LesterOfPuppets

I don't think the iPhone 10 had dual band GPS so it can get pretty inaccurate at times, usually expect a 2-5 meter inaccuracy circle.

Newer iPhones and newer garmins have multi-band GPS which can sometimes get you down to 30cm.

As I understand it, a Garmin with a speed sensor uses the speed sensor info along with the GPS info to help nail down your location.

Even if you stay "on the grid" I'd download maps of the area you ride in to your phone just in case you wind up in a place with poor cell reception, you can still look at your map. If your GPS recording app seems to use too much battery, you should be able to record your tracks with WiFi, bluetooth, and cell service turned off.

Polaris OBark

I have this happen, too (Edge 530). It really puts a weed up my arse.

runningDoc

Cadence App on Iphone/android is awesome. its compatible with Garmin Varia radar, Power meter, HR straps etc and has maps that are compatible with google maps/apple maps

battery life can be a problem especially with my iphone mini 13, but i have a front light that doubles as a phone charger that works great (even works with the light on while charging phone.

i use the peak design phone mount with their case and its pretty clean:



with the maps and garmin varia its really not that different than being in a car with navigation and lane assist.

I like how with Cadence App ($39 a year) its actually cheaper than a bike computer and is updated all the time for free. it uploads workouts to strava/apple health app too if you want.

Steve B.

The speed sensor overrides the GPS data for speed and distance. Location is generated by the GPS.

L134 

Phone can overheat if exposed to direct sun for too long. My Garmin never has.

biker128pedal

There are many phone mounts but if you use the Blendr get the metal mount. I found the plastic one while cheaper vibrated from the road and it was hard to read the GPS. Also the metal one you have to buy the puck to fit the Garmin extra. There is another puck for the Wahoo.

Comparison. The iphone has a lower and up temperature limit where it will cut off. I was using my iphone in the winter mounted to the bars of my motorcycle. It shut off while I was stopped trying to find a destination. I was able to warm it up in my jacket while I headed the correct direction then did the search.

rsbob 

Don’t see people talking about using back-up battery banks for their iPhones. I would think it would almost be a necessity for those users.

LesterOfPuppets

I run Android but I never bring a battery pack for a normal ride. I don't run the screen much though, pretty much just download maps if needed, start RWGPS, put the phone in my jersey pocket, and only occasionally do map checks.

mpetry912 

every hour I can spend NOT looking at the phone is good. put it away. focus on the ride, not scrolling through FB

just sayin

/markp

Steve B.

I watched a YT series, Roland and Julia, cross the US by bike, Roland did the navigating on his smartphone, used Kamoots. Had a power bank in his front bag providing extra power.

Wileyrat

Just a basic Cateye Padrone on a mount putting it in front of my stem, and an iPhone running Ride With GPS either in my saddle bag or a jersey pocket (depending on the bike I’m on).
I’m not a fan of having a lot of clutter on my bars.

Yan 

Battery life is the one and only reason. Not really a factor if your rides are short and near your home. Save your money. I only bought a Garmin due to touring use. If I wasn't touring I wouldn't have bothered.

PeteHski

They are using the phone for navigation and ride data, not social media. I prefer to use a Garmin personally, but you can do whatever you like.

runningDoc

advantages to a garmin? Mounting brackets probably already provided with garmin bike computers, weather/vibration proofing, and also battery life is definitely better with any of the newer garmin computers. also a garmin is specifically made for bike use.


I did post before I was using a specific app for my iphone called cadence. there's a free version that will record your rides and work with garmin varia. its actually pretty slick and I did the math and realized that even spending the $40 for the yearly subscription (to access full features like HR/Power Meter) it works out cheaper than getting a $300-700 dedicated bike computer the upgrades are easy though the iphone app.



you can totally customize the screen down to the parameter sizing and what you want on there and font size/color.

the green on the side is the varia (thats also customizable to which side/size/ect). I have a quarq power meter and polar Heart Rate Monitor. all were compatible.

there's options for turn by turn navigation


the app also works as a running tracker app/hiking/etc if you want.

all the relevant info after a ride is saved and options to upload to strava/iphone health/etc too.





I use shoks open ear bone conduction headset to get that varia chime/prompt warning sound to alert me when vehicles/other riders behind or fast approaching.

granted you do have to sort out how to mount your phone to the bike (i used a specific Peak Design out front bike mount and phone case).

also battery life is an issue. I figure i can get maybe 3 hours max out of my iphone mini 13 (which has a lesser/smaller battery) but I mitigate that with a bike light that also is a phone charger connected with a 6" wire. you'll get way into the 7-12hr range with the bike light charger option. with this specific light i've used it both while the light was on and it still charged my phone too.



