Can someone recommend a good GPS device to attach to a mountain bike?
Trying for Big in Boise asked:
I would like to find one that has biking trails in California already built in or that I could download onto it.
I would like to find one that has biking trails in California already built in or that I could download onto it.
Thanks.
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This is a great mountain bike site:
as far as a GPS, every one from amazon
to walmart:
has them.
Enjoy the trail!
I always had good luck with the Garmin brand, so my recomendations are based on this.
It sounds like you are interested in a GPS receiver with mapping functionality. Based on that, I’d recommend either the eTrex Vista or Legend for mountain biking. I don’t think that the color versions add much value for the battery usage cost, so I’d stick with the grey tone.
The mapping software that comes with the Garmin is very limited, so I’d recommend getting a version that is more suited to trails and topography.
The new Edge 305 looks interesting for mountain biking, but its lack of mapping features limits it’s use to fitness. It won’t help you much if you are dropping breadcrumbs or uploading routes.
Good luck and have fun.
Go for the Garmin Map 60 CSX if you’re rich or a colour screen Garmin Vista if you’re not. They’re both perfect on your handlebars and contain the excellent Mapsource map system. They’re fully waterproof (in fact they float if dropped in a river or the sea) and they’ll take serious bashing (I’ve had bad crashes and dented and scratched my Garmin – it still works perfectly).
I use a Vista all the time – I rarely plan my rides – instead I head off in vaguely the direction that interests me and go wherever looks good from there on (even if its the depths of the forest). Throughout the ride the Garmin tells me where I am, where the nearest trails, roads, pubs, towns, railway stations or airports are and what’s ahead. In other words, I plan my route en route – great fun!
The Garmin also records my actual route precisely and downloads it later (with loads of stats) onto my PC (also loaded with the Mapsource software). I get an altitude profile for the ride, distance, average and maximum speed, and my trail marked out with accuracy measurable to a few feet.
The 60 CSX uses the new SIRF chip so its picks up the satellites far more reliably than the Vista. This is particularly important in cities with high buildings (the Vista often loses the signal in narrow streets). This is an important differnece, but in other respects there’s not a lot between them.
A GPS makes off-road cycling a lot more entertaining and rewarding. It encourages you to go that much further – go for it!