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Post by taffytim on Jan 24, 2015 2:30:48 GMT
I used to think the same about my phone doing exactly the same until I took the plunge.
The garmin 200 that I bought frees up my phones battery on longer runs. I still use the phone for the commute.
The garmin 200 was a bit cheaper than the 500 and the breadcrumb trail is fine when on new routes, it's got me through many previously uncharted routes.
I was told I would not miss the heart rate monitoring and I don't, now it just seems like something I don't need to obsess over.
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Post by Radchenister on Jan 24, 2015 7:39:44 GMT
My view almost exactly. ... although now I'm at the stage of liking the idea of the 500. Re HRMs v Power - my pal Frank swears by HRM used for Iron-Man training, knowing his zones well etc, watching Dan Lloyd using a power meter properly is enlightening (also makes me wince). Strikes me HRMs track effort curve graphs well enough, they follow the power stat's quite well, but the emphasis is different - using one method listens to your body, the other one allows you to dominate it through the gritty determination to achieve a given power figure. In a TT / hill climb etc you'd be able to balance it out, in a cycle race where you stick in a bunch (not riding solo) you'd just know your figures. Still believe that whilst it's all interesting stuff, it's not essential for the leisure rider - if you're not averaging 5hrs plus a week on the bike, then best address that first (not aimed at OP or anyone in particular - general view and note to self ).
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Post by bobcollege on Jan 24, 2015 11:28:41 GMT
Not read whole thread so someone may have mentioned this already, apologies if already mentioned. Does the original poster know the S4 works with ant+?
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Post by kenny1972 on Jan 24, 2015 12:04:53 GMT
I use both the 200 and 500, I got the 200 at first to free up my phone on longer rides but the information that it displays is basic, it tracks your time, distance and speed you can cycle through Ave speed, total ascent and calories burned it doesn't display the time of day when in use. the breadcrumb nav works fine for me I know some people don't like it that much.
The 500 + HRM and cadence/speed sensor is better it displays a lot more information you can have up to 5 pages displaying up to 8 different things, I only use 2 pages. I use it with Garmin connect and have it linked with strava the info on connect is good you can compare rides, set goals etc all for free, The main reason I use the 500 is for the HRM and cadence/speed sensor on rides it is also very good if you use an indoor trainer. you can also add a power meter in future if you wish.
Now I use the 200 on my MTB for XC rides and cycling with the kids, The 500 is used on both my road bikes (you can have 3 bikes on the device).
I think I paid about £79 for the 200 and £170 for the 500 I also purchased an other cadence/speed sensor for my second road bike at a cost of about £35.
Both work great it come down to how much you like looking at data and what you think is value for your hard earned cash.
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Post by Rocket on Jan 24, 2015 13:00:01 GMT
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Post by chas on Jan 24, 2015 15:44:18 GMT
Now I use the 200 on my MTB for XC rides and cycling with the kids, The 500 is used on both my road bikes (you can have 3 bikes on the device). I've got the Touring+ (with HR) as it was on offer at the same price as Touring. I've only played with HR, don't use it properly but it's interesting. I've got mounts on 4 different bikes, don't see why you can't use it on as many as you like?
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Post by kenny1972 on Jan 24, 2015 15:59:32 GMT
Now I use the 200 on my MTB for XC rides and cycling with the kids, The 500 is used on both my road bikes (you can have 3 bikes on the device). I've got the Touring+ (with HR) as it was on offer at the same price as Touring. I've only played with HR, don't use it properly but it's interesting. I've got mounts on 4 different bikes, don't see why you can't use it on as many as you like? Yes I could use the 500 on my MTB but the 200 would just be gathering dust and I don't really bother about HR and cadence on the MTB plus it stops the wife moaning about the money I spend on bikes etc
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Post by ChrisD on Jan 24, 2015 16:12:33 GMT
My view almost exactly. ... although now I'm at the stage of liking the idea of the 500. Re HRMs v Power - my pal Frank swears by HRM used for Iron-Man training, knowing his zones well etc, watching Dan Lloyd using a power meter properly is enlightening (also makes me wince). Strikes me HRMs track effort curve graphs well enough, they follow the power stat's quite well, but the emphasis is different - using one method listens to your body, the other one allows you to dominate it through the gritty determination to achieve a given power figure. In a TT / hill climb etc you'd be able to balance it out, in a cycle race where you stick in a bunch (not riding solo) you'd just know your figures. Still believe that whilst it's all interesting stuff, it's not essential for the leisure rider - if you're not averaging 5hrs plus a week on the bike, then best address that first (not aimed at OP or anyone in particular - general view and note to self ). I'm with you on the study of Dan Lloyd's current training regime. A real revelation how he can use the power meter to stay close to a steady power output on fairly rolling terrain. I know the roads he's currently riding very well and on some of them that takes a lot of control. I liked his ride yesterday out with Bertie Wooster (the local legend that is). Two minutes at 300+W and then two behind Bertie. Not sure that's much of a recovery but the power and HRM stats show what a difference that made. That must have been quite an hour of training for them both. Like you say, certainly not essential at all but if power meters ever become more mainstream, and a heck of a lot cheaper, then they would be an interesting way to compare (near to) true effort across rides.
