Garmin Edge Touring GPS unit for TDR

[Marshal]

Garmin's new (to me at least) Edge Touring GPS unit look ideal for the TDR / great divide route with dynohub

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/cycling/edge-touring/prod134596.html

Any one have any 1st hand experience? 

(Looked but did not see--has this specific unit been discussed in detail in other thread?)

[RonK]

Under discussion recently here.

Units with internal batteries are a pain away from mains power. An Etrex 30 is a better choice.

[Marshal]

RonK-you make a good point and I have been managing battery life on etrex vistas for years on all the my multi day races. So normally I would agree disposable barratries are a better choice than rechargeable.  

However for the 2015 TDR I will be running a dynohub with buffer battery.  So I see no need to restrict myself to disposables and for the TDR & believe there can be distinct advantages to rechargeable GPS, headlamp and phone.

Anyone out there who own and use a Edge Touring unit and can comment on their experiences with it?

[Briansong]

RonK-you make a good point and I have been managing battery life on etrex vistas for years on all the my multi day races. So normally I would agree disposable barratries are a better choice than rechargeable.  

However for the 2015 TDR I will be running a dynohub with buffer battery.  So I see no need to restrict myself to disposables and for the TDR believe there can be distinct advantages to rechargeable GPS, headlamp and phone.

Anyone out there who own and use a Edge Touring unit and can comment on their experiences with it?

Hi Marshal

I ran a Son28 dynamo this year in the TD. I ran my Etrex 30 all day and the light at night. The problem with counting on the Dynamo is the thing only sends reliable charging power to the GPS at 3.5 mph. Some of the climbs I walked were that speed or slower. The unit will turn off sometimes, other times it would not. I asked Garmin about it, they said it is some setting. I tried it both ways, didn't make a huge difference. When you're tired and not thinking clearly, it was just one more thing to deal with.

Also, I had some trouble with the power output to my GPS "swimming" down Flathead. The light would still run (I switched it on to try) but no power was going to the GPS? By the time I got to Wigwam, it resolved.

Even with these issues, I will run the same set-up in 2016. Not having to worry about battery power for night riding is all the incentive I needed. Plus charging phones is a real plus, less time off the bike.

Regards,

Steve

[Marshal]

Steve--I am running a similar setup--SP PD-8 Dynamo hub, Sinewave USB charger with buffer battery to eliminate GPS on/off during slow pedaling.  In short I have zero issues with my system.  It works perfectly running my light at night.  And during the day, with the buffer battery, it works perfectly at  powering the GPS while simultaneously charging my Exposure Diablo (or I phone).

However I am interested in the Edge Touring unit as a possible upgrade to my current Etrex Vista.  I believe the Edge has a bigger (possibly better?) display, weighs less, is more robust/vibration proof and with rechargeable batteries will eliminate one more item to manage, change out and buy/replace.

Anyone out there who is using a Edge Touring unit and is willing to chime in with their experiences?

[Briansong]

Hi Marshal,

I would be interested in which buffer / cache battery you used. I used the USB-werks. I had walking power problems after perhaps 15-20 minutes. I never tried to charge two items as I only rigged one USB port.

Thanks,

Steve

[bmike-vt]

http://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/974315-hands-review-garmin-touring-plus.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/955735-garmin-edge-touring-charging-while-riding-anyone-have-any-luck.html

More there if you poke around.

imHo I would get an etrex 30. (I have the 20) - you can do the same thing - plug it in and run from the dyno - but you have the AAs riding inside all the time. So you never need to prioritize lights or charging.

Which is sort of what you do with the cache battery. Except if the cache battery goes (I'm using a limefuel) - you can still pop in AAs.

My setup is Shimano dyno, exposure Revo headlight on bars, exposure Diablo or Fenix Uc40UE on head (both USB rechargeable), and a limefuel battery with pass through. Using the USBWerk to deal with the power to USB conversion. I am building a switch in a 3d printed housing to switch from light to charge or off.

