GPS the Garmin 830, it gives more real time information that I want to see like Speed, Average Speed, Distance, Cadence, Heart-rate, Climbing Gradient, Total Climb in just one programmable screen. Also the several profiles can make quick changes between interval training information and trip riding information. Also a GPS is much more durable and weather resistant.
Old phone mounted on stem with twist lock. Had several crashes and phone stayed put without damage. Bigger screen makes navigation much easier. Use strava, trailforks etc. without any issues.
And then battery dies and you've no way of contacting anyone if you end up needed help/lift etc.. Same happens to computer, who cares? You've phone for any case of emergency.
I have a Garmin 1030 plus, with all the usual sensors including the front Light and rear Radar and the HRM Pro, a third party Power Meter and Quarq Tyrewiz. I would say the LCD on a decent phone easily beats a Garmin. The capabilities of a dedicated cycle computer outweigh a phone, however with all the apps available it is much closer than Neil would let you believe (Garmin sponsored GMBN), that said it is neater on the Garmin compared with toggling through a multitude of phone apps. For me personally, I have a large phone so it would look odd on the bars. But in all honesty it’s another thing to buy (waste money) on our bikes (which we all like doing) but don’t think these dedicated cycle computers are cheap, they are closer to a phone outright cost than you think, and when you factor in all the gubbins/sensors and other accessories (that can sync) then you could be looking at £1k-£2k. Also worth adding is GPS on your phone really drains battery, so if you opt for the phone route be prepared to need and external battery pack. I hope this thread is useful to people? Slippery slide indeed!
I am glad I got my Edge 530 recently. Even without a speed sensor the GPS accuracy is miles better than my phone (which to be fair is always as safe as possible in my bag) especially in the wooded areas. The health features are a nice bonus too.
Specific GPS unit is better for location accuracy, Strava on my iPhone 12 is shocking, misses loads of segments and deviates too far from where I am riding. My Garmin Fenix watch is spot on and never misses a section/segment.
I use the ViewRanger app for my mtb, road cycling, kayaking pretty much for any activity. The phone is in an otter box case had it 4 years know and the phone still looks mint. Attached to the bars with a silicone phone holder.
I use a Garmin 830 and carry my phone for safety. Best combo. Battery life is an issue on phones with gps tracking running. I like seeing the MTB stats too on the garmin.
I mount my Garmin Fenix 5 watch on my handlebars. I just use a cheap mount that garmin makes for watches, link it to my HR strap and im good to go. Ive raced a 100km event with it and preloaded the course map on. Tracked me perfectly the whole race and had heaps of power left over, even after 9 hours out on course total. Means my phone keeps its charge too in case of emergencies. Couldn't be happier with my set up.
I have a tiny GPS as well. Fits on the bike better, in case of a crash I won't damage my phone (hopefully), it's more accurate and -the big thing for me- can hook up to a heart rate monitor. I needed that for a few reasons and now I have it. Before, I used my phone to record my ride but put it away safely anyway, so I couldn't see what I was doing until afterwards. With the GPS, I can put the phone away and still see what's going on. Especially the HR.
GPS is a no brainer for those who ride in wild and remote places without a phone signal. The accuracy of phones for navigation in remote and dangerous terrain is terrible. Circular error probability of 10s of metres with an Iphone once you are away from a signal as opposed to less than a meter with a GPS. In the mountains in poor visibility that is the difference between life and death.
Phone....Keep your old phones (don't get rid of them) and use them to track your GPS routes, mileage, etc. I also use an old one on my dirt bike to track my trails and such.
You should have used the Quad lock for putting the phone on the bars, really solid but a little bit pricey (nothing compared to getting a new phone because of a crash, because you cheapen out). For phone app the Cannondale app with the Cannondale wheel sensor is absolutely brilliant.
OK, so I use my Polar Ignite watch and my phone, both with gps, and bike computer that counts the wheel rotations using magnet and sensor. The bike computer accurately tracks the mileage. Mileage tracked via gps is always lower by about 15%. I have always attributed this to the gps not capturing all of the up and down of the trails I ride. So, I’ll go with the old bike computer.
I prefer my phone - I’m never fussed about performance, I’m not trying to get KOMs or view my heartstrings etc, I like to see where I’ve gone and occasionally how fast I’ve gone at trail centres, or if I’m doing a big more XC focused ride, I like to explore and using my phone means that if I get lost, or I’ve planned a route somewhere unrideable, I can use OS maps and Google maps In line with komoot to check alternatives. I can also view landmarks, cafes/pubs, or highlighted trails added by other users which is really handy on a 40 odd mile epic, or overnight bikepacking trip, and I can add highlights myself and include photos for those highlights which helps for future rides. I have a quad lock mount which is solid as a rock and is far cheaper than investing in a gps and I love how big the screen is compared to a gps. The case is solid too (I cycled bar first into a telegraph pole and the thing is scuffed but survived!) and the modern iphones (I have an 11 and I know modern Samsung’s are the same) have a battery life than can last all day running strava, komoot, Spotify, Bluetooth (for headphones) and take photos and videos all day without getting low. Phone all day for me!
You can in fact use garmin explore on your phone to navigate on your bike, and have your devices with tiny screens do the handeling of gps and such. haven't tested battery drain for it tho.
Fat Map is deadly if you're into visuals.... The 3D map and flyover feature is great for planning routes and getting a real feel for the topography, and it automatically loads your rides from Strava. I use a Garmin Dual HRM connected to Strava through my phone, but a decent computer that's dedicated to the job, would be handy but to be honest if I'm exploring then I'm usually scoping Strava on the phone
When it comes to mtbing I always assume I'll need a GPS, my phone, my watch, another phone, another plan and a fvcking homing pigeon just to stay up to date...
