On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 11:49:31 -0400, Jim Sherman wrote:
I have never used a GPS before but would like to get one to calculate
elevation, grades etc especially on hilly routes. My cycle computer
already has speed distance etc. The Garmin Etrex seems to get the most
positive reports. But that's from the general public. How about bikers?

I use an Etrex Venture. You can get a handlebar mount for the Etrex
series, though you won't find it in stores anymore, you should be
able to get it online or from Garmin. The handlebar mount is light,
onobtrusive, and very secure.

I'm not too interested in preprogrammed routes (though I probably will
after I get it). More interested in downloading data to a computer after
a ride to get a visual display of what I have done. Will it do this? I

The Etrex Venture even comes with the computer cable in the box.
Other Etrex models don't (at least, cheaper ones).

expect it must update your position extremely frequently or even
constantly otherwise a slow climb followed by a fast descent would give a
strange readout.

Again, score for the Etrex Venture. The Etrex line includes at
least two levels of breadcrumb-resolution. You won't find that
in any marketing literature, but I stumbled across it while
looking for some mapping software. Some Etrex models don't
breadcrumb very often, but the Etrex Venture is pretty quick.

Still, if you do a fast descent followed by a short climb, it
might miss the valley. Even while dropping multiple breadcrumbs,
it may not have a strong link to the satellites -- this is
especially true under heavy tree cover (another score for the
Etrex Venture, which supposedly handles tree cover pretty well).

Possible with the GPS or with add-on software?

Absolutely.

Mountable on a bike? Can you just carry it in your pocket?

Any Garmin Etrex series is mountable, via the handlebar mount
I mentioned before. It's never come off accidentally, even
after X amount of crashes. It does unclip easily when you want
it to.

Carrying a GPS in your pocket is a problem because the antenna
is directional; it has to face up. The Etrex antenna (probably
similar for all GPS) looks aesthetically like a largish computer
chip with a sticker on it, and the flat surface must face up
without excessive obstruction.

I read someone's post about how he had to edit his route after
downloading as it included his car ride home! I would expect it to have
some kind of mark feature to mark beginning and ends of routes.

You can always mark waypoints; that person forgot to do so.

Additionally, you could [gasp!] turn the gps off when you're in
your car. I only turn mine on when I actually want to use it.

Also...with the Etrex Venture [and probably all other Etrex as
well as most other GPS at all], you can tell it NOT to drop
breadcrumbs at all; then it just shows you where you are and
allows you to manually mark waypoints.

Since I'm brand new to these things any advice is welcome. Thanks.

I've quite a bit of experience using mine on my mountain bike.
I'm lost without it...literally.

--
Rick Onanian