There’s this Garmin video that Dan Cuthbert pointed me at, earlier:
…and it’s timely because January sales are still on, and only yesterday I was perusing ChainReaction and ordering bits and bobs.
I’d been out on the MTB for an hour or so, exploring the heathland around Blackbushe Airport.
I had my Nexus 7 in a pouch running Google My Tracks – it recorded the whole thing, with much battery to spare, plus now appears to have options to Bluetooth-pair with numerous cadence and other sensors.
I’ve been round this loop of thinking before, of course:
- One thing Google have got going for Android (and Garmin haven’t) is “network integration”
- A small set of negative reviews for #Android #GPS #Cycling applications
- More on #Android #GPS #cycle applications: #Maverick failage & Google “My Tracks”
…but the big problem last time was only having a phone upon which to run the apps; and when the GPS killed that battery, I would be phoneless.
Whereas MyTracks has clearly been updated since I last played with it, has better usability, and can run for ages on the Nexus’ huge battery; and I can pre-load several huge chunks of GoogleMaps onto the Nexus for offline consumption.
So – £160..£240 for a Nexus, versus … I dunno, £250..£380 for a Garmin with maps? The latter are waterproof / weather-hardened and toughened and all, but the former is cheaper, general purpose and not locked-in.
It probably depends on what you want to do with it / whether you are sprinting or touring / how little you are wearing… but for the moment I’ll take the Nexus with me.
This is one of the reasons I’m really looking forward to the Pebble arriving (I supported via kickstarter http://getpebble.com). Running with phone in running pouch (for music/gps) with pebble for watching stats and controlling music. When cycling it can be mounted to the handlebars as a cycle computer, win win.
Admittedly it’s for car rather than bike use (as it doesn’t have cycle paths), but I’ve been a happy user of FreeNav on my iPad for over a year. The maps aren’t completely perfect, but in my experience with various courtesy cars’ in-car navigation systems when mine’s in for servicing or other maintenance, they stand up well enough. I think the days of the dedicated satnav box are definitely numbered.
Funny you should post this I’ve just been looking at the Garmin Edge range tonight. I think I will probably get a Garmin Edge for my new road bike along with the cadence sensor. Mostly because it is water proof and attached to the handle bars. I don’t ever expect to use it for naviagation so the Edge 500 rather than the much more expensive 800 will be fine. I wouldn’t attach my phone to the handlebars of any road or MTB.
I use Endomondo currently for tracking rides on my Android phone.
Put the phone in a ziplock bag for waterproofing and for emergencies, take either a spare battery pack or a USB cable and either a solar charger or hand crank charger.
Maplin do a hand crank USB power supply for about £5 (I think it was). Just leave it with the relevant USB cable in your saddle bag with the puncture repair kit etc.
I have a cheap solar charger which really needs the planet to be a few thousand miles nearer the sun to work well. Might be OK near the equator but around Blighty, you’re wasting your time.
Or get a old Android phone off eBay and put all the same apps etc. on and don’t worry about ruining it on the odd occasion it might get wet/dropped. You can probably get an HTC hero for £30. Does GPS/bluetooth/wifi/3g/music etc.
Ultra GPS is also very good for tracking. No sensor integration.
Note that the fitness sensors may require Bluetooth SMART/LE/4.0, which your phone may not have (mine doesn’t).
The new Garmin Edge models don’t look like worthwhilst upgrades either, see detailed reviews at http://dcrainmaker.com/.