[Closed] 'Running' GPS watches - also suitable for riding?

When I was using a GPS watch (Forerunner 110) for riding I kept pressing the buttons with the back of my hand when I took big hits. The battery also didn't last long enough for longer rides. Moved on to a Edge 510 now.

You could try the Garmin Forerunner series, I used a 405 for years with never an issue, the battery started to fail after about 7 hours which is why I finally hung it up in favour of the Edge units.

I still have the 405 which you could borrow if you wanted to try?

A Garmin 310XT should be down to a reasonable price now, this has facility for running and cycling modes.

I imagine the Ambits might fall in price once the new 3 is released. Might be worth waiting a bit, they are nice watches, I've been using mine for a few months now and quite often choose it over my Edge 500 for rides.

That'd be great Bedds - are you on or near the IoW?

No where bloody near mate, but I'll happily post it if you want

I've used Forerunner 305, 410, and 610 for riding over the years, but they're not really ideal. The screens are too small to see at a glance, and you often need to move your arm in order to see them. Plus they get obscured by long sleeves in the winter.

On the up side, all those models do work with the bike cadence and speed sensors, and obviously the heart rate strap, so you get a full range of measurements.

To be honest, unless you actually are a multi-sport athlete, you're better off with an Edge 500 on the bike.

I imagine the Ambits might fall in price once the new 3 is released. Might be worth waiting a bit, they are nice watches, I've been using mine for a few months now and quite often choose it over my Edge 500 for rides.

I've been watching them on ebay. I thought the 3 had recently come out?

No where bloody near mate, but I'll happily post it if you want

😆

Thanks. If you're sure...

I'll drop you a line.

A Garmin 310XT should be down to a reasonable price now, this has facility for running and cycling modes.

Wot I use.

The latest Garmin Forerunners have a bike mode following one of the recent firmware updates. Works with the Garmin speed / cadence sensor too and will sync with Strava via Garming Connect. My wife has the 620 and it's great.

To be honest, unless you actually are a multi-sport athlete, you're better off with an Edge 500 on the bike.

It's more for getting an accurate route (or more accurate than a phone). Ideally I would get an Edge, but I also run during the winter and occasionally hike - be nice to have something that covers all bases.

The latest Garmin Forerunners have a bike mode following one of the recent firmware updates. Works with the Garmin speed / cadence sensor too and will sync with Strava via Garming Connect. My wife has the 620 and it's great.

That's worth knowing.

Wot I use.

As is that. 😉

I use a 310XT combined with a [url= http://www.polar.com/ca-en/products/accessories/Universal_Bike_Mount ]Polar bike mount[/url] That way it's mounted on the handlebars so I can see it at a glance.

I used a Forerunner 305 for this for quite a while. Old grip cut up to work as a bar mount and it was fine. Could even use it to follow a route, but you had a bit of extra faff to convert it so the unit thought it was a course you'd already done. More modern ones let you just plug in over USB and drag a GPX file over.

Surplus to requirements now, you're welcome to it for a small donation to charity.

I actually have a 500 I don't want anymore either after I struck lucky with that Amazon Edge 800 deal 😉

I use one of the Aldi £70 jobs. Absolutely perfect. Its isnt too big, battery lasts longer than the garmins and up loads to Strava without any dramas. You can configure what you want on the display and it has a HRM.
http://road.cc/content/news/121748-bargain-gps-watch-headlines-latest-aldi-cycling-offers

FWIW, I bar mount my 310XT using one of these:

[img] [/img]

£5-6 off [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forerunner-Approach-FORERUNNER-Foretrex-BestDigitalMarket/dp/B008B851M0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410965142&sr=8-1&keywords=forerunner+mount ]Amazon[/url]/eBay.

I have a Garmin Swim. Great (and waterproof) for swimming, but steams up inside when I use it biking. Go figure.

Forerunner 405CX with HRM, Speed/Cadence sensor and the mount Jamie posted works fine for me.

I've just picked up a Garmin Fenix (not the version 2) off ebay...early days but I'm hoping I can preload routes into it for walking and cycling and point me in the right direction.

It can be paired with a HRM...and other gadgets as well.

It was a lot less than a new one as well.

+1 for the Aldi watch. Has 4 modes with customizable screens so you can easily set it up for multiple sports - I have mine set up for Road, Mountainbiking, Yotting and hiking

All the info you need except OS coordinates and £65!

They sell on ebay as Runtastic

If it helps, I have an Edge 500 and try and use it running, either in a pocket, or in one of those mobile phone holders on your arm.

The results are very poor, it doesn't appear to track the route very well at all.

I also miss the call out of min/miles that endomondo on my phone used to give, and its a pain not being able to seeany data whilst running.

If you want a HRM but don't want the chest-strap, the Tomtom Cardio GPS watch is a good option. Slight faff with Strava as it automatically thinks everything is a run, but it's easy to re-categorise rides as cycling once they're uploaded.

I have an Edge 800 which I use for long rides or rides where I want a map/to be able to follow a route.

For my commute I just use my Forerunner 310XT. I don't need to know where I'm going, don't really need it to be visible (I wear it on my wrist rather than using the bike mount) and it has separate cycling and running modes. Saves bringing the more expensive bit of kit into work.

Love my Garmin 310XT. I use it with the wrist mount Jamie posted above. I did have a FR305, but lost it when it came away from the QR mount on handlebars @ UKGE (I dont use QR mounts anymore).
Screen is large and very readable, battery is much better on the 310XT and I can upload to connect+sync to strava by plugging the ANT+ dongle into a USB OTG (on the go) cable into phone.
Its more waterproof than the 305 as well, so better for swimming.

I didnt want an Edge as I use it for running as well.

Got it very cheap on (£120) Amazon inc HRM.

Another 310xt user. I have the qr kit AMD it's the boobies. Its a load better than the edge 500 I had previously.

Garmin 310xt here. I've got an 800 for the bike now but previously just strapped it to the bars with a bit of pipe lagging. Handtec.com generally have the best prices and they are up front if they are refurb units.

Another 310xt user, it's great for multisport and water resistance is good, previously had a FR305. Picks up signal quickly, and all Ant+ devices. Seamless transfer of data via Garmin Express to Connect / Strava etc.

Another user of the Aldi watch here, so far so good. One question I have to users of this watch is can you set it to autopause? Have sometimes stopped it for coffee stops and then forgotten to restart, does anyone know?

Another user of the Aldi watch here, so far so good. One question I have to users of this watch is can you set it to autopause? Have sometimes stopped it for coffee stops and then forgotten to restart, does anyone know?

Ok thanks, noticed the increase when I uploaded to strava too, HRM is working fine at the moment

Lucky. Mine has given up the ghost I think.

That's all.

I'll look into the 310XT. Sounds like it fits the bill (apart from being the size of an AT AT 😉 )

Check out the Fenix 1. Should be able to find one cheaper than the 2 & no real loss in performance.
The software updates have made it a halfway decent smart watch. I think it connects to Android now as well.

I'll look into the 310XT. Sounds like it fits the bill (apart from being the size of an AT AT )

Look at it as a strength workout for your arms.

Just make sure you swap it over occasionally, otherwise you'll end up with one massive one.

Just make sure you swap it over occasionally, otherwise you'll end up with one massive one.

Already know that trick. 😳

Or he'll have matching ones......