very reliable and provides all of the basic mileage data (average speed, odo, miles per trip, etc). It replaced a very unreliable cateye wireless (don't like to worry about the wires...I kept having them break)

I've also heard good things about the basic sigma, but don't know for sure.

If distance is what you want to make sure you have, the simpler the better IMO

[caligurl]

distance is the MOST IMPORTANT when i'm on a ride.... cuz i do use it for... (for lack of a better word) motivation to get to the next point....

i'd like wireless... but i am a tad bit concerned about interference... however... i don't think it will be an issue... cuz i already have been using the f11.. which of course is a wireless HRM... (i actually wear both HR straps the garmin one and the polar wearlink!) and neither has bothered the other! wireless is much neater! one of the reasons i always liked the 720i!

that's why i want to get it at performance... if it interfers... i can return it and try another one! (plus i get team performance points and 2nd day shipping upgrade!)

[Blueberry]

Cali-

I agree with you on wireless - the other stuff is too messy! I'd rather deal with the battery changing than the cable routing! However, I think I'd worry about 3 wireless things interfering too!

Don't know whether Performance carries the specialized - I picked up mine at an LBS (went in and asked for a &%$# computer that would WORK!). I've never had power lines or the computers of others cause a problem. Not to say it couldn't happen - it just hasn't yet.

Not to hijack your thread again ...but the one complaint I've heard about the 720 is that it doesn't do total distance. Did you use a "normal" computer with yours when you had it? Any other complaints??

[caligurl]

didn't do total distance? not sure i understand what you mean?

it did total for the ride... but you did have to reset it at the beginning of the ride.... it was a habit... turn it on... get HR reading... reset miles.... every once in a while i'd forget... and have to reset it mid ride... but that was always at home thank goodness.... where the mileage didn't matter as much unless i was going for a certain number that day!

however.... even if i forgot to reset it.... when it downloaded to the computer... it downloaded the ride mileage.. whether reset or not!

it also has an odometer... that you can set if you are getting it midseason and know your mileage for the year.... then each ride would add on to it.... you can also reset it at the beginning of a year... month... whatever.... but you do that via the software on the puter... and then load it to the polar....

i really liked my polar.... it did have a couple quirks... and i would complain about them (i'm anal and want my stuff to act perfectly!)

i never used it with another computer.. except a couple of times with the f11 just to see how the calories came out on both! but i only had to wear the one HR strap since they both read off the one!

hmmmmmm interfearance.... my hubby has an electronic light of some sort.... could not use it on high with the polar.. it interferred with the polar.... he had another light (a performance one) that he couldn't use at all with the polar.. .not even on low beam!

we have another garmin GPS... the handheld type... larger... not really for bikes... more for hiking.... we bought the bike mount for it... and planned to use it.. along with the polar.. as that garmin wasn't a cycling computer... had maps on it... again.. interfearance (i can't spell that word!)

and i think i already mentioned either here or the other thread... it is bothered by power lines! all the sudden my HR would be 295! ACK! and my speed would go whacky! UGH! i hated that! but it didn't happen all the time! it was really bad at tour de palm springs at one point with the power lines.... and strangly... on amtrak... no overhead wires.. must have been something burried! hubby's acted up too!

i liked everything the polar did... CALORIES! altimeter... temperature (average, hi/low), HR, cadence, miles.... etc! the only reason i gave it up was cuz the edge seemed so much cooler (i LOVE toys!) if garmin would fix the calorie count.... i'd be uber more happy with the edge (in other forums.. that's my number ONE complaint! and of course... now i'm dissillusioned cuz it died but i still love riding with it and all the info it gives me!