Bit of Garmin sponsorship coming through? Phone only for me though not on the bars, I don't need to look at it while I'm riding. Lasts longer than a mates Garmin on all day rides and yes Neil, it does integrate with heart rate monitors and cadence sensors. They just need to support Bluetooth.
Always either a bike computer (Garmin 530 or Wahoo Elemnt Bolt) or my running watch for tracking / navigation. I reluctantly carry my phone for emergency purposes, I just would rather carry as little as possible in my pockets. I got a Quadlock just as a carry alternate to my pockets for my phone rather than tracking / navigation and yes it's a great mount / case but I just dislike anything the size of a large smart phone on the cockpit so I'm back with the phone in my pocket.
I was out for a road ride with one of my local clubs. A friend who was on that ride used a phone to record the ride. However at the coffee stop they found out Strava had stopped recording. It detected the phone was starting to over heat and Strava closed down. When my friend got the phone out there was the over heating warning from Stava and the ride data was not kept. I still use a Garmin for my ride data. Even though my phone will still work after it's been driven over by a Ford F150 pick up. It is also waterproof and can be pressure washed. I however have not tried it. The battery also last about 1 week. So would not die on one ride using ride tracking apps.
Older flagship phones are cheaper than bike computers and still plenty capable for most people. Industry keeps pushing unnecesary tech and expense on riders who don't need it.
“Cycling computers have come a long way since wired head units and magnetic sensors in the wheels” Me still using a Wired head unit and a magnetic sensor
Me too. Also the magnetic sensor is more accurate than a GPS especially in a trail with a lot of turns and switchbacks, the GPS just doesn't capture the exact distance that well. I use my Garmin 305 watch along with the bike computer and it always reads about .6 miles less than the bike computer on a 5 to 6 mile ride.
I’d love to get a Wahoo or Garmin bike computer but think I will miss using trail forks all the time when exploring new trails…. Guess I can still get the phone out of my bag or pocket if needed….
Battery will never last as long as you think it will on your phone used as a GPS, And when you need the phone to call for any help or a pick up the battery will be flat. Unless of course you carry a spare phone or battery.
Maybe also consider for those people who ride further (or Farther) is a GPS tracker device, so friends and family can follow progress. Obviously nothing ever happens on a ride but the day it does is the day you may have no phone coverage and then the fun starts.
Never had battery issues with my phone, gone for 4 or 5 hours full gps and still at least at 50%, once one notices all the bloatware apps that consume your battery like Facebook, Instagram, tik tok, etc and disable their always on you'll see the difference...
@@robwalsh3082 I do hear what everyone is saying on these shorter rides, but to keep a phone for phone use and a GPS device for the navigation is best when “further and/or farther” is the key element of the ride. Many people don’t leave the trail park and obviously many keep rides down to a limited morning or afternoon too. But when a ride is in the further or farther category a dedicated GPS unit which is optimised for the purpose is going to outperform a phone.
I record my rides on my Garmin Fenix 6 watch with external sensors (HR, Cadence, Speed - can't afford power meters), and I have my 'phone on my handlebars with a Quadlock - sometimes I use it to get speed checks for particular sections (more likely to do so on road rides and segments), but also because it is the source of my music on rides, and I like to be able to skip tracks etc. using the phone. It's also right there to grab a picture or control and preview the GoPro. Two factors that win for me with a Smartphone on the bars is that I don't have to wear my reading glasses to see the numbers on the bigger screen (compared to the watch) and I can also have a supplementary navigation app to guide me (with spoken instructions). In my backpack, I carry a USB charge pack, to top up my headphones on a break, but usually make sure that phone & watch are fully charged anyway... because of the aforementioned eyesight limits, when I had the money, I would chose the 1030+ unit just for the screen size alone... my watch - with sensors - can record most of the data I want... My phone is a second screen, for other purposes... My phone is waterproof, so that is not a factor to having it on the bars or not, and the quadlock is a very secure mount. I used to use n older phone, and might still do if I am going on a treacherous ride, but it's limitation is the battery life...
@@scottlstone Look out for sales... I have seen them half price at times... it is a great watch... I didn't think I needed the Solar version (battery life has been great) and even though I did not get the sapphire one (I did not like the weird colour on the bezel) I got the 6X - the larger one... and have had no issues with damage... there are bezel and screen protectors, but they just make an admittedly somewhat bulky watch even bulkier... that said, I am used to mine now, and never notice the weight unless the strap is loose and it slips and flops around...
@@davidking3699 I’ll keep an eye out in the sales, I definitely want the solar version, I looked at the middle size but if money wasn’t an object I’d go with the largest bezel.
I did a test using my phone and my older garmin watch and the phone was more accurate. I think it was using more points to mark out the route so the watch straightened out all the twists and turns.
Love using my phone in my bag for polar tracking. Im not using gps for a route, so i wont need it. If I would go on an epic bike ride in a different country, a gps on the bike might be better as you need to see the route.
My Edge 830 recently started to trip out and wouldn't connect to the satellites reliably. After a few phone calls and a lot of troubleshooting its working again as "normal" the phones seem very reliable as long as you have signal.
Stock standard GPS (The affordable Bryton 410 is perfect) for most biking stuff, for battery life, compactness and waterproofing. Then phone for Nav and anything else! No GPS Nav comes even close to phone mapping.
not shown here, is 530 much harder to use than 830? basically, same device, just 530 doesn't have touchscreen. if it's just set and forget (with sync with maps services) 530 seems better option, cheaper and can be used while in wet conditions...
