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Polar 460 or Garmin 520

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Old 07-23-17, 01:58 PM
  #1  
Bsgs87
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Polar 460 or Garmin 520

I'm looking for a new cycling computer to replace my Sigma. If you are using one of these computers can you tell me how you like it and any downside I should be aware of before purchasing.
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Old 07-23-17, 02:06 PM
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Wahoo Bolt and Lezyne Super GPS as well to consider.
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Old 07-23-17, 02:22 PM
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6 months ago i was looking just like you, i chose the 520 and have not regretted it. only problem right now is the price. if you can wait i would, i got mine for 240 for the bundle. wait for the sale.
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Old 07-23-17, 10:26 PM
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I got a Polar V650 for $158 off Ribble two weeks ago.

If you are looking at the M450 then also consider the V650. The screen is spectacular and it works well with Wahoo RPM cadence and speed sensors.

The M450 does orthostatic test which the V650 does not. I'm not sure about the Edge product but know that the 820 does not.

Battery life on the V650 is 9h 20m with every feature enabled except power meters - screen max brightness, GPS on, speed/cadence connected, LED lit, etc.
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Old 07-23-17, 10:51 PM
  #5  
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What is an orthostatic test?
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Old 07-24-17, 08:32 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by MikeOK
What is an orthostatic test?
It is a measure of fitness and recovery and very useful to help prevent overtraining.

Hear rate is measured supine and then again standing. How the heart reacts is indicative of overall fitness and recovery. When repeated often can show increased or decrease in general fitness.
-Tim-
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Old 07-30-17, 07:36 PM
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I love my Garmin 520. It works great with my PowerTap P1 pedals. I have no use for Polar with all their incompatible upgrades and terrible, terrible, terrible customer service and poor repair.
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Old 07-30-17, 08:24 PM
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I picked up a Polar M450 with the hrm strap off of amazon for about $115 three months ago.
Overall, I really like it. The battery could last a bit longer, though.
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Old 07-30-17, 10:39 PM
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It would help to know what your budget is and what features you want. You can find honest reviews of GPS and features at https://dcrainmaker.com.
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Old 07-31-17, 06:24 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by a1penguin
It would help to know what your budget is and what features you want. You can find honest reviews of GPS and features at https://dcrainmaker.com.
His reviews are not 100% honest but stretch the truth and sugar coat just like all the other reviewers out there.

As an example, having to turn the screen off to get more than 4.5 hours battery life on a GPS is called a "Nifty feature."

Read between the lines.


-Tim-
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Old 07-31-17, 06:40 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
His reviews are not 100% honest but stretch the truth and sugar coat just like all the other reviewers out there.

As an example, having to turn the screen off to get more than 4.5 hours battery life on a GPS is called a "Nifty feature."

Read between the lines.
"Disagree with Tim" = dishonest?

Always thought DC's reviews were objective and thorough. Not aware of a more comprehensive and useful site for fitness product reviews.
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Old 07-31-17, 10:18 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by gregf83
"Disagree with Tim" = dishonest?

Always thought DC's reviews were objective and thorough. Not aware of a more comprehensive and useful site for fitness product reviews.

I didn't say that his site didn't have useful information.

Like most reviewers however, he is sometimes loath to call out a major design flaw in a product and calling it a feature is not 100% honest. It is spin and it has gotten worse lately.


-Tim-
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Old 07-31-17, 11:09 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
I didn't say that his site didn't have useful information.

Like most reviewers however, he is sometimes loath to call out a major design flaw in a product and calling it a feature is not 100% honest. It is spin and it has gotten worse lately.


-Tim-
You've obviously never designed a product before or you'd realize there are always trade offs to be made. Yes, we'd all love it if our batteries lasted for a year and didn't weigh anything but that's not reality.
You have zero basis to challenge the honesty or integrity of DCs reviews.

The OP asked for opinions on a couple of options and you neglected to mention the Polar head units have a glaring weakness that they don't support 90% of the power meters which are Ant+ based. Are you dishonest also?
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Old 07-31-17, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by gregf83
"Disagree with Tim" = dishonest?

Always thought DC's reviews were objective and thorough. Not aware of a more comprehensive and useful site for fitness product reviews.
+1 - I haven't found the reviews dishonest. Any reviewer is going to have some opinions in his/her reviews that you may disagree with, and also to find some things important that you don't (or vice versa) with respect to features. That doesn't make the person dishonest.

