LEL 2013 / London - Edinburgh - London Audax

Wow, 105 miles? I've never had mine run out on anything near a century, that doesn't sound right to me (unless you did it very very slowly?!).

I don't know how old it is but I do suspect the battery life on mine is not quite as good as it once was. And it's not like you can replace the battery (AFAIK) :/

That doesn't sound right at all. Could it have not been plugged in properly so not charged? I've done that before.

It was slow...prob 7.5 hours maybe a little more? I have read a few reports of the Garmin 800 running out of juice within 8 hours if you have map display on constantly...

I've never had a great experience of battery life on my 800 compared to my old 700. I struggle to get much more than 12 hours on it so maybe something is wrong with it.

705 with external powerpack did not allow me to increase the backlight when needed somewhere before Bruxelles last summer. I had to use the spare light to look at the route on the Garmin.

I forgot now how I changed this, but it did work the next night all the way to the river Rhine.

Relevant thread (sorry for the derail)

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?22687-Edge-800-Battery-Use

It was slow...prob 7.5 hours maybe a little more? I have read a few reports of the Garmin 800 running out of juice within 8 hours if you have map display on constantly...

I've never had a great experience of battery life on my 800 compared to my old 700. I struggle to get much more than 12 hours on it so maybe something is wrong with it.

Mine would typically be running out around the 12hr mark. That's about what I'd expect given a 'claimed' battery life of 14hr (I think).

Thats only 250mi for you.

Point I'm trying to make: If you are using a Garmin 800, don't use it in map mode if you want it to last.

I can check my firmware version if you'd like? I think it's 2.5 but can't be 100% sure. I recorded my ride to the SD card, rather than internal storage - maybe that's a factor? Do you have a decent SD card in yours?

It's a 4GB Sandisk MicroSDHC card with loads of space, so I'd like to think it's not that, but you never know. Oddly, although the PC would suddenly recognise the device with the card removed, it still wouldn't switch on without it - hence the factory reset - so it's possible there were two problems. In theory the card shouldn't have been in use anyway except maybe holding the maps... :S

Thats only 250mi for you.
Point I'm trying to make: If you are using a Garmin 800, don't use it in map mode if you want it to last.

No, I mean on training rides out in the lanes where I am often using turn-by-turn and flipping between maps and stats screens. I remember it ran out before 12 hours once and another time last over 12hrs but had warned me it was low.

It's a 4GB Sandisk MicroSDHC card with loads of space, so I'd like to think it's not that, but you never know. Oddly, although the PC would suddenly recognise the device with the card removed, it still wouldn't switch on without it - hence the factory reset - so it's possible there were two problems. In theory the card shouldn't have been in use anyway except maybe holding the maps... :S

I've heard of SD cards causing issues with phones so I would always be suspicious of them until proven otherwise. Often people buy cheap ones though and/or don't format them properly for the device they're intended for. Lots of variables though.

dynamo solution rules btw. so good to be able to use the backlight at night without being worried about getting stranded.

Aren't you crusty audax lot meant to be dab hands at map reading and shit? All this reliance on GPS might upset the French..

also, I can confirm that the garmin 800 has problems logging long rides. It's a known issue and is discussed at length on the various yacf audax threads.

most people I know save the file every 12 hours on 400s to avert garmin meltdown.

reading maps in the dark means carrying maps and reading in the dark
neither of which appeal to me.

I have enough to worry about without wondering if I'm lost.
also, it's hard enough to find some controls even with a line to follow that takes you right to the door.

I cycled around menai bridge for about 45 minutes this year. Last thing I needed.
It's amazing how people can live in a town of 200 buildings, and no one knows where the bldy scout hall is.

not too late to change your mind.... you've still got the spot dont you?

I do, but I don't have the time off work anymore. Or a route. Or any inclination.

http://www.darkerside.org/2013/07/london-edinburgh-london-2013-stage-preview/

There's one off your list Rosie.

also, I can confirm that the garmin 800 has problems logging long rides.

No one has found any kind of pattern to it. It doesn't always happen, the proof being in my two Garmin 800 logged 24hr rides.

I cycled around menai bridge for about 45 minutes this year. Last thing I needed.
It's amazing how people can live in a town of 200 buildings, and no one knows where the bldy scout hall is.

I was there on Saturday with Corlis Benefideo! There was a produce sale on in a school and we bought some strawberries and a MASSIVE pastry called an almond ring which was like a giant circular iced bun with a layer of almond in it and almonds and cherries on top, it was amazing, we'd finished it by the time we got to the north coast of Anglesey...

#csb

^ yeah, I dont think it's an always sort of problem

I think the consensus is that it has something to do with the maximum number of data points that the internal memory can hold before buffer overflow.

I am using the 705 and plan to just ride and record between controls for LEL. it's easier that way psychologically anyway because you're starting from scratch, and each ride is relatively short at 70km ish. you just have to do 20 of them.

the route sheets are split the same way, coincidentally

I also get really peeved when I end up with huge overdistances on audaxes.

One of the reasons I gave up on the buzzard was it looked like the "613km" route would end up at over 650km by the time I finished.

I was there on Saturday with Corlis Benefideo! There was a produce sale on in a school and we bought some strawberries and a MASSIVE pastry called an almond ring which was like a giant circular iced bun with a layer of almond in it and almonds and cherries on top, it was amazing, we'd finished it by the time we got to the north coast of Anglesey...

#csb

We meaning you had a nibble I assume?

Garmin etrex!! Just carry a spare pair of batteries job done! simplez

eurgh... never good when someone breaks your saddle in two, with four days before at 1400km ride... :-(

...it's easier that way psychologically... each ride is relatively short...

Trying to avoid catching sight of particular pieces of data while cycling through a Garmin's various views is a favourite distance riding game. "You've still got a shitload of miles to go" isn't always useful to know.

The very best of luck to anyone riding LEL, I've opted for plastering.

last minute crises of confidence

GP 4seasons in 28mm or 4000s in 25?

Former.