Used basic cycle computers most of my life, never needed anything more than current speed, total distance and maybe average and top speed. But now that i am preparing a big trip i am switching to a Garmin Oregon 700 because of the map related features. EDIT: Btw, on the phone side, tried the Gaia GPS app with very good results, specially in my country where there are no stablished trails like in other countries it kept up quite accurately.
The advantage of pure GPS systems is they are independent from mobile internet - in countries with a shitty mobile network (bad coverage and high costs, like in Germany) the pure GPS has all the maps stored internally
I have a Garmin 530 plus It will not stay connected to my phone? It keeps deleting the maps I put on there? So I have been using my phone & taking a power pack & plugging it in to my phone. I track my ride on one app & following a map with a different app. The down side is it eats the batter.
Incident Detection is practically useless, even a seemingly minor bump will set it off. I set the warning off just taking the bike off the car rack yesterday.. and when it does go off there's an embarrassing WHOOP WHOOP that goes off until you cancel. I'd imagine there's places it's useful and I'm leaving it enabled but it's more annoying than anything else. That said I love using my Garmin (Edge 520+) as opposed to just a cell phone, I don't ride without it. Lightweight, durable, long battery life, saves battery life on the phone, far more accurate GPS tracking in the woods and uploads rides to multiple apps simultaneously via Garmin Connect (like MapMyRide and Strava).
I'm in this conundrum right now. I'd like something with offline navigation for new trail systems and whatnot. The GPS does seem nice for that, mounting it to the bars or frame is smaller and more durable. But to be honest, the Garmin units are way overpriced for what you get. The screen, UI and overall design is so dated and yet they are charging nearly $1000 for something that looks more like it's from 2008 than 2023. Perhaps people just don't care. But I can't justify the price for such basic tech. If it were $300 I would get it. I've come to the conclusion that buying a used iPhone SE 1st gen for like $50 (since they are so small) will probably be the way to go. I'd like to use a stem mount as that seems like the best location. But I have a short stem (as opposed to the longer XC stems) and I have a OneUp EDC so I can't use a top cap mount. I think the 2nd best location would be on the top of the top tube near the stem.
i would use my phone to record, but i have yet to find an app that works as well as a garmin watch with datafields and all that. I got the quadlock out front mount and i have my phone there, unfortunately i have the s21 ultra so it's fekkin huge and a bit of an eye-sore, but for navigation the big screen is nice. Anyone got any good apps to mention that can be configured like a garmin edge, and also support hr belt?
I was riding some remote trails on vacation and ran into an area with no cell service. Trailforks wouldn’t move as we didn’t pre-download the maps for the area and didn’t synch the map till we came back into a cell service area. Ill take the GPS any day.
I think the squirrel may have been the reason Neil wore the helmet the whole time 🤣 … except for the distraction 😅 it was a good compilation of pros and cons 👍
It would be nice to see a comparison of more products from other manufacturers, but I guess it's actually a big AD trying to push a specific sponsor. I use a phone anyway.
Have you considered the possibility that some of us actually keep older smartphones which have fantastic colour displays and OS Maps on them without burning a shed load of cash on a plastic toy to record how many seconds we are airborne 😂
I use my watch, knows when I'm mtb or cycling, register's my journey heart rate avg speed time etc. Am thinking of trying out a GPS though. Mainly for tracks dh
The GPS do what we whant and you can see what you whant and doesn´t fail. The phone loose the signal sometimes, not very acurate ... I use to go to remote places, and the signal is not very good, but the GPS continues working with no problems at all.
The GPS on the phone can be accurate at times, but also not so accurate at the same time. I actually got a KOM on strava only because of the poor GPS tracking on my phone (which isn't a bad thing I guess)
I use an older phone if I really have to put one on the bars. Modern phone OS, Android side at least, are very power efficient nowadays, so battery is not a problem. However I think the biggest problem is the sheer weight of the phone. The mount needs to be bulky to keep the phone hooked to the bars safely and firmly. I have the topeak cover / mount. It's brilliant, but still large enough to be annoying when going downhill on rough terrain. Phones are still the best for navigation in my humble opinion, for those cases I might take the phone out.
I use my phone when I'm in the backcountry to make sure I haven't missed a junction/don't get lost. It doesn't need to be on the bars to do this. Seriously, how often do you need to check your navigation? I can also take photos with it. I have no need to know how fast I went, or an arbitrary flow score.
Phones battery dies quicker, also if you are training seeing your data realtime is a big plus, also you can load workouts and see in realtime how you are hitting your workout goals. So if you are serious about training and riding bike computer helps a lot.
I got tired of digging my phone out of my bag and taking off my gloves every time I came to an unknown junction. Garmin edge 530 did the trick. It also helps me pace myself because it shows me a graph indicating the climb ahead. Very helpful to keep me from blowing myself out on 4,000-ft climbs. 3D printed a mount that adheres to my carbon top tube just behind the steerer tube. Had my cell phone attached to the handlebars for a long time and shattered the screen eventually. It has trailforks, strava, etc integrated and being able to pre-plan my route in a new trail system is nice
''Best part of 1000 pound'' for a smart phone!!!. No way, mines probably cheaper than a Garmin. Even if you do have a luxury smart phone, maybe a second cheap phone would be a better option, as it has covers more functions, and has a bigger screen.
instead of using your main phone, an alternative is to search of used older smartphones, they all have gps, and you are giving them a second life. Probably you have a drawer of them or you can get one for 5 to 20 euros
I see all these phone battery comments and im just thinking damn, how long are you guys riding for? I'd have to ride for 9hrs straight to kill my phone battery even with GPS.