As for the universal problem of reviewers who receive free stuff, or at least for a trial period, not sure what to do about that. There's always going to be an implicit conflict of interest, even when there's full disclosure.
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Old 08-06-17, 08:23 PM
  #15  
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I use my Fenix 5 and get a bike mount on it. I get add on and it can display 12 fields. I can wear on my wrist for walk, run, etc.
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Old 08-06-17, 08:52 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Bsgs87
I'm looking for a new cycling computer to replace my Sigma. If you are using one of these computers can you tell me how you like it and any downside I should be aware of before purchasing.
The Wahoo Elemnt Mini was just introduced. $100, uses a paired to local smartphone GPS via BlueTooth to track a ride, or you can skip that and just use it with the included speed sensor as a stand alone bike computer
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Old 08-10-17, 03:33 PM
  #17  
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Thanks everyone for the input. I decided to go with the Wahoo Element Bolt and made the purchase. I have done two rides with it this week and so far very happy. One thing I really like is that it has both bluetooth and Ant+. Easy to setup and has lots of screen options which you can customize.
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Old 08-10-17, 04:01 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
His reviews are not 100% honest but stretch the truth and sugar coat just like all the other reviewers out there.

As an example, having to turn the screen off to get more than 4.5 hours battery life on a GPS is called a "Nifty feature."

Read between the lines.


-Tim-
You really have to provide a link to where he said that (for people to be sure you aren't "stretching the truth").

If people need to have their hands held to understand whether or not it's "a nifty feature", they probably have no business buying anything.
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Old 08-10-17, 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by njkayaker
You really have to provide a link to where he said that (for people to be sure you aren't "stretching the truth").

If people need to have their hands held to understand whether or not it's "a nifty feature", they probably have no business buying anything.
"Next, we’ve got a nifty battery saver option. This is kinda like the battery saver feature we’ve seen on some cell phones lately, which will help you eek out the last little of your ride when battery power gets unexpectedly low.

Once enabled it’ll turn off the screen, but still notify you of various events such as upcoming turns and incoming messages. You can configure these within the options. The important thing here is that it’s still recording your ride/sensor data behind the scenes. It just turns off the display to save battery, increasing battery life by about 50%."

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/07/...-edge-820.html
It actually increases battery life by over 200%, or more correctly, prevents the battery from draining prematurely, depending on how "nifty" one feels it is.


-Tim-

Last edited by TimothyH; 08-10-17 at 05:30 PM.
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Old 08-10-17, 05:37 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
"Next, we’ve got a nifty battery saver option. This is kinda like the battery saver feature we’ve seen on some cell phones lately, which will help you eek out the last little of your ride when battery power gets unexpectedly low.

Once enabled it’ll turn off the screen, but still notify you of various events such as upcoming turns and incoming messages. You can configure these within the options. The important thing here is that it’s still recording your ride/sensor data behind the scenes. It just turns off the display to save battery, increasing battery life by about 50%."

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/07/...-edge-820.html
It actually increases battery life by over 200%, or more correctly, prevents the battery from draining prematurely, depending on how "nifty" one feels it is.

-Tim-
Where did the "200%" come from?

Thanks for the quote. I was right that it was necessary.

You distorted what he said. You haven't actually demonstrated that he was "stretching the truth".

Do you realize that that is a "first view" of the product?

Last edited by njkayaker; 08-10-17 at 05:41 PM.
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Old 08-10-17, 06:26 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by njkayaker
Where did the "200%" come from?
I should have said ~333%

4.5 hours without battery save mode.

15 hours with battery save mode.

15 is 333% of 4.5.

Math is fun, even basic math, but I've lost interest in arguing Parisian bloggers so you have the last word.


-Tim-
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Old 08-11-17, 08:16 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
I should have said ~333%

4.5 hours without battery save mode.

15 hours with battery save mode.

15 is 333% of 4.5.

Math is fun, even basic math, but I've lost interest in arguing Parisian bloggers so you have the last word.


-Tim-

Where is the reference in the specs that the run time is 4.5 h?

Where is the reference that the 15 h is with using the battery saving mode?

Yes, you should stop making the hole you are doing deeper.
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Old 08-11-17, 09:51 AM
  #23  
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