Re: GPS for cycling use?
- From: "Nigel Cliffe" <me@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 22:10:06 +0100
Chris Eilbeck wrote:
I quite like to be able to check my odometer against a map version of
the route I've taken after a ride. I also like to be able to check
the height profile. I've been considering either buying or building a
simple GPS-based logger to save me having to remember the route. I'm
not keen on the idea of writing on a map as I go so I was looking for
something automatic to do the job. I don't need any fancy features
like mapping or colour display and I don't think I'll really need to
use it as I go along so something small and cheap that I could just
put in the top of my pannier would be ideal. Does anyone know of
anything appropriate for this sort of use?
Almost any of the small hand held GPS units will record a track of where
you've been, with a massive number of data points along that track, and (one
or two cheap models excepted - do check that a PC data cable is an option on
any model you select!) download that track later to a PC. Most will support
recording multiple tracks (10 or 20 is typical) before the memory is
exhausted.
On my Garmin, the active track is not be filled with a days cycling of 100
miles+.
Either Garmin or Magellan models would do the job (and others).
The height data will be a bit less easy. GPS height data can be a bit
erratic, so if you want decent height data, you probably need a barometric
altimeter attached to the GPS.
Garmin make a few models smaller models which work well at this; Geko 301,
Etrex Summit, Etrex Vista, Etrex Vista C and Etrex Vista CX. Reports I
have read of Magellan models suggest their altimeter implementation doesn't
have the self-correcting tricks which Garmin pulls off to very good effect.
The Vista models are all mapping (and you said you didn't require that), and
if going that way, push the boat out for the CX.
The Summit was good in its day, but a bit dated now.
That leaves the Geko 301. A model which is quite well regarded by some
mountain climbing friends of mine.
The Geko is usually reported as good for around 8 hours on a set of AAA
rechargeables.
Any of the above models will be able to save their track records using
either MapSource (Garmin's PC interface program) or other 3rd party package.
MapSource can output its tracks and waypoints into GPX format (a standard
data form) or into GoogleEarth (3D model of the planet).
If you want to mount a GPS on the bars of a bike, then I do it via my
bar-bag (so detaches from bike with my bag). See
http://www.nigelcliffe.photobook.org.uk/c844879.html A Geko is
considerably smaller than the Vista-C which I own.
Unless you want to track heart-rates and cycling cadence, I'd avoid the
runner and cycling models which Garmin sell; many suffer from a problem of
being unable to display your current location in long-lat or UK-OS-Grid (or
anything else useful). This seems to be a massive shortfall in a GPS device.
They do record where you've been, but so do all the other basic normal
hand-held types.
- Nigel
--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/
.
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