Car Sat Nav attached to bicycle ... Good Idea?

[Deleted member 26715]

I thought one of the reasons bike navs are expensive is because the owner can download routes in the form of GPX files and follow them.

You can put in way points but it's not as easy as uploading a file, Garmin's used to have the facility but they removed it on the newer version.

To me one downside of a Garmin, I have an Edge 800, is that the screen is that small I find navigating on the move impossible, but that might just be my eyes.

 

[k_green]

Check CEX for used cycle satnav.

 

[Salar]

No batteries required:-

Map and compass.

 

[pawl]

You can’t beat the good old OS map.

 

[Salar]

You can’t beat the good old OS map.

Agree

 

[ianrauk]

Well.. I think you can deduce from the various posts that it's a crap idea.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Well.. I think you can deduce from the various posts that it's a crap idea.

I'm not convinced it's totally bad, I'm actually looking into putting a sat nav onto a mobility scooter, just in case my aged father finds himself in a familiar unfamiliar place so at least he can hit the Go Home button.

 

[ianrauk]

I'm not convinced it's totally bad, I'm actually looking into putting a sat nav onto a mobility scooter, just in case my aged father finds himself in a familiar unfamiliar place so at least he can hit the Go Home button.

That's not a bad idea for a specific intended use.
But there are so many more better alternatives for a bike.

 

[midliferider]

I considered this several years ago and asked the very same question. These are the reasons why it is not a good idea.

Battery life. It has no battery at all. Once it is disconnected from power, it would not work. Therefore the idea of power pack is not solution.

It is not water proof and no amount of wrapping will save it.

Screen is not cycle friendly to read on sunlight and during rain.

You can not upload routes

It is actually not very cheap with compared to basic Garmin. I use Garmin Dakota 20 and more recently Garmin touring edge given to me by my son. I actually prefer Dakota 20 and you can buy a second hand one cheaper than car sat nav.

And finally we are cyclists. Anything made for a car is Devil's work.

 

[cyberknight]

Most car satnavs are not good in bright sunlight

fine then in the uk

 

[vickster]

fine then in the uk

Beautiful sunny day here in Surrey

 

[cyberknight]

Beautiful sunny day here in Surrey

farking pissing it down at 5.45 am on yesterdays commute.

 

[vickster]

I would hope the OP doesn’t need a sat nav to commute to usual place of work?

 

[topshopper19]

I'm not convinced it's totally bad, I'm actually looking into putting a sat nav onto a mobility scooter, just in case my aged father finds himself in a familiar unfamiliar place so at least he can hit the Go Home button.

Thanks. A bit of creativity doesnt hurt anyone.

 

[topshopper19]

I would hope the OP doesn’t need a sat nav to commute to usual place of work?

Nope. Just for new business which involves travelling around different parts of london.