What GPS to use?

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'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 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.

Possible with the GPS or with add-on software?

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

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.

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

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 11:49:31 -0400, Jim Sherman
wrote:

Most any of the hand held GPS units should work for you. They all
will record your current track giving you location, time and some also
record elevation. I have an older Garmin Model(GPSIII) that I use on
my bike. It will record up to 1900 points and I can set the interval
that these points are taken based on any time or distance. Normally I
use .05 miles(95miles total) but you could use a smaller interval.
When I get back the track can be downloaded to the computer to be used
with any mapping program. Even if your GPS doesn't record elevation
some of those programs that have topographic maps will calculate total
climb and generate an elevation profile for you.

Also, except for cadence, a GPS will do everything your bike computer
will do and a whole lot more.

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 17:18:13 GMT, Jim Spencer wrote:
Also, except for cadence, a GPS will do everything your bike computer
will do and a whole lot more.

I find that the readings from my bike computer are more accurate
and useful than those from the GPS, and easier to reset without
losing important data; but the GPS in combination with the bike
comp (which has cadence, I wouldn't do without it!), makes a
great team.

Now, integrate them, add a heart rate monitor, and let me write
scripts for it (maybe run Linux on it) and I'd be in heaven.

Power to the data! Data to the people!

Seriously speaking, though, that makes me think of this question
I have:
Is there a heart-rate monitor that takes constant readings without
requiring a chest band? Why haven't I seen any that read it from
the wrist? Aside from chest bands, I've only seen the ones that
read it from your fingertip, which is only useful when you've
stopped.

I've got enough things chafing and sweaty, I don't need to add a
damn chestband.

--
Rick Onanian

In article , says...
On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 17:18:13 GMT, Jim Spencer wrote:
Also, except for cadence, a GPS will do everything your bike computer
will do and a whole lot more.

I find that the readings from my bike computer are more accurate
and useful than those from the GPS, and easier to reset without
losing important data; but the GPS in combination with the bike
comp (which has cadence, I wouldn't do without it!), makes a
great team.

Now, integrate them, add a heart rate monitor, and let me write
scripts for it (maybe run Linux on it) and I'd be in heaven.

Power to the data! Data to the people!

Seriously speaking, though, that makes me think of this question
I have:
Is there a heart-rate monitor that takes constant readings without
requiring a chest band? Why haven't I seen any that read it from
the wrist? Aside from chest bands, I've only seen the ones that
read it from your fingertip, which is only useful when you've
stopped.

I've got enough things chafing and sweaty, I don't need to add a
damn chestband.

Sweaty, yes, but I've never had any chafing from my Polar chestband.


--
David Kerber
An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good
Lord, it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.

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

Thanks for your input Rick.

A few more questions. Does the Venture calculate elevation? The
comparison chart shows that only the Vista has a barometric altimeter.
Or is that just an advanced version?

Does the Etrex come with any software for downloading (even a basic
program) or is that an add-on?

Are these "breadcrumbs" marked by time or distance?

Jim

Rick Onanian wrote:
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.

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 14:59:06 -0400, Jim Sherman wrote:
A few more questions. Does the Venture calculate elevation? The
comparison chart shows that only the Vista has a barometric altimeter. Or
is that just an advanced version?

Now that you mention it, I believe it does not use an altimeter,
but just figures it from the satellite signal. I don't know just
how accurate this method is.

Does the Etrex come with any software for downloading (even a basic
program) or is that an add-on?

It does not come with any program. Free (open source, free software)
is available for it, as well as free (free of charge) and shareware,
and of course, commercial software.

Are these "breadcrumbs" marked by time or distance?

I call 'em breadcrumbs [a la Hansel & Gretel]; Garming calls
them Tracklogs, I'm sure others call them other things. Anyway,
on the Garmin Etrex series, they are marked by time. Somebody
else replied with a GPS that marks by distance, and suggested
that you may be able to adjust it.

I think that very accurate mapping via GPS on a bicycle may not
be feasible...you may have to walk, with any GPS, to get the
accurate map you want.

I'm rather interested in this subject, as I'd like to map the
Big River Management Area, a large network of moderate to very
good singletrack near my home. Currently, only very rudimentry
maps exist and are hard to find. I've got loads of GPS data,
but it's such a damn mess, I have to start fresh.

I'd be interested in whatever general GPS cartography information
you come up with, as well as what program you choose.

That all said...did I mention that I LOVE my Etrex Venture?

Jim
--
Rick Onanian

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 21:08:05 -0400, Rick Onanian
wrote:

snip
Are these "breadcrumbs" marked by time or distance?

I call 'em breadcrumbs [a la Hansel & Gretel]; Garming calls
them Tracklogs, I'm sure others call them other things. Anyway,
on the Garmin Etrex series, they are marked by time. Somebody
else replied with a GPS that marks by distance, and suggested
that you may be able to adjust it.


I looked at the manual for the eTrex Venture
(http://www.garmin.com/manuals/133.pdf) and like my GPSIII the
interval for taking track points can be based on distance or time.
Distance can be set from 0 to 9.9miles and time can be set up to
99hrs:59min:59sec

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 03:08:28 GMT, Jim Spencer wrote:
I looked at the manual for the eTrex Venture
(http://www.garmin.com/manuals/133.pdf) and like my GPSIII the
interval for taking track points can be based on distance or time.
Distance can be set from 0 to 9.9miles and time can be set up to
99hrs:59min:59sec

How about that...I learn something new every day. I might just
fiddle around with that!

Thanks.

--
Rick Onanian

In article , says...
On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 14:59:06 -0400, Jim Sherman wrote:
A few more questions. Does the Venture calculate elevation? The
comparison chart shows that only the Vista has a barometric altimeter. Or
is that just an advanced version?

Now that you mention it, I believe it does not use an altimeter,
but just figures it from the satellite signal. I don't know just
how accurate this method is.

The altitude accuracy is the same as the horizontal accuracy: typicallt
10 to 30 ft, depending on conditions. It simply determines your position
in 3-dimensional space with respect to the satellites.

.....

--
David Kerber
An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good
Lord, it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.