What Device?

[Animo]

I'd go for the Element Bolt - currently under 200 quid on Start Fitness with the discount code.

 

[Binky]

When you say cheapo speed sensor. What exactly presumably not the Wahoo one.

One of these, make is Magene if you can see it. Fits on hub so better than magnetic job on spoke etc. These also "double" up as a cadence sensor so I have one on my non drive crank as well. Can get on AliExpress for less than £10 and work great.

 

[Webbo2]

View attachment 769331
One of these, make is Magene if you can see it. Fits on hub so better than magnetic job on spoke etc. These also "double" up as a cadence sensor so I have one on my non drive crank as well. Can get on AliExpress for less than £10 and work great.

Cheers.👍

 

[Animo]

+1 for those Magene sensors. I got two for 12 quid which I use in cadence mode on two different bikes.

 

[Alex321]

Yes I’m aware you can get a speed sensor. Which is just like a wheel magnet and then what’s the point of having a £200 gps unit, rather than a £50 unit with said wheel magnet.

Because the £200 unit also maps your ride and transfers it automatically to Strava, and does various other things.

If all you want is to know your current speed, distance and average speed, then there is no point at all spending loads on a GPS unit.

 

[Pblakeney]

I carry a spare CR20230 battery to replace if required. Happened on a long ride in Mallorca. Nothing worse than slogging up Sa Calobra and not having proof you did it!

I fit new batteries if I'm going on a trip and put the old ones back in on return.

 

[Pblakeney]

I was like the OP just using my mobile for several yrs after having some well documented failures on BR of the garmin edge touring, refuse to have another. Finally got a bryton rider 750 when on offer and tbh does everything and more than needed. Downloading a route onto it is easy from smartphone. Did borrow a wahoo bolt which was brilliant, but the price wasn't good at the time. I had a try of a karoo at an event and that was OK as well. A source of everything gps or smart trainer etc is DC rainmaker on YouTube. TBH whatever you choose nowadays will be pretty reliable including garmin.

^^^^ This^^^^

 

[blackrat]

I have just recently bought a used Wahoo Roam 1. It is by far the best piece of tech I have ever bought and everything from set up to displays, route download and uploads to Strava have been easy peasy and, just worked. I used the route on our recent Silloth to South Shields and it was simple to follow, re routed when we went off piste and started again each morning from where we were. It is crap at finding a place to navigate to, like a hotel etc because you have to manipulate the cross hairs to a target and then select. I hear that in future an option to find somewhere on Google maps and download it as a destination for the unit to route too is coming. I am sure others are good and later models are better but for 100 squids this does everything I need.

Couldn't you use your phone to open up Google and find a hotel?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I've just read one on Amazon that said the device doesn't work if it cannot connect to the IGSport server in China. I find that difficult to believe.

How else will they track you?

 

[blackrat]

I have a wahoo bolt which I mainly use for tracking my rides. I’ve never used the maps on it so far. However it drives me crazy with its fluctuating speed. I will travelling at 18mph and whilst maintaining the same cadence suddenly I’m doing 11mph then 15 before back up to 18. Also when doing interval I will travelling at 18 mph and get out of the saddle and sprint for 10 seconds sit down and I’m still doing 18 mph I then free wheel at the end of my effort and suddenly I’m doing 28 mph.
I got my unit replaced but the new one is no better.
My old Sigma with a wheel magnet was better.

Something similar with my Wahoo Element. Yesterday's ride showed total climbing to be 390 feet, the same route, same distance a couple of days ago showed total climbing to be 2,450 feet. Also, going under trees it will show completely different speeds than out in the open a few hundred yards further.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Couldn't you use your phone to open up Google and find a hotel?

Do it in Apple Maps and you can send that direct to Garmin Connect -> Garmin Edge.

 

[yello]

How else will they track you?

If I dont want them to? Seriously, your saying the device won't work at all unless you have some form of (I assume you're suggesting) live tracking?

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Yesterday's ride showed total climbing to be 390 feet, the same route, same distance a couple of days ago showed total climbing to be 2,450 feet. Also, going under trees it will show completely different speeds than out in the open a few hundred yards further.

Something wrong there. Mine (Roam v2) is very consistent.

 

[teeonethousand]

Couldn't you use your phone to open up Google and find a hotel?

Yes of course ..but if you want it in your head unit to route you there you can't just ping it across...you have to use the cross hairs to select the spot on the Roam map.

 

[figbat]

Yes of course ..but if you want it in your head unit to route you there you can't just ping it across...you have to use the cross hairs to select the spot on the Roam map.

There is a “Take me to…” option in the Wahoo ELEMNT phone app. You use a search just like in Google Maps and it will create a route to your chosen destination which you can then send to the head unit.

Units like the ELEMNT Bolt and Roam are not intended to be completely standalone, the accompanying app adds a lot of additional capability.