Computers vs smartphones - myth busted

Equipment
203

I think I tried that one, but I’ll have another look. Did it need subscription to pick up sensors?

204

Yes. I think it’s $20 for the year.

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205

The wahoo fitness app can pick up a power meter and it’s free and does good mapping

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206

I couldn’t get find that. I’ll have another go, thanks :+1:

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207

I like using my phone with the ridewithgps app because this gives me audio alerts of turns coming up.

Most of the time i don’t have the screen on, but can do if I need it.

I’d be interested to know what app you use to get the audio announcements of the stats?

I’ve missed this if it ridewithgps, but would be useful to have

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208

Cyclemeter can announce stats like heart rate, speed, etc. I’ve only used this feature in races to give me alerts when my HR is above a threshold I set, and to announce average HR for the past 5 mins. This helps me pace in addition to using RPE (I don’t have power meters on any of my bikes).

For announcements on when I’m off my planned GPS course (for MTB and gravel rides), I use View Ranger.

It’s possible to run both Cyclemeter and View Ranger at the same time.

209

For me I have a Huawei phone, an old Garmin Edge Touring computer, a much newer Wahoo Bolt, and a Suunto GPS watch. I take my phone in my back pocket but the reasons it will never sit on my handlebars are as follows:

  • Its big and ugly. When I have spent a lot of money making my bike look sleek and cool the last thing I want to do is bolt a 6 inch lump of plastic to the handlebars
  • To secure it to my handlebars I presume I would have to buy an even bigger and ugly mount
  • GPS accuracy of phone is awful (presume does not apply to all phones), I used it with an armband for running until I got so fed up with my Strava uploads looking like spaghetti I bought the Suunto watch
  • Phone screen is invisible in bright sunlight, if its midday in summer and I get lost I struggle to see google maps
  • Phone signal always seems to be missing whenever you actually need it (hence used Garmin if chance of getting lost)
  • Phone screens are fragile, not good for MTB or CX where tree branches my hit it
  • I prefer buttons, phone screens work progressively more poorly with hand moisture, sweat droplets, or if you have full fingered gloves.
  • I find a one-device-does-everything is such a boring outlook on life, I like new computers to play with

What I would really like to see is an e-ink screen cycle computer. I use an e-ink pad for work and the visibility outdoors is in a different league to LCD screens.

210

Thanks, I’ll take a look