Ultracycling

How have you not got lost all this time? :)

Planning on using it for turn by turn navigation. It sounds like 200km legs may be the best way to go. Thanks for the advice all.

Double check when you copy multiple files to the 800. It has a habit of disappearing them.
Ask me which 600k I found out about that little issue on...

Ask me which 600k I found out about that little issue on...

Which 600k did you find out about that little issue on?

I can't actually remember :)

Nah, I think it was the Beast from the East helper ride, my first 600. I got half way, went to load the next file in the series and it wasn't there. I had a backup 810 unit (you can read all about that piece of shit in the Garmin thread) which thankfully had all the files.

I did some tests and found it would randomly lose files if you copied a set to it. I'd have to copy the files, unplug it, check which ones were on it, plug it back in and copy the ones it had missed, then recheck the files.

You going for LEJOG this year?

I'd recommend a 1000 if you're going to use Garmins.

I did some tests and found it would randomly lose files if you copied a set to it. I'd have to copy the files, unplug it, check which ones were on it, plug it back in and copy the ones it had missed, then recheck the files.

I have an 800 and this is probably the only annoying thing about it, happens every time.

I'd recommend a 1000 if you're going to use Garmins.

I'd recommend a 705 and not using turn-by-turn!
Garmins didn't get any better at navigating in the last decade, just more complicated, buggy and shorter battery life.

That and it randomly dying in the middle of the night because you thought it should last >450k.
Otherwise it's pretty solid and all of my TTing was done with it. Once you know about its quirks it works.

705? No chance. I've seen them in use and refused to own one.

800s are fine, but you need to know how the firmware breaks.

• longer thans 24 hrs recording will lose all your activity
  
• Auto power off on a paused but not finished activity will wipe it (turn off auto power off in settings)
  
• Multi day events, if you don't backup your recorded rides, once it runs out of space it'll delete the first one, etc etc. I lost day one of TD this way (was saving to internal memory)
  
  

I split my routes into 200 mile segments for Tour Divide, didn't use turn by turn, but did use cuepoints for some turnings and also city limits of major towns so I could see in the cue sheet how far the next town was from my current location. Very useful in the middle of the desert to know that it's 83 miles to the next town, so you can ration water accordingly.

I've recorded >24hrs with no issues. I've had it crash fatally after less than 24hrs too. The critical factor seems to be if you're using navigation or not.

I can't recall if I've got auto power off set or not. I know the 1000 is fine when you pause and turn off the unit but can't remember if the 800 works or not, since I use the 1000 for everything except commutes nowadays. I'll have a look and see if mine replicates the auto power off file death.

I'd recommend a 705 and not using turn-by-turn!

Yep, pretty much faultless. The only trouble I had was with TBT. I just use the map screen. After a few unexpected detours you get used to checking in advance. Probably not good for the terminally lost.

Replacement battery from eBay to give it a new lease of life (plus I run it from a USB power pack on rides > 200km).

Should I get one of these cycle computer thingies for SRMR or will I be fine with my smartphone?

The critical factor seems to be when @hippy is using navigation or not.

Wow - more good info. Thank you so much.

I think I'll be going for a pair of 800s. I'll copy the route files over one by one and check that they're all in. I can't really afford to go wrong so turn by turn would be quite nice... but I don't want to increase the probability of crashing. Maybe I need to practice having a route but turn by turn off - I presume you just follow the coloured line?

Will think about backing up to prevent losing the files.

@hippy - that's the plan :)

TBT is great and helps stop you going miles off course since it beeps at turns and beeps when you're off course.

Sometimes, when I'm low on battery power or whatever I might turn off TBT and you can enable Always Show on the track itself and just follow a line. You don't get told you've gone off course and you don't get told to turn but it only takes a glance now and then to follow.

If you want someone to give you a run down of Garmin 800s I've fucked them up in almost every way possible and can show you how not to.

Depending on when you're going I could loan you some GPS kit and I have some Garmin external batteries I don't often use if you're doing longer rides?

I also have a couple of handheld radios if you're doing car handups.

As in, locating your car, even I don't eat enough to be handed an entire car. Just.

The main problem with using a phone is the screen. It's not bright enough if it's sunny and way too bright at night.
Otherwise the mapping apps are at least as good as a gps nowadays, and maps give way more detail (than my 705, anyway!)

get a wahoo

You can't do on the fly routing with Wahoo unless you have a phone and data connection, right?
ie. fine for fixed routes, not so great for TCR type stuff.

true - I used Komoot for that,

get an etrex, 80 quid well spent

I always carry an etrex as a 3rd-line backup. Not had to use it yet but I will continue in my "overkill" approach when it comes to navigation, which is critical for completing a race.

it's the answer to 99% of the "what gps do I need to just do..." questions

too bad...

"we cancel the 2018 Indian Pacific Wheel Race (IPWR) with immediate effect."

https://www.indianpacificwheelrace.com/

I personally don't really understand the exact reason

[edit: over to the IPWR thread then]