Why would i spend money on technology from the 1960s? If you want to market that hammerhead shark thing or whatever it s called make a comparison between a cyclist without a phone with the shark gps and another cyclist using a phone with google maps. Make it a 10 h race. Both must take lots of photos (the gps individual will use a traditional camera) and no powerbanks. Give the phone evry chance to run out of battery. MAYBE then you will have actually proven a point regarding gps devices. As it stand though... I simply dont need gps devices. I have a phone and a powerbank and cell data. With all those i am INVINCIBLE.
I live in Florida, Bath is mythical place where everybody is fit, ride their bikes to work, and finish the day in a pub with the best ales of the world. Lord of the rings material.
hammerhead paper specs wins hands down, in practice, the roam wins on battery life but you're looking at an ugly screen that doesn't re-route as quickly. The roam isn't anything special or innovative. The Karoo 2 has a sim slot, the ability to sideload apps like Spotify ect. Either way I run a Wahoo right now and should be getting my Karoo 2 in the next day or two. Hope it works out because the roam is a plastic toy in comparison.
Let us know how you find it after using it for a while! I don't need Spotify or WhatsApp on the head unit and the Roam is doing a fantastic job routing me around with routes planned on Strava or Komoot. Battery life of the Hammerhead is important too and what it is in real life. Also if it forgets what's been recorded so far if it does run out of battery. Wouldn't want to be carrying a charged powerbank on longer rides. Easy connection to HRM and other sensors needed too. And a smooth upload to Strava is a must obviously.
@@Samisipi I've been riding with the Hammerhead for about a 9 days and its stunning, the screen the navigation, sexy voiced audio ques screaming your turn by turn. Battery life so far has been about 12 hrs with stock settings apart from screen brightness is set to %20 which is plenty even on the sunniest days. I haven't had any of the bugs or glitches some have mentioned but needless to say the roam will be sold in the coming weeks. Worst case they have a trial free window and their customer support is lightning fast at replying to users.
Yup. I was glad to hear it's a bit less buggy now, and now can give beeps to warn you. Main two things which turned me off it when the first one came out and I was looking for my first GPS computer.
I've had mine for a few days now and I love it. It's my first bike computer and honestly it's a great addition, especially considering it's sooo much cheaper than a Garmin and the USB-C charging was what really sealed the deal. I used it to plan a route through a some pretty rural wetlands and back roads and it handled it flawlessly. It has one very specific downside though that it doesn't support ANT+LEV (e-bikes). I have a 2020 Orbea Gain, which came with a dinky little computer. I bought this after I tested a Garmin and a Wahoo unit thinking that if those could connect surely this would too. That was a mistake to assume. I've only used it for two trips but honestly I love it. Outside of my one use case I don't have any complaints. It's easy to use, looks great, and offers great on the fly navigation. Hopefully they add support for e-bikes and once they do it'll be the perfect head unit for me.
It should be possible with just a firmware update from what I know about ANT+LEV. All Ebikes and computers should have all the hardware they need with just a new firmware update to make the devices work together. I'm fairly certain that it doesn't use anything different from what is already either on the bike or in the computer. The Element Bolt first came without it and was only added later with a firmware update so I don't see why that wouldn't be possible with yours. Maybe send an email to the company to ask if they have any plans to implement it or if its possible as if people show an interest they are more likely to make it an option especially if its fairly easy to do. Oh Orbea make a substitute control computer for their Ebikes that shows the data of ANT+LEV. It gives all the speed, distance, etc, etc and it replaces the one that comes on the bike now so no extra screens. It can change the settings, power, battery use etc, shows any issues etc all the stuff the original did but also the ANT+LEV data. So maybe if HAMMERHEAD don't plan to implement it you could swap your Ebike controller for one of those, yes it's €100 if directly compatible or €160 with a dongle, if one of the bikes it's not directly compatible with but at least you'll have the data for no extra weight or screens and it's still far cheaper and more efficient than a power meter.
I don't mind the infomercial nature of this video...I mean we all understand what's going on and why it's necessary, so why not fully embrace it: The bits with Alex struggling with the map should've been in black and white! :D Pitting a GPS bike computer against a map & compass (instead of a smartphone app, which everyone already has) is like asking if a Commodore 64 can get the job done faster than a top-shelf modern gaming PC, so no suspense there.
I might be old but for me, it's any kind of GPS device every day of the week. I recently subscribed to Komoot and it changed my riding experience in ways I could never have imagined. I'll never go back to paper maps.