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Post by ChrisD on Jan 24, 2015 16:15:37 GMT
Not read whole thread so someone may have mentioned this already, apologies if already mentioned. Does the original poster know the S4 works with ant+? I've got a Samsung phone with a similar build to the S4 (a Galaxy Note) and I can get it to work well with ANT+ but you need an ANT+ USB dongle and a USB OTG cable to connect the ANT+ dongle to the phone, plus some (free) apps from the Google Play store. If you search for ANT+ on the forum you should come across some more detailed posts on this bobcollege. If not, let me know.
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Post by Radchenister on Jan 24, 2015 16:44:54 GMT
I still think HRM is more practical for leisure riding / fitness - we should remind people that Dan Lloyd is an ex pro with a body weight very similar to his racing weight and a skill set / physiology to match, most riders just need to ride more, lose weight and get fit (HRM is good for that).
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Post by ChrisD on Jan 24, 2015 17:18:14 GMT
I still think HRM is more practical for leisure riding / fitness - we should remind people that Dan Lloyd is an ex pro with a body weight very similar to his racing weight and a skill set / physiology to match, most riders just need to ride more, lose weight and get fit (HRM is good for that). Amen to that!
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Post by mike54321 on Jan 24, 2015 18:50:56 GMT
Interesting thread, I've been thinking about upgrading my current setup of Cateye Strada wireless & Polar RS300x & Android phone with Strava to a single unit that does it all with navigation. Seems daft to spend more money on a GPS bike computer than the T3 originally cost however I would like an 'N +1' full carbon bike maybe in the Spring. I've also tried the phone in a small bag mounted on the top tube but struggled with reflection from the plastic cover & phone battery ran out on longer rides. Not heard about the Wahoo RFLKT before reading about it on this thread, interesting bit of kit to consider. Just wondering if anyone has got a Mio & could offer any opinions?
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Post by ChrisD on Jan 24, 2015 18:53:31 GMT
Interesting thread, I've been thinking about upgrading my current setup of Cateye Strada wireless & Polar RS300x & Android phone with Strava to a single unit that does it all with navigation. Seems daft to spend more money on a GPS bike computer than the T3 originally cost however I would like an 'N +1' full carbon bike maybe in the Spring. I've also tried the phone in a small bag mounted on the top tube but struggled with reflection from the plastic cover & phone battery ran out on longer rides. Not heard about the Wahoo RFLKT before reading about it on this thread, interesting bit of kit to consider. Just wondering if anyone has got a Mio & could offer any opinions? I was going to say I think r0b1et has a Mio, but now I think it's a Bryton!
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Post by Rocket on Jan 24, 2015 19:29:29 GMT
These have to be the cheapest full featured bike computers out there. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/251803013911?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=t&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108There is an even cheaper version with less internal memory and no barometric altimeter. They both do GPS navigation and can read Bluetooth heart rate monitors and speed and cadence sensors. I've bid on a few so far and I already use their HRM and speed/cadence sensors successfully. Personally I think Garmin are well overpriced. They cost more than a phone with less functionality. 14 years ago a guy got a Garmin for his motorbikes in the club I ride with. It was bulky and slow and the software was written by a script kiddy yet people still bought them in droves. IMO they trade off their name which they somehow acquired and I wish people would stay away from them and let them fail. For the functionality that they provide they should be no more than £100 for the top end models.
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Post by mike54321 on Jan 24, 2015 19:59:27 GMT
I've bid on a few so far and I already use their HRM and speed/cadence sensors successfully. Thanks Rocket, another option to consider, you bid, did you get one? What's the GPS Navigation like? Do you create route & download to the unit via USB? Cheers
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