Computers Vs Phone

[Jezrant]

To answer Jonathan I'm only really interested in Heart, Cadence, AVG Speed and more importantly miles cycled however if this unit gives me all that plus GPS then what's the harm.

I'm only really interested in the same data, although less so for GPS. I use cheap Wahoo sensors for heart & cadence that sync with Apple Health on the iPhone in the pocket on my jacket/jersey. They seem fairly accurate. For distance & speed, I use cycling apps on my iPhone, but I also have cheap old Cateye computers on the bars of a couple of bikes that are small and discreet but easy to read and very easy to use while cycling. They also have a few other functions that can be useful. For maps and GPS, I use my iPhone when needed and whichever app depending on the type of riding (Komoot, Cycle.travel or OS Maps, but I think only Komoot syncs with Apple Health for keeping track of rides). Years ago I used to have a Garmin but I now find an iPhone better for my needs. Are you using or interested in using Strava?

[ForwardGhoul]

To answer Jonathan I'm only really interested in Heart, Cadence, AVG Speed and more importantly miles cycled however if this unit gives me all that plus GPS then what's the harm.

I'm only really interested in the same data, although less so for GPS. I use cheap Wahoo sensors for heart & cadence that sync with Apple Health on the iPhone in the pocket on my jacket/jersey. They seem fairly accurate. For distance & speed, I use cycling apps on my iPhone, but I also have cheap old Cateye computers on the bars of a couple of bikes that are small and discreet but easy to read and very easy to use while cycling. They also have a few other functions that can be useful. For maps and GPS, I use my iPhone when needed and whichever app depending on the type of riding (Komoot, Cycle.travel or OS Maps, but I think only Komoot syncs with Apple Health for keeping track of rides). Years ago I used to have a Garmin but I now find an iPhone better for my needs. Are you using or interested in using Strava?

I'm curious about Strava I used to have an iPhone but switched to Android found the iPhone to restricted (it only works better with apple products for example) and to be honest rather boring. I had an old cheap cateye on my old winter bike and that was fine for my needs but as I've upgraded my bike thought I should upgrade my computer choice as well, if necessary. Hence the question?

[Jezrant]

How will you monitor and record heart rate and cadence?

[Manc33]

I went through all this and did end up getting a GARMIN (Edge 1030 Plus). It came down to battery life more than anything. My phone needs charging every day as it is, without running apps using GPS etc. A lot of people do use their phone, but maybe plugged into something so it can't run out of power.

The silly thing is my phone was £150 and my GARMIN was nearly £300. Something's not right there. The phone does everything the GARMIN does and the GARMIN does way less than the phone.

How will you monitor and record heart rate and cadence?

Apps. I have a HR app (by "BM Innovations") on my phone. I am sure there must be cadence apps. The thing is it's a lot more faffing, starting an app for this and an app for that, when a dedicated bike computer does it all automatically.

[Jezrant]

Do you know a good accurate app that tracks cadence and records it?

[Manc33]

Do you know a good accurate app that tracks cadence and records it?

Your post has changed 3 times since I first quoted it.

I wouldn't remember to start the apps. It's hard enough remembering to press play on my Garmin.

Also that HR app I have drops out, the Garmin hasn't up to now.

I don't know of any good cadence apps because I have never tried one but there's loads of them on Google Play.

https://play.google.com/store/search?q= ... s&hl=en_GB

[Jezrant]

How does the Garmin do HR?

[Manc33]

How does the Garmin do HR?

ANT+ (a lot of phones also have this too).

[Jezrant]

Sorry, I meant what are you using to record HR? A chest strap? A wrist fitness tracker? Or wot?

Re cadence, I'd be interested in hearing about an app that does that accurately. Anyone know one for sure?

[Jdsk]

How does the Garmin do HR?

Chest strap or watch or possibly other sensors that I don't know about.

https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/c/heart-rate-monitors/

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

...
Re cadence, I'd be interested in hearing about an app that does that accurately. Anyone know one for sure?

Are you only interested in an app, or also in sensors that talk to the computer or 'phone?

Jonathan

[Jezrant]

Hi Jonathan, this is sort of turning into an episode of Sliced Bread. I have a Wahoo cadence sensor that syncs with my iPhone. I have the impression it's fairly accurate. Do you know an app that does cadence accurately without a sensor on the crank?

More to the point, if you were mainly interested in HR, cadence, speed and distance (putting aside GPS, maps, Strava etc), why would you need to spend £££ on a Garmin when a couple of cheap Wahoo sensors connected with your phone and free apps did what you wanted? I've yet to run out of battery starting from a nearly full charge and carry a little battery pack on a long day or tour.

[gazza_d]

So as stated earlier I have an IGPSport BCS 300 which was just over £100.
For cadence I have a cadence sensor (fits to the crank with a stretchy band) which was about £15, and a HRM chest strap which was just over £20. All from Amazon.

The computer syncs all data to the app on my phone at the end of a ride and then up to Strava and Komoot.
I'm not really into performance but do like that data and being able to compare back. Which is where Strava excels for me.

You could probably pair Bluetooth sensors with the phone and use an app like Strava but it does drain the battery a lot quicker because apart from anything else the screen stays on more.

It all works reliably. I just have to remember to start recording

[rareposter]

Do you know an app that does cadence accurately without a sensor on the crank?

Shimano's old Flight Deck computer used to do that.

It was wired into each shifter (in the pre-Di2 days) and the computer was programmed with the gear ratios on the bike so it could display what gear you were in and so on.

But, because it also knew your speed via the normal magnet on the wheel method, it could calculate a "virtual cadence".

I've never investigated whether a modern Garmin paired to Di2 could do that, I suspect it's far more useful in terms of training info to just have a wireless cadence sensor but - in theory anyway - a bit of basic maths should be able to calculate and display a virtual cadence based on speed and the gear you're in.

[Jezrant]

Do you know an app that does cadence accurately without a sensor on the crank?

Shimano's old Flight Deck computer used to do that.

It was wired into each shifter (in the pre-Di2 days) and the computer was programmed with the gear ratios on the bike so it could display what gear you were in and so on.

But, because it also knew your speed via the normal magnet on the wheel method, it could calculate a "virtual cadence".

I've never investigated whether a modern Garmin paired to Di2 could do that, I suspect it's far more useful in terms of training info to just have a wireless cadence sensor but - in theory anyway - a bit of basic maths should be able to calculate and display a virtual cadence based on speed and the gear you're in.

That's what I was trying to get at. It sounded for a sec upthread as if there were now apps without any sensor that somehow magically calculated cadence.

I'm sort of with Gazza on this except on Strava. I don't see why you'd need a Garmin, or a pricey Wahoo unit for that matter, if you were mainly interested in HR, cadence, speed and distance, as I thought the OP said in answer to Jonathan's cut-to-the-chase question. You just need a cheap HR strap and cheap cadence sensor, and you're good to go with your phone. Add whatever free cycling apps you want for other stuff if you don't have something that gives you speed and distance. But, and there's always a but, I get the Strava thing and that's why I asked the OP if they were also using Strava or interested in it.

I suppose you need to decide what info you want to see on a screen on your bars while riding and what info you want to look at later on some app. I'd like to get to a Zen state of not needing any sort of info on any screen on my bars whatsoever. I can always have a peek at phone whenever needed. And then having all the data afterwards to analyse.