Thank you for the excellent review, Iv been using my smart phone for strava & was considering a Garmin cycling gps. Thanks to your review all of my questions have been answered. Now the really hard part is Iv got to explain my purchase to my wife.
A really logical and informative review, thank you!. I have sort of grown out from phone based exercise tracking in the last couple of months and the 510 seems to be just what I need for the fore-seeable future.
+stop619, if your stem is long enough then mounting on the stem is a good way to keep your handlebar from being cluttered. But on a mountain bike I like it on the handlebar b/c you don't have to look down as far and you can keep your eyes on the trail easier.
Thanks for the thorough review! I have ridden with the 500 for three years and love my Garmin. Looking forward to the bluetooth feature and touch screen.
Thanks for the video. I just bought one of these second-hand for next to nothing for doing an Audax. Your video has helped me understand its feature. Cheers
Christian, I have not used a speed sensor but I believe it just affects your actual speed reading. The Garmin should still track your other data by GPS. There is a lap button (the button on the left) that you can press to start/stop a lap. Each time you press it you start another lap. So you'd press it once at the bottom of a climb and then again at the top.
Chris, the Garmin does not need cell reception so it will work anywhere (provided there are not a lot of clouds or anything blocking the "view" to satellites).
@mambac7, the nice thing about the 810 or 510 is that they are touch screen (the 800/500 are not). I have not used an 800 or 500 so I don't know the differences. I would do a web search for that.
Great video -thanks!! Detailed enough to work as a tutorial, saved me loads of time and frustration as I don't need to the read the manual now. Again, thanks and happy riding.
No, if you press the start/stop button the screen will ask you to "Discard" or "Save". If you press the Start/Stop button again the ride will just continue. I have never used the speed sensor so I don't know how the battery is changed.
i cannot thank you enough i've been having trouble with my garmin because i couldn't figure out why i couldn't read my speed now i figured it out thanks
Each time you press the lap button a new lap is started. A "lap" is just a segment of time. So you could record how long it takes you to do a climb, a section of road, section of trail...
@rawry, I have not used an 810 so I'm not qualified to tell you the difference between the two. There should be some info out there that compares the two devices.
Dear Clint Gibbs. Thank you indeed for this review! Two questions: 1) Will adding the speed sensor overrule the GPS signal whilst riding, or how does that work? 2) Can you automatically start a lap, say at the foot of a climb, and stop it at will, for instance at the summit?
Great review, and the comments have answered questions I didn't know I had. However, maybe I missed the explanation of what happens/to do when the Bluetooth icon is flashing? My 510 won't pair with my iPhone, and I can't seem to find the problem. At one point they were paired, and my phone has the Garmin in its memory, but doesn't recognize it in discoverable mode. I just tried resetting the 510, still nothing.
Mark Alexander Tremlett , try going into settings on your phone and un-pairing the Garmin and then re-pairing it. Also try turning off bluetooth on your phone and then turning it on again. These are basic and you may have tried these already, but if not definitely give these a shot.
The detachable module on the chest strap is not good! They're going backwards with this idea, I had one on my old cardiosport unit back in 1993! When riding off road it actually popped off, dropped down my jersey and onto the trail. Took me a while to find it, which was extremely lucky! Is the mount for the 510 the same as the 500?
The module is detachable on the strap. One benefit of this is that is saves on the battery. You can detach it as soon as you're done with your ride--any moisture on the strap will activate the sensor on the mount.
For the start/stop button, if I press pause will it mean I have to discard or save the ride or can I carry on? When replacing the speed/cadence sensor battery, do you have to cut the zip ties as I don't see how you can replace it as it is attached to the chainstay via the zip ties?
Hi Clint, what a great review! I still have one question about the Edge 510...Is it possible with this device to just enter a street name for example in another city, and let you guide it there? I want to use it, if possible, as a bike computer as well as a navigation device to get from a to b... Thanks in advance!
weedeatertijs , I don't think that's possible with the 510. You would need to use Garmin Connect on your computer and map your route to that city, then download it to the Garmin.