When i used to ride and commute back in the early 2000's when smart phones weren't that smart and GPS bike computers were things of science fiction, i carried a "A to Z" (map brand) of London. Trying to find the smallest map but with the most areas i need wasn't easy. Thankfully i had it in book form rather than Alex's ungainly folding map.
If Ollie ever comes to our side of the pond there is a perfect political party waiting for him. If you don't like the facts, just ignore them and declare victory.
Seldom do riders get dropped off in the middle of nowhere with inadequate maps! Most have at least a phone with some navigation app. The sun, weather report, and wind direction can be useful if all else has failed. Use the Karoo but practice other methods for unforeseen circumstances!
I actually prefer paper maps. If you're going to use early 20th century transportation technology, it only seems appropriate to use early 20th century navigation tech as well.
I know others have said this but: Mapholders exist. Laminated maps exist. You don't need a compass to follow roads. Much hassle can be avoided by planning in advance. I wouldn't rule out buying a GPS unit at some point but for now the map will do just fine!
When I use a paper map, I tear out the portion I need. No reason to have a full sized printed map. Alex only needed the bottom left hand corner of that map. Though once you use a GPS head unit, you will never go back to paper again. The Karoo looks like a nice unit.
I just got the Karoo 2 as I was on the early short list. It is extremely intuitive to use. The forum suggests a few work rounds that are being argued over in the update requests. However I am happy with the device compared to the other manufacturers which over years I have tried and fallen out of love with.
@@solefreak2 no…. There was no offer price. I wanted a simple interface and less button pressing and it has this. The interface with a mobile is good. however…..it has crashed and I could not recover it on a ride so had to do a mega hard reset which was not ideal on my return home. Jury is out.
@@solefreak2 so far once only, but I was on a 320km ride and had to switch to my phone for mapping and routing. I did complain to the team at Karoo, there was a patch and update soon after, I sent them the logs for the fault. I do like the Karoo for all it’s features but I carry a phone with the route as backup always. We shall see. It it happens again I with throw it under a steam roller thou.
Update. I have had a few 7 and 8 hour rides now and no crashes so far. So maybe the crash has been fixed with a few updates recently. I like everything about the Karoo 2 …. I still need more rides to be sure it will not let me down again. I specifically like the swipe control as opposed to endless button presses of other computers and watch type devices.
Brilliant video! I enjoyed every minute and learned something about the current navigation technology. If Ollie's unit is backlit, he can see it in the dark, where a map and compass will require the rider to find a light source or carry a weighty flashlight. Also, not too safe to stop in the middle of a road at night to check headings and route.
Having used Garmin and Mio in the past, and now using a Sigma Rox 12. Mostly for training and data. But for navigation only, especially during longer cycling holidays abroad, I prefer my smartphone. Larger, and much more detailed screen. Komoot and Naviki are my most used apps but there are so many to choose from. lack of battery life is not a problem at all, that's what powerbanks are for.
Buy maps ... a small scale map for the overview, and large scale maps for the detail. Plan your route/have an idea where you want to go. Then assuming you've got a smart phone, use it to take photographs of the relevant area. Gives you a much nicer view than google maps or strava, and doesn't rely on an internet connection. Put a compass app on your phone if you want, but you can usually tell direction from the Sun.
LOL. As someone who your use the OS maps in the 90s to map out and navigate routes, you can fold those maps to show just the area you are in. That said, GPS computers are awesome these days..
One thing I want to know: are the maps on the Karoo good and who provides the maps, eg. openstreetmap or else? How do they compare to Garmin? Also interesting would be if one can upload OS maps to the device
1. Ollie “The Tortoise” Bridgewood 2. Has state of the art GPS but loses to a map 3. GCN crew exploiting his 8.3mph avg speed I think the Ollie needs to take a break next week..or for GCN to SLOW down the subtle jabs
I used to tour with the middle ground. Use the map on the unit, but no planned route so I can just explore. As long as I’m in the right direction, I was happy
Alex should have taken a land navigation course from the military. The phones and GPS head units are great tools to have. I wish that there would be some reviews on more reasonably priced units not all of us get handed bikes and kit.
I like the presenters but the challenges are always so goofy. “Buy this head unit bc we proved it’s better than a paper map” as if any cyclist is using one of those. Is it better than a garmin, a wahoo or for the budget conscious, a phone? Also funny that a few days ago they ask us to quit mocking their average speeds bc speed only matters in races. Today Ollie does a race and averages 8mph.
