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just started commuting again and thought it would be nice to log a bit of data to see if I'm getting fitter. The route takes me around 10-14 miles of road and then up over the downs for 4-6 miles offroad depending on the route I choose.
using endomondo coupled to my sony smar****ch seems to be spot on for distance and tracks the actual route almost perfectly but comedy inaccurate for altitude and speed. Yesterday my altitude gain was 4700ft which would have been nice but the max height of even the highest hill (firle Bostal) is 700ft! The day before on the same route it was 3700ft! Also the max speed is totally wrong giving me over 50mph......
Is there anything better out there app based that connects to a smart watch - or would a cheap dedicated garmin unit work much better? I'm not interested in mapping or spending a load of cash but would be happy to get an edge 25 etc if it gave accurate data.
My Sony Smar****ch was all over the place with the built in GPS. Depending on your phone it's better to run the app on the phone alone.
Dedicated GPS, even a cheap one (Edge 25 or Lezyne micro) are IME way better.
I use a Garmin Vivoactive 3 watch now. As accurate as my Lezyne or old Edge 25, but way more convenient.
GPS altitude from satellite only is not very accurate, and I believe Endomondo doesn't do elevation correction.
Some services like Garmin Connect and Strava have elevation correction. This is based on topographical data of a fixed square area, although the resolution may not be perfect. For a commute it should be okay. Off road with a lot of undulation in a small area then less so.
Otherwise you're into devices with barometers, but they need calibrating for accuracy. A Garmin with barometer you can set known altitude at locations for example. Even then weather makes it drift over a ride. I've had mine calibrate to a fixed point in a loop but by the end it's off by 100ft.
So long as the elevation gain is roughly reliable though I'm not too fussed if the actual altitude is wrong. It may still be the odd 100ft or so out though. Also, comparing with other people it will be way off as they have different devices.
I have a Garmin 25 which always seem to under-read for elevation gain, compared to the other people I ride with who use 810's or similar, by around 5-15%, pretty good for everything else, so will keep until funds allow something else.
If it's the same route(s) each time, so long as the start/finish times are recorded does accuracy really matter? you'll know roughly how fast you went and you'll be able to gauge how fit you are from how knackered you feel...
I do have an Edge 25 not for it's accuracy (it's nowt special) but because on longer rides I like to be able to glance down and monitor my HR and Cadence...
For commuting I normally just log it on the phone (if I remember to at all) and accept that I'll nopt be doing mid-ride stato-ing on the way to/from work... Otherwise a bar/wrist mounted GPS is simply another device to faff with when I need to get out the door... I can always look at the stats if I want to later (the stats don't change much)...