If I used my smartphone yesterday it would have broken it in my fall. My edge 830 is so small and has a silicone protector on it that it survived the crash
Using your phone on the bars may be OK for roadies, but, not for MTB. I'm not going to put a $1,600. device with a glass screen on my bars! Phones are too important now days to be without while it is being repaired. Case in point: Day one on my $265.00 Garmin 530, I crashed on a rock pile and smashed the screen, it was only 40 minutes old! I had the insurance on it and sent it off for repair, it's now been 10 days waiting on it. No brainer!
How about a mashup of both worlds, so one doesn't have to buy twice the same hardware (gps sensors, advanced cpu, memory, etc) which make up for the price of a good gps computer, a minimal screen with just Bluetooth that connects to your phone and uses all the advanced sensors there and only displays the info while your phone is safely in your backpack? $50 for the screen and just install an app, I'd but that, i wouldn't but a $300 gps computer though...
I have used my phone with the app Wikiloc, it performed flawlessly to navigate, explore and follow MTB tracks in my country, but I had some drawbacks: like struggling with battery life, having to pull the phone from my pocket (I just don't like to pit in my handlebars and if I did it battery life would become a major issue), then unlock to check the course (quite risky if I dared to keep riding my bike while doing that), even worse in rainy conditions. So I recently made my mind to get a Garmin GPS... first impression was that having it in the bars was great to follow a preloaded course, so comfortable, but it s*cked because they (Garmin) apart from the device, would charge you for downloading the maps so you can navigate properly (with street names and places in their GPS devices), I mean: how come at this point of history a GPS device (or at least Garmin's) do not use Google/Apple/Open Street maps info like any other smartphone do and keep their maps formats closed? I wasn't happy with that at all, I fortunately found a way to load Open Street's maps to this device (at no cost, but hey! the guys from OpenStreet, they deserve a donation) and then I thought I could stick to this GPS: the map now shows roads and places info from my locale and looks a little bit more to what I could achieve with my phone + Wikiloc app, but without the aforementioned drawbacks... that, plus this video just made me decide on sticking to the Garmin device. So thank you guys for helping me! :D
Seeing all of this tech reminds of the fools that do air-soft and act like they are special forces. Learn to read a paper map and use a compass. As for emergencies: do not ride alone - off-piste skiers are taught to go in groups of 4 for safety.
You would expect that if you're riding trails as Strava will only measure the (GPS based) distance travelled across the ground but the wheel sensor is based on wheel rotations, and generally on a mountain bike ride your wheel will spend a fair amount of time spinning while not connected to the ground!
Yeah great quality. I kid you not, Quadlock actually prevented me from going over the bars once. My torso just got blocked by it so I couldn't tip over lmao
Do you use a GPS or your phone?
Gotten used to Strava on my phone.
This is very informative! I love the side-by-side comparison! This is the answer that my buddy's looking for.
GPS the Garmin 830, it gives more real time information that I want to see like Speed, Average Speed, Distance, Cadence, Heart-rate, Climbing Gradient, Total Climb in just one programmable screen. Also the several profiles can make quick changes between interval training information and trip riding information. Also a GPS is much more durable and weather resistant.
I just use my phone with the Trailforks app to track my MTB ride. What am I missing not using a Garmin device type device?
Fitbit and phone GPS combo. Fine most of the time and provides good info, but sometimes loses signal in dense forests 🙄
Old phone running Komoot. Missing hearth rate / cadence so looking into that but don't want to spend any real money on it call me cheap ;)
lol that rando in the back. he was like... "What is going on? Is this trail closed?"
*A:* “Why is this dude sitting on the trail taking to himself”
*B:* “idk, sus, lets go around him”
really wasn't expecting to agree but 100% right! Smashed phone screen and hence not being able to phone for help is a real problem.
Old phone mounted on stem with twist lock. Had several crashes and phone stayed put without damage. Bigger screen makes navigation much easier. Use strava, trailforks etc. without any issues.
And then battery dies and you've no way of contacting anyone if you end up needed help/lift etc..
Same happens to computer, who cares? You've phone for any case of emergency.
@@theshockbro He specifically said old phone,meaning he has another phone with him.
I have a Garmin 1030 plus, with all the usual sensors including the front Light and rear Radar and the HRM Pro, a third party Power Meter and Quarq Tyrewiz. I would say the LCD on a decent phone easily beats a Garmin. The capabilities of a dedicated cycle computer outweigh a phone, however with all the apps available it is much closer than Neil would let you believe (Garmin sponsored GMBN), that said it is neater on the Garmin compared with toggling through a multitude of phone apps. For me personally, I have a large phone so it would look odd on the bars. But in all honesty it’s another thing to buy (waste money) on our bikes (which we all like doing) but don’t think these dedicated cycle computers are cheap, they are closer to a phone outright cost than you think, and when you factor in all the gubbins/sensors and other accessories (that can sync) then you could be looking at £1k-£2k.
Also worth adding is GPS on your phone really drains battery, so if you opt for the phone route be prepared to need and external battery pack.
I hope this thread is useful to people?
Slippery slide indeed!
I think you just sold me a Garmin. I never understood what all the fuss was about, but now I know! There are some seriously cool features in there.
I am glad I got my Edge 530 recently. Even without a speed sensor the GPS accuracy is miles better than my phone (which to be fair is always as safe as possible in my bag) especially in the wooded areas.
The health features are a nice bonus too.