Hi Clint. What made you choose the 510 over the 810? I'm interested in the navigation feature and wondering whether the mapping function of the 810 is actually worth the extra size and price tag. Do you feel the 510 crumb trail guides you well enough? Thanks.
Mainly price. Since a lot of my rides are off road on trails the mapping feature isn't something I use frequently. The main thing I want the Garmin to do is track my ride, heart rate and power. when I get another one I may consider the 810, but we'll see.
thanks a lot brief and to the point , so I have the garmin connect on android, do I install the same on my lap top and should be good to go thanks again that really helped.
Is it possible to load maps? the part of the review showing following courses has no map. you pointed out it's just a line. that you follow. I have a garmin edge 20 for hiking. you have to buy maps to load onto it. once the maps are loaded, you have to select them. the point is when no map is set, it looks like what you are seeing in the review. i'm wondering if you load maps to it would it show streets etc.
GPadugan, as far as I know you cannot load maps into the Garmin 510. You can only load routes. BTW, I've found that if you create the route in Ride with GPS, export it as a GPX file, and then drag it into the new files when the 510 is connected to the computer, you get turn-by-turn directions. So creating routes in Ride with GPS works better than creating them in Garmin Connect. Go figure.
Would you recommend the garmin edge 810 or 510 if you dont have a smart phone? I know the weather feature cant be used, but other than that, will having the 810 or 510 be pointless over any cycling computer when you dont have a smart phone?
I notice the screen greys out and you repeatedly tap it to light it up? What are the numbers like to read in the sunlight for people who need to use this as a training tool and need a continuous HR and cadence display? Tapping repeatedly to backlight isnt an option.
Just started road biking. Considering a device to logs mileage / time. I'm confused as how to begin. Iphone with Strava or a Garmin??? (I don't actually have a 'smart phone). I guess I'd like to have cadence as well.
Garmin 510 or the new 520 would be my recommendation. Then, assuming you have a computer, you can download your workouts into Strava. when you do get a smartphone you can link your garmin connect account to Strava and then rides will automatically sync to both using the Garmin Connect app.
Hi!!! First, sorry my english, is not my native language. Nice review.!! Question: if you ride in the night, you can let the light on for a long time??? or just for a few seconds?. Greetings from Colombia!!!
Greetings! When riding at night you have to tap the screen and it will light up for a specified period of time. You can change the backlight time from a few seconds up to 2 minutes. You do that by going to settings, system, display, backlight timeout.
Okay, I just checked my Garmin 510 and there is a setting where you can have the back lights stay on continuously. Pressing the power button once when the screen is on will get you into the setting where you can change the backlighting.
Can I use this GPS for off-road to like make my own route and after that come back on the same road where I start in the forest or somewhere in the mountains with motocross or ATV
Scott, you can have as little as 1 or as much as ten fields. The more you have the smaller the display for each. I have one that has 3 larger ones at the top and 4 smaller ones at the bottom. I typically put heart rate at the top so my eyes know where to go to find that first,, since it's the most important reading to me.
I gave all the HRM stuff up and don't miss it. HR i feel is pretty useless as there's so many things that affect it to the point it really doesn't have a lot of relevance. Useless for intervals as it takes too long to raise to the proper zone. Not needed for long aerobic work as you stay at or around the gossip threshold and that's more than sufficient. Power is the thing, without a doubt. I don't have one of those either because they're too expensive. However i just train hard for fun and don't race so...
Yes, Stava now connects with the Garmin Connect website. I have the Garmin Connect app on my phone, so when I save a ride on the Garmin it uploads to Garmin connect through the app, and then imports into Strava automatically (you have to set it up on Strava first, but it's simple).
I have a question and dont know if anyone did already, i didnt see it, i gave a polar heart rate monitor, and i want to know if the polar stripe works with this garmin 510. thank you!
ede93 , the 510 will cover all your needs. Though I have not used the 810 it seems one of the major upgrades is actual maps instead of following a line. If you have the extra coin go for the 810. If not, you'll still be happy with the 510.
