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Hi, I am thinking about purchasing a Garmin. I am looking for suggestions for models with the good and the bad. Thanks for comments.
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
I just bought the Basic Garmin Edge 200. I joined Strava and wanted a better way to track my rides and upload than my smartphone. It is very simple. I have only had it for two weeks and have not used all of the features, But, it is basically used just to track rides and upload them to Garmin Connect or Strava. You cannot upload maps to it, and it does not have things like a power meter or a heart rate monitor. There is a way to save rides that you do a lot on it and then compare it to a current ride (kind of like competing against yourself on a ride). If you get lost there is also a feature that will get you back to were you started.
Peter Martin
Jeff, I have a Garmin Edge 800. I bought the map chip to go with it. I love this thing. I can create routes on RideWithGPS and download them to the Garmin, which then gives me turn by turn directions with a warning prior to the turn. The user interface is not as smooth as I’d like, and the unit has gotten confused occasionally. I do not have to write out cue sheets anymore and wonder where the heck I am since there were no street signs. I can also download other people’s rides, and the unit will navigate me to them. All my rides can be uploaded to GarminConnect for a detailed review of heart rate, speed, cadence, elevation, and temperature. I have not found a way to extract the ride data to Excel for more fine-tuned processing. I do not have a power meter, If you have the bucks, I highly recommend it. I am totally dependent on it for rides now. I do occasionally have to pull out the iPhone for a better map, but that is rare now. I used to need to do that all the time. The main downside is the display is small and lower resolution compared to an iPhone. I have a hard time reading the messages without my glasses. Hope this helps.
These webinars should be of interest to those promoting bicycling and pedestrian alternatives in their towns. Both the audio and slides can be downloaded.
http://support.railstotrails.org/site/PageServer?pagename=201207_MAP_21_Webinar_Registration&autologin=true&AddInterest=1481&utm_source=Training+E-blast+Vol.+27&utm_campaign=Eblast+Vol.+27&utm_medium=email
Perhaps some one has had a recent similar experience?
DAWN RIDE ADVENTURE
Late August 2012 TAO
6 AM darkness
with headlight aglow
in morning’s cold air flow.
Down River Road
top speed or so,
on tight curve below.
Met skunk surprised,
with no where to go!
Tail waved startled hello!
I quickly passed.
He may have sprayed,
I was too fast to know.
Hi Ted
You don’t need a membership at RideWithGPS to use their GPX files. (You also don’t need a GPS to use their site). Communication with your Garmin GPS requires the Garmin Communicator Plugin , the free internet browser plugin so that your computer will recognized the Garmin as a drive. Then simply download the GPX file from our ride pages or RideWithGPS and drag it from your downloads folder to the GPX folder on the Garmin 605 or 705. Not the courses folder. It will be a different folder on the 800. When you want to follow the ride with your Garmin Edge 705, go to Where To? on the Garmin and then Saved Rides. Your saved GPX file will be there. On our NSC ride pages I make available the GPX Track file for 606, 705, and 800. The GPX course file which is also available at RideWithGPS is not the correct file. The 500 and 800 can also use the TCX file. More information is available in the left hand navigation column at the NSC site
This procedure works every time. Depending on the size of the GPX file it may take a while for the Garmin to initialize it and begin displaying the ride turns.
The Blazing Saddles Century route is a very large GPX file and will take several minutes to load. Unfortunately it is no longer on the NSC site but is still available at RideWithGPS.– Gordon Harris
Hi NSC,
I enjoyed my first century ride and first Blazing Saddles event! Now I know why it receives so much attention and has such a good turnout. The course and the NSC volunteers were great. Thank you for your efforts!
I have a Garmin Edge 705 and was curious if you know if others are having the same problem I am when I try and download the gpx files. I’m able to save them as “Saved Ride” but not as a “Course”. As a saved ride, I can follow the ride in Map Mode, but it doesn’t do the navigation part, such as providing warning of upcoming turn or if a wrong turn is made.
Once the Blazing Saddle ride was completed, I downloaded the activity to my Garmin Training Center on my desktop, then on-line to my Garmin Connect account where I saved the activity as a Course and exported it back to my 705 device. It now shows as a Course on the 705 and I actually can do the navigation when select that course as per your directions.
Also, Garmin Connect will not accept the downloaded gpx file either from my 705 or from the file downloaded to my desktop computer.
Seems like Garmin must have included some kind of control to keep the RideGPS file from working directly as a Course, or I’m missing something in the process.
Also, I do not have an account with RideGPS and I have had the same issue when I download gpx files directly from their site using the free version. This is the main reason i did not set up an account with them as a member. I’ve tried a couple of times to get answers from them without success.
The road markings were excellent for the ride Saturday – who needed GPS anyways? An excellent day for sure!
Ted Olsson
The Blazing Saddles Century gpx file is very large and takes a long time to load and begin navigating even on my Garmin Edge 705. 100 miles is about the limit of how large the files can be from my experience. Unfortunately the route information is no longer on the NSC site, but you can still find the ride and GPX files by going to http://ridewithgps.com and search for rides in Byfield, MA .
Hello NSC,
Just wondering if anyone else encountered a similar issue regarding the Blazing Saddles Century route download to their Android phones? I viewed the 100 Miles at Ride With GPS and had no trouble copying the route to my online account. But then using the Cue Sheet app on my anroid phone (TMobile HTC G2), the route would upload to 25% and quit. I’ve used the same method for other NSC recurring rides and have not had any trouble. Perhaps it is a file size issue? Any advice would be appreciated.
