Cycling and Skiing GPS computer

Avoriaz

Hi, I want a basic GPS computer for both cycling and skiing.

I want to be able to record time, distance, average speed and maximum speed for cycling plus elevation travelled for skiing. I don't need sat nav, heart rate, cadence or anything else.

The Garmin Edge 500 appears to be well reviewed and available for about £120.

It is aimed at cyclists. Is it also suitable for skiing? I can mount it on the handlebars for cycling but it will be in a jacket pocket for skiing.

Is it my best bet or are there other options I should consider?

My skiing buddies mostly use smart phones with a skiing app but I don't have or want a smart phone unless I can use one on PAYG. I don't use a phone enough to justify a monthly contract. My basic PAYG is usually well under £1 per month.

Smart phones are also bigger and heavier than the Edge 500.

Thanks.

Cycrow

The garmin are generally the best for cycling. Dont know how well they will do with skiing, but i cant see it being a problem, as long as they can get a gps signal, they will work regardless of what you are travelling on

brat

I use a Garmin Forerunner 910XT for running and cycling. Its other basic function is swimming, but it can be used for other outside sports. Like the 500, it has a barometric altimeter which is useful for skiing. It can sit as a watch on your hand, or you can attach it to your bike using one of the Garmin mounts.

I tend to find that phone apps are much less accurate than the Garmin, which is excellent for what it does.

Down side is, they're about £300.

Nebulous2

The Garmin 500 can struggle with signal amongst trees and on overcast days, so I don't know how it would perform in a pocket. Apart from that it is a great piece of kit and if you don't need navigation I think it is the best possible option for cycling. For cycling smartphones are very much a compromise compared with cycling specific computers, particularly if you do long distances.

I've never really researched them but there are other watch-based garmins than the one linked to above, which might be cheaper than that one.

Sportycus

Have a look at the Bryton range, much cheaper than the Garmin and does the same if not more.

Maybe the Rider 50 or 60?

Avoriaz

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

Smart phones appear to work well inside a ski jacket pocket so presumably Garmin and Bryton units will be ok too.

I'll check out the Bryton range and choose between one of those or a Garmin Edge 500.

Thanks again. :beer:

Tuareg

Garmin Fenix and the newly announced version 2 has a cycle mode AND a ski mode.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/02/garmin-fenix2-multisport-triathlon.html

I got a Galaxy S4 for £320 upfront and £11/month on 1 month contact. 200 minutes, unlimited texts and data.

Tuareg

Sportycus wrote: »

Have a look at the Bryton range, much cheaper than the Garmin and does the same if not more.

Maybe the Rider 50 or 60?

Have to admit I'm a bit on a Garmin junky having got a Fenix, Swim, Forerunner 620, Edge 810 and Virb Elite but having looked at the Bryton range you get what you pay for. Yes it is cheaper but things like screen resolutions are worse, build quality is so so you lose access to training plans etc.

To my mind Garmin is well worth the bit extra

stevemcol

One vote for the Garmin Foretrex 400. Good for navigating round pre-planned routes with a nice big arrow pointing the way.