Specific GPS unit is better for location accuracy, Strava on my iPhone 12 is shocking, misses loads of segments and deviates too far from where I am riding. My Garmin Fenix watch is spot on and never misses a section/segment.
My Samsung Galaxy S21 never misses segments. The Garmin 830 drops my climbs.
I use the ViewRanger app for my mtb, road cycling, kayaking pretty much for any activity. The phone is in an otter box case had it 4 years know and the phone still looks mint.
Attached to the bars with a silicone phone holder.
I use a Garmin 830 and carry my phone for safety. Best combo. Battery life is an issue on phones with gps tracking running.
I like seeing the MTB stats too on the garmin.
I mount my Garmin Fenix 5 watch on my handlebars.
I just use a cheap mount that garmin makes for watches, link it to my HR strap and im good to go. Ive raced a 100km event with it and preloaded the course map on. Tracked me perfectly the whole race and had heaps of power left over, even after 9 hours out on course total. Means my phone keeps its charge too in case of emergencies. Couldn't be happier with my set up.
I have a tiny GPS as well. Fits on the bike better, in case of a crash I won't damage my phone (hopefully), it's more accurate and -the big thing for me- can hook up to a heart rate monitor. I needed that for a few reasons and now I have it. Before, I used my phone to record my ride but put it away safely anyway, so I couldn't see what I was doing until afterwards. With the GPS, I can put the phone away and still see what's going on. Especially the HR.
GPS is a no brainer for those who ride in wild and remote places without a phone signal. The accuracy of phones for navigation in remote and dangerous terrain is terrible. Circular error probability of 10s of metres with an Iphone once you are away from a signal as opposed to less than a meter with a GPS. In the mountains in poor visibility that is the difference between life and death.
Phone....Keep your old phones (don't get rid of them) and use them to track your GPS routes, mileage, etc. I also use an old one on my dirt bike to track my trails and such.
My Huawei P10 is tracker :) My iPhone 11 is the camera
What application do you use?
You should have used the Quad lock for putting the phone on the bars, really solid but a little bit pricey (nothing compared to getting a new phone because of a crash, because you cheapen out).
For phone app the Cannondale app with the Cannondale wheel sensor is absolutely brilliant.
The only need I would have for a garmin, is a timer to do warm-ups. But I like to just use Strava in my pocket.
OK, so I use my Polar Ignite watch and my phone, both with gps, and bike computer that counts the wheel rotations using magnet and sensor. The bike computer accurately tracks the mileage. Mileage tracked via gps is always lower by about 15%. I have always attributed this to the gps not capturing all of the up and down of the trails I ride. So, I’ll go with the old bike computer.
I prefer my phone - I’m never fussed about performance, I’m not trying to get KOMs or view my heartstrings etc, I like to see where I’ve gone and occasionally how fast I’ve gone at trail centres, or if I’m doing a big more XC focused ride, I like to explore and using my phone means that if I get lost, or I’ve planned a route somewhere unrideable, I can use OS maps and Google maps In line with komoot to check alternatives.
I can also view landmarks, cafes/pubs, or highlighted trails added by other users which is really handy on a 40 odd mile epic, or overnight bikepacking trip, and I can add highlights myself and include photos for those highlights which helps for future rides.
I have a quad lock mount which is solid as a rock and is far cheaper than investing in a gps and I love how big the screen is compared to a gps. The case is solid too (I cycled bar first into a telegraph pole and the thing is scuffed but survived!) and the modern iphones (I have an 11 and I know modern Samsung’s are the same) have a battery life than can last all day running strava, komoot, Spotify, Bluetooth (for headphones) and take photos and videos all day without getting low.
Phone all day for me!
You can in fact use garmin explore on your phone to navigate on your bike, and have your devices with tiny screens do the handeling of gps and such. haven't tested battery drain for it tho.
Fat Map is deadly if you're into visuals.... The 3D map and flyover feature is great for planning routes and getting a real feel for the topography, and it automatically loads your rides from Strava.
I use a Garmin Dual HRM connected to Strava through my phone, but a decent computer that's dedicated to the job, would be handy but to be honest if I'm exploring then I'm usually scoping Strava on the phone
When it comes to mtbing I always assume I'll need a GPS, my phone, my watch, another phone, another plan and a fvcking homing pigeon just to stay up to date...
Bit of Garmin sponsorship coming through? Phone only for me though not on the bars, I don't need to look at it while I'm riding. Lasts longer than a mates Garmin on all day rides and yes Neil, it does integrate with heart rate monitors and cadence sensors. They just need to support Bluetooth.
Always either a bike computer (Garmin 530 or Wahoo Elemnt Bolt) or my running watch for tracking / navigation. I reluctantly carry my phone for emergency purposes, I just would rather carry as little as possible in my pockets. I got a Quadlock just as a carry alternate to my pockets for my phone rather than tracking / navigation and yes it's a great mount / case but I just dislike anything the size of a large smart phone on the cockpit so I'm back with the phone in my pocket.
i carry a phone only. it is everything a person needs for routes, safety, pictures, and ebikes often have a usb outlet for extra charging. bam
I was out for a road ride with one of my local clubs. A friend who was on that ride used a phone to record the ride. However at the coffee stop they found out Strava had stopped recording. It detected the phone was starting to over heat and Strava closed down. When my friend got the phone out there was the over heating warning from Stava and the ride data was not kept. I still use a Garmin for my ride data. Even though my phone will still work after it's been driven over by a Ford F150 pick up. It is also waterproof and can be pressure washed. I however have not tried it. The battery also last about 1 week. So would not die on one ride using ride tracking apps.
Older flagship phones are cheaper than bike computers and still plenty capable for most people. Industry keeps pushing unnecesary tech and expense on riders who don't need it.
