Cycling in Sydney Australia
What do we think about high tech HRM/GPS watches as an alternative to a cycle computer?
I've been thinking of purchasing a computer, but saw this new Suunto Ambit watch in the Qantas Frequent Flyers store - 65,000 points.
Suunto Ambit - very well technically appointed with full navigation, GPS logging, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, heart rate monitor and the ability to wirelessly hook up to Suunto speed and cadence sensors. The speed sensor is quite a neat design - a replacement front skewer with the sensor on the flipper. Rides upload to Suunto's web site (not dissimilar to Garmin).
Battery life at 1min logging interval is 50hours and at 1sec interval is 16 hours.
I could see me using it kayaking, bushwalking/hiking and anywhere there is no phone signal.
A useless toy or not for bike riders?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jason B on -
Can't adjust a wrist watch on the fly because its a 2 hand task (ie even setting a lap is a chore).
Also i'd like to glance down briefly at my speedo and and minimise attention loss from ahead, rather than do the look at my watch thing, which includes removing a hand from the drops. You'll have to keep your old speedo and have 2 sensors if you go the watch route. Garmin on the stem is a lot faster to read.
edit: might be of more use to a triathlete, since it can do whole event logging.
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Permalink Reply by John Knight on -
I don't have any speedos!
You do get a handlebar mount with the Suunto if you buy any of the sensors.
What Garmin (or other) would you recommend?
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Permalink Reply by PeterT on -
1/ Another Wrist watch alternative : http://www.bike24.com/p225853.html
2/ https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/21235632-is-the-new-suunto-ambit... , upload of Suunto to Strava is a 2 step process (like Bryton)
Q1: Do you need it now or soon?
NO: Wait for a bit ; there a whole bunch of devices just out. O-Sycne , Cateye, Navad, as per http://www.dcrainmaker.com/
YES : Goto Q2
Current status
Q2 : do you intend to get lost ? / do you need or want a map? / do you want carbon weave looking edging ? / is colour display a must? /
YES to any of the above : Ans = Garmin 800 bundle $600 w/maps , $474 bundle w/o maps
NO : goto Q3
Q3: Is Garmin brand important to you ? Is direct uploading to Strava important to you?
YES : Ans = Garmin 500 bundle estimated $300 mark ,
NO : Ans = Bryton 35 bundle delivered $218 (with one awesomely incomplete review here )
-edit- to answer your 2 questions
What do I think of GPS watches?
Could be useful, one less thing to think about when you leave your bike. Personally, I don't bushwalk or run, so it's not for me.
Which GPS Bike computer would I recommend?
Everything comes at a price and timeline.
Since I can wait, I would.
If I can't, I'll fix the budget and get whatever the budget allows for.
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Permalink Reply by John Knight on
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Thank you Peter,
Nicely done!
I've made it this far without any computers or speedos so I guess I'm really in no hurry.
But, if I do lash out, it sure looks like Garmin 500 bundle to me.
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Permalink Reply by PeterT on
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Np, but I didn't see SUS message... so...
Q0 : do you need a portable helicopter landing pad?
YES = Suunto
NO = Goto Q1
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Permalink Reply by sit ubu sit on
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Suunto watches also double as a portable helicopter landing pad (I used to have one - until it was stolen by someone who didn't take the manual, so would have had no idea on how to use it). Despite this, my only concerns would be how visible the information is (even when mounted on the handlebar) and whether you easily utilise the data other than to the Suunto web platform (i.e. ability to upload to Strava or whatever - if that's what you want to do).
If you've got no other use for your FF points, then it's probably a nice gadget to have and to hold. But if the points have an alternative use, for the RRP of ~$600 you might be better off with a Garmin 500 deluxe pack (HRM, speed, and cadence) for around the $350 mark. 65,000 points is almost two return flights to NZ, so excluding tax you're probably looking at a cash equivalent of $500 (very back-of-the-envelope calculation).
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Permalink Reply by John Knight on
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Thanks sus,
My points just sit there and I'm trying to work out ways of getting something out of them.
You almost never actually get free flights because they never let you book with FF points both ways.
Sneaky bastards.
It looks like the Garmin 500 will be it.
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OT, but both Qantasia and Jetscare have a "book any seat" option for FF points, and you can also use "points plus pay" if you don't have enough points (if you do the maths, you can work out what value they place on their points). I'm not sure what how many more points "book any seat" costs you compared to the standard "well we we're going to sell this seat anyway, so we may as well let you have it" FF redemption.
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Permalink Reply by John Knight on
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I haven't even tried to book any reward flights for ages - the times I tried it was very difficult to get all the flights on the points on busy routes.
Maybe they've made it easier now.
The Suunto is DOA for me after reading through the wise words of the respondents in this thread, so I will just quietly continue to accumulate points and spend another day wondering what to do with them :~)
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Permalink Reply by Ben on -
My Garmin eTrex Legend is my cycle computer. (OK until I broke the mount.) The eTrex 20 is a similar current model. No heart rate sensor etc but cheaper than the Garmin 500.
Edit: actually not much cheaper.
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Permalink Reply by Eleri on -
I have a GPS watch that I use for running. It's a Garmin 405 and it's great for that purpose and I have used it on the bike but it is hard to see speed and things like that. Not that useful really but good as a backup. Also the battery doesn't last long enough for a long ride.
I have a Garmin 800 on the bike. The map function is useful for navigating in Audax rides or if you generally just get lost.
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Permalink Reply by Band782 on
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I have the Suunto X6HR, it records HR and altitude that I can then download into the very old Suunto software. It works fine for me. I complement that setup with a basic bike computer with cadence. I find it easy to read on the bike mount and battery life if good with this watch. I also use the watch for walking, so it's very versatile and suits ME fine.
If you are looking at getting carried away, you could get something like a Garmin Etrex 30. This is a proper mapping GPS that allows you to do HR and cadence (with optional extras). It has the advantage that you can actually use it for proper bushwalking as it has maps and at the moment, Garmin are "giving away" V3 of their Aus/NS topo maps (current version is 4) with a new GPS. You can pick up the GPS for around $280, then $70 each for the accessories. Note that it appears you need to buy locally to get the free maps. Check the Terms and Conditions.
Yes, it's bigger than the Edge 500, but it all depends on what you want and what suits you best...
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