GPS the Garmin 830, it gives more real time information that I want to see like Speed, Average Speed, Distance, Cadence, Heart-rate, Climbing Gradient, Total Climb in just one programmable screen. Also the several profiles can make quick changes between interval training information and trip riding information. Also a GPS is much more durable and weather resistant.
GPS is a no brainer for those who ride in wild and remote places without a phone signal. The accuracy of phones for navigation in remote and dangerous terrain is terrible. Circular error probability of 10s of metres with an Iphone once you are away from a signal as opposed to less than a meter with a GPS. In the mountains in poor visibility that is the difference between life and death.
When it comes to mtbing I always assume I'll need a GPS, my phone, my watch, another phone, another plan and a fvcking homing pigeon just to stay up to date...
I have a Garmin 1030 plus, with all the usual sensors including the front Light and rear Radar and the HRM Pro, a third party Power Meter and Quarq Tyrewiz. I would say the LCD on a decent phone easily beats a Garmin. The capabilities of a dedicated cycle computer outweigh a phone, however with all the apps available it is much closer than Neil would let you believe (Garmin sponsored GMBN), that said it is neater on the Garmin compared with toggling through a multitude of phone apps. For me personally, I have a large phone so it would look odd on the bars. But in all honesty it’s another thing to buy (waste money) on our bikes (which we all like doing) but don’t think these dedicated cycle computers are cheap, they are closer to a phone outright cost than you think, and when you factor in all the gubbins/sensors and other accessories (that can sync) then you could be looking at £1k-£2k. Also worth adding is GPS on your phone really drains battery, so if you opt for the phone route be prepared to need and external battery pack. I hope this thread is useful to people? Slippery slide indeed!
Specific GPS unit is better for location accuracy, Strava on my iPhone 12 is shocking, misses loads of segments and deviates too far from where I am riding. My Garmin Fenix watch is spot on and never misses a section/segment.
“Cycling computers have come a long way since wired head units and magnetic sensors in the wheels” Me still using a Wired head unit and a magnetic sensor
Me too. Also the magnetic sensor is more accurate than a GPS especially in a trail with a lot of turns and switchbacks, the GPS just doesn't capture the exact distance that well. I use my Garmin 305 watch along with the bike computer and it always reads about .6 miles less than the bike computer on a 5 to 6 mile ride.
Old phone mounted on stem with twist lock. Had several crashes and phone stayed put without damage. Bigger screen makes navigation much easier. Use strava, trailforks etc. without any issues.
And then battery dies and you've no way of contacting anyone if you end up needed help/lift etc.. Same happens to computer, who cares? You've phone for any case of emergency.
Older flagship phones are cheaper than bike computers and still plenty capable for most people. Industry keeps pushing unnecesary tech and expense on riders who don't need it.
''Best part of 1000 pound'' for a smart phone!!!. No way, mines probably cheaper than a Garmin. Even if you do have a luxury smart phone, maybe a second cheap phone would be a better option, as it has covers more functions, and has a bigger screen.
OK, so I use my Polar Ignite watch and my phone, both with gps, and bike computer that counts the wheel rotations using magnet and sensor. The bike computer accurately tracks the mileage. Mileage tracked via gps is always lower by about 15%. I have always attributed this to the gps not capturing all of the up and down of the trails I ride. So, I’ll go with the old bike computer.
Battery will never last as long as you think it will on your phone used as a GPS, And when you need the phone to call for any help or a pick up the battery will be flat. Unless of course you carry a spare phone or battery.
Maybe also consider for those people who ride further (or Farther) is a GPS tracker device, so friends and family can follow progress. Obviously nothing ever happens on a ride but the day it does is the day you may have no phone coverage and then the fun starts.
Never had battery issues with my phone, gone for 4 or 5 hours full gps and still at least at 50%, once one notices all the bloatware apps that consume your battery like Facebook, Instagram, tik tok, etc and disable their always on you'll see the difference...
@@robwalsh3082 I do hear what everyone is saying on these shorter rides, but to keep a phone for phone use and a GPS device for the navigation is best when “further and/or farther” is the key element of the ride. Many people don’t leave the trail park and obviously many keep rides down to a limited morning or afternoon too. But when a ride is in the further or farther category a dedicated GPS unit which is optimised for the purpose is going to outperform a phone.
I use the ViewRanger app for my mtb, road cycling, kayaking pretty much for any activity. The phone is in an otter box case had it 4 years know and the phone still looks mint. Attached to the bars with a silicone phone holder.
