GPS for cyclists
Whether you are a road biker or a mountain biker, there’s a GPS that will work well for you, and it can mount right on your handlebars. Either type of cyclist will have special needs, so let’s take a look at your options:
GPS for road bikers
GPS Cyclometers
The Garmin Edge series is comprised of cyclometer-type GPS receivers. All of them have high-sensitivity chipsets for superior satellite reception in urban canyons and under canopy. While they are excellent cyclometers, they aren’t all that great as navigation devices (more on navigation options below). If you are primarily wanting to track your performance though, the Edge series is an excellent choice.
The newest models are the Garmin Edge 605 and Edge 705, which add color screens and mapping capability (maps purchased separately) to the features found on previous models. The 705 adds a heart rate monitor, barometric altimeter
and the ability to share data wirelessly with another Edge 705. The 705 is also compatible with an optional cadence sensor and power meter. For a detailed look at the new Edge models, be sure to check out my hands-on review of the Edge 605.
The first-generation Garmin Edge 205 and Garmin Edge 305 (pictured at left) have a monochrome display and lack the mapping capabilities of the 605 and 705. The 305 will give you more accurate data on elevation gain than the 205, thanks to its barometric altimeter.
The Edge 305 actually comes in three models; the 305CAD
GPS receivers with turn-by-turn routing
If you want something for navigating the roads you’re riding, you’ll probably want a GPS with turn-by-turn navigation. The ones we’ll look at below won’t give voice-prompted directions, but they will “chirp” when a turn is approaching and give notification on screen too.
The eTrex Legend HCx is a good, budget minded choice, but the button layout on a GPSMAP 60Cx is much easier to manage while in a handlebar mount. In order to do turn-by-turn routing though, you’ll need Garmin’s City Navigator
GPS for mountain bikers
If you want something that is primarily a training partner, the Edge series (described above) is a great choice. But most mountain bikers getting a GPS will want one that has better navigation features.
The Legend HCx and Vista HCx are great choices for mountain bikers. The Vista HCx adds a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. With a larger screen and a better button layout while on the bike, the GPSMAP 60Cx or 60CSx are great choices too. The latter also adds an electronic compass and barometric altimeter. These units don’t come with any kind of detailed map though. Fortunately, there are free topo maps available for most states for Garmin units.
A new introduction, the Delorme PN-40 (shown above, at right), is another good option for mountain bikers. It can accommodate aerial imagery and real USGS topos.
Touchscreen units
In the past, I’ve been reluctant to recommend any of the new touchscreen units, due to visibility issues. I was pleasantly surprised by the new Garmin Dakota 20 however, and it is the first touchscreen model I’m recommending. It won’t be as bright as an eTrex or 60C(S)x, but the touch screen interface is awesome. Another model to consider, with a larger screen, is the Garmin Oregon 450. It’s the first Oregon unit I’m recommending for bikers. These newer touch screen units have some awesome new features, and they are well worth checking out.
Use it in your car too!
You can use the Dakota, Legend HCx, Vista HCx, 60Cx or 60CSx in your car as well. You’ll need a mount, another software package
Related posts:
after reading numerous reviews and postings, I cannot find something that directly answers what I’m looking for, which is a gps device to use primarily when biking on a rail trail or some other off-road (not mountain biking) use. Some trails in the DC area at least connect with other trails, and some sort of navigation would be nice so I can get back to where I started without being lost. Would also like to keep track of time and distance. Another nice thing would be able to do the same thing while walking/hiking, but that’s not as critical to me.
There are some trail navigation options out there. If Garmin’s 24K regional maps have the trails, they will be routable. Ditto for DeLorme and their Topo USA product.
The newer Garmin units also have some nice advanced track navigation functionality, which would allow you to download a record of someone else’s ride and upload it to your GPS as a track/trail that you could then follow…
http://gpstracklog.com/2010/07/navigating-tracks-on-the-new-garmin-handhelds.html
I believe the rails to trails website offers .gpx files for many trails.
Most handheld GPS will keep track of time and distance.
thanks, appreciate the quick response! I guess I’m still confused about which Garmin unit would be best. The original one I was looking at was the Edge 205/305, but those only draw a line of your route (not with a map). Then I saw the Edge 605, which has maps, but has some horrible reviews on Amazon, and is very expensive. Then I saw the Dakota 10/20, which appears to have applications built in specifically for biking and hiking (and car?), but all the reviews and info just talk about it’s use as a hiking tool. Seems like there are other possibilities too, but I can’t keep track.
Hmm, I may not be the best person to ask, as I might be a bit biased. I’ve never really been a fan of the the Edge series. They seem more like cyclometers to me — workout data first, with navigation being more of an afterthought. I’d go with something like the Dakota 20 or Oregon 450 (incredible sale at REI thru 9/6, BTW). My reviews of both were conducted primarily on mountain bike, so reading them may give you more perspective.