Is there no app which does the job of a Garmin?

[torqueofthedevil]

I hope there is. I have an 810 but I'm not a fan. All the recording elements are done much better by my iphone which I also carry with me.

The only reason I got a Garmin is so that I could plot routes, especially as I do a bit of riding in areas that I don't know.

With amazing satnav apps like Google Maps, are there none more orientated to biking which can:

1. Allow you to plot routes in advance rather than just following a direct route which a car based satnav like google maps will do.
2. Show speed / time / HR (Bluetooth) etc.
3. Show Strava Live Segments (this isn't essential)

I can't believe Strava don't already offer this - their app is just missing point 1 above. And everyone takes their phones with them. I can't see why you'd use anything but your phone if that was the case. Oh yeah and the interface and touch screen is miles better on a phone.

[AndStilliRise]

I have also wondered this. Considering a phone has so much tech these days.

[numtumfutunch]

Strava does let me plot and follow routes although this may be a premium feature?

But fundamentally I would always use my Garmin 810 over a phone for the following:

Weatherproofing
Battery life with 6-8h of continuous screen time would be dubious on a phone
GPS accuracy
And a phone looks bloody stupid velcro'd to the bars - mind you a Garmin 1000 isnt much smaller

Cheers

[BlueNGT]

Isn't the Bike Hub app supposed to plot Bike freindly routes?

Velcro...no, you need a Quad-Lock out front mount plus the other bits https://www.quadlockcase.co.uk/products/out-front-...

[Herman Toothrot]

Strava premium lets you map routes in advance, never tried on a phone though I save the gpx to the Garmin.

[TheInternet]

OsmAnd for Android is good for the route/speed/time aspects. I've done 6hr+ rides with it easily.

Routes plotted on RideWithGPS.com, then exported to phone, attached with a Quadlock.

I thought about a Garmin but they seem limited and st. I'd sooner buy a cheap Android phone and go with OsmAnd.

[sjg]

Strava app does all that. http://blog.strava.com/discover-a-new-route-follow...

[Northern Munkee]

I had my iPhone 6S fixed to my handlebars with a Quadlock for about 6mths.

I still carry my phone in my back pocket, but I'd caution against fixing it to my handlebars, after a particularly rough section of Teesside pave my phone has been twitchy ever since. Mounted solidly I'm pretty sure has vibrated it so much that something is not quite right and apps crash a lot. Although I will concede that it maybe no coincidence that this also occurred about the time the 7 was launched, and [tinfoil on] they may have released the bug to encourage me to upgrade [tinfoil off] I'm determined to resist getting a new one.

[anonymous-user]

Herman Toothrot said:

Strava premium lets you map routes in advance, never tried on a phone though I save the gpx to the Garmin.

Yeah you can save it into my routes and follow it when out.

Strava premium does pretty much exactly what the OP wants. Bit annoying when you're out for a nice slow run or ride and it's telling you how far behind everyone you are.

[paulrockliffe]

For most of the negatives, something like the Wahoo RFLKTR would be a solution, it's basically a screen that pairs to the phone, so the phone does all the *stuff* while the screen just displays it all for you. If you need more battery life on the phone, extra battery packs are pretty light, but for most rides I'd think a full charge would be OK as the screen would be off.

[louiebaby]

paulrockliffe said:

For most of the negatives, something like the Wahoo RFLKTR would be a solution, it's basically a screen that pairs to the phone, so the phone does all the *stuff* while the screen just displays it all for you. If you need more battery life on the phone, extra battery packs are pretty light, but for most rides I'd think a full charge would be OK as the screen would be off.

Looks cheap direct from them too...

https://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-rflkt-ip...

[The_Jackal]

Herman Toothrot said:

Strava premium lets you map routes in advance, never tried on a phone though I save the gpx to the Garmin.

I cant see where it says Strava Routes is Premium only.
I used them before I went Premium.

Am I missing something? Strava does what the OP wants.....

[TwistingMyMelon]

Used strava routes first time last week, really good

Free user here

Really intuitive

[vwsurfbum]

I can confirm that you dont need to be premium user, i just created a MTB route for my local loop, just out interest.

[torqueofthedevil]

Great - I didn't realise you could do routes through Strava.

My garmin actually was faulty and I sent it back - currently deciding on whether to replace or get a refund. Looks like the best option would be get a refund.

Cheers.

[Fluffsri]

vwsurfbum said:

I can confirm that you dont need to be premium user, i just created a MTB route for my local loop, just out interest.

Is that online? Cant see the option on my app.

[The_Jackal]

To be fair a lot of people seem to have problems with the 810.
Get a refund and replace it with a 520. Will do all you want in a more convenient way than a phone and you can upgrade the built in maps to more detailed ones.
I have one and it has been great.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Fluffsri said:

vwsurfbum said:

I can confirm that you dont need to be premium user, i just created a MTB route for my local loop, just out interest.

Is that online? Cant see the option on my app.

You create the map on a PC/mac https://www.strava.com/routes, you can then open them on your phone and toggle between the route and live data screen

Works well

[Fluffsri]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Fluffsri said:

vwsurfbum said:

I can confirm that you dont need to be premium user, i just created a MTB route for my local loop, just out interest.

Is that online? Cant see the option on my app.

You create the map on a PC/mac https://www.strava.com/routes, you can then open them on your phone and toggle between the route and live data screen

Works well

Cool, thanks for the info.

[AlunJ]

paulrockliffe said:

For most of the negatives, something like the Wahoo RFLKTR would be a solution, it's basically a screen that pairs to the phone, so the phone does all the *stuff* while the screen just displays it all for you. If you need more battery life on the phone, extra battery packs are pretty light, but for most rides I'd think a full charge would be OK as the screen would be off.

I've got one, bloody useless. Didn't work with their own app, had to buy the premium version of Cyclemeter app for it to work. Then it shuts itself off all the time, battery isn't rechargeable and allegedly lasts a year, mine lasted a few shortish rides, I ended up buying a garmin edge 25 which is perfect for my needs.