Phone....Keep your old phones (don't get rid of them) and use them to track your GPS routes, mileage, etc. I also use an old one on my dirt bike to track my trails and such.
I mount my Garmin Fenix 5 watch on my handlebars. I just use a cheap mount that garmin makes for watches, link it to my HR strap and im good to go. Ive raced a 100km event with it and preloaded the course map on. Tracked me perfectly the whole race and had heaps of power left over, even after 9 hours out on course total. Means my phone keeps its charge too in case of emergencies. Couldn't be happier with my set up.
I have a tiny GPS as well. Fits on the bike better, in case of a crash I won't damage my phone (hopefully), it's more accurate and -the big thing for me- can hook up to a heart rate monitor. I needed that for a few reasons and now I have it. Before, I used my phone to record my ride but put it away safely anyway, so I couldn't see what I was doing until afterwards. With the GPS, I can put the phone away and still see what's going on. Especially the HR.
I’d love to get a Wahoo or Garmin bike computer but think I will miss using trail forks all the time when exploring new trails…. Guess I can still get the phone out of my bag or pocket if needed….
Have you considered the possibility that some of us actually keep older smartphones which have fantastic colour displays and OS Maps on them without burning a shed load of cash on a plastic toy to record how many seconds we are airborne 😂
I use a Garmin 830 and carry my phone for safety. Best combo. Battery life is an issue on phones with gps tracking running. I like seeing the MTB stats too on the garmin.
I prefer my phone - I’m never fussed about performance, I’m not trying to get KOMs or view my heartstrings etc, I like to see where I’ve gone and occasionally how fast I’ve gone at trail centres, or if I’m doing a big more XC focused ride, I like to explore and using my phone means that if I get lost, or I’ve planned a route somewhere unrideable, I can use OS maps and Google maps In line with komoot to check alternatives. I can also view landmarks, cafes/pubs, or highlighted trails added by other users which is really handy on a 40 odd mile epic, or overnight bikepacking trip, and I can add highlights myself and include photos for those highlights which helps for future rides. I have a quad lock mount which is solid as a rock and is far cheaper than investing in a gps and I love how big the screen is compared to a gps. The case is solid too (I cycled bar first into a telegraph pole and the thing is scuffed but survived!) and the modern iphones (I have an 11 and I know modern Samsung’s are the same) have a battery life than can last all day running strava, komoot, Spotify, Bluetooth (for headphones) and take photos and videos all day without getting low. Phone all day for me!
You should have used the Quad lock for putting the phone on the bars, really solid but a little bit pricey (nothing compared to getting a new phone because of a crash, because you cheapen out). For phone app the Cannondale app with the Cannondale wheel sensor is absolutely brilliant.
i would use my phone to record, but i have yet to find an app that works as well as a garmin watch with datafields and all that. I got the quadlock out front mount and i have my phone there, unfortunately i have the s21 ultra so it's fekkin huge and a bit of an eye-sore, but for navigation the big screen is nice. Anyone got any good apps to mention that can be configured like a garmin edge, and also support hr belt?
Fat Map is deadly if you're into visuals.... The 3D map and flyover feature is great for planning routes and getting a real feel for the topography, and it automatically loads your rides from Strava. I use a Garmin Dual HRM connected to Strava through my phone, but a decent computer that's dedicated to the job, would be handy but to be honest if I'm exploring then I'm usually scoping Strava on the phone
I'm in this conundrum right now. I'd like something with offline navigation for new trail systems and whatnot. The GPS does seem nice for that, mounting it to the bars or frame is smaller and more durable. But to be honest, the Garmin units are way overpriced for what you get. The screen, UI and overall design is so dated and yet they are charging nearly $1000 for something that looks more like it's from 2008 than 2023. Perhaps people just don't care. But I can't justify the price for such basic tech. If it were $300 I would get it. I've come to the conclusion that buying a used iPhone SE 1st gen for like $50 (since they are so small) will probably be the way to go. I'd like to use a stem mount as that seems like the best location. But I have a short stem (as opposed to the longer XC stems) and I have a OneUp EDC so I can't use a top cap mount. I think the 2nd best location would be on the top of the top tube near the stem.
You can in fact use garmin explore on your phone to navigate on your bike, and have your devices with tiny screens do the handeling of gps and such. haven't tested battery drain for it tho.
I see all these phone battery comments and im just thinking damn, how long are you guys riding for? I'd have to ride for 9hrs straight to kill my phone battery even with GPS.
not shown here, is 530 much harder to use than 830? basically, same device, just 530 doesn't have touchscreen. if it's just set and forget (with sync with maps services) 530 seems better option, cheaper and can be used while in wet conditions...