Ne perdez pas acces à votre courriel, car vous êtes dans le pétrin. Bonne chance pour prendre contact avec un agent de Garmin pour vous permettre de reprendre contrôle sur votre logiciel. Très décevant.
Thank you for the excellent review, Iv been using my smart phone for strava & was considering a Garmin cycling gps. Thanks to your review all of my questions have been answered. Now the really hard part is Iv got to explain my purchase to my wife.
A really logical and informative review, thank you!. I have sort of grown out from phone based exercise tracking in the last couple of months and the 510 seems to be just what I need for the fore-seeable future.
+stop619, if your stem is long enough then mounting on the stem is a good way to keep your handlebar from being cluttered. But on a mountain bike I like it on the handlebar b/c you don't have to look down as far and you can keep your eyes on the trail easier.
Thanks for the thorough review! I have ridden with the 500 for three years and love my Garmin. Looking forward to the bluetooth feature and touch screen.
This has been very helpful, even after having my Garmin 510 for 2 years. Great job and thank you
Thanks for the video. I just bought one of these second-hand for next to nothing for doing an Audax. Your video has helped me understand its feature. Cheers
This is a fantastic review of one of the best cycling GPS system. Very well presented Clint. My review agrees with many of your conclusions.
That was pretty interesting.I like the fact that it can be used on mountain bikes as well and reassuring to know it's robustness.Thank you.
Christian, I have not used a speed sensor but I believe it just affects your actual speed reading. The Garmin should still track your other data by GPS. There is a lap button (the button on the left) that you can press to start/stop a lap. Each time you press it you start another lap. So you'd press it once at the bottom of a climb and then again at the top.
Chris, the Garmin does not need cell reception so it will work anywhere (provided there are not a lot of clouds or anything blocking the "view" to satellites).
@mambac7, the nice thing about the 810 or 510 is that they are touch screen (the 800/500 are not). I have not used an 800 or 500 so I don't know the differences. I would do a web search for that.
Great video -thanks!! Detailed enough to work as a tutorial, saved me loads of time and frustration as I don't need to the read the manual now. Again, thanks and happy riding.
No, if you press the start/stop button the screen will ask you to "Discard" or "Save". If you press the Start/Stop button again the ride will just continue. I have never used the speed sensor so I don't know how the battery is changed.
i cannot thank you enough i've been having trouble with my garmin because i couldn't figure out why i couldn't read my speed now i figured it out thanks
Each time you press the lap button a new lap is started. A "lap" is just a segment of time. So you could record how long it takes you to do a climb, a section of road, section of trail...
@rawry, I have not used an 810 so I'm not qualified to tell you the difference between the two. There should be some info out there that compares the two devices.
Even though your review is from 2013...Still a good review. its 2015 and I just bought a 510 and I love all the features.
Thanks! That helps. I really am torn between this and the 810. I have a Forerunner 910 but this would be great for bike data. Happy riding!
Dear Clint Gibbs. Thank you indeed for this review! Two questions: 1) Will adding the speed sensor overrule the GPS signal whilst riding, or how does that work? 2) Can you automatically start a lap, say at the foot of a climb, and stop it at will, for instance at the summit?
Clint is a tireless contributor to the cycling community..and for that we are thankful
Great review, and the comments have answered questions I didn't know I had. However, maybe I missed the explanation of what happens/to do when the Bluetooth icon is flashing? My 510 won't pair with my iPhone, and I can't seem to find the problem. At one point they were paired, and my phone has the Garmin in its memory, but doesn't recognize it in discoverable mode. I just tried resetting the 510, still nothing.
Mark Alexander Tremlett , try going into settings on your phone and un-pairing the Garmin and then re-pairing it. Also try turning off bluetooth on your phone and then turning it on again. These are basic and you may have tried these already, but if not definitely give these a shot.
Very helpful. Thanks for taking the time.
nice review! thanks for sharing all these information!
Great Review,,,, clear and precise...
Thanks, could you also explain how the lap button works?
Thanks for posting. Question: Are there issues with mounting on MTB stem? Curious as to why you chose different configs for each bike.
