GPS Navigation - What are people using?
- Thread starter PedallingNowhereSlowly
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I tried a Lezyne, then a Wahoo Bolt and eventually bought a Garmin 1030 plus, I’m guessing five years ago. It’s ridden through extremely wet days including a 10 hour outing which included probably four in the rain. It’s battery is still all day good and i usually charge it once a week before a long ride.
i create my routes in Strava and they appear on the Garmin like magic, no in between software required. Climbpro is a revelation I would not be without.
its had one problem in that (possibly my fault) it failed spectacularly during an update. Garmin help were close to useless except they gave us one nugget that allowed my nephew to wipe it back to factory.
When it’s time comes I will probably get the latest equivalent, presently the 1050.
i create my routes in Strava and they appear on the Garmin like magic, no in between software required. Climbpro is a revelation I would not be without.
its had one problem in that (possibly my fault) it failed spectacularly during an update. Garmin help were close to useless except they gave us one nugget that allowed my nephew to wipe it back to factory.
When it’s time comes I will probably get the latest equivalent, presently the 1050.
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No Strava IQ app on your Garmin Edge then ?
Psamathe
Über Member
I don't do "training", just recreational cycling but when touring the ClimbPro feature is fantastic. Load next day's route and it scans for "climbs" and before even starting it will show you how many, where and how "bad" the climbs are. Once underway it will tell you how far to next climb so you can ease off so you don't arrive at the bottom of the hill exhausted. Plus know when only one climb to go, not far to top, all climbs for today done, ... etc. Brilliant touring feature.
On 1050 Garmin recently did a bug ridden release. My guess was probably one bug but in common of OS and was causing large numbers of devices to keep failing eg crashing every few miles. Garmin despite acknowledging the issues refused to allow anybody to revert to previous working version. Standard issue with Garmin - excellent hardware but very poor software. They need to sort out their software development, have needed to for some time.
Even worse is once the device detects an update you have to be very very careful, answer "now" or "later" and update can't be stopped; you have to close the pop-up without answering again and again and again ... forever. Trick I've done is blocked access to their update domain so it can't even check for updates nor download any so I can wait on a stable version and check after a few weeks how many are reporting what bugs before allowing any update.
Last night for the first time as I shutdown my Garmin XT2 motorcycle satnav it started an update all on its own, i will be out on the motorbike again tomorrow so guess i will see how successful it was and has it has changed. I was riding home from Holland so was reliant upon it, not just over the channel but the M25 and M3 was a mess and I found myself going into London on the A1, joining the N Circular and some other roads that spat me out on the M4 nr Hayes. Then getting off the M25 again almost immediately to ride the A30 from Staines through Sunningdale and onto the M3 at Lightwater. Finally got home at just after midnight. I was extremely grateful for the XT2
Psamathe
Über Member
Updating is a risk, particularly where historically Garmin have released very bug ridden versions. Hence control and delaying/preventing updates is crucial. I won't update any software mid-tour both because of the risk of introduced bugs but also because the rubbish campsite Wi-Fi or limited/expensive mobile data I may want to create tomorrows route, backup photos, etc. more important stuff than updating a working system.
Garmin are not considering their users which is basically the way Garmin's Software teams work - inadequate and somebody senior needs replacing.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
TBH I've never had a problem with Garmin updates. I decline them when prompted unless I'm at home, with WiFi and a bit of time to spare. When I'm ready I restart the device and leave it to do its stuff. Older wired devices I periodically check using Garmin Express. (That's from over 20 years and maybe half a dozen different devices.)
Psamathe
Über Member
It was version 13.13 for the 1050 several months ago. Garmin reps were posting things like
etc., etc.
And despite bricking quite a few devices (endless re-boot loops on power on, repeated crashes during short rides, etc.) Garmin refused to allow any downgrade to the previous working version, instead keeping many without working devices or with seriously malfunctioning devices for several weeks. Imagine that happening if they updated the device you own/paid for without your permission mid-tour.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I wasn't doubting you, @Psamanthe Just saying that I've never had any issues on any of my devices.
Psamathe
Über Member
It's actually a strange balance. All software has bugs, just a question as to how many and how serious for any given use. On tour one year my long stable Garmin happily navigated me turn-by-turn every day until after a few weeks one day the turn by turn just stopped working, route fine and showed on screen fine, marker following the route fine but device just kept saying eg turn left in 999 miles. Recreated route, part route, etc. and all failed in same way. Next day's route and rest of tour (another 5 weeks) worked fine every day.
Had an expert look at the route and it was fine so most likely issue was some character in some street name along the route (or similar) caused a bug to cause it's problem. Tried same route on non-Garmin devices (phone) and fine.
Issues are maybe a question of degree/when rather than if.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I did have an Edge Touring that used to have a nervous breakdown if I loaded routes that were too long (solution, break routes into bits). And my 530 did a couple of unscheduled reboots, which was annoying because recording was turned off when it rebooted. Eventually it grew out of that habit. But that's about it for me. Mr Boring.
I thought my 1040 was really buggy when I got it, but it turned out that it was my fault for not understanding how to use it. I think the reason for my good luck is because when Garmin Edge devices were going through their worst patch (2010-2017 ish) I was using handhelds like the Etrex, which are low on functionality but bulletproof.
I thought my 1040 was really buggy when I got it, but it turned out that it was my fault for not understanding how to use it. I think the reason for my good luck is because when Garmin Edge devices were going through their worst patch (2010-2017 ish) I was using handhelds like the Etrex, which are low on functionality but bulletproof.