I was really close to buying a nice garmin but figured if i crash I'm still probably involving my phone which would be on my person in a jersey pocket anyway and wow $650+ for the solar garmin is almost as much as my iphone to begin with.

I do love the idea of being offline and away from the bother of phone calls people contacting you etc... but my reality is... i'm never going to really escape getting calls/texts/etc. the phone would be in my jersey pocket anyway. so its nice having the phone right there and my shokz open ear bone conduction headset in and being able to put on a podcast or get that hour long phone call with mom/sister in while knocking out a workout. even during the podcast/call/music you'll get the varia warnings which is nice too.

LesterOfPuppets

I brought 3 phones and one external battery on my last tour. Only one had cell service but I had maps downloaded on the other two. I only wound up using two of them, one was for backup. I also had cue sheets for backup backup.

rsbob 

Wow, if you can scroll FB while riding, you have real talent! (Not that you really do it. I hope). This is about as social media as I get.

terrymorse 

From the User Guide:

______

Data Recording Settings

Select Menu > Settings > System > Data Recording.

Recording Interval
Controls how the device records activity data. The Smart option records key points where you change direction, speed, or heart rate. The 1 Sec option records points every second. It creates a very detailed record of your activity and increases the size of the stored activity file.

rsbob 

I see HRV as an option but can’t find it on the Connect App. That’s if it is still available. There is no user manual for Connect Ap and the online advice is useless.

Atlas Shrugged

The bike forums echo chamber continues. Whether out for a Sunday ride, participating in an event or out on a tour an absolute majority of cyclists used dedicated bike computers. There is a reason for this, they work great and not a bodged compromise.

unterhausen

I have used ridewithgps on a phone when I forgot my garmin. It worked okay, but I still couldn't hear it. Problem is battery life for most of the rides where I care to use a GPS.

If battery life could be fixed, I think a phone would be superior in every way. But it's going to take another 10 generations of phones. If I'm only riding 20-30 miles, there is no reason for me to have a gps, and if I want to post my dismal rides online, I can use my garmin watch to record.

Mtracer

I used an iPhone as my bike computer when I first started riding. It worked well for me until two things happened. I started doing longer rides and the weather started getting cold. So, I needed more battery life but the cold weather reduced it. So, it simply got to the point I couldn't complete a ride. My Garmin Edge 530 battery life is more than 5 times longer than my phone.

But now, even if the battery life weren't an issue, I'd prefer the bike computer. It does many more things than any of the bike computer apps seem to do on an iPhone and with plenty of ways to customize data screens and so on.

To me, if you're going to ride regularly, just get a bike computer. I've only used the Garmin Edge 530 and I'm very pleased with it. It does more than I need. And at about 5 years old now, it's still working like a champ.

LastKaiser

GPS on older iPhones (in particular) is not very accurate - it's single band and with a very low poling rate to save battery. A modern Garmin Edge will be using GNSS (so GPS, GLONASS and Galileo constellations) with a much higher poling rate.

GPS on a phone is not designed for constant navigation - it's more for social uses. On the other hand Garmin is a world leader in navigation systems (ships, planes, etc) and the devices are optimized from that perspective.

So yes, Garmin very much has "better tech"

LastKaiser

I would add - for general "riding around" and tracking your rides a few times a week on roads only, an iPhone is almost certainly perfectly fine. It's a device you already have as well, so it saves a ton of money.

For offroad riding where you need that additional GPS accuracy, ruggedness and weatherproofing, for chasing Strava segments or performance tracking where GPS accuracy matters, for more structured training with multiple connected sensors and longer rides where battery life matters, etc - those are where a dedicated computer like a Garmin Edge or Wahoo Element, etc really shine.

PeteHski

I think that depends on your use case. Even if my iPhone runtime could match my Garmin Edge I would still prefer the Garmin as a head unit.

13ollocks

Garmin is better in almost every way:
longer better life
Better rain resistance
doesnt overheat
better GPS
smaller, less obtrusive (sure there’s an aero advantage &#129300
better aesthetics (nothing says “dork” like a big ol’ phone perched on your bars)

iPhone advantage (applies only if you have a cell plan) -you can watch porn as you ride - don’t forget to use earbuds if in a group 🫣