Thanks.
Dandy, thank you very much. Have some nice rides out there!
The Edge 510 retail price is around $330
The detachable module on the chest strap is not good! They're going backwards with this idea, I had one on my old cardiosport unit back in 1993! When riding off road it actually popped off, dropped down my jersey and onto the trail. Took me a while to find it, which was extremely lucky!
Is the mount for the 510 the same as the 500?
The module is detachable on the strap. One benefit of this is that is saves on the battery. You can detach it as soon as you're done with your ride--any moisture on the strap will activate the sensor on the mount.
For the start/stop button, if I press pause will it mean I have to discard or save the ride or can I carry on?
When replacing the speed/cadence sensor battery, do you have to cut the zip ties as I don't see how you can replace it as it is attached to the chainstay via the zip ties?
Superb review, very detailed. Thanks.
Great review. Thanks for putting the effort.
Hi Clint, what a great review! I still have one question about the Edge 510...Is it possible with this device to just enter a street name for example in another city, and let you guide it there? I want to use it, if possible, as a bike computer as well as a navigation device to get from a to b...
Thanks in advance!
weedeatertijs , I don't think that's possible with the 510. You would need to use Garmin Connect on your computer and map your route to that city, then download it to the Garmin.
Aha ok now I know, I wasn't able to find the answer anywere haha! Thanks Clint!
can you do both follow a course navigation and record your ride at the same time?
Hi Clint. What made you choose the 510 over the 810? I'm interested in the navigation feature and wondering whether the mapping function of the 810 is actually worth the extra size and price tag. Do you feel the 510 crumb trail guides you well enough? Thanks.
Mainly price. Since a lot of my rides are off road on trails the mapping feature isn't something I use frequently. The main thing I want the Garmin to do is track my ride, heart rate and power. when I get another one I may consider the 810, but we'll see.
At 12:10, a bottom nav menu opens. This happens to me very frequently when I scroll between screens. Is there a tip to avoid doing this? Thanks!!
I have not found a way to keep that from happening.
Clint Gibbs thanks for letting me know!
thanks a lot brief and to the point , so I have the garmin connect on android, do I install the same on my lap top and should be good to go thanks again that really helped.
Is it possible to load maps? the part of the review showing following courses has no map. you pointed out it's just a line. that you follow. I have a garmin edge 20 for hiking. you have to buy maps to load onto it. once the maps are loaded, you have to select them. the point is when no map is set, it looks like what you are seeing in the review. i'm wondering if you load maps to it would it show streets etc.
GPadugan, as far as I know you cannot load maps into the Garmin 510. You can only load routes. BTW, I've found that if you create the route in Ride with GPS, export it as a GPX file, and then drag it into the new files when the 510 is connected to the computer, you get turn-by-turn directions. So creating routes in Ride with GPS works better than creating them in Garmin Connect. Go figure.
Hi Clint. How do you set the time on the 510? Does it automatically use the timezones available?
Danger Dave Lok , the time is set automatically (I would assume through the GPS satellites)
I'm deciding between 510 and 810..is 510 lack of features is only the map routing capabilities?
I have problems with time zone, I never get the right time, always is off, any advice?
In the settings. What should I set me elevation at ?
Would you recommend the garmin edge 810 or 510 if you dont have a smart phone? I know the weather feature cant be used, but other than that, will having the 810 or 510 be pointless over any cycling computer when you dont have a smart phone?
Thank you for sharing the information is very helpful in making my new purchase -_-
I can't seem to get my training profiles to enable?
Will a polar strap work with the 510
I notice the screen greys out and you repeatedly tap it to light it up?
What are the numbers like to read in the sunlight for people who need to use this as a training tool and need a continuous HR and cadence display? Tapping repeatedly to backlight isnt an option.
Totally fine in the sunlight. On night rides you do have to do to read the screen but you can change the backlight time.
Clint Gibbs Thanks so much for that. Appreciated.
Just started road biking. Considering a device to logs mileage / time.