Bit of Garmin sponsorship coming through? Phone only for me though not on the bars, I don't need to look at it while I'm riding. Lasts longer than a mates Garmin on all day rides and yes Neil, it does integrate with heart rate monitors and cadence sensors. They just need to support Bluetooth.
Always either a bike computer (Garmin 530 or Wahoo Elemnt Bolt) or my running watch for tracking / navigation. I reluctantly carry my phone for emergency purposes, I just would rather carry as little as possible in my pockets. I got a Quadlock just as a carry alternate to my pockets for my phone rather than tracking / navigation and yes it's a great mount / case but I just dislike anything the size of a large smart phone on the cockpit so I'm back with the phone in my pocket.
Yeah great quality. I kid you not, Quadlock actually prevented me from going over the bars once. My torso just got blocked by it so I couldn't tip over lmao
I have a Garmin 530 plus It will not stay connected to my phone? It keeps deleting the maps I put on there? So I have been using my phone & taking a power pack & plugging it in to my phone. I track my ride on one app & following a map with a different app. The down side is it eats the batter.
My Edge 830 recently started to trip out and wouldn't connect to the satellites reliably. After a few phone calls and a lot of troubleshooting its working again as "normal" the phones seem very reliable as long as you have signal.
bike gps is garbage,, I had one and can't even work it to start.. Trashed it. I'm not doing downhill or bike park jump trail and smart phone app is the best thing. Alltrails on phone app.. Just got robust phone case on my mtb did good for 2 years now and can't ask for more.
It would be nice to see a comparison of more products from other manufacturers, but I guess it's actually a big AD trying to push a specific sponsor. I use a phone anyway.
I was out for a road ride with one of my local clubs. A friend who was on that ride used a phone to record the ride. However at the coffee stop they found out Strava had stopped recording. It detected the phone was starting to over heat and Strava closed down. When my friend got the phone out there was the over heating warning from Stava and the ride data was not kept. I still use a Garmin for my ride data. Even though my phone will still work after it's been driven over by a Ford F150 pick up. It is also waterproof and can be pressure washed. I however have not tried it. The battery also last about 1 week. So would not die on one ride using ride tracking apps.
Love using my phone in my bag for polar tracking. Im not using gps for a route, so i wont need it. If I would go on an epic bike ride in a different country, a gps on the bike might be better as you need to see the route.
I am glad I got my Edge 530 recently. Even without a speed sensor the GPS accuracy is miles better than my phone (which to be fair is always as safe as possible in my bag) especially in the wooded areas. The health features are a nice bonus too.
I record my rides on my Garmin Fenix 6 watch with external sensors (HR, Cadence, Speed - can't afford power meters), and I have my 'phone on my handlebars with a Quadlock - sometimes I use it to get speed checks for particular sections (more likely to do so on road rides and segments), but also because it is the source of my music on rides, and I like to be able to skip tracks etc. using the phone. It's also right there to grab a picture or control and preview the GoPro. Two factors that win for me with a Smartphone on the bars is that I don't have to wear my reading glasses to see the numbers on the bigger screen (compared to the watch) and I can also have a supplementary navigation app to guide me (with spoken instructions). In my backpack, I carry a USB charge pack, to top up my headphones on a break, but usually make sure that phone & watch are fully charged anyway... because of the aforementioned eyesight limits, when I had the money, I would chose the 1030+ unit just for the screen size alone... my watch - with sensors - can record most of the data I want... My phone is a second screen, for other purposes... My phone is waterproof, so that is not a factor to having it on the bars or not, and the quadlock is a very secure mount. I used to use n older phone, and might still do if I am going on a treacherous ride, but it's limitation is the battery life...
@@scottlstone Look out for sales... I have seen them half price at times... it is a great watch... I didn't think I needed the Solar version (battery life has been great) and even though I did not get the sapphire one (I did not like the weird colour on the bezel) I got the 6X - the larger one... and have had no issues with damage... there are bezel and screen protectors, but they just make an admittedly somewhat bulky watch even bulkier... that said, I am used to mine now, and never notice the weight unless the strap is loose and it slips and flops around...
@@davidking3699 I’ll keep an eye out in the sales, I definitely want the solar version, I looked at the middle size but if money wasn’t an object I’d go with the largest bezel.
