Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Sorry if it is a noob question but what are the actual benefits of having the gpx file during a road race?

 

Is it to avoid getting lost if the group drops you? Knowing how much distance & meters climb are ahead?

I don`t even look at my GPS during a road race , in fact sometimes I don`t even take a drink. To scared to look away for a second.

  • Replies 188
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted

I don`t even look at my GPS during a road race , in fact sometimes I don`t even take a drink. To scared to look away for a second.

 

I wish everybody were like that. It is quite scary when a rider ahead of you start searching for food in the pocket of his cycling shirt while the bunch is descending  at over 70km per hour  

Posted

I don`t even look at my GPS during a road race , in fact sometimes I don`t even take a drink. To scared to look away for a second.

 

Yes, in my experience 90% of your road race experience is determined by the group dynamics (incl wind). Other than knowing where the "big climb" is having a detailed live route map on your Garmin not particularly helpful imo.

 

But I am genuinely curious if I'm missing some nifty trick the more tech savvy roadies are in on

Posted

Yes, in my experience 90% of your road race experience is determined by the group dynamics (incl wind). Other than knowing where the "big climb" is having a detailed live route map on your Garmin not particularly helpful imo.

 

But I am genuinely curious if I'm missing some nifty trick the more tech savvy roadies are in on

 

Interested if anyone has any insight on this...

Posted

Interested if anyone has any insight on this...

you need to the route info, the elevation info in particular, so you can program your hacked computer so it tells your hidden motor in your down tube when v-tec should kick in.

Posted

Yes, in my experience 90% of your road race experience is determined by the group dynamics (incl wind). Other than knowing where the "big climb" is having a detailed live route map on your Garmin not particularly helpful imo.

 

But I am genuinely curious if I'm missing some nifty trick the more tech savvy roadies are in on

 

For me, a mere mortal that hangs in the bunch.... ClimbPro on the Edge 530/830/1030 is an awesome feature.  Have the route pre-plotted for the race and just before we hit a climb Climbpro will show you the climb.  As you start climbing it will tell you how much ascent and distance on the climb remains, as well as the average remaining gradient.

 

edge-830-climbpro-700x467.jpg

 

Knowing what I'm facing on a climb somehow motivates me more than hitting it blindly.  It also helps one determine whether the pace the bunch is pushing is sustainable, but like you say there isn't necessarily much you can do with the information.  Perhaps less useful on the 99er, but extremely useful on Transbaviaans where you are more likely to be racing at your own pace.

 

Other than that I merely use the cycling computer to record my data so I can look at it afterwards.

 

Now if you were someone with actual talent (as in capable of attacking the group, not just hanging with them like me) you could use the headunit to determine whether you are likely to have the legs for an attack at a particular point, given the effort already exerted.  If you were in a breakaway you could use it to pace your effort to keep things sustainable.

Posted

I’m the noob here. I’m not fit or strong or light enough to hang on a group and find myself by myself mostly. During a 4 hour ride I can either zone out and think about everything else or zone in on a data overload. On the map view I can see the route and the hills. I don’t know the area and this is my first 99er. I would rather choose to ignore than not have information.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Settings My Forum Content My Followed Content Forum Settings Ad Messages My Ads My Favourites My Saved Alerts My Pay Deals Help Logout