Forum menu
I am considering buying a Garmin bike computer so that I can use it with a Varia radar (yes I am nervous on the road).
I have an old 64s which has os maps and works well. The bike orientated units don't use OS maps but my questions are:-
How do the touch screen models compare with the button opperated models, particulary when it rains and when wearing gloves?
Can you navigate effectively from the Garmin maps?
I am not interested in all the training features I just want to know basic ride info, like speed and distance and navigating any device recomendations?
Thanks for any help.
Button/touchscreen is a very personal choice. I prefer the latter but get on ok with my Edge 530 until I want to scroll maps, at which point it's a bit tedious.
Navigation with the inbuilt mapping is OK. Better on the road than off road (at least where I am).
Edge 530 works well with my Varia 515.
Touchscreens work fine in rain and or with gloves.
Varia will also connect to other devices as well. It’s not limited to Garmin head units.
I perfer the button versions due better screen & battery life, but as above, forget it if you want to scroll the map. I don't really 'navigate' from the screen, its generally too small to do that, but following a route is pretty good.
Currently contemplating an Edge Explore 2. Seems to be touch screen and at least 530 sized without training gubbins.
May be worth checking on OP?
Touchscreens work fine in rain and or with gloves.
Depends if the touchscreen is resistive or capacitive. Resistive works in all weathers but is poor at scrolling/swiping. Capacitive can be badly effected by water and gloves.
Related question...How good is a Garmin cycling head unit for pure road use? Like, when you jump on the road does it act like a regular satnav, or does it have a cycling bias?
I'm trying to work out if I could get extra VFM by using one on the motorbike and MTB. I really want the ability to explore strange places on my own by searching for trails with Trailforks or Kamoot or whatever. If I could stick it on the motorbike and have it work like a normal satnav that would be very useful, but not if it keeps trying to send me down cyclepaths and bridelways when I should be on the motorway.
Varia will also connect to other devices as well.
Mine's used with a couple of different Elemnt head units
According to DC rainmaker the touchscreen works significantly better on the 840 than on previous iterations where it was troublesome with gloves, raindrops etc.
However, there is a big price difference between the 840 and the 530 e.g. I bought one of those for £160 on Amazon just over a year ago.
The 530 works fine for navigating a route loaded onto it as a course, where it provides you with a map centered on your current location and upcoming turn prompts. I don't think it'd work well for on the fly map navigating - I'd rather use something like a quadlock to mount a mobile phone onto my bars if I were doing that.
Mine’s used with a couple of different Elemnt head units
Same.
I'd consider an Edge Explore 2. Decent sized screen if your eyes are getting on a bit. Map and navigation work great, custom riding profiles. Don't bother with the the earlier released Explore v1 as it suffers with a software bug in power save mode / screen timeout lag not wanting to come back when touched. Unfortunately Garmin never sorted it, but offered replacement units or discounted explore 2, whichever day you reported it with them. I've owned both and the v2 is a vast improvement.
IME the early Edge units (800, 810) had a much better touch screen.
My OH has an 820 and the screen is utterly useless in the rain. I imagine it’s improved on newer ones. I only use the 820 if I ride abroad and can’t use the OS mapping n my trusty 810.
when you jump on the road does it act like a regular satnav, or does it have a cycling bias?
There are various settings for prioritising roads over off-road, avoid tolls, avoid motorways, etc
Regarding the maps, the included mapping on the Garmin Explore is ok, but theres a handy guide in DC Rainmaker's site on how to add more detailed mapping (or different areas if you head abroad) which is very good with the right level of detail, etc.
For motorbike use, I would recon that even the 1030 with a big screen would be a struggle. To get enough map visible it would be small. To get something usable on a motorbike you'd cross teh screen quickly. I'm getting good use from an old waterproof phone running a road nav app with a quadlock mount stuck on the back.