Would have been impressive 10 years ago. But 15hrs battery life and “fast charge” 30% in 30 mins is laughable compared to a garmin. And who leaves for a ride without their phone these days. A solution to a problem that stopped being a problem a long time ago. It found a sweet spot of being less reliable than a garmin and less functional than a cellphone. Nice work.
13:40 - it appears that the worker in Hi Visibility clothing is going faster than ollie! if he carries on at this pace he will be dropped by a worker in Hi Visibility on a mtb!
The same culture that gave birth to Monty Python and Benny Hill rears it’s head slightly here in GCN. Turn it up higher. Hire some comedy writers. I had quite a few productions in foreign lands in the 90’s.. I had to navigate around with maps. Nothing beats their big high resolution foldout. Studying them the night before in the hotel room made me incredible aware of an unknown place. They allow you to see in greater context, where you are going and where you’ve just been. They still are boss for serious missions.
Got the Roam, pretty happy with it. Display is easy to read no matter what the light conditions are, no touchscreen (a plus in my opinion), reliable and sturdy. Storage space is ludicrously low, on the other hand. There's a side-by-side comparison on the hammerhead website: www.hammerhead.io/pages/karoo2comparison
I really like my karoo 2 updates every 2 weeks introducing new features all the time. Screen easy to read physical buttons and touch screen. I think you would be happy with either though battery life longer on wahoo but screen is better on Karoo
I know this is a joke, but at least show people how to really navigate without a gps. There is absolutely no need for a compass on the road. You have roadsigns and often no known landmarks to determine your position like you would in the wild. You don't even need the north indication. Use the map to plan which roads you are going to take, then follow roadsigns accordingly.
All the kit and still lost! Ok, to be clear, Ollie only had to follow the GPS instructions while Alex needed to stop, get a bearing, figure out a route and stop several times to navigate while Ollie could rely on his state of the art GPS. And Ollie still lost! I think that this video just took over from the 4 vs 1 challenge where Ollie was dropped. All the gear, no idea!
These videos are entertaining for sure and I do love the channel but can we get a balance of entertainment and useful reviews? As in this was a good watch but I’d also like to know how good a budget vs mid range vs top of the range gps bike computer compare in a test similar to what you done here. Hope this doesn’t come across like a moan, Keep up the great work much love and ride safe
What happened to Ollie's bike light throughout the video? Did he "drop" it? A future challenge for Hammond, sorry I meant Hank. Coast to Coast navigating by using the Stars.
Someone mentioned about just using your phone below. The only problem is that I can't find a free/cheapish android app that will connect the sensors. I know it's possible, but haven't found one yet. Any ideas? In the meantime I'm changing my Garmin 520 plus (too small for me to read) to a Karoo version 1 (ebay) - lots of peeps upgrading to v2, Warning: Ask seller about battery life though as it seems very difficult to get replacement batteries even off Alibaba.
Unfortunately, the 8:37 statement by Olie is patently inaccurate. Unfortunately, the biggest drawback of ALL current cycle computers (at least, the models without expandable storage), including the Hammerhead Karoo 2, is the insufficient storage for any sort of serious touring. The Europe maps alone will require twice (if not thrice!) the storage of the Karoo 2 to fit. Germany maps alone are ca. 9GB. If you are traveling from, say, North of Germany to South of Spain, you'll have to offload already covered maps to download and install new ones to compete the journey. It's a headache and a great strain on your wallet. Furthermore, out of thee 32GB (stil grossly insufficient!) of Karoo 2's storage only ca. 27-28GB be used for storing maps (roughly good for two biggest EU countries and a single smaller one). Updating maps will require additional storage yet, as new ones have to be downloaded, stored, and old ones discarded. The maps of the entire World take 100-something GB (somewhere in mid-100's). So - no, your can't install the entire World map in the Karoo 2. Hopefully, in the next iteration some 5 years on from now. I hope, by then the Karoo 3 comes with some 512GB storage for maps, music and sideloadable apps. With that said, I still consider the Karoo 2 the best cycler computer overall at present. Its UI is matched only by the Absolute One. Its overall design is better than most, too. Its navigation features need polishing somewhat, but even so, area among the best out there today. Its features set may be a tad narrower than, say, Garmin 1030's, but not by much; still in most respects it's better than any Garmin. Exceptions: battery life, some group ride -specific features. Among Karoo 2's strongest suits are: free maps, its smartphone-class, high resolution screen (almost 300PPI!), its visuals (physical AND UI), its navigation features compared to most devices (such as the Wahoo Roam, etc.), its relatively large screen, the regular, quite frequent, updates, the Dashboard features (still need improvement, but surpass most competition's), etc.
