You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Replaced my phone recently and the new one seems to be having Strava issues. Doesn't like routes and just turns my ride into a square.
So I want a device to track my rides. I don't care about display, info, speeds, just uploading data after. Ideally directly to Strava and ideally without cables or Garmin connect. Just get home, end ride, all done.
What's the recommendation?
For shorter rides (up to 9 hours) I'm now just using my Forerunner 35. It syncs to Garmin Connect on my phone and that syncs to Strava. No cables. No drama.
Lezyne Micro GPS (I've got the watch version). Links to your phone via an app and uploads to Strava.
Can be had for about £45-50 if you shop around.
Another happy Lezyne Micro GPS watch user here.
Think CRC have the bike specific version for 60 quid.
https://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-computers-gps-hrm/lezyne-super-gps-cycle-computer/11346427.html would be a contender for me if I was looking, ~£97 before using BF10 voucher code for 10% discount.
I not sure if lower models have ANT+ pairing like the Super GPS, plus some lower models can only store a maximum of 100 hours of recording (mate of mine having massive memory issues with his ~18 months old Macro IIRC, not getting close to 100 hours). Also, I don't think the lower models use GLONASS satellites in addition to the US ones to help GPS lock accuracy.
By and large, my Super GPS has been good value over the last ~18 months, but for most of this year the navigation (especially automatic re-routing when paired to Android mobile has been shockingly poor). There was another firmware released last month that was supposed to fix this https://www.lezyne.com/support-gps.php but I've yet to try it because I've hardly ridden outdoors since recovering from full-on bed-ridden flu last month!
However, I hope to leave within the hour and I will test the navigation and purposely deviate from the route it gives me to test it!
Mrs Weeksy apparently has an 18 month old Fitbit I can try out. She has 2 so this one can be mine. Worth a try tomorrow
i use an app called komoot on my iPhone. really good.
used it throughout northern ireland on mountain bike and road routes, and used it for a 10 day gravel tour through slovenia. its free with a small charge to download maps.
blows the phone battery in 4-5 hours though, but i use a battery backup which works well
Well i tried the fitbit, but i don't like things on my wrist...
So i'm up in the air now and it being black Friday may be the day to go Garmin on the bars....
What's the go-to Garmin for us cyclists ?
As always, i went in early...
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/garmin-edge-520-gps-cycle-computer/rp-prod138428
Garmin Edge 520.
Wahoo element mini - £80 ??
I love my cheap garmin edge 200. Nothing fancy, but nice to see speed, ave spd etc.
Nice and small. Simple.
Nice little feature is the 'get you home' bit. Points to your starting point with a distance.
I believe it can link to strava, but not done it yet.
I just use garmin connect atm.
Lezyne work ok for me - phone app and syncing to Strava is pretty good.
Can also set up live tracking through the app so the OH can see which pub you stop at.... 😁
I bought a Lezyne Macro GPS earlier this year after using a Garmin 500 for years. Been really good - very reliable, syncs with phone to auto upload to strava and the navigation, while basic, has been fine for road riding.
BIt of a dilemma on this one now. It seems from a thread yesterday regarding a phone/Strava issue, i may have resolved my phone problem and Strava last night worked perfectly well. So i'm now sitting thinking "Do i really need a Garmin after all" It's not arrived yet from CRC but obviously they have a fairly simple returns process.
Becomes a question of would you rather have Garmin on the bars? Personally I’d say keep the Garmin. Phones as bike computers punches my buttons for a number of reasons. Obviously many disagree with me, expensive phones mounted on handlebars are apparently popular.
Well i don't really want or need the live information generally. I won't be using it for navigation purposes... so mostly i wouldn't even need it mounted, i could have it in my pocket... But of course there are times where a GPS would actually be useful.
Well that went badly.
Got the Garmin, tried to connect via BT to my phone and the phone sees it, inserts the code etc, but won't actually connect... It pairs... but won't connect.
No worries, i'll do through Bluetooth Connect app "This app is not compatible with your phone"
Oh ermmmm right.... this ain't going well.
So i think i'm kinda stuck.... I can see it going back to CRC after all.
Right then. Here's where we are, the Garmin Connect software simply doesn't work on my current phone, that's unlikely to be swapped until the end of next year.
I've got a 2nd phone that does Strava fine, but not convinced I want to carry 2 phones on rides.
I've also tried the wife's Fitbit again, but I'm yet to be convinced by that too, too much information mostly, just an overload of stuff I don't want or need.
So, from here I'm still looking for ideas, on both what to use and how it uploads to my Strava account. It can't be Garmin unless it does without using my phone. I could go something like a Forerunner but that then means usb connection after ride etc to upload.
Things like the Lezyne Macro GPS , what does that upload by?
Garmin 935 - it has WiFi so can upload direct (or via phone).
Things is a GPS device will be more accurate than a phone will, has better battery life and will also mean your phone battery lasts longer as well.
You don't need to look at all the info, GPS unit can be set to show speed and distance if that is all you need - but it collects lots more if you wanted to see it.
On the wrist and you will look at it even less.
What phone have you got?
Vodafone N9 lite. I cracked the screen on my other phone plus an android update then meant I was dropping 35% of battery from going to bed to getting up. If Iwent out for the day it would barely last, especially if I used it a bit. So on a night out, passing the Voda store I bought the N9 lite, battery is great but Garmin Connect cannot be installed.
I get that having a secondary device saves on battery yes, no doubt at all. I don't want or need the live info for speed, mapping, etc, so the Garmin aspect is mostly overkill.
I'm even thinking of Endomondo and then exporting into Strava on this phone.
I do have a couple of 8-12 hour days planned next year, so so etching that doesn't use my phone battery would be good.
Garmin 935 I've just looked at but that's £400. I'm not justifying that to myself I'm afraid but thanks for the idea.
I think there is an update coming out on the models soon, plus January sales so it will get cheaper...you are right though, it is a wodge of money.
Lezyne, as above. Uploads to Steve via phone app. The XL version has offline open source type mapping, that's enough for navy and can suggest and load routes to follow from your phone. Or they'll just record and then send to Strava.
Lezyne can be uploaded over BLE to Strava from your mobile (even auto-magically if you pair phone for the ride, which will also give option of "live tracking" to chosen friends/family), or use the micro USB cable that you charge the units with to upload via your Lezyne account's https://www.lezyne.com/gpsroot/gps_upload.php (which I find far quicker than over BLE).
Another disaster today with Strava. Got home and bought a Garmin 520 and a Sony Xperia xz3 phone. Had enough of rubbish technology
Went out this morning and the Fitbit registered my ride at 0.03km and 45s LOL. FFS.
Happily my new Sony Xperia and Garmin Edge 520 were waiting for me on my return home. So they're now both configured and working and tested.... Finally into the 21st Century.