 Poster: A snowHead
|
I've searched through previous posts on this but am still none the wiser. I want a simple, pocket sized (or wrist mounted) economical GPS which I can use for:-
- taking on bike rides to show, position, distance, speed, altitude, etc. (navigation is not that important as I stick to known routes)
- taking on skiing trips to record similar
- data can be downloaded to PC
- software to chart data, etc
- can be loaded on Google Earth, Maps, etc
- enough storage capacity for a week's skiing
Don't really want one that relies on a PDA or mobile. Any recommendations?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I have been using Garmins eTrax Summit for skiing and mountain biking. It ticks all your boxes although i am not sure about the google earth bit; I use mapping software.The Summit has a baromertic altimeter so its v accurate when it comes to your ascents or descents. It also has a very 'nifty' bike mount. The only draw back is its relatively short battery time in the cold, 12 hours or so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I have use a garmin vista cx for skiing, biking and mountain walking, you can get a bike mount. it has a built in compass and altimeter. Be aware you will need buy electronic maps in addition to the cost of the unit. Apart from ski touring navigation i haven't really used it for general skiing, it does not work so well in trees, also i agree with PP re battery life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After having a chat with Garmin's helpline I've purchased a Garmin Edge which is the specialist biking equivalent of the Forerunner, but handheld not a watch type. Helped that I got a really cheap deal on ebay. Garmin also have a tie up with MotionBased which gives a similar portal to Sportsdo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin B, 
Let us know how it works out for you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| BGA wrote: |
| My PB is 76.9mph |
My ar5ehole went at 65mph - 76.9 is quality! Was this on a normal piste or at the bottom of a speed piste?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bucking bronco, normal piste, the one that runs down from Attelas to La Combe in Verbier. First thing in the morning, no-one about. The very bottom bit is parallel to where the speed run is but if you start much higher up you can get much higher speed. It's obviously a fast run because my wife managed her PB of 65.4 on the same piste. I did fancy having a go on the Mont Fort just after they had done the speed trials and flattened the right side of the front face but I never seem to get good satellite reception there as it is quite sheltered. Re the ar5ehole - I will admit to a degree of twitching
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
BGA
Funny that's where me and my mates have been hammering it too in the last couple of years, know what you mean about first thing in the morning though - that piste gets seriously churned up and busy by lunchtime. Funny incident this year when coming down the skiers' right hand edge of the piste to miss the moguls, flat light - hit the compression (where the "slow" sign is before the run out) in a tuck and my knees had no where to go - and ended up in all sorts of bother  . They bashed Mont Fort the week after we left so no joy there, another good place is the black down from greppon 2.
Can't believe your missus' PB of 65.4 - that is seriously quick. Manhood in jeopardy - must go faster next time.
Cheers
BB
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| Quote: |
Can't believe your missus' PB of 65.4 - that is seriously quick. Manhood in jeopardy - must go faster next time
|
It's a point that I bring up with my mates constantly when they fail to make the grade!
It's definitely a fast run though - it formed the bottom part of the course for the Swiss Junior Ski championships this year. They started off just under the Olympique restaurant and ran all the way down the right hand side of the piste with the finishing line adjacent to the where the Tag speed run starts. Would have been interested to know what speed they were doing as they were effectively straight lining it from opposite the Carlsberg chalet. Look bl**dy fast to me whatever it was
Good point about Greppon 2 - good gradient, nice and quiet - 80mph next season?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What an interesting discussion. I'm in the market for a GPS for ski mountaineering as well as summer hillwalking. I've got memory map running. Never occured to me that a GPS could record maximum speeds. Is this a common feature or is it confined to the Garmins you mentioned above?
Cheers
mike
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
How accurate are the recorded speeds on these GPS units? I can see them working fine on the flat but even when triangulated with three sats doesn't a steep incline trick the units?
I skied with a guy in Kitbuhel a while back & his unit clocked him at over 90 & he definately wasn't going over 50.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
spyderjon, I think they are fairly accurate. The GPS units that I've used for aviation give accurate groundspeeds even in a descent. Given that a cruise descent would be between 500 and 1000 feet per minute I don't think that as skiers we descend that quickly (if we do then we probably need to get our poles/ice axes out - but that's another discussion  ). The handheld GPS I use as a backup for flying shows an error message if it cannot see enough satellites to give an accurate height reading and so I think that you will occasionally get a duff reading if you are in a sheltered area and your unit is only getting data from a limited number of satellites. When I've compared the two units side by side they are within 5% of each other
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Make sure you keep it well hidden. Handheld GPS units make you look like a loser.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Whitegold wrote: |
| Make sure you keep it well hidden. Handheld GPS units make you look like a loser. |
Maybe you could get a pouch for them that would attach to the strap of ya ski tote
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
| Quote: |
Make sure you keep it well hidden. Handheld GPS units make you look like a loser.
|
Based on?
They work perfectly well in your coat pocket, also most of the running/cycling ones have a wrist strap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Cant comment on the cool factor but the best place to carry one is horizontal on the very top of your pack if you want it to work well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| BGA wrote: |
| Quote: |
Make sure you keep it well hidden. Handheld GPS units make you look like a loser.
|
Based on? |
The opinion of Mr. Martha Stewart, of course. 
Depending on who you're trying to impress. A hiden GPS that can't be seen doesn't impress ANYONE!
ZERO cool factor.
More over, the average handhelds are much more sophisticated than the wrist watch type. So, a handheld with a proper "mount" (handlebar/arm strap) has top cool factor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Quote: |
More over, the average handhelds are much more sophisticated than the wrist watch type
|
Well, if we're going to play that game I'm going to take out the panel based GPS from the aeroplane I have a share in ( https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8052 ) and strap it to my ski helmet. Beat that!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BGA wrote: |
| Well, if we're going to play that game I'm going to take out the panel based GPS from the aeroplane I have a share in and strap it to my ski helmet. Beat that! |
Easy. Also works for helmet cams.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Early attempt by the Chinese at cloning the Sony Walkman?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Make sure you don't crash and bang up that fancy GPS against the helmet!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BGA wrote: |
| Quote: |
Make sure you keep it well hidden. Handheld GPS units make you look like a loser.
|
Based on?
They work perfectly well in your coat pocket, also most of the running/cycling ones have a wrist strap. |
Anyone who shreds with a GPS unit on show is a loser.
On the sadness-meter, they are up there with skiers who use walkie-talkies, losers in rugby tops with the collars turned up, pretend-partyanimals who dance on tables, and geeks with their cellphones tucked into a pouch attached to the outside of their trouser belt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
I met this really cool guy today you know the sort, a real winner, unfortunately he was lost...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