@@davidburgess741 ??huh Studies of spatial orientation actually show GPS use produces a progressive impairment. Gps is best used to help get quick bearings, not as a map to follow.
Thanks! They're both good head units, we don't think it's our place to tell you which is better though - everyone has different needs and preferences! We think you probably wouldn't be disappointed by either
![ค้าง (STILL) - GEMINI [ OFFICIAL MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ftxx3hk5vkU/mqdefault.jpg)
If your ride isn't online, did it really happen?
Hahahahahaha! Savage ending! I love it!
And No it doesn’t count if it’s not online. Hehehe!
Yes It did. It is all about the impression and not about what other people think of your ride🤔
Why would i spend money on technology from the 1960s? If you want to market that hammerhead shark thing or whatever it s called make a comparison between a cyclist without a phone with the shark gps and another cyclist using a phone with google maps. Make it a 10 h race. Both must take lots of photos (the gps individual will use a traditional camera) and no powerbanks. Give the phone evry chance to run out of battery. MAYBE then you will have actually proven a point regarding gps devices. As it stand though... I simply dont need gps devices. I have a phone and a powerbank and cell data. With all those i am INVINCIBLE.
Didn't Alex know thst you can just ask someone the way to Bath from Cheddar?
There was no such thing as online during the 1980’s and the TDF’s of ‘85-‘90 not only happened, but were the most memorable of all time!
10/10 for Alex’s compass mounting abilities.
It's a hack!
Definitely hack!
Alex flying by screaming “dropped again” ... Ollie is never gona escape this 😂
Well at least he's not being dropped from something, the joke will stay with him for ever more.
Ollie didn't bring his aero bike again
Ollie: all the kit, still ****! 🤔🐢🤣
@@monkeybizniz2095 I'm going with unfit. 🤔😉🐢💨💨💨
@@itarry4 🤔🤣
I live in Florida, Bath is mythical place where everybody is fit, ride their bikes to work, and finish the day in a pub with the best ales of the world. Lord of the rings material.
Me too, but all that mud is not as much fun as Florida sun.
I would find it more interesting to see how the Hammerhead Karoo 2 fares against the Wahoo Elemnt Roam..
hammerhead paper specs wins hands down, in practice, the roam wins on battery life but you're looking at an ugly screen that doesn't re-route as quickly. The roam isn't anything special or innovative. The Karoo 2 has a sim slot, the ability to sideload apps like Spotify ect. Either way I run a Wahoo right now and should be getting my Karoo 2 in the next day or two. Hope it works out because the roam is a plastic toy in comparison.
Let us know how you find it after using it for a while! I don't need Spotify or WhatsApp on the head unit and the Roam is doing a fantastic job routing me around with routes planned on Strava or Komoot. Battery life of the Hammerhead is important too and what it is in real life. Also if it forgets what's been recorded so far if it does run out of battery. Wouldn't want to be carrying a charged powerbank on longer rides. Easy connection to HRM and other sensors needed too. And a smooth upload to Strava is a must obviously.
@@mrbuddha5263 So had a chance to compare the two? Which one do you prefer?
@@Samisipi I've been riding with the Hammerhead for about a 9 days and its stunning, the screen the navigation, sexy voiced audio ques screaming your turn by turn. Battery life so far has been about 12 hrs with stock settings apart from screen brightness is set to %20 which is plenty even on the sunniest days. I haven't had any of the bugs or glitches some have mentioned but needless to say the roam will be sold in the coming weeks. Worst case they have a trial free window and their customer support is lightning fast at replying to users.
Alex's compass mount has got to be hack of the week... Get that guy a GCN Elite Water bottle at the very least!
Just get lost! Thats why cycling is so funny ☺️ you'll see the route with much more attention than looking to a gps.
I enjoy memorizing my routes by studying a map. It exercises my spatial awareness. Doesn't hurt to have a back up plan though, paper or digital.
Hack/bodge Alex's compass mount?
Just make sure your mount doesn't have a magnet in it.
i'll start this .. hack
Bodge
Hack!
Definitely a hack from me, probably a bodge from Si;)
i know it a 17 minute ad for the karoo (and i really appreciate it as a device, hope it will have success) but they were able to make it interesting
Yup. I was glad to hear it's a bit less buggy now, and now can give beeps to warn you. Main two things which turned me off it when the first one came out and I was looking for my first GPS computer.
