I've used a Polar RS800cx for a while. It's not a bad computer, but have a lot of problems with interference, sensors, etc. And Mac compatibility seems to be a hard issue for Polar... It's annoying to use Parallels or VMWare, and I always "forgot" to write my training diary. I'd like to try the Garmin Edge 500, maybe easier and faster. What do You think? Which training program/workout planner should I use?
So... If there aren't another good options, I'll use GTC and GC.
The Garmin records rides rather than the Polar where you could put specific timings / intervals / targets. I use the Edge 500, but tape (with masking tape) my workout details to the top tube and rip them off when done.
You can input workouts into the Edge 705 (and thus I assume the 500), I fact it's better than my Polar S725 was, as you can put intervals of different lengths in. I just input on the unit and use WKO3 for analysis, but that's pointless unless you use power.
Garmin Training Centre works on the Mac and you can define/plan workouts to send onto the unit.
I recently looked into this. Garmin Training Centre is awful. I looked a few options and ended up buying [url= http://www.montebellosoftware.com/ ]Ascent[/url]. It puts your ride on a google map and you can watch yourself do it while monitoring myriad streams of data recorded by the GPS unit.
You can get a free trail to see if you like it.
For logging/viewing data there is [url= http://www.montebellosoftware.com/ ]Ascent[/url] and [url= http://www.rubitrack.com/ ]Rubitrack[/url]. I bought both, but over time use Rubitrack exclusively. Also, it seems like development has either stopped or has dramatically slowed with Ascent. Saying that though, Rubitrack only seems to see a few updates a year.
You could alway eschew both and just use the Garmin Connect website, which while nowhere near as good as it would be if it was still motion based, is ok if you can stick Bing maps.
You can use [url= http://www.garmin.com/us/products/intosports/training_center ]GTC[/url] for planning workouts, but as CaptJon says.....and with most Garmin software, it's as clunky as square wheels.
there's a Chrome extension to use google maps in gc
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fbeiifjiimghhaijicmdphhpockpbldc
as a gc alternative, I keep meaning to try http://www.runningahead.com/
No training plan upload to the 500 🙁
there's a Chrome extension to use google maps in gc
Indeed. Unfortunately it defaults to Bing when using the course creator and the player.
.....like you say though, there is alternatives. Just annoys the crap out of me that Garmin make decent hardware, but when it comes to coding anything they just do a sub-par job and never ever seem to care about the fact it pisses off their customer base. I guess this is the result of them having no real credile competitors in the market.
What's the problem with the Garmin softwares? I don't like Polar, because softwares are awfull on Mac and need a lot of sensors, etc. (But I like the RS800CX ability to record R-R intervals.)
Sorry to resurrect this thread...
Can someone summarise the differences between the various softwares for Garmin GPS devices?
Garmin Connect seems fine but I've only had my Edge 800 for a few days... what am I missing out on with other softwares?