Phone as bike computer

[PedalGoat]

1 minute ago, ChrisF said:

Why do you want a device ?

 

Do you want to record your ride data ?

 

OR

 

Monitor the data while riding ?

 

 

OR BOTH ??

 

 

 

I started with an entry level Polar watch.  Great for recording, not so great for checking data on the move.

 

If you are new to the sport your training and progress may well require monitoring data on the move ....

 

 

Garmin 130 is a very good entry level device.

 

Couple of generic brands may meet your requirements.

I want to use a GPS to follow the route. At the same time sync my HR and track my cadence. A watch on the wrist on a mountain bike is not the best. 

[ChrisF]

10 minutes ago, PedalGoat said:

I want to use a GPS to follow the route. At the same time sync my HR and track my cadence. A watch on the wrist on a mountain bike is not the best. 

 

Aaaah okay

 

Then scrap the Garmin 130 idea .... good sports monitoring, crap navigation.

 

 

Garmin's 530 or 540 is their cost effective unit with decent navigation..... sit when you google the price of the package unit (package units include all the sensors)

 

 

A few Hubbers have tested the Wahoo and other options .... there are a couple of threads on these.  Let's hope those users pop in here and share their thoughts.

[OVERDRIVE]

Idea is great but Garmin is the way. 

[Mamil]

Just sold my 830 on the classifieds ... Very adequate navigation.

Smartphone will do the navigation but it's not a great on the bars solution. Garmin 530 second hand on the classifieds is the way to go at entry level.

[guidodg]

...and strong vibrations can kill the camera stabilizing system ....do some googling

but for mapping and navigation they are unbeatable

Edited November 9 by guidodg

[Bike Dewing]

1 minute ago, guidodg said:

and strong vibrations can kill the camera stabilizing system ....do some googling

Oh No.! We cant have that🤣🤣🤣

[Kom]

14 hours ago, PedalGoat said:

I want to use a GPS to follow the route. At the same time sync my HR and track my cadence. A watch on the wrist on a mountain bike is not the best. 

Have you considered getting a HRM strap and rather shifting the fenix 5(assume x?) to your handlebar for route tracking?

Beyond all the issues with using a phone already mentioned, the most important is poor battery life (screen and GPS running continuous might give you alot less endurance than you're expecting).

[PedalGoat]

2 hours ago, Kom said:

Have you considered getting a HRM strap and rather shifting the fenix 5(assume x?) to your handlebar for route tracking?

Beyond all the issues with using a phone already mentioned, the most important is poor battery life (screen and GPS running continuous might give you alot less endurance than you're expecting).

Yes, X. Good point. Im thinking the screen is quite small though. Will load a route on my next ride and test that. Tx

[Kom]

44 minutes ago, PedalGoat said:

Yes, X. Good point. Im thinking the screen is quite small though. Will load a route on my next ride and test that. Tx

Another consideration is that your fenix 5 supports "extended display".

the Garmin Edge 130 can run in a display mode paired to your fenix which will show nav prompts and a replica of your watch data fields.

as pointed earlier, a phone mount and cover will probably run close to the cost of a 130 and to me a much better solution.