Awesome vid though
Used Strava on my Phone for a while, but ended up buying a Garmin Edge. It's much simpler to use, way more accurate, and I love the MTB dynamics.
Phone with Locus Map. The app even supports wireless sensors like Garmins. 👍
“Cycling computers have come a long way since wired head units and magnetic sensors in the wheels”
Me still using a Wired head unit and a magnetic sensor
Me too. Also the magnetic sensor is more accurate than a GPS especially in a trail with a lot of turns and switchbacks, the GPS just doesn't capture the exact distance that well. I use my Garmin 305 watch along with the bike computer and it always reads about .6 miles less than the bike computer on a 5 to 6 mile ride.
I’d love to get a Wahoo or Garmin bike computer but think I will miss using trail forks all the time when exploring new trails…. Guess I can still get the phone out of my bag or pocket if needed….
You can use Trailforks with most Garmin models
Phone in the backpack with voice guided navigation. Needs a bit of trust and adaptation to whichever app you`re using, but it works fine for me.
That mtb project app is rock solid, no loading, etc and completely free offline maps
Battery will never last as long as you think it will on your phone used as a GPS, And when you need the phone to call for any help or a pick up the battery will be flat. Unless of course you carry a spare phone or battery.
Maybe also consider for those people who ride further (or Farther) is a GPS tracker device, so friends and family can follow progress. Obviously nothing ever happens on a ride but the day it does is the day you may have no phone coverage and then the fun starts.
Never had battery issues with my phone, gone for 4 or 5 hours full gps and still at least at 50%, once one notices all the bloatware apps that consume your battery like Facebook, Instagram, tik tok, etc and disable their always on you'll see the difference...
Old iPhone 6 with OS maps. In Flight mode it lasts 7 hours with GPS on
@@robwalsh3082 I do hear what everyone is saying on these shorter rides, but to keep a phone for phone use and a GPS device for the navigation is best when “further and/or farther” is the key element of the ride. Many people don’t leave the trail park and obviously many keep rides down to a limited morning or afternoon too. But when a ride is in the further or farther category a dedicated GPS unit which is optimised for the purpose is going to outperform a phone.
Just get a big power bank and strap it next to the phone.
I record my rides on my Garmin Fenix 6 watch with external sensors (HR, Cadence, Speed - can't afford power meters), and I have my 'phone on my handlebars with a Quadlock - sometimes I use it to get speed checks for particular sections (more likely to do so on road rides and segments), but also because it is the source of my music on rides, and I like to be able to skip tracks etc. using the phone. It's also right there to grab a picture or control and preview the GoPro.
Two factors that win for me with a Smartphone on the bars is that I don't have to wear my reading glasses to see the numbers on the bigger screen (compared to the watch) and I can also have a supplementary navigation app to guide me (with spoken instructions). In my backpack, I carry a USB charge pack, to top up my headphones on a break, but usually make sure that phone & watch are fully charged anyway... because of the aforementioned eyesight limits, when I had the money, I would chose the 1030+ unit just for the screen size alone... my watch - with sensors - can record most of the data I want... My phone is a second screen, for other purposes... My phone is waterproof, so that is not a factor to having it on the bars or not, and the quadlock is a very secure mount. I used to use n older phone, and might still do if I am going on a treacherous ride, but it's limitation is the battery life...
Nice watch which is my next purchase, if the missus lets me!
@@scottlstone Look out for sales... I have seen them half price at times... it is a great watch... I didn't think I needed the Solar version (battery life has been great) and even though I did not get the sapphire one (I did not like the weird colour on the bezel) I got the 6X - the larger one... and have had no issues with damage... there are bezel and screen protectors, but they just make an admittedly somewhat bulky watch even bulkier... that said, I am used to mine now, and never notice the weight unless the strap is loose and it slips and flops around...
@@davidking3699 I’ll keep an eye out in the sales, I definitely want the solar version, I looked at the middle size but if money wasn’t an object I’d go with the largest bezel.
@@scottlstone Which country are you in? There are a couple of places in Australia running the half price sale... AU$625 for Fenix 6X Pro...
@@davidking3699 UK mate
I did a test using my phone and my older garmin watch and the phone was more accurate. I think it was using more points to mark out the route so the watch straightened out all the twists and turns.
Yeah probably just pinged the network more often. The Garmin was probably trying to save battery.
Love using my phone in my bag for polar tracking. Im not using gps for a route, so i wont need it. If I would go on an epic bike ride in a different country, a gps on the bike might be better as you need to see the route.
Yo utilizo ambos 👍🏻
Buen video.
Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷
My Edge 830 recently started to trip out and wouldn't connect to the satellites reliably. After a few phone calls and a lot of troubleshooting its working again as "normal" the phones seem very reliable as long as you have signal.
Stock standard GPS (The affordable Bryton 410 is perfect) for most biking stuff, for battery life, compactness and waterproofing. Then phone for Nav and anything else! No GPS Nav comes even close to phone mapping.
I use a cycling computer (Wahoo Element Roam) on my handlebars just that I don't smash my phone when I crash.
Things have come so far since my first Cateye Solar in 1985 - I now use my Apple watch or phone if I've forgotten to charge my watch.
not shown here, is 530 much harder to use than 830? basically, same device, just 530 doesn't have touchscreen. if it's just set and forget (with sync with maps services) 530 seems better option, cheaper and can be used while in wet conditions...
1:49 Hey Bobby look wass going on there
Used basic cycle computers most of my life, never needed anything more than current speed, total distance and maybe average and top speed. But now that i am preparing a big trip i am switching to a Garmin Oregon 700 because of the map related features.
