GPS timed track data info.

[FLV]

Hi, I'd really appreciate it if some one could give me the run down on how to get the timed GPS track info out of a garmin Dakota.
This is for bikepacking ITT's so that I can keep / prove the route and its times.
Heres what I have so far:

1, Upload GPS route / track to Dakota via drag and drop from file system on the PC.
2, Ensure set to record track
3, Reset Trip
4, Reset Current Track
5, Pick a track to follow, hit GO
6, Ride - day 1

Questions
7, End of day 1, do I simply switch the power off now and back on in the morning? how does this affect my average speeds and overall trip times?
8, End of last day - Go into track menu and save current track.

I now dont know how to get the correct data off the gps.

Any help would be great, I though this would have been a  pretty standard process to want to follow but havnt found it written down yet.

Cheers

[RossC]

I don't think I am the most qualified to answer this one but I will have a go regardless.

If you switch the unit off, the telemetry on the unit won't appear correct in your 'dashboard', i.e your overall time will be reduced by the amount of time you had the unit stopped for. That's not such a big deal though since it is really easy to view the time stamps from the file and the only two time stamps that really matter are the first (start time) and last (stop time).

I use basecamp as i'm a mac user and can't use topofusion. Garmin Basecamp is a free download for PC users too so I would start there and see if you like it.

Download all the files into basecamp - it's a one click process with your etrex connected via USB.

Double click on the Day 1 file and it will show you a long list of all the trackpoints. Highlight one and it will also turn up orange on the map. Then scroll through until you are past all the trackpoints of you rolling around the carpark until you actually start riding and then note the time stamp in the 'time' column.

Then go to the file for the last days riding. Do the same except scroll through to the end and find the trackpoint that corresponds to you getting over the finish line and note it's time stamp.

If you forget to save the current track, it doesn't matter as basecamp also downloads the 'active' track.

Have a play and see if any of that helps