I've had mine for a few days now and I love it. It's my first bike computer and honestly it's a great addition, especially considering it's sooo much cheaper than a Garmin and the USB-C charging was what really sealed the deal. I used it to plan a route through a some pretty rural wetlands and back roads and it handled it flawlessly.
It has one very specific downside though that it doesn't support ANT+LEV (e-bikes). I have a 2020 Orbea Gain, which came with a dinky little computer. I bought this after I tested a Garmin and a Wahoo unit thinking that if those could connect surely this would too. That was a mistake to assume.
I've only used it for two trips but honestly I love it. Outside of my one use case I don't have any complaints. It's easy to use, looks great, and offers great on the fly navigation. Hopefully they add support for e-bikes and once they do it'll be the perfect head unit for me.
It should be possible with just a firmware update from what I know about ANT+LEV. All Ebikes and computers should have all the hardware they need with just a new firmware update to make the devices work together. I'm fairly certain that it doesn't use anything different from what is already either on the bike or in the computer. The Element Bolt first came without it and was only added later with a firmware update so I don't see why that wouldn't be possible with yours.
Maybe send an email to the company to ask if they have any plans to implement it or if its possible as if people show an interest they are more likely to make it an option especially if its fairly easy to do.
Oh Orbea make a substitute control computer for their Ebikes that shows the data of ANT+LEV. It gives all the speed, distance, etc, etc and it replaces the one that comes on the bike now so no extra screens. It can change the settings, power, battery use etc, shows any issues etc all the stuff the original did but also the ANT+LEV data. So maybe if HAMMERHEAD don't plan to implement it you could swap your Ebike controller for one of those, yes it's €100 if directly compatible or €160 with a dongle, if one of the bikes it's not directly compatible with but at least you'll have the data for no extra weight or screens and it's still far cheaper and more efficient than a power meter.
The moment when the Brexit deletes the Map in the headunit
Alex is becoming serious competition for Hank when it comes to challenges that cause suffering.
I have received my HAMMERHEAD recently. Is absolutely awesome.
11:01 That's your own fault for unfolding it. You never really need to completely unfold an OS map, and especially not outdoors.
Well, we all know Si would've beat both of them. Even if he was blindfolded.
If Alex wasn’t using a head unit or phone to track his ride and, therefore, couldn’t upload it to strava, did his ride count?
Yes it did. There is even video evidence. 😄
I don't mind the infomercial nature of this video...I mean we all understand what's going on and why it's necessary, so why not fully embrace it: The bits with Alex struggling with the map should've been in black and white! :D Pitting a GPS bike computer against a map & compass (instead of a smartphone app, which everyone already has) is like asking if a Commodore 64 can get the job done faster than a top-shelf modern gaming PC, so no suspense there.
Lol Alex saying "you've got all the kit and I still beat you" the PC way of saying you've got all the kit and you're still shit
I did go to say that but figured we should film a polite version which was used in the vid😂😂😂
I might be old but for me, it's any kind of GPS device every day of the week. I recently subscribed to Komoot and it changed my riding experience in ways I could never have imagined. I'll never go back to paper maps.
Never have I so willingly watched a commercial
Ollie thought that he was Gilbert at Flanders, but he was really more like Alaphilippe at Liege! 😁
When i used to ride and commute back in the early 2000's when smart phones weren't that smart and GPS bike computers were things of science fiction, i carried a "A to Z" (map brand) of London. Trying to find the smallest map but with the most areas i need wasn't easy. Thankfully i had it in book form rather than Alex's ungainly folding map.
If Ollie ever comes to our side of the pond there is a perfect political party waiting for him. If you don't like the facts, just ignore them and declare victory.
Seldom do riders get dropped off in the middle of nowhere with inadequate maps! Most have at least a phone with some navigation app. The sun, weather report, and wind direction can be useful if all else has failed. Use the Karoo but practice other methods for unforeseen circumstances!
after watching videos with olli, I automaticaly looking through comments for Boliver Fridgewater:D
08:00 Alex’ compass mount; Hack or Bodge? 11:10 Alex gives the answer 😁👍🏻
I actually prefer paper maps. If you're going to use early 20th century transportation technology, it only seems appropriate to use early 20th century navigation tech as well.
Lovely episode, had so much fun to watch, love the GPS device and considering to purchase one soon
So how does the karoo compares to the wahoo roam?
