GPS for cycling

ken said:

Does anyone have experience or suggestions of the current models?

I've been using the same unit for several years for cycling, driving,
hiking, and kayaking, a Garmin 60CS. I like it enough that I haven't
even looked at GPS units since buying it, even though it's my 8th
unit.

The technology has matured. Go finger some "outdoor" units locally,
and you'll find that you almost can't go wrong.

"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)"

Quoted message said:

I've been using the same unit for several years for cycling, driving,
hiking, and kayaking, a Garmin 60CS

I like the 60Cs as well... but isn't it a bit big for
cycling and such?

I use a Garmin 60Cx. Works really well for my needs. I bought the
Garmin handlebar mount.

What I like about it, you can monitor speed, mileage, maps, cross
street names when on a trail, and POIs. Ahead of time you can make
waypoints for restrooms, food stops, parking areas, parks, shelters,
etc...

The cool thing about it is that I 'track' my ride, upload to my pc,
then view it on Google Earth. Google Earth will allow you to view .gpx
files which will show you exactly where you been.

I wouldn't do without one now when on bike.

If anyone would like a copy of the .gpx file I recently created, drop
me a line, I will email an attachment, then open it in Google Earth.
It starts in New Town, OH and goes all the way up to Yellow Springs,
OH. One more ride and I will have logged the trail all the way to
I-70.

[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I like the 60Cs as well... but isn't it a bit big for
cycling and such?

Not in my opinion. The size is a good compromise that still allows it
to be decent for driving, while small enough for outdoor use.
Functionally, it wouldn't work as well overall, if it were smaller, as
the buttons are well placed, and all on the front, which is important
while riding. The eTrex side- buttons are a PITA on a bike or while
driving. If you mount it right next to the stem, or with a "Knob",
you won't lose any hand positions. If the size bothers you from a
style standpoint, you're not Fred enough to use GPS. <G>

I've also owned several eTrex versions, a 196, 296, and several of the
III+ shaped units. Once it's mounted to the bar, the 60 series is not
much worse than an eTrex, but the larger screen is far easier to read
than the eTrex. The mount portion that attaches to the handle bar are
the same for eTrex and 60C series unit.

The 60's screen is excellent, an EXCELLENT built-in antenna is inside,
the battery life is good (and only (2) AA cells), and you can attach
an external antenna and put the unit into a pack if you'd like. The
unit is water resistant to 30 meters depth.

The most tiny, cute versions of GPS's can't display maps or lots of
data at once. Imagine trying to read a map or see the track marks on
a screen the size of a Shimano Flite Deck or Ipod Nano while the bike
is moving? <G>

Now my 296, THAT would look silly on a handlebar.

"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I like the 60Cs as well... but isn't it a bit big for
cycling and such?

Not in my opinion. The size is a good compromise that still allows it
to be decent for driving, while small enough for outdoor use.
Functionally, it wouldn't work as well overall, if it were smaller, as
the buttons are well placed, and all on the front, which is important
while riding. The eTrex side- buttons are a PITA on a bike or while
driving. If you mount it right next to the stem, or with a "Knob",
you won't lose any hand positions. If the size bothers you from a
style standpoint, you're not Fred enough to use GPS. <G>

Good info thanks!!

Another question tho.... I live in the flat Midwest and
have no real use for altimeter and compass.

Think I should get a unit WITH both of these anyway?
I'm thinking it bets not so much for actual use but
maybe for resale purposes if I'm wanting to sell the
unit?

Or would you just save the $50 and get basic model with
GPS only? No altimeter and compass?

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

....

Quoted message said:

Another question tho.... I live in the flat Midwest and
have no real use for altimeter and compass.

Think I should get a unit WITH both of these anyway?
I'm thinking it bets not so much for actual use but
maybe for resale purposes if I'm wanting to sell the
unit?

Or would you just save the $50 and get basic model with
GPS only? No altimeter and compass?

You could easily get by without the altimeter, but I would think you
would want a compass...

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

...

Quoted message said:

Another question tho.... I live in the flat Midwest and
have no real use for altimeter and compass.

Think I should get a unit WITH both of these anyway?
I'm thinking it bets not so much for actual use but
maybe for resale purposes if I'm wanting to sell the
unit?

Or would you just save the $50 and get basic model with
GPS only? No altimeter and compass?

