GPS recommendations...

[Mazz]

No but the Bolt V1 is not touchscreen.

Ah, OK - I'm just trying to find out if touchscreen technology on bike GPSs suffers from juddery wet screens.

 

[Cycling Badger]

I'm still running my old Garmin Edge 1000. Does the job, battery lasts for about 8 to 10 hours of riding.
Run a USB cable to it I need to power for longer.
Phone on a QuadLock mount for Komoot and OS maps as a backup.

I was considering replacing my Garmin Edge with a newer version, until I saw the price.

I came across this model talking to a younger chap in LBS who had just finished a trip around Scotland doing some kind of social media work with Moots. I asked how he found it and he said he really liked the inter-play with app on his phone and the great battery life. Battery life helped by the solar charging. Price looked reasonable, but HR strap goes around arm not chest - I'm not convinced about that. Though given how often I don't realised I forget chest strap until my base layer, bibs and cycle jersey are on it may be a good idea. May be worth researching considering.
https://coros.com/uk/dura

 

[lazybloke]

There are two buttons on the right side. One of the functions they offer is zoom in/out. I rarely use the function as I prefer to check my location on my phone. The Wahoo comes with an app, your route and ride shows in the app as well as on the GPS unit. If I need to zoom this is where I prefer to do so.

You have a bike computer but prefer to check your location by phone?

 

[Fergs]

I moved from a Garmin touring to a Coros dura this year, mainly cos the aged Garmin battery was running on fumes after 100k. It’s mostly used for navigating predetermined routes on solo rides and audaxes. And nabbing veloviewer tiles. I’ve no interest in sensors and monitors so I can’t offer an opinion on that, I’m afraid.

One thing that was new to me is the reliance on a phone app to configure the gps unit settings and send routes to it. There’s a small learning curve but I managed it with very little potty mouth, so it can’t be too bad. It’s nicer than repeatedly pressing buttons on the GPS unit, but pressing buttons isn’t a hardship.

The dura has been great for me so far. Things I like:
The battery life (main reason for buying) is huge. It lasted the LWL 400 and had half the charge left. And I’m a full-value rider. The solar top-up is a nice bonus but obviously weather and time of day dependent.
The nav screen has direction arrows which is great where a route loops back on itself (godsend on the new forest 200 and for tile-bagging for example)
Syncing routes from the app via Bluetooth, rather than using laptop and cables, works well (took me a little getting used to at first - Luddite!)
It hasn’t yet randomly frozen or turned off, which was an occasional “undocumented feature” of the Garmin.
I can use my Garmin mount with it
Ride with GPS pings routes to the app (distinct from the gps unit) with one mouse click.
Things I’m less keen on:
Occasionally the Bluetooth sync with the app doesn’t work and I have to restart the unit. The net hassle is roughly equivalent to loading a route to the Garmin with a cable, though.
It’s got a “hills” function that kicks in when it decides you’re on a hill, showing distance to the top, gradient, etc, but not the nav screen data. So I can’t work out the distance to the finish or next control if I’m on a climb. I’d turn it off but I quite like seeing how much hill is left.

It meets my needs very well so far and, from what I read on t’interweb, better than the established gps units would. So much so that I wasn’t upset when I realised I could have saved the cash and just replaced the Garmin battery 😁

 

[Binky]

You have a bike computer but prefer to check your location by phone?

Certainly with the Bolt V1 I have the mapping is pretty poor so using say Google maps in an area you aren't familiar with is much better.
The later versions have much better mapping so may not be needed.

 

[PaulSB]

You have a bike computer but prefer to check your location by phone?

The question was about zoom in/out, as you would know if you read the thread. The point of zooming in/out is to see one's location relevant to other places. There are ocassions when this is very helpful and a lot easier on a phone.

 

[Mazz]

I came across this model talking to a younger chap in LBS who had just finished a trip around Scotland doing some kind of social media work with Moots. I asked how he found it and he said he really liked the inter-play with app on his phone and the great battery life. Battery life helped by the solar charging. Price looked reasonable, but HR strap goes around arm not chest - I'm not convinced about that. Though given how often I don't realised I forget chest strap until my base layer, bibs and cycle jersey are on it may be a good idea. May be worth researching considering.
https://coros.com/uk/dura

Yes my nephew also told me about the Coros Dura, he said all the cool kids really rate them. Price seems reasonable too.

Me, personally I'm not even remotely interested in HR monitors and other bio data.

 

[Mazz]

I moved from a Garmin touring to a Coros dura this year, mainly cos the aged Garmin battery was running on fumes after 100k. It’s mostly used for navigating predetermined routes on solo rides and audaxes. And nabbing veloviewer tiles. I’ve no interest in sensors and monitors so I can’t offer an opinion on that, I’m afraid.

One thing that was new to me is the reliance on a phone app to configure the gps unit settings and send routes to it. There’s a small learning curve but I managed it with very little potty mouth, so it can’t be too bad. It’s nicer than repeatedly pressing buttons on the GPS unit, but pressing buttons isn’t a hardship.

The dura has been great for me so far. Things I like:
The battery life (main reason for buying) is huge. It lasted the LWL 400 and had half the charge left. And I’m a full-value rider. The solar top-up is a nice bonus but obviously weather and time of day dependent.
The nav screen has direction arrows which is great where a route loops back on itself (godsend on the new forest 200 and for tile-bagging for example)
Syncing routes from the app via Bluetooth, rather than using laptop and cables, works well (took me a little getting used to at first - Luddite!)
It hasn’t yet randomly frozen or turned off, which was an occasional “undocumented feature” of the Garmin.
I can use my Garmin mount with it
Ride with GPS pings routes to the app (distinct from the gps unit) with one mouse click.
Things I’m less keen on:
Occasionally the Bluetooth sync with the app doesn’t work and I have to restart the unit. The net hassle is roughly equivalent to loading a route to the Garmin with a cable, though.
It’s got a “hills” function that kicks in when it decides you’re on a hill, showing distance to the top, gradient, etc, but not the nav screen data. So I can’t work out the distance to the finish or next control if I’m on a climb. I’d turn it off but I quite like seeing how much hill is left.

It meets my needs very well so far and, from what I read on t’interweb, better than the established gps units would. So much so that I wasn’t upset when I realised I could have saved the cash and just replaced the Garmin battery 😁

Thanks for this. Very helpful.

 

[Milzy]

Hi,

I'm after a GPS, mainly for loading routes for Audaxes.

I guess my main requirements are:
1. Good clear display, colour preferably
2. Good battery life
3. Clear directional instructions
4. route files can be loaded up easily
5. Automatic Recalculating of route if you go off-route.

Nice to have:
5. Useable on mainland Europe

Budget - maybe up to £300?

Really not fussed if it's Garmin or Wahoo or any other brand, as long as it comes recommended. Thanks

Look at the 1040 in the for sale section. Bargain.