Any preference towards one or the other?
Thanks.
I know others have said this but:
Mapholders exist.
Laminated maps exist.
You don't need a compass to follow roads.
Much hassle can be avoided by planning in advance.
I wouldn't rule out buying a GPS unit at some point but for now the map will do just fine!
When I use a paper map, I tear out the portion I need. No reason to have a full sized printed map. Alex only needed the bottom left hand corner of that map. Though once you use a GPS head unit, you will never go back to paper again. The Karoo looks like a nice unit.
I just got the Karoo 2 as I was on the early short list. It is extremely intuitive to use. The forum suggests a few work rounds that are being argued over in the update requests. However I am happy with the device compared to the other manufacturers which over years I have tried and fallen out of love with.
Was it on offer when pre ordering?
@@solefreak2 no…. There was no offer price. I wanted a simple interface and less button pressing and it has this. The interface with a mobile is good. however…..it has crashed and I could not recover it on a ride so had to do a mega hard reset which was not ideal on my return home. Jury is out.
@@davidalderson7761 How often has it crashed on you? Doesn't sound good. I've ordered one but thankfully it comes with a 45day no quibble return.
@@solefreak2 so far once only, but I was on a 320km ride and had to switch to my phone for mapping and routing. I did complain to the team at Karoo, there was a patch and update soon after, I sent them the logs for the fault. I do like the Karoo for all it’s features but I carry a phone with the route as backup always. We shall see. It it happens again I with throw it under a steam roller thou.
Update. I have had a few 7 and 8 hour rides now and no crashes so far. So maybe the crash has been fixed with a few updates recently. I like everything about the Karoo 2 …. I still need more rides to be sure it will not let me down again. I specifically like the swipe control as opposed to endless button presses of other computers and watch type devices.
Awesome. Works great and super easy set up. We love it.
Brilliant video! I enjoyed every minute and learned something about the current navigation technology. If Ollie's unit is backlit, he can see it in the dark, where a map and compass will require the rider to find a light source or carry a weighty flashlight. Also, not too safe to stop in the middle of a road at night to check headings and route.
Great Fun video, Ollie and Alex!!!!
Having used Garmin and Mio in the past, and now using a Sigma Rox 12. Mostly for training and data. But for navigation only, especially during longer cycling holidays abroad, I prefer my smartphone. Larger, and much more detailed screen. Komoot and Naviki are my most used apps but there are so many to choose from. lack of battery life is not a problem at all, that's what powerbanks are for.
but,gee, all the cool kids have one.
Really, only advantage is ANT+ connectivity
@@whazzat8015 Haha! At 54 I ain't cool anymore and don't feel the need to act like one either. :-)
From now on Ollie's going to just flat out deny ever loosing at anything 😄
Ollie lost due to the bike. When will he get it.
Next week GCN will have an Uphill vs Downhill race brought to you by Going Down Hills LLC
😂😂😂
I see Dan is gcn's Mr Wilman
Buy maps ... a small scale map for the overview, and large scale maps for the detail. Plan your route/have an idea where you want to go. Then assuming you've got a smart phone, use it to take photographs of the relevant area. Gives you a much nicer view than google maps or strava, and doesn't rely on an internet connection. Put a compass app on your phone if you want, but you can usually tell direction from the Sun.
What mount did you use for that Canyon steering wheel??
Love the grand tour style videos!
I just got my Karoo 2. just waiting for sensors to come in to test them out. so far I like it!
GPS batteries run out, magnetism will run till the sun consumes the planet. Or the magnetic field collapses, in which case we are all bugged any way.
Compass mount MASSIVE hack Alex!!!
Cheers from sunny Tasmania!
Got vivid top gear vibes from that start bit
LOL. As someone who your use the OS maps in the 90s to map out and navigate routes, you can fold those maps to show just the area you are in. That said, GPS computers are awesome these days..
I have to say, if you are out to see the country. The map us more fun.
Better have a pair of running shoes handy if you are using a map. May need to chase it down when it is blown away. Well done, fellas. Well done.
this was just fantastic... good job guys. I laughed out loud when i saw alex motoring behind ollie
One thing I want to know: are the maps on the Karoo good and who provides the maps, eg. openstreetmap or else? How do they compare to Garmin?
