geotrails

Lots of questions. According to Cycling SA, McLean did not win the Masters? http://www.cyclingsa.com/mountain-bike-press/2015/6/6/combrinck-and-de-groot-crowned-national-champs-at-frosty-van-gaalen

Some very nice bikes and great comments. I built a bike a few months ago, and its great. Take a look here for a full write up http://www.gtrails.co.za/2013/06/03/grafenberg/ .

You will have to use the magnet if you disable the GPS. The real issue is why does the Cape Epic ban GPS tracking and then break its own rules. Consider the following: 1) All the leaders in last years Cape Epic used GPS tracking devices. Why is there one set of rules for leaders and another for the rest of the participants. 2) The real issue is trespassing. Surely we as Mtb riders must respect land rights and obligations. Banning GPS is not going to solve the issue of respect for land rights!

As far as I know its not in the country yet, otherwise I would get one. I see its about R1900 for the basic and R2300 for the bundle on CRC. Probably about R3200 via authorized SA dealers - but, thats guessing

To get the thread back on track. Deep section posted a link to an excellent Edge 500 review . Read it and the benefits of GPS become apparent - even to a triathlete! You know the old adage about something being so good that its illegal. Well why does the Cape Epic ban GPS tracking - because its so good?

Hmmm - touchy - truth hurts. The discussion is around the Edge 305. I would think the Edge 305 is not a GPS system, but a cycling computer with GPS functionality. As required by the Epic rules, you can easily disable the GPS and use it as a cycling computer. However, the advantage of GPS is self evident as I am sure most on this thread will attest to. Why race a virtual thing? Well what if your mates are to slow - its not much fun whipping them day in day out and what if you want to set higher goals as a group? It does matter where you bonk, you need to know how far it is from home. Why ride gears, they just cost more! Well some people are just modern day luddites and we love them for it. But seriously, if you've ever mountain biked pine plantations (where all the trees look the same), you will know how important it is to have GPS functionality.

And with the Edge 500 you can link up a Power Meter. Now you know exactly where you are generating a particular level of Power. Knowing your posistion, heart rate and power at any given point in time must be the ultimate training aid!

Slowbee, you're either a road rider and / or you are unable to grasp the benefits of GPS. Even if you're a road rider take note of the following: 1) With the Edge, you can digitize a route you would like to follow using Google Earth. Convert the KML file into a course and upload it to your Edge device. Bingo, you have a course which you can follow. 2) You can create virtual training partners and race against them 3) Even if you're a road rider who knows where his going, consider the following. With a Polar device how do you know where you are reaching your maximum heart rate. With a GPS based device you know exactly where you are at a particular heart rate and what sort of slope you're on. This has massive implications for understanding your training performance. Ie - at what point up a climb am I reaching my Lactate Threshold. 4) Even Polar has started to incorporate GPS into their instruments

In fairness, I received my Edge 305 under a out of warranty replacement towards the end of last year (2009). I had to pay in R900 and despite my protestations was not offered the option of upgrading to the 705. To date (touch wood), the replacement 305 has performed flawlessly and I am once again in love with the unit. It really is a complete HRM, tracking and navigation (with the right tweaks) device. I don't think Polar is the solution. I had untold grief with a Polar 510 which was returned to Polar on countless occassions and which I eventually sold. Eventually Polar replaced the internals with a 520, but kept the 510 external casing. I was never happy with that unit and bought the Garmin 305 in 2006. Given my experienc, Polar stinks! I have tried using the Nokia N79 tied to a Polar transmitter and Sports Tracker software. Its pretty good, but, does not come close to the Garmin in terms of simple and robust functionality. If budget is your problem, take a look at the new Garmin Edge 500. In a CyclingNews.com readers poll it came second (to the new XX group) as the best new cycling product. It is cheaper than the 305 and you can link it to a power meter through ANT. It also has a barometric altimeter which can solve some of the problems in races such as the Epic where GPS tracking is banned (a nonsense ban in the first place).

In your dreams. Avnic maintain that it is the policy of Garmin international that they will only replace a 305 with a 305. Even if you are willing to pay in extra for a 705, they will not do it. You have to take the 305, sell it privately and then buy a 705!

A conclusion from all of this is that people simply do not listen to individuals. Generally speaking the Mtb crowd are a solid bunch of people with respect for mountain biking ethics. However, if a race organizer or individual tells another that they cannot ride in a particular place, guess what, they do precisely the opposite and trespass. My experience with Mtb'ers has been that if the ethic of the sport says ride on open trails only, as long as you know which trails are open, people wont trespass. My take - race organizers such as the Cape Epic are doing the sport a disservice by idiotic bans on GPS tracking instead of placing the emphasis on the IMBA rule of "Ride on Open Trails only" As for the 2010 Cape Epic route - I will post my take on the 2010 route in KML format soon.