You could easily get by without the altimeter, but I would think you
would want a compass...

You definitely don't need the compass. The GPS provides compass direction
when you are moving, using satellite triangulation. The compass is useful
only in the rare circumstance that you are standing still. It also uses a
lot of power, drastically reducing battery life.

ken said:

It seems that there has been no discussion of hand-held GPS units
suitable to touring for some time.
Does anyone have experience or suggestions of the current models?

I've got a Garmin eTrx Legend, I've been using it for two years now,
handlebar mounted. At first I thought of it as a toy; now it's a
tool.

It connects to a computer with the serial port. I think maps can be
loaded, in addition to the map it comes with. I don't know where to
get the maps and I don't know how to load them! Every time I go
searching I get more confused than ever, mainly because I don't
understand the lingo of mapping and GPSing.

Can anybody point me to a "GPS for dummies" website?

Thanks.

--
Bob Kastigar; R-Kastigar (at, you know the drill) neiu.edu
Home: http://www.neiu.edu/~rkastiga Work: http://www.wgntv.com
School: http://www.neiu.edu Play: http://www.neiu.edu/~stagectr
Conscience: http://www.neiu.edu/~gcgroup/
Union: http://www.ibew1220.org (Chicago, IL USA)

"Sweet Old Bob" (or just the initials)

Sweet Old Bob said:

I've got a Garmin eTrx Legend, I've been using it for two years now,
handlebar mounted. At first I thought of it as a toy; now it's a
tool.

Same here. It's gotten me out of many a jam in cul-de-sac hell, among other
places.

Quoted message said:

It connects to a computer with the serial port. I think maps can be
loaded, in addition to the map it comes with. I don't know where to
get the maps and I don't know how to load them! Every time I go
searching I get more confused than ever, mainly because I don't
understand the lingo of mapping and GPSing.

For Garmin units, the easiest source is to buy MapSource and a set of maps
from garmin.com (I use City Navigator North America, v8 or so). It's not
cheap, but you can load maps to the unit, transfer routes and tracks to
and from the unit, and more (computing the routes on the PC and pushing them
down to the unit is much faster than building them on the unit, and grabbing
tracks from the unit as .gpx files makes for a great reference library later
on).

Garmin lets you link two units to any given MapSource install for no extra
charge. This is quite handy if you also have an automotive unit, as I do.

Alternatively, Garmin sells mini-SD cards that plug into the eTrex units,
and are pre-loaded with maps; these are also available on garmin.com, if you
want to see what's available. These remove the need for software on the PC,
but limit you to what's on the card.

Quoted message said:

Can anybody point me to a "GPS for dummies" website?

<http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml>

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email hidden]
(_)/ (_)

Sweet Old Bob <[email hidden]> wrote:
: On Jul 4, 4:14 pm, ken <[email hidden]> wrote:
: > It seems that there has been no discussion of hand-held GPS units
: > suitable to touring for some time.
: > Does anyone have experience or suggestions of the current models?

: I've got a Garmin eTrx Legend, I've been using it for two years now,
: handlebar mounted. At first I thought of it as a toy; now it's a
: tool.

: It connects to a computer with the serial port. I think maps can be
: loaded, in addition to the map it comes with. I don't know where to
: get the maps and I don't know how to load them! Every time I go
: searching I get more confused than ever, mainly because I don't
: understand the lingo of mapping and GPSing.

: Can anybody point me to a "GPS for dummies" website?

There is a book of that title that Amazon sells. Remember that maps can be
loaded in both directions... saving your tracks you can offload them to
create new maps.

http://www.chicagopaddling.org/original.gif
http://www.chicagopaddling.org/final2007.jpg

In the above case we didn't use garmin maps but USGS maps and uploaded from
a Garmin Vista CX into Sporttracks software. Fence line was the worst as you
had to venture into woods/swamps at times and just set a waypoint at the fence
and write down the waypoint number, later print them and draw lines to connect
them all.

In addition to the Vista I also have a Garmin Forerunner 305 which I usually
wear to record info. I find it neat to be able to click on a spot on a map
and see what my heartrate and speed was at any point with the interactive
map they ship with the Forerunner. I got the Forerunner instead of the Edge
because I thought it was more useful with jogging, cycling and "other" sports
(I'll have to read the book someday to figure out more about "other"😉
--
John Nelson
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