EDIT: Btw, on the phone side, tried the Gaia GPS app with very good results, specially in my country where there are no stablished trails like in other countries it kept up quite accurately.
The advantage of pure GPS systems is they are independent from mobile internet - in countries with a shitty mobile network (bad coverage and high costs, like in Germany) the pure GPS has all the maps stored internally
I have a Garmin 530 plus
It will not stay connected to my phone?
It keeps deleting the maps I put on there?
So I have been using my phone & taking a power pack & plugging it in to my phone.
I track my ride on one app
& following a map with a different app. The down side is it eats the batter.
Incident Detection is practically useless, even a seemingly minor bump will set it off. I set the warning off just taking the bike off the car rack yesterday.. and when it does go off there's an embarrassing WHOOP WHOOP that goes off until you cancel. I'd imagine there's places it's useful and I'm leaving it enabled but it's more annoying than anything else. That said I love using my Garmin (Edge 520+) as opposed to just a cell phone, I don't ride without it. Lightweight, durable, long battery life, saves battery life on the phone, far more accurate GPS tracking in the woods and uploads rides to multiple apps simultaneously via Garmin Connect (like MapMyRide and Strava).
I'm in this conundrum right now. I'd like something with offline navigation for new trail systems and whatnot. The GPS does seem nice for that, mounting it to the bars or frame is smaller and more durable. But to be honest, the Garmin units are way overpriced for what you get. The screen, UI and overall design is so dated and yet they are charging nearly $1000 for something that looks more like it's from 2008 than 2023. Perhaps people just don't care. But I can't justify the price for such basic tech. If it were $300 I would get it.
I've come to the conclusion that buying a used iPhone SE 1st gen for like $50 (since they are so small) will probably be the way to go. I'd like to use a stem mount as that seems like the best location. But I have a short stem (as opposed to the longer XC stems) and I have a OneUp EDC so I can't use a top cap mount. I think the 2nd best location would be on the top of the top tube near the stem.
Haha!
Thanks for this video
That’s exactly what i wanted
It seams like GMBN reads the comments 😎
i would use my phone to record, but i have yet to find an app that works as well as a garmin watch with datafields and all that.
I got the quadlock out front mount and i have my phone there, unfortunately i have the s21 ultra so it's fekkin huge and a bit of an eye-sore, but for navigation the big screen is nice.
Anyone got any good apps to mention that can be configured like a garmin edge, and also support hr belt?
I was riding some remote trails on vacation and ran into an area with no cell service. Trailforks wouldn’t move as we didn’t pre-download the maps for the area and didn’t synch the map till we came back into a cell service area. Ill take the GPS any day.
Your phones gps also still works without internet. Just always download your riding area and set it to auto update
Welcome to Germany, you run into areas with low or no coverage here if you left the village
Are we not gonna comment on the sneaky squirrel at 8:13? He’s sending it (slowly) down that tree 😂🐿
I think the squirrel may have been the reason Neil wore the helmet the whole time 🤣 … except for the distraction 😅 it was a good compilation of pros and cons 👍
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus - 530 euro. My phone?about the same, but it does so more than tell me speed and distance.
The device you mentioned does much more than that as well 😅
mine costs less than half of the garmin so yea
It would be nice to see a comparison of more products from other manufacturers, but I guess it's actually a big AD trying to push a specific sponsor.
I use a phone anyway.
a gps device is really better . any way i use both , with the phone for backup when i do epic ride
The best thing for you is what you already have. No sense in buying something that the other already does.
Have you considered the possibility that some of us actually keep older smartphones which have fantastic colour displays and OS Maps on them without burning a shed load of cash on a plastic toy to record how many seconds we are airborne 😂
have a garmin 520 good, but just got a fenix 6x pro another level
I use my watch, knows when I'm mtb or cycling, register's my journey heart rate avg speed time etc. Am thinking of trying out a GPS though. Mainly for tracks dh
The GPS do what we whant and you can see what you whant and doesn´t fail. The phone loose the signal sometimes, not very acurate ... I use to go to remote places, and the signal is not very good, but the GPS continues working with no problems at all.
Very Useful, many thanks!
Phone with a quad lock mount on the bars
The GPS on the phone can be accurate at times, but also not so accurate at the same time. I actually got a KOM on strava only because of the poor GPS tracking on my phone (which isn't a bad thing I guess)
one thing you dont need on the edge 130: the sensor for jumping!
Works Great !
I use an older phone if I really have to put one on the bars. Modern phone OS, Android side at least, are very power efficient nowadays, so battery is not a problem. However I think the biggest problem is the sheer weight of the phone. The mount needs to be bulky to keep the phone hooked to the bars safely and firmly. I have the topeak cover / mount. It's brilliant, but still large enough to be annoying when going downhill on rough terrain. Phones are still the best for navigation in my humble opinion, for those cases I might take the phone out.
I use my phone when I'm in the backcountry to make sure I haven't missed a junction/don't get lost. It doesn't need to be on the bars to do this. Seriously, how often do you need to check your navigation? I can also take photos with it. I have no need to know how fast I went, or an arbitrary flow score.
Phones battery dies quicker, also if you are training seeing your data realtime is a big plus, also you can load workouts and see in realtime how you are hitting your workout goals.
So if you are serious about training and riding bike computer helps a lot.