Also interesting would be if one can upload OS maps to the device
Alex's compass mount, hack or bodge? Brilliant really. Another great video. Take care, Al
Good question - maybe submit it in the app 😉
14:58 I was waiting for that moment :D
Try giving Ollie the physical map and see what happens.🤣
1. Ollie “The Tortoise” Bridgewood
2. Has state of the art GPS but loses to a map
3. GCN crew exploiting his 8.3mph avg speed
I think the Ollie needs to take a break next week..or for GCN to SLOW down the subtle jabs
Ollie has different personalities, Dr Ollie and now Evil Ollie at the end there XD
I used to tour with the middle ground. Use the map on the unit, but no planned route so I can just explore. As long as I’m in the right direction, I was happy
Ollie, you won, period. Alex, this is 2121, if it isn't on Strava, it didn't happen, end of subject. Great work , Ollie, you earned this one . KB.
How are mile markers on UK roads? My old touring routing, I just match the mile markers on the roads with the map
Alex should have taken a land navigation course from the military. The phones and GPS head units are great tools to have. I wish that there would be some reviews on more reasonably priced units not all of us get handed bikes and kit.
Some of us have handlebar bags with actual map cases on top, so Alex should have been properly equipped at the start.
Good for an ad. Also that screen seems to be the selling point to me
introducing GCN’s newest presenter: 🐌
Isn't that just Ollie
I like the presenters but the challenges are always so goofy. “Buy this head unit bc we proved it’s better than a paper map” as if any cyclist is using one of those. Is it better than a garmin, a wahoo or for the budget conscious, a phone?
Also funny that a few days ago they ask us to quit mocking their average speeds bc speed only matters in races. Today Ollie does a race and averages 8mph.
Would have been impressive 10 years ago. But 15hrs battery life and “fast charge” 30% in 30 mins is laughable compared to a garmin. And who leaves for a ride without their phone these days. A solution to a problem that stopped being a problem a long time ago. It found a sweet spot of being less reliable than a garmin and less functional than a cellphone. Nice work.
How is it for turn by turn mountain biking ?
That mount for compass - hack or bodge, hack 100% unless he got a mate who is a cub leader to make it
13:40 - it appears that the worker in Hi Visibility clothing is going faster than ollie! if he carries on at this pace he will be dropped by a worker in Hi Visibility on a mtb!
My Karoo 2 will arrive tomorrow, bye bye Garmin...
Errrr...did your sponsors Wahoo approve this?
Any one notice that 7 mins 30 Ollie has a light on his bike, the shot changed and the light is missing.
07:47 thats a GCN hack of the year winner 100%. I don't care its only February 😂
The same culture that gave birth to Monty Python and Benny Hill rears it’s head slightly here in GCN. Turn it up higher. Hire some comedy writers.
I had quite a few productions in foreign lands in the 90’s.. I had to navigate around with maps. Nothing beats their big high resolution foldout. Studying them the night before in the hotel room made me incredible aware of an unknown place. They allow you to see in greater context, where you are going and where you’ve just been. They still are boss for serious missions.
Maps are nice that they don't run out of batteries, and they are at least twice as accurate as UK road signage.
Hey Alex, if you had no idea where you were at the start of the video, how did you figure where you were using that map and compass?
Ride out till you see the first road sight
Err Cheddar to Bath... Up to the fork turn Left to Chew Magner.. turn Right keep in the road to Bath!
Karoo 2 or Elemnt Roam?? Looking to buy a bike computer but don't know which to go for
Look at the btt life of the two units. It will help you to make a decision.
Got the Roam, pretty happy with it. Display is easy to read no matter what the light conditions are, no touchscreen (a plus in my opinion), reliable and sturdy. Storage space is ludicrously low, on the other hand.
There's a side-by-side comparison on the hammerhead website:
www.hammerhead.io/pages/karoo2comparison
I really like my karoo 2 updates every 2 weeks introducing new features all the time. Screen easy to read physical buttons and touch screen. I think you would be happy with either though battery life longer on wahoo but screen is better on Karoo
@@talonlan does the Karoo work with the Garmin Varia radar light?
@@daniels6554 yeah it does full colour. Yellow for approaching cars, red for fast cars and green when all clear. Also audio cues
Damn, that gorge is beautiful. I wanna climb it!
7:47 - Alex's entry to Hack or Bodge! 100% hack
More scripted than Top Gear...
Yo, where can I buy one of those cycling compasses though.
Lesson for Ollie " You snooze, You Loose "
I know this is a joke, but at least show people how to really navigate without a gps. There is absolutely no need for a compass on the road. You have roadsigns and often no known landmarks to determine your position like you would in the wild. You don't even need the north indication. Use the map to plan which roads you are going to take, then follow roadsigns accordingly.
