Your Garmin help, please

What firmware are you on?

I've been avoiding updates as mine works fine too.

Dunno, something fairly recent because it updated by itself before I fucked off their cheeky software.

I followed these steps:

Download EdgeTouring_290.gcd from http://gawisp.com/perry/edge/ to your PC

Rename EdgeTouring_290.gcd to GUPDATE.GCD

Copy GUPDATE.GCD to the folder ..\garmin on the Edge Touring* while device connected through USB - device will have got a drive-letter.

Disconnect device from PC (advice: using the safe procedure - system tray)

Turn on and it asked "do you really want to update to this old firmware" - pressed Tick!

Done!

This took a bit of trial and error - I get two drives loading when I plug mine in, so have a couple of plain "garmin" folders. Just added it to each one until it worked!

Ps - And to prevent update to version 4.00 again: Every time Garmin Express has synced the device to Garmin Connect there will be a file GUPDATE.GCD in the ..\garmin folder on the device. Just delete it every time before detaching the device from your computer.

I'm getting all this from here

Noted for when it accidentally updates...

What edge model is that? 1000?

Yeah, the 1000 has been as solid as the 800 with fewer bugs and faster operation.

Anyone else noticed a discrepancy between Garmin and Stravas processing of heart rate data? As far as I can tell my zones are both setup the same.

Does some of it have to do with one removing time when you are stopped? Looks like Strava has 8 minutes more of data than the Garmin.

Probably yeah, I believe Strava ignores the 'auto-paused' time and only stops the clock when the GPS thinks you've actually stopped. So that time you cruise up to a red light at 1.5mph is counted by Strava but not Garmin (assuming you have auto-pause on). For this reason Strava always thinks my rides are slightly longer and slower than Garmin (at least that's my excuse!)..

Hello people... wonder if anyone can help with this:

I'm looking for a GPS thing for two main types of ride:

1. Getting from A-B quickly and safely.
   
2. Exploring for a few hours at a time without getting totally lost.
   
   

I'm not interested in heart-rate / cadence / performance stats etc, and would rather not pay for functions I won't use, so I've been reading about the Garmin Touring.... A few reviewers say that although the routes are often very scenic, they are not usually the most direct for just getting somewhere in a hurry. One reviewer claimed it added 50 minutes to his commute just to include nice cycle paths.

So: is there a GPS unit out there that lets you choose between fast and direct (but cycle-friendly) routes, and pure scenic-route explorations (like the Garmin Touring seems to offer)?

Reluctant to use phone apps etc because my phone is shit.

I wouldn't construct routes on a garmin, they aren't much use for anythign other than following a route you made already or navigating in an emergency - I really would suggest your phone. If you're on android then get a quadlock and use OsmAnd. You can use offline maps, create rudimentary routes immediately and follow GPX routes (with turn-by-turn navigation) that you made on RideWithGPS/whatever you want.

If you want guaranteed cycle friendly then I suggest you use the CycleStreets app on android, it's great and can again be used offline if you download the map file (for free).

Source: I have an Edge Touring, the routing is crap (and takes ages).

Will osmand allow me to just punch in a postcode and go? (like a tomtom)
I'd rather have spontaneity than be having to plot routes beforehand.

Yup. As will CycleStreets and Google maps. Better to spend your money on a backup battery and a decent mount/case solution than a Garmin.
If you're wanting a circular/meandering route then it's sometimes nice to spend 5 mins putting in a vague route (by hand) with osmand than putting yourself at the mercy of GMaps/CycleStreets etc

So, before I go and get a new phone (I have a brick).... is there not a cycle-specific gizmo that does this too?

As far as I know, no. Not as well as an android phone, at least. The upside to the garmin etc are that they don't munch battery quite as fast and are better weatherproofed. This is solved by the backup battery and weatherproof case/a 'waterproof' phone.

I thought OSM doesn't have postcode search by default. There's some voodoo required?

Oh hang on, OSMAnd is an app? Forget what I said, I thought that was a typo.

Garmin etrex (more designed for hiking but useful for anything) will let you follow pre-planned routes and navigate to places ad-hoc but it's not as nice as Edge models for use while cycling.

OSMAnd is an Android app (and apparently iOS now too) that uses OSM data. It does have postcode search, but only for postcodes that have been marked within the OSM data. I tried 4 and none were in there...
However, it does have a very good street name search. Combine that with Google maps (or cycle streets) and you're in a good place.

Anyone have one of the newer style garmin speed sensors? Seems like a neat piece of kit. Am debating getting one as it looks like an easy job to swap between bikes.

Thanks all - some interesting options.
Still can't believe no one's just made a sat-nav for bikes without fucking around with performance stats or compulsory scenic routes. I shall just have to invent one myself!

Phone shop, here I come (if I can find it on my huge paper map, etc etc)

The etrex series are probably the closest to what you need. Something like the etrex 20 which is not to bad at on device routing as it allows multiple via points which tends to ensure it follows the type of roads you want unlike the edge series which only allow you to choose the end point and routes you according to its inbuilt algorithm.

And uses AA batteries so you can easily carry spares. Should have bought that instead of the Edge Touring to be honest...

I hope this picture makes you as happy as angry I am, well... time to give that Edge 1000 a try!

PS: Crashed on to a taxi (bike is ok, just had to re-align front wheel) but lanyard kept garmin in place just to crash head-on into his side mirror, screen is dead, no power-up, neither with usb charger or pc connection

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I'd hit that piece of shit with a hammer until my hands bled, just to make sure it was dead. It probably directed you into the taxi...

Hadn't considered that. Do have auto-pause switched on so that's certainly responsible for some of it. Still doesn't explain the small differences in Z4 and Z5 though.