I was riding some remote trails on vacation and ran into an area with no cell service. Trailforks wouldn’t move as we didn’t pre-download the maps for the area and didn’t synch the map till we came back into a cell service area. Ill take the GPS any day.
Incident Detection is practically useless, even a seemingly minor bump will set it off. I set the warning off just taking the bike off the car rack yesterday.. and when it does go off there's an embarrassing WHOOP WHOOP that goes off until you cancel. I'd imagine there's places it's useful and I'm leaving it enabled but it's more annoying than anything else. That said I love using my Garmin (Edge 520+) as opposed to just a cell phone, I don't ride without it. Lightweight, durable, long battery life, saves battery life on the phone, far more accurate GPS tracking in the woods and uploads rides to multiple apps simultaneously via Garmin Connect (like MapMyRide and Strava).
I have used my phone with the app Wikiloc, it performed flawlessly to navigate, explore and follow MTB tracks in my country, but I had some drawbacks: like struggling with battery life, having to pull the phone from my pocket (I just don't like to pit in my handlebars and if I did it battery life would become a major issue), then unlock to check the course (quite risky if I dared to keep riding my bike while doing that), even worse in rainy conditions. So I recently made my mind to get a Garmin GPS... first impression was that having it in the bars was great to follow a preloaded course, so comfortable, but it s*cked because they (Garmin) apart from the device, would charge you for downloading the maps so you can navigate properly (with street names and places in their GPS devices), I mean: how come at this point of history a GPS device (or at least Garmin's) do not use Google/Apple/Open Street maps info like any other smartphone do and keep their maps formats closed? I wasn't happy with that at all, I fortunately found a way to load Open Street's maps to this device (at no cost, but hey! the guys from OpenStreet, they deserve a donation) and then I thought I could stick to this GPS: the map now shows roads and places info from my locale and looks a little bit more to what I could achieve with my phone + Wikiloc app, but without the aforementioned drawbacks... that, plus this video just made me decide on sticking to the Garmin device. So thank you guys for helping me! :D
The advantage of pure GPS systems is they are independent from mobile internet - in countries with a shitty mobile network (bad coverage and high costs, like in Germany) the pure GPS has all the maps stored internally
Using your phone on the bars may be OK for roadies, but, not for MTB. I'm not going to put a $1,600. device with a glass screen on my bars! Phones are too important now days to be without while it is being repaired. Case in point: Day one on my $265.00 Garmin 530, I crashed on a rock pile and smashed the screen, it was only 40 minutes old! I had the insurance on it and sent it off for repair, it's now been 10 days waiting on it. No brainer!
The GPS do what we whant and you can see what you whant and doesn´t fail. The phone loose the signal sometimes, not very acurate ... I use to go to remote places, and the signal is not very good, but the GPS continues working with no problems at all.
How about a mashup of both worlds, so one doesn't have to buy twice the same hardware (gps sensors, advanced cpu, memory, etc) which make up for the price of a good gps computer, a minimal screen with just Bluetooth that connects to your phone and uses all the advanced sensors there and only displays the info while your phone is safely in your backpack? $50 for the screen and just install an app, I'd but that, i wouldn't but a $300 gps computer though...
Stock standard GPS (The affordable Bryton 410 is perfect) for most biking stuff, for battery life, compactness and waterproofing. Then phone for Nav and anything else! No GPS Nav comes even close to phone mapping.
The GPS on the phone can be accurate at times, but also not so accurate at the same time. I actually got a KOM on strava only because of the poor GPS tracking on my phone (which isn't a bad thing I guess)
I did a test using my phone and my older garmin watch and the phone was more accurate. I think it was using more points to mark out the route so the watch straightened out all the twists and turns.
Seeing all of this tech reminds of the fools that do air-soft and act like they are special forces. Learn to read a paper map and use a compass. As for emergencies: do not ride alone - off-piste skiers are taught to go in groups of 4 for safety.
instead of using your main phone, an alternative is to search of used older smartphones, they all have gps, and you are giving them a second life. Probably you have a drawer of them or you can get one for 5 to 20 euros
If I used my smartphone yesterday it would have broken it in my fall. My edge 830 is so small and has a silicone protector on it that it survived the crash
I use my watch, knows when I'm mtb or cycling, register's my journey heart rate avg speed time etc. Am thinking of trying out a GPS though. Mainly for tracks dh
You would expect that if you're riding trails as Strava will only measure the (GPS based) distance travelled across the ground but the wheel sensor is based on wheel rotations, and generally on a mountain bike ride your wheel will spend a fair amount of time spinning while not connected to the ground!