What's with the front light that keeps appearing and disappearing? I think that this whole episode/competition is a complete stitch up.
All the kit and still lost! Ok, to be clear, Ollie only had to follow the GPS instructions while Alex needed to stop, get a bearing, figure out a route and stop several times to navigate while Ollie could rely on his state of the art GPS.
And Ollie still lost!
I think that this video just took over from the 4 vs 1 challenge where Ollie was dropped.
All the gear, no idea!
I used a map on my last endurance epic...but only the part of the map that was relevant. I was very happy.
I love Alex's "one joke for the whole show" map in wind howler.
These videos are entertaining for sure and I do love the channel but can we get a balance of entertainment and useful reviews? As in this was a good watch but I’d also like to know how good a budget vs mid range vs top of the range gps bike computer compare in a test similar to what you done here. Hope this doesn’t come across like a moan, Keep up the great work much love and ride safe
What happened to Ollie's bike light throughout the video? Did he "drop" it?
A future challenge for Hammond, sorry I meant Hank. Coast to Coast navigating by using the Stars.
Karoo 2 looks dope
The end is to die for lol
Someone mentioned about just using your phone below. The only problem is that I can't find a free/cheapish android app that will connect the sensors. I know it's possible, but haven't found one yet. Any ideas?
In the meantime I'm changing my Garmin 520 plus (too small for me to read) to a Karoo version 1 (ebay) - lots of peeps upgrading to v2, Warning: Ask seller about battery life though as it seems very difficult to get replacement batteries even off Alibaba.
Battery replacement Can be done though. V1 is pretty nice and going for ˜$125 to 150
Unfortunately, the 8:37 statement by Olie is patently inaccurate. Unfortunately, the biggest drawback of ALL current cycle computers (at least, the models without expandable storage), including the Hammerhead Karoo 2, is the insufficient storage for any sort of serious touring. The Europe maps alone will require twice (if not thrice!) the storage of the Karoo 2 to fit. Germany maps alone are ca. 9GB. If you are traveling from, say, North of Germany to South of Spain, you'll have to offload already covered maps to download and install new ones to compete the journey. It's a headache and a great strain on your wallet.
Furthermore, out of thee 32GB (stil grossly insufficient!) of Karoo 2's storage only ca. 27-28GB be used for storing maps (roughly good for two biggest EU countries and a single smaller one). Updating maps will require additional storage yet, as new ones have to be downloaded, stored, and old ones discarded.
The maps of the entire World take 100-something GB (somewhere in mid-100's). So - no, your can't install the entire World map in the Karoo 2. Hopefully, in the next iteration some 5 years on from now. I hope, by then the Karoo 3 comes with some 512GB storage for maps, music and sideloadable apps.
With that said, I still consider the Karoo 2 the best cycler computer overall at present. Its UI is matched only by the Absolute One. Its overall design is better than most, too. Its navigation features need polishing somewhat, but even so, area among the best out there today. Its features set may be a tad narrower than, say, Garmin 1030's, but not by much; still in most respects it's better than any Garmin. Exceptions: battery life, some group ride -specific features. Among Karoo 2's strongest suits are: free maps, its smartphone-class, high resolution screen (almost 300PPI!), its visuals (physical AND UI), its navigation features compared to most devices (such as the Wahoo Roam, etc.), its relatively large screen, the regular, quite frequent, updates, the Dashboard features (still need improvement, but surpass most competition's), etc.
Nice bit of kit but hells bells that was a long advertisement!
I guess someone charged and programmed Ollies computer beforehand. Do this challenge again without electricity, apps, and wifi.
6:45 my garmin edge 830 confirms that.
I wonder how the GPS would've fared against someone who can read a map and use a compass sensibly and have a map that covers the correct area.
Or with a cheap phone that is already paid for?
not much of a challenge.
Even Google Maps could best mishandled map and compass.
@@davidburgess741 ??huh
Studies of spatial orientation actually show GPS use produces a progressive impairment. Gps is best used to help get quick bearings, not as a map to follow.
Ollie lost again and I can't see how at a massive 8.4 mph avg speed according to his fancy GPS. Alex must just be a beast.
Awesome video. How did you rate the Hammerhead v a Wahoo ?
Thanks! They're both good head units, we don't think it's our place to tell you which is better though - everyone has different needs and preferences! We think you probably wouldn't be disappointed by either