Cycling UK Forum

I've used them many many times over the years and for straightforward transactions they are pretty much unbeatable for price and delivery.
BUT- 2 gripes
Unlike Wiggle & Amazon there is no oops I didn't mean it button to cancel an order seconds after you hit send. This can involve a very long wait in a phone queue to sort it out.

And today I was looking for a new helmet (sorry)

Amongst the myriad of offerings are some very tempting prices, but after looking at about half a dozen items it was clear that only 1 or 2 of the many different size/colour combos were at this headline price. Most are at higher or much higher prices.

This is OK if they are in the bargain or clearance sections, but very annoying to find in the normal sections and it's not restricted to helmets, but just about every item with multiple choices.

I gave up and ordered from Ribble!

Wait until you get to expert - you'll find far more than 2

Why TCX? - the etrex series has .gdb as it's native speak and .gpx is well supported.

There's a host of freebie programs which will convert formats - GPSBabel and WinGDB3 are popular, but for simple route planning you don't really need them.

I only heard about TCX recently and started to play with Basecamp & Training Centre - that's when I decided the Edge series wasn't for me!

cidermartin wrote:Garmin Etrex devices suffer from a poor instruction book and it requires forums such as these to truly get the best from them. However, with perserverance they are absolutely wonderful devices which let you navigate a complicated route through country lanes and build-up areas with ease. Wonderful.

I think that's the key

Once you get to understand routing, the idea of using tracks again is a bit hairshirt tbh.

Following a track is OK if that's all you want to do, but when in distress and you find you need a bike shop / pub / station, it really helps to know how to use this feature (and to trust it!)

I think Garmin introduced Basecamp to make Mapsource look good - it is truly the work of stan (IMHO)

I'm somewhat confused/bemused that people shell out loads of money for a GPS unit and then steadfastly refuse to use what to me at least is it's most useful feature.

For the record - I've used routes in auto-routing mode exclusively for the last 7 years, and for the last 6 it has not sent me seriously astray. (I use it mainly for Audaxing where going off route isn't a good idea)

Similarly to struggle with freebie software that doesn't allow full capability rather than pay (probably less than) £50 for the entire street maps of Europe also seems a bit perverse

YMMV of course

BTW - Garmin maps on DVD allow use on PC and may be loaded onto the GPS SD card. Maps on SD card cannot (easily) be used on the PC and it's well worth paying the slight extra for the DVD IMHO.

I have the Oregon which replaced the old Legend C, you will be fine with the HCx
I use the Garmin City Navigator maps (on DVD for around £50) and use routes rather than tracks.
It's very easy to plot your route on the PC using CN / Mapsource and upload.
The 50 route point limit means chopping the route into 100-150km stages but that isn't a problem
The auto-routing is very good once you get the hang of defining the way-points sensibly so the GPS calculates the same route as you planned on the PC.
I have no experience of Bike Toaster, but do download routes from Bikely as GPX files, I open them in Mapsource and overlay a route - only takes a minute. I might upload the track as a reference in case the auto-routing throws a wobbly, but it hasn't been necessary yet.

I suppose at the discounted price it might just be OK though the Garmin Edge is well worth the extra £40 IMO

at it's RRP the Garmin walks all over it - and everyone's heard of Garmin

agree with all the above, but pay attention to your fluid intake.

If it's hot, ensure you take frequent drinks and replace lost salts with something like Nuun or a DIY mix.

De-hydration can be worse than not eating enough!

Jonty wrote:Surely someone must have a view on big companies incorporating themselves in foreign jurisdictions with the result that the UK loses taxable income?

Why shouldn't they? it isn't their job to subsidise high tax regimes with their owners money, it's how capitalism works.

You may not like it, but capitalism probably isn't bothered by that to be honest.

Si wrote:I never feel like I'm in the wrong gear on the fixed/SS, yet when I go back to a 27spd bike I'm forever changing gear because it always feels like the ratio is just a bit off.

I'm really glad to know it's not just me!

Just call me Ghandi

Exactly my point - you can't simply relate poverty just to income alone.

Jonty wrote:By the poor I'm taking the official definition of those on 60% of median earnings or less,

That's all a bit relative isn't it?

I wouldn't mind being poor in Dubai

hubgearfreak wrote:phil, of course you may play.

i'll give you a clue though. if a question starts; which party.... then the answer is going to be the name of a political party. but i'm a soft judge, so i'll let you have half a point for q.1 and q.7

i made the claim that VAT is the tory's favourite tax and there's a graph on page 2 clearly showing it to be regressive. i stand by that claim.

Too kind

I assumed the questions were rhetorical and you knew the answers really.

About that graph on P2 - I am no economist, but I don't get how someone in the highest decile only pays ~34% of their gross income in tax (all taxes)

Assuming we are talking millionaires here, so the lower tax band contribution is negligible as are the zero-rated purchases such as food.
In 2006/7 they would be paying 40% income tax on just about all their income plus NIC plus high rate VAT on their Porches & yachts - explain please someone?