[RonK]

RonK-you make a good point and I have been managing battery life on etrex vistas for years on all the my multi day races. So normally I would agree disposable barratries are a better choice than rechargeable.  

However for the 2015 TDR I will be running a dynohub with buffer battery.  So I see no need to restrict myself to disposables and for the TDR & believe there can be distinct advantages to rechargeable GPS, headlamp and phone.

Anyone out there who own and use a Edge Touring unit and can comment on their experiences with it?

I'm currently running a SON dynamo hub and buffer battery and I've been managing multiple devices. It's become a chore and now I'm moving back to replaceable batteries where I can.

I've replaced my inaccurate and unreliable bike computer with a basis wired unit and ordered a new Etrex 30.

I'd urge you to research the Garmin forums carefully before you buy the Tour. Many owners have reported issues with them. You may find it a frustrating experience.

[Marshal]

Hi Marshal,

I would be interested in which buffer / cache battery you used. I used the USB-werks. I had walking power problems after perhaps 15-20 minutes. I never tried to charge two items as I only rigged one USB port.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve,

I am using a mycharge battery-- http://www.mycharge.com/collections/all/products/amp-2000

The main reason I am using this battery is it will accept incoming charge voltage from the sinewave while at the same time outputing voltage thru it's USB port.  This allows it to be a true buffer battery.  I have tested it where I begin with it near empty, ride for 5 or more hours while running USB to my etrex and also USB to my Exposure Diablo --and finish with equal or more buffer charge. 

IE the Dynamo hub/Sinewave system produces a net gain while powering a etrex and charging a Diablo. 

[Marshal]

I'm currently running a SON dynamo hub and buffer battery and I've been managing multiple devices. It's become a chore and now I'm moving back to replaceable batteries where I can.

I've replaced my inaccurate and unreliable bike computer with a basis wired unit and ordered a new Etrex 30.

I'd urge you to research the Garmin forums carefully before you buy the Tour. Many owners have reported issues with them. You may find it a frustrating experience.

Well that's why I started this thread, I research and test all my race gear. I will keep looking at other sites but I am looking for 1st hand experience, good or bad, from the hard core bikepacking community. So far all I have found on other sites is some dissatisfaction with turn-by-turn instructions, lacking POI's etc etc.  None of these type issues are relevant to the TDR race. 

I would like to hear about things like how the display works at night, how difficult to scroll touch screens with gloves on, etc etc.  And most important how reliable its been on a mountain bike over washboard roads, thru rain and cold etc.

[Marshal]

http://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/974315-hands-review-garmin-touring-plus.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/955735-garmin-edge-touring-charging-while-riding-anyone-have-any-luck.html

More there if you poke around.

imHo I would get an etrex 30. (I have the 20) - you can do the same thing - plug it in and run from the dyno - but you have the AAs riding inside all the time. So you never need to prioritize lights or charging.

Which is sort of what you do with the cache battery. Except if the cache battery goes (I'm using a limefuel) - you can still pop in AAs.

My setup is Shimano dyno, exposure Revo headlight on bars, exposure Diablo or Fenix Uc40UE on head (both USB rechargeable), and a limefuel battery with pass through. Using the USBWerk to deal with the power to USB conversion. I am building a switch in a 3d printed housing to switch from light to charge or off.

Thanks--some useful info on the 2nd thread about possible charge/run issues with the Edge Touring unit.  I will most likely be carrying one of my old etrex vista's as a back up so I will have a disposable battery unit if needed. 

[Marshal]

Just thought I would update this in case someone else stumbles across this thread.

With a bit of spec comparison I have learned the Edge Touring unit does not allow for tracks, only routes.  This is a deal breaker for the TDR as while a route could work (think waypoint to waypoint) a track (pre-recorded track point to track point) is much easier/better imo for something like the TDR route.

Guess I will be sticking with a etrex model  

[RonK]

The other choice if you prefer a dedicated bike computer is the Magellan Cyclo 505. Whilst like the Edge it has it's own set of idiosyncrasies and issues, navigation is its strong suit, and yes it can navigate a track.