I'm confused as how to begin. Iphone with Strava or a Garmin??? (I don't actually have a 'smart phone). I guess I'd like to have cadence as well.
Garmin 510 or the new 520 would be my recommendation. Then, assuming you have a computer, you can download your workouts into Strava. when you do get a smartphone you can link your garmin connect account to Strava and then rides will automatically sync to both using the Garmin Connect app.
Hi!!! First, sorry my english, is not my native language. Nice review.!! Question: if you ride in the night, you can let the light on for a long time??? or just for a few seconds?. Greetings from Colombia!!!
Greetings! When riding at night you have to tap the screen and it will light up for a specified period of time. You can change the backlight time from a few seconds up to 2 minutes. You do that by going to settings, system, display, backlight timeout.
Clint Gibbs
thanks a lot!!!!!
I'm pretty sure the back light shut off after the set time. So if you want to see the information you have to touch the screen.
***** My Garmin 500 has a backlight option to stay on continuously. I use it while training as my room light isn't very good for reading the display.
Okay, I just checked my Garmin 510 and there is a setting where you can have the back lights stay on continuously. Pressing the power button once when the screen is on will get you into the setting where you can change the backlighting.
Very helpful review!
Can I use this GPS for off-road to like make my own route and after that come back on the same road where I start in the forest or somewhere in the mountains with motocross or ATV
+TwoPlaya you can't really map out a ride to follow unless there are official roads or trails. But if there are it's a great way to explore.
i love all of your video, very well explained... :)
Great review, thanks!
How many data feilds can you have on the screen during an activity?
Scott, you can have as little as 1 or as much as ten fields. The more you have the smaller the display for each. I have one that has 3 larger ones at the top and 4 smaller ones at the bottom. I typically put heart rate at the top so my eyes know where to go to find that first,, since it's the most important reading to me.
Hi Clint, is that a Casio watch you're wearing?
topaciot, Timex Ironman. I used to use it for timing laps, now I use the Garmin.
Thanks for the review!
keep up the good videos
what about virtual rider? have you used this?
I have messed around a little bit with the virtual rider feature but I don't feel it's very useful.
im 100% sold, garmin should send you a paycheck great review/.
Is this bright enough in the full sun?
Yes, it's not like a cell phone that's hard to read in direct sunlight.
very good review thanks
I gave all the HRM stuff up and don't miss it. HR i feel is pretty useless as there's so many things that affect it to the point it really doesn't have a lot of relevance. Useless for intervals as it takes too long to raise to the proper zone. Not needed for long aerobic work as you stay at or around the gossip threshold and that's more than sufficient. Power is the thing, without a doubt. I don't have one of those either because they're too expensive. However i just train hard for fun and don't race so...
can you upload your ride to strava?
Yes, Stava now connects with the Garmin Connect website. I have the Garmin Connect app on my phone, so when I save a ride on the Garmin it uploads to Garmin connect through the app, and then imports into Strava automatically (you have to set it up on Strava first, but it's simple).
Clint Gibbs awesome! Thanks heaps
No problem
I have a question and dont know if anyone did already, i didnt see it, i gave a polar heart rate monitor, and i want to know if the polar stripe works with this garmin 510.
thank you!
I'm pretty sure it will not. it has to be an Ant + to work
Thanks for the info
Thanks!
price?
do they offer a model that works as gps only if needed?
I miss the size of 510. The 1000 is too big :(
510 or 810. I don't know /:
ede93 , the 510 will cover all your needs. Though I have not used the 810 it seems one of the major upgrades is actual maps instead of following a line. If you have the extra coin go for the 810. If not, you'll still be happy with the 510.
My
never mind i c
Ne perdez pas acces à votre courriel, car vous êtes dans le pétrin. Bonne chance pour prendre contact avec un agent de Garmin pour vous permettre de reprendre contrôle sur votre logiciel. Très décevant.
Do they have maps loaded on it. to use as GPS alone ?
+dunno yolo nope. No maps on the 510. Just follow a line on a route you map out.
+dunno yolo nope. No maps on the 510. Just follow a line on a route you map out.