Why is there one rule for English speakers and one for Afrikaans people. IMBA rules of the trail are at http://www.imba.com/international/rules_intern.html The English version reads: "Ride on Open Trails only" ie only if you have permission to do so. The Afrikaans translation reads: "Ry slegs op duidelik aangewyse roetepaaie" Which means - ride only on marked routes! Thats a huge difference! Does this mean that Afrikaans okes are more prone to getting lost and English guys worry about whether they have permission to ride a particular route?

And therein lies the core of our South Africanish problem. Nobody listens to rules so therefore find another solution. The alternative is unworkable, but, heaven forbid, don't actually try and make rules work - change the rules. Classic case in point. Read rule one of the IMBA rules of the trail at http://www.imba.com/international/rules_intern.html and in English it reads: "Ride on Open Trails only" ie only if you have permission to do so. The Afrikaans translation reads: "Ry slegs op duidelik aangewyse roetepaaie" Which means - ride only on marked routes! Thats a huge difference! Perhaps the Cape Epic guys can start taking the lead and reinforce proper mountain biking ethics - and that is to only ride where you're allowed to (ie where we have permission). If we merely sort that part out, everbody will have infinitely more places to ride, landowners wont be hassled and they could even make some money from mountain biking. Banning GPS tracking is a Neanderthal way of dealing with problems and indicates a mindset of "If theres a problem - ban it" instead of finding constructive solutions!geotrails2009-11-23 07:16:29

So what's really going on then? An attempt to protect a Polar monopoly (the bathymetric based altitude sensor on the Polar units vs the GPS based Garmin) or a genuine attempt to stop trespassing. If its the later, it would be far better for all concerned if there's simply a blanket ban on anyone trespassing on Cape Epic routes. I would wager that I could generate the Cape Epic routes purely based on the altitude profiles provided in Bicycling and on the descriptions provided!

Yes - the live Polar tracking. The way I understand it is that it works on the same principle as Nokia Sports Tracker. The bottom line is that a co-ordinate is streamed to a website. Its a relatively simple matter to pull those co-ordinates in and create a track. Bottom line, the rides are tracking the race route using a GPS device.

I see that if you track your route on the Cape Epic using a GPS device, you can be disqualified. Does that mean every one of the guys using the Polar tracking at the last Epic were disqualified, or does it simply mean there are different sets of rules?

Yes - interesting point ......mmmm .... me thinks one's bike choice should not be influenced by who is paid to ride what bike, but, to judge the merits of the bike itself. Therefore, all things considered, I'll just stick with my three Specialized bikes and buy another Stumpy when I can afford it!

Well I heard that Specialized is actually ramping up their sponsorship to three Pro teams. Contador has also been offered a million to just ride their bike! (check out the latest podcast http://www.velocast.co.uk )

My remedy has been to bust send it in via Speed Services, wait two weeks and it should be done! Check the Avnic website for details.

I am basing my comments on feedback from the Velocast and Fredcast podcasts. Agreed, product recalls are a requirement of bodies such as the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, but, the podcasters have noted that Specialized in particular has been particularly diligent about recalls. As for the South African situation. We obsess more about Competition than about Consumer protection and hence your scepticism! As for the price of Specialized bikes, well its rather funny that when I buy internationally they are well priced, but, at home prices seem very steep!

I bought one of the first 305's circa 2006. It was sent in for repair on a few occassions (for the unit switching off and other issues). Two months ago it finally gave up the ghost. I had to pay in a R1k and Avnic replaced it. Would have liked to pay in on a 705, but, Avnic wanted nothing of that. So far so good - no problems. I still think the 305 is a great unit when it works

Now thats the Specialized I know. If there's a problem they admit it and issue a recall. How many other brands issue recalls. Most just keep quiet and hope the problem goes away, others simply blame the rider! Well done to Specialized for its recall policy and watching out for our safety! geotrails2009-11-20 05:10:07

Yes, Edgar raises an issue. I have always purchased Garmin locally as Avnic will not honour warranty's for units purchased abroad. At a rough guess I can get a 705 through CRC for R3700 and here it will cost me around R5000. When I have a warranty claim I send to Avnic and it costs me R50 for Speed Services and then they quibble and delay. Will I get different service if I return to CRC? Perhaps it's worth the risk. In the past CRC have been fantastic on warranty returns. Surely if we are paying a premium for a warranty we should get premium service? I still have not sent in my unit. I am leaving it till after my next race, then I'll put Avnic to the test and let you know!