I got tired of digging my phone out of my bag and taking off my gloves every time I came to an unknown junction. Garmin edge 530 did the trick. It also helps me pace myself because it shows me a graph indicating the climb ahead. Very helpful to keep me from blowing myself out on 4,000-ft climbs. 3D printed a mount that adheres to my carbon top tube just behind the steerer tube. Had my cell phone attached to the handlebars for a long time and shattered the screen eventually. It has trailforks, strava, etc integrated and being able to pre-plan my route in a new trail system is nice
''Best part of 1000 pound'' for a smart phone!!!. No way, mines probably cheaper than a Garmin. Even if you do have a luxury smart phone, maybe a second cheap phone would be a better option, as it has covers more functions, and has a bigger screen.
Which GPS would you recommend?
instead of using your main phone, an alternative is to search of used older smartphones, they all have gps, and you are giving them a second life. Probably you have a drawer of them or you can get one for 5 to 20 euros
I see all these phone battery comments and im just thinking damn, how long are you guys riding for? I'd have to ride for 9hrs straight to kill my phone battery even with GPS.
Be careful , 1:48 the Yeti is watching you!
I'd go for an OS map everytime. And if I drop a map it doesn't smash.
A good solution is to use old phones just for the rides
I use an old phone and oruxmaps, best impossible.
If I used my smartphone yesterday it would have broken it in my fall. My edge 830 is so small and has a silicone protector on it that it survived the crash
Gps unit. no question
Phone and Quad Lock mount
Use móvil in my shorts or camelback and farming computer on my bars.
Can you let me know the brand of knee pads Neil is using (need to get new ones)
Look like dainese pads
Dainese skins
Defo Dainese. Got them myself-super comfortable even in the heat of summer.
Using your phone on the bars may be OK for roadies, but, not for MTB. I'm not going to put a $1,600. device with a glass screen on my bars! Phones are too important now days to be without while it is being repaired. Case in point: Day one on my $265.00 Garmin 530, I crashed on a rock pile and smashed the screen, it was only 40 minutes old! I had the insurance on it and sent it off for repair, it's now been 10 days waiting on it. No brainer!
Komoot on my phone, but I want to invest in a garmin fenix
Will the successor of the edge 530 be released soon?
They say 40 series should come in H2 2022. I wonder how much that deviates from the truth.
Lower end but good
How about a mashup of both worlds, so one doesn't have to buy twice the same hardware (gps sensors, advanced cpu, memory, etc) which make up for the price of a good gps computer, a minimal screen with just Bluetooth that connects to your phone and uses all the advanced sensors there and only displays the info while your phone is safely in your backpack? $50 for the screen and just install an app, I'd but that, i wouldn't but a $300 gps computer though...
I have used my phone with the app Wikiloc, it performed flawlessly to navigate, explore and follow MTB tracks in my country, but I had some drawbacks: like struggling with battery life, having to pull the phone from my pocket (I just don't like to pit in my handlebars and if I did it battery life would become a major issue), then unlock to check the course (quite risky if I dared to keep riding my bike while doing that), even worse in rainy conditions. So I recently made my mind to get a Garmin GPS... first impression was that having it in the bars was great to follow a preloaded course, so comfortable, but it s*cked because they (Garmin) apart from the device, would charge you for downloading the maps so you can navigate properly (with street names and places in their GPS devices), I mean: how come at this point of history a GPS device (or at least Garmin's) do not use Google/Apple/Open Street maps info like any other smartphone do and keep their maps formats closed? I wasn't happy with that at all, I fortunately found a way to load Open Street's maps to this device (at no cost, but hey! the guys from OpenStreet, they deserve a donation) and then I thought I could stick to this GPS: the map now shows roads and places info from my locale and looks a little bit more to what I could achieve with my phone + Wikiloc app, but without the aforementioned drawbacks... that, plus this video just made me decide on sticking to the Garmin device. So thank you guys for helping me! :D
Seeing all of this tech reminds of the fools that do air-soft and act like they are special forces. Learn to read a paper map and use a compass. As for emergencies: do not ride alone - off-piste skiers are taught to go in groups of 4 for safety.
Old OS maps for me . sat nav and boogle maps Do Not have all the trails and i like annoying people with the proof of the bridal path if needed.
That's the spirit!
Ride with a guy who has Wahoo with wheel sensor, I use Strava same exact route his shows an average of 1.5 miles more than me
You would expect that if you're riding trails as Strava will only measure the (GPS based) distance travelled across the ground but the wheel sensor is based on wheel rotations, and generally on a mountain bike ride your wheel will spend a fair amount of time spinning while not connected to the ground!
gps watch is where its at
gps computers are generally more expensive then mobile phones
I use an old phone mounted on my stem just for navigation and basic apps, my main phone stays in my backpack.
Phone with a quad lock. No need for anything else.
Yeah great quality. I kid you not, Quadlock actually prevented me from going over the bars once. My torso just got blocked by it so I couldn't tip over lmao
@@bepp6120 they are really well made.
Agreed. I mount my phone to the bar with quad lock even if I don't use the GPS. Don't like carrying a backpack or have the phone in my pockets.
@@irfuel depends what phone you have
@@irfuel any battery will, not just a phone battery.
was this a Garmin sponsored video?
Yes GMBN are sponsored by Garmin
bryton rider 15 update in strava
Cheaper computer. Those Garmin devices are priced more than a cheaper phone. And you are locked to Garmin maps that could be bad in some countries
Anyone else notice the Garmin wasn’t on Neil’s stem...
Bought a Garmin Edge 530....phone with Viewranger is better by far, except for battery life if ur doing long long rides.
£1000! you need to shop around next time you change your phone!
I'll use my smartphone on my bike when it lasts 15 to 20 hours on a full charge has ant÷
I quite enjoy getting lost 😀