Next installment - Bike Computer... which to get?

Kernel_Sanders

DCodd wrote: »

There are very many android bike gps apps....The only problem with them is that you are restricted by your phone's battery life

That is why I asked specifically about an alternative to GPS, which drains batteries.

geo555

Cheap one at Halfords

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_720951_langId_-1_categoryId_165741

geordie_ben

Yeah the app is power draining, but it would be running anyway. The more power draining side for me is having the screen on for my whole ride.

I'm going to buy a bracket for my bike, pop my phone in a zip lock bag and try it out.

If all else fails the same bracket can be used in my car so I've not wasted any money

Kernel_Sanders

Do these devices commonly get nicked?

geordie_ben wrote: »

The more power draining side for me is having the screen on for my whole ride.

There should be a power setting which minimises brightness x seconds after tapping the screen.

geordie_ben

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Do these devices commonly get nicked?

There should be a power setting which minimises brightness x seconds after tapping the screen.

I'll have to try it out, not something I've done before. Normally keep the screen off when not needed to save battery life

pinkteapot

I use the Cyclemeter app on my iPhone and love it.

iPhone battery life with GPS running is around four hours. I don't often do rides longer than this and if I do I take a battery extender out with me.

I plan out routes on the ridewithgps.com site, export them to Cyclemeter so that I can display the map with route on-screen while riding, then export the ride data to the Strava website afterwards for post-game analysis.

The two websites are free and the Cyclemeter app only cost a few quid. :money:

Kernel_Sanders

pinkteapot wrote: »

I plan out routes on the ridewithgps.com site

Well, that's 15 mins of my life I'll never get back! Tried planning a route from Mansfield to Cheshire, which mentioned going on routes 67 and 68. I've not heard of these before so tried clicking the map to find out; it just kept reverting to a map of Europe! Then a popup appeared declaring 'Cycling mode with Google Maps is not available outside the US. Please select "walking" or "driving" mode.'

Idiophreak

I use mapmyrun.com or mapmyride.com, I suppose, to plan my routes - then load them onto my garmin edge.

Kernel_Sanders

What happens when the battery fails in these gadgets; is all info lost?

Johnmcl7

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

What happens when the battery fails in these gadgets; is all info lost?

No, they log their data to internal memory so you'd have your route logged up to the point power failed. It tends to be less of an issue with dedicated GPS devices compared to smartphones as dedicated GPS devices are much more basic with more basic hardware with low resolution screens, low performance hardware (they don't need anything more) and no data/cellular radios.

In terms of theft many of the devices are designed to be easily removed from the bike so you don't leave them with the bike. It also makes it easy to move the cycle computer to different bikes.

John