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Recently I download onto my phone a route from strava which I also put on OS maps. I found the os maps easier to follow.
It was really easy to do
Out on the trail using my phone was impractical. The map was pointing north and I was travelling south.
The screen turned off after 90 seconds. When I turned the screen back on the view was of the whole country which meant I had to zoom in lots and lots. For some reason my touch screen gloves gave up working.
So..what gps is as easy to download stuff onto as a phone? Has a button to zoom in and out as I’m sure my winter gloves won’t work on a touch screen. A map that points in your direction of travel and if possible an alert if you go off the route.
I did buy a Garmin a few years back but you had to convert this, add that ,hack the main frame and I’m not really that kind of person.
So like a phone but better please.
I'm waiting on delivery of one of those Beeline gps things. Looks like it might be perfect for on the MTB even though I bought it for motorbike duties.
Waterproof, simple interface, 30hr battery, can upload gpx files, links with Strava. I'll update with a little review once it gets here (should be tomorrow).
A Wahoo Elemnt or Bolt (or Roam if you want to spend more) will do that. The Roam is more versatile.
The only thing you can't do with the Bolt is zoom in/out & scroll about. Well, to clarify that - you can zoom in & out, but you can't move about within the map space like you can with a map on a touchscreen phone.
Also, the map has virtually no information on it as you zoom out. It doesn't affect me as I use to to either just track my ride in terms of pace/distance/time etc. or I use to to follow a route I have pre-loaded.
The Elemnt screen is a lot more basic than a phone as well - black & white with a much simpler detail level - I like this, you might not. Visibility is very good in all conditions.
Uploading a route is very simple. If you use ridewithgps or Komoot, you can add your account to the Wahoo app & the route will sync automatically.
Last year we visited the CycleHub in North Yorkshire. The chap in the shop (Neil, I think) e-mailed me a mtb route to my phone. I had never used this method to get a route onto the GPS (I've got an Elemnt Bolt) but it took around a minute to get it from receiving the e-mail to having it loaded & ready to follow on the device.
It warns you if you go off course with a trill beep & red flashing LEDS.
I wouldnt necessarily give up with the OS app; it has its faults but having full OS 1:25k on a decent size screen is worth it in my opinion and Ive been using the OS app for the last year very happily. How are you mounting the phone to the bike? I use the Decathlon phone holder and it mounts my phone to my stem. Setting the phone to 30mins before screen lock is all I then do. Thing I enjoy with having the OS map is that you can easily see alternative routes or detours so I can change my route on the fly far easier
Stumpy can you get a grid reference off them.
Get a Wahoo, any of the top three. Roam, Elemnt or Bolt. They are super easy to use and very reliable.
I've got a Bolt. Its really easy to load routes onto and pretty straight forward to follow them.
I've just got a 530 garmin from the discount offer.user interface isn't great but everything else is great.uses chunky buttons.
My garmin 520 plus does all that so I’m sure the newer 530 does as well