Also, a BIG thank you to the NSC for organizing another wonderful day of riding this past Saturday. The Blazing Saddles Century remains a favorite! I have yet to ride another that comes close to the exceptional routing/marking, convenient and well-stocked water/rest stops, and warm hospitality. Congratulations on this year’s superb event!
Regards,
Maryanne
Thousands of children in Merrimack Valley are growing up without books and reading at home. This is one of the reasons the high school dropout rate is so high in communities like Lawrence, Lowell, and Salem.
Raising A Reader MA invites you help families of young children develop, practice, and maintain habits of reading together at home by joining our cycling team in the 2012 Rodman Ride for Kids.
As a member of Team Raising A Reader MA you choose to bike 25, 50, or 100 miles for us in the nation’s 4th largest noncompetitive charity cycling event, hosted on September 29th in Foxboro. You also agree to TRY to raise $1,500 to support Raising A Reader MA’s work in Merrimack Valley (we’ll give you LOADS of help, and there are no penalties for not reaching the goal).
Interested? Join the team as an individual member at http://raisingareaderma.kintera.org/2012.
Want to learn more about Raising A Reader MA and our work in the Merrimack Valley first? Visit http://www.raisingareaderma.org or call Gretchen at 617.292.BOOK.
Thanks in advance, and we hope to see you in September!
I’ve attached a link to a Roadway Bicycle Safety Audit document prepared for the Federal Highway Administration. While most of this is common sense to regular cyclists, this guide can be very helpful in documenting hazards, communicating problems to public officials and developing solutions. The firm that prepared it, VHB, is based in Boston and is a competitors of my company, so this is high praise.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/tools_solve/fhwasa12018/fhwasa12018.pdf
Great that many of the NSC ride routes and cue sheets are now available electronically! I am anxious to start using my android smartphone this season but was wondering if there were any recommendations for a secure, and maybe water resistant, holder for a road bike?
Thank you for your suggestions. My apologies if this topic was covered previously.
Maryanne
Arkon and other companies make several models of smart phone holders, which you can view at Amazon.com
I commute to work on a tank-like hybrid and some days need to carry a fairly heavy laptop. I’ve been putting in a side pannier and my knees and back are starting to rebel against the imbalance in weight. Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably-priced laptop carrier I can put on the rack that will be stable.and not stick out too far to the side.
Thanks
Cervelo recall notice: http://www.cervelo.com/wolfslrecall/en-US/Wolf%20SL%20Poster.pdf. Sorry about your friend, his death is a complete shock and a tragedy.
Attention Cervelo bike riders.
There are recalls out for Cervelo forks. Check it out online. I just lost a close friend to a crash on a Cervelo with a fork malfunction. If you ride Cervelo or know someone that does let them know.
Today I rode up the Heartbreak Hill in Ipswich that stimulated some conversation on the NSC listserver. It’s a short paved private loop with several houses, but no signs posted or any indication that we can’t ride there. The view from the highest point is mostly blocked by trees. The ascent from the end of the drive off Argilla Road closest to Heartbreak Road is about 12% grade for 1/10 mile but manageable. Approaching from the other end of the drive a short distance further down Argilla Rd would be easier.
Is anyone doing the Harpoon B2B? or interested in long, 80 mi+ training rides?
Doug, I’m riding in the B2B and I’m definitely interested in long training rides leading up to the event next month.
David,
I am nursing a knee injury (overuse I hope), so I am not sure when I will be back to the long rides. My main goal is to be largely pain free by the B2B.
- Doug
You could try going minimal – tire levers, tube, CO2, $1. bill (for possible sidewall slice) maybe a little spending money.. – place in center rear pocket of cycling jersey. Less stuff= more fun.
Hi Peter – I use the Topeak system. The rack has rails that several different models of bags slide on to.with a latch that you simply press to release. No velcro or other insecure attachment systems. You can read about it at http://cyclingnewengland.blogspot.com/2011/03/topeak-mtx-bike-racks-and-bags.html .
Thanks Gordon,
I am going to check them out.
Peter
Looking new saddle bag that does not have Velcro around the seat post. My legs often hit the seat post when I ride, and I have ruined a couple pairs of shorts on the Velcro.
I know that there are a couple out there that either use rubber instead of Velcro or attach to the rails only. I would also like to be able to compress the bag, and would prefer a med. sized bag.
I have looked at REI and Seaside Cycles and have really not found what I am looking to purchase. I have only been able to find hard shelled bags or small ones.
Thanks.
Peter
Peter,
I recommend the Topeak Medium clip-on bag. It uses a screw-on clip
that also allows for easy removal of the bag. You still have velcro
on the seat post but it can be cut so there is no exposed flap. They
have them at REI. It is also expandable using a zipper. The Trek clip-on bags are also very good with a more traditional shape. Both systems different size bags that use the same clip so you can also
quickly change bag size. Thus, on a touring trip, you may want to clip on larger bag so they are really functional.
Jimmy
The Ipswich town Planning Department is working with me to establish a town cycling and pedestrian advisory board. If you live in the town and would like to be part of this, please reply to this post by clicking on “reply” on the right, or send me an email.
I’m also building an interactive site of multipurpose trails in the North Shore area — check it out at http://ipswichtrail.blogspot.com
I’m doing a 4 day ride in the Berkshires August 2-5. It’s called the Mass BikePike Tour. Limit 150 riders. $420.00 includes meals and camping.
Riding options of a shorter 45-ish mile distance and a longer 65-75-ish each day. Check their website !
http://www.massbikepike.org/
Please post any questions, ponderings or other miscellaneous thoughts about cycling to this forum rather than to the NSC listserver.