topslop1

Curious to know which GPS unit works very well with Ride With GPS's cue-sheeted/navigated turn by turn rides. Anything with 8+ hr battery life?

Elvo

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/543199

NealH

The 800, or if you want a new unit the 820 as mentioned above.

topslop1

And am I going to need a $50/yr membership to RWGPS to be able to download the maps?

Steve B.

What I find works equally as well is Garmin Connect. It's free.

You can readily create a course, it's as easy as RWGPS (which is terrific as well), then and by using a smartphone app - Garmin Connect Mobile with a BlueTooth connection to the device, you have a course loaded onto the device with TBT.

I've got nearly a year on a Garmin 810, it's been reliable and easy to use.

chaadster

Lezyne's new GPS units use a phone based app for maps and turn by turn routing, which makes it super easy to use, and the head unit caches the directions, so once you have the route, it doesn't matter if you lose phone service signal.

johnny99

You cannot download a route directly from RWGPS to your Garmin for free, but for free you can copy the route to your PC, then copy it from your PC to your Garmin.

Carbonfiberboy 

I've been told that the TCX files I create with my premium membership have better turn markers than the TCX files created with free memberships. I lead group rides, so I publish the TCX files to the group. I looked into it and the difference is that with a premium membership, you can vary the distance before the turn where you get turn warnings. I use 100 meters. See: https://ridewithgps.zendesk.com/hc/e...se-TCX-or-GPX-

I use an Edge 800. Works well.

Sy Reene

Not sure about this.. I have the "basic" RWGPS account, and if someone posts a route link, I seemingly have the option (and have used) the TCX Course export option, and just change the value in the box from 30 to another number before exporting. Honestly, I haven't actually tested to see if entering a different value (eg. 60, 100, 150 etc) has an effect, but is there a reason to think I would need Premium membership to have this functionality enabled?

TimothyH

Ride with GPS doesn't support exporting to a FIT file.

You won't be able to use RwGPS with a GPS like the Garmin Edge 25 which uses FIT files.


-Tim-

Carbonfiberboy 

Well, the "reason to think" is given in the RWGPS link I posted. RWGPS seems to think it's true and my riders seem to think it's true.

Sy Reene

Ok.. though that link you posted is almost 5 years old. Thought I'd look it up; your info is evidently outdated, see:
https://ridewithgps.com/help/export-file-formats

Carbonfiberboy 

OK, looks like they've changed that, which is a good thing.

Carbonfiberboy 

You can use the free JaVaWa RTWtool to convert TCX files from RWGPS to FIT: JaVaWa GPS-tools | JaVaWa RTWtool
then load them into the Newfiles folder.

Seattle Forrest

I use a Garmin Fenix 3 watch for this. 20 hours GPS time. Ride With GPS has been the best way to get turn by turn directions onto the watch. It vibrates on my wrist about a hundred yards before a turn and says "left on X." Also works great skiing and swimming.

TimothyH

Fine if that's what you or the OP wants to do but I've no patience for multiple conversion steps using unsupported, third party tools.

chaadster

That's what I'm sayin'!

If you need to do it, I get it, but man, if you don't, I'd be looking for a tidier, more convenient option, which is why I mentioned the Lezyne units.

Seattle Forrest

Garmin Connect has a course builder tool. They've updated it recently to handle TBT. I don't know if older routes will support turns or not, but new ones will.

And then you can just send the route over the air to your device.

TimothyH

Polar V650 with Heart Rate - $208.49 + an extra $15 off with code JAN17.
Polar V650 Strava GPS Cycle Computer with HRM | Chain Reaction Cycles

Throw in a couple of Wahoo RPM bluetooth sensors and you have a great system at a great price.


-Tim-

Heathpack 

I use a Garmin Edge 1000 with turn-by-turn directions created in Ride with GPS. I use the paid version because it's so much more straightforward to load routes into my Garmin.

There is something of an art to building the RWGPS routes but once you get the hang of it, it's easy and straightforward

The turn-by-turn directions work well except sometimes if you have a route in which you cover the same section of road going out on a route vs coming back. The Garmin can get confused as to which way you're going in that instance. So I'm always cognizant of being on a leg of my route susceptible to this and I make sure I've also got my human brain engaged at that point in time.

Battery life is good on the Edge 1000, if you have the screen dim itself automatically, it will last 10 hours easily.

SnoryCewton

Wahoo Elemnt does this.

Carbonfiberboy 

Exactlly. Which is why almost all of us run the Edge 705-800-820-1000 series. But if you're stuck with a 25, there you are.

Seattle Forrest

I'm excited about Garmin's new Fenix 5X. The mapping will be a step down from my 800 for sure, but my F3 has been excellent and this looks to be even better. Also, it's useful for hiking, skiing, and swimming.

sunvalleylaw

Do you still like your 3? I am considering one, and think it will fit the bill, including price point. Don't think I can go north or 6 or 7 hundred for the 5 for my needs. Will look at either the bundle iwth the chest strap, or adding one.

San Pedro

I think the Lezyne Super GPS would do it if you have a smartphone. I don't have a smartphone, but I still like my unit. They just updated the firmware again and they seem to address their unit shortcomings. For example, I was disappointed that I could not change odometer on the unit (except reset) when I got my GPS or that I could not add a second bike, both of which have been addressed with the last update.

It is also very affordable as GPS units go.