GPS recommendations?

[andyzee]

Garmin eTrex Legend HCx

It should be awesome on MTB rdes. I intend to upload each ride to Crankfire.

Can you return/exchange it? One thing lacking on that unit, an altimeter.

 

[Greg]

Can you return/exchange it? One thing lacking on that unit, an altimeter.

I know that. :roll: Super accurate altitude is not that important to me. Satellite-derived alt is fine for my purposes. Not worth the $50 premium for me.

 

[andyzee]

I know that. :roll: Super accurate altitude is not that important to me. Satellite-derived alt is fine for my purposes. Not worth the $50 premium for me.

So you can get satellite derived altitude? I did not know that, I guess that's cool. I figured you would want altitude for MTB and didn't realize you could get it without the barametric altimeter. In that case, may it serve you well!

 

[Greg]

So you can get satellite derived altitude? I did not know that, I guess that's cool. I figured you would want altitude for MTB and didn't realize you could get it without the barametric altimeter. In that case, may it serve you well!

Thanks Andy. Yup. The GPS will provide alt based on triangulation which is usually within 50 feet or so. Good enough for me.

 

[Crankfire]

Thanks Andy. Yup. The GPS will provide alt based on triangulation which is usually within 50 feet or so. Good enough for me.

Also, I know I already mentioned Topofusion to you, but Topofusion can also fill in elevations if your gps does not record them or you just don't trust it.

Of course then you have to rely on data whose accuracy could be spotty...

Ah well, glad you got yourself a gps though!

 

[o3jeff]

My plan worked, got the Vista HCx for $200.33 with tax and shipping

 

[andyzee]

My plan worked, got the Vista HCx for $200.33 with tax and shipping

Nice unit, reception can be a bit spotty, but when hiking, I wouldn't leave home with out it. Good luck.

 

[Greg]

My plan worked, got the Vista HCx for $200.33 with tax and shipping

Sweet! It should be interesting for us to compare tracks on the same ride from the two units to see how close (or not) they are on elevation especially. Nate will be happy to hear that you'll be uploading tracks too.

 

[o3jeff]

I am going to need a class on uploading stuff to the site. I assume Garmin give me a program that I can keep track of my rides on my computer for my reference.

 

[Greg]

I am going to need a class on uploading stuff to the site. I assume Garmin give me a program that I can keep track of my rides on my computer for my reference.

It does and the Garmin Mapsource program spits out GPX files (the format you need to use) which upload fine to Crankfire. Unfortunately, Mapsource chokes on GPX files downloaded from CF. As an alternative try this:

http://www.crankfire.com/resources/gpssoftware.php?linkid=1

I just use the demo version which doesn't expire, but 1/5 of the map tiles are marked "demo", but I don't use it to visualize rides, but rather just upload/download GPX files. Visualizing rides on Crankfire is good enough for me, and from CF you can download KML files that open in Google Earth. Here's last night's ride, looking southerly:

 

[Crankfire]

Nice loop! Looks like you got around back of Sessions huh? Apart from them couple hike-a-bikes, nice stuff right? Rock gardens do get a little brutal back there. The downhill makes it worth it though

Unfortunately, Mapsource chokes on GPX files downloaded from CF.

I was looking into that just tried something - if you get a change can you try opening the attached gpx file with mapsource? I don't have mapsource so it's a little hard for me!

Thanks!

 

[o3jeff]

Let me get this thing in hand, then I will look into what these GPX and KML file stuff means. Hopefully this stuff isn't too hard or else I will forever be bugging you with questions on it.:dunce:

 

[Greg]

Nice loop! Looks like you got around back of Sessions huh? Apart from them couple hike-a-bikes, nice stuff right? Rock gardens do get a little brutal back there. The downhill makes it worth it though

Yes, I really liked getting back there. The scrambles and rock gardens were brutal though. As I understand it there's a way to bypass that, but I don't see that anyone has upload a track for that yet.

I was looking into that just tried something - if you get a change can you try opening the attached gpx file with mapsource? I don't have mapsource so it's a little hard for me!

Thanks!

Will do tonight. Shoot me a PM if/when I forget.

Let me get this thing in hand, then I will look into what these GPX and KML file stuff means. Hopefully this stuff isn't too hard or else I will forever be bugging you with questions on it.:dunce:

It really is pretty simple.

 

[andyzee]

Love the 3d feature on Topofusion. When plotting a hike, it's great for giving you an ideas as to what the terrain will be like.

 

[Crankfire]

As I understand it there's a way to bypass that, but I don't see that anyone has upload a track for that yet.

Yeah, I just learned of this myself, but apparently right off the sessions gravel loop if you take the trail to the waterfall (that says no bikes) you can get to the top of the downhill.

Problem is that it cuts out all that nice trail getting there....

And the gravel loop is no fun!

 

[bvibert]

Yeah, I just learned of this myself, but apparently right off the sessions gravel loop if you take the trail to the waterfall (that says no bikes) you can get to the top of the downhill.

Problem is that it cuts out all that nice trail getting there....

And the gravel loop is no fun!

So you have to go straight to the gravel loop like you and Greg did the other night, but then go around the it the other direction to the waterfall trail. You lose out on all the stuff on the back side of the marshy/beaver pond? But you still get all of the sweet downhill?

 

[Crankfire]

So you have to go straight to the gravel loop like you and Greg did the other night, but then go around the it the other direction to the waterfall trail. You lose out on all the stuff on the back side of the marshy/beaver pond? But you still get all of the sweet downhill?

Exactly, that is my understanding at least. Have not checked it out yet though....

 

[Greg]

So you have to go straight to the gravel loop like you and Greg did the other night, but then go around the it the other direction to the waterfall trail. You lose out on all the stuff on the back side of the marshy/beaver pond? But you still get all of the sweet downhill?

I really enjoyed the ride down west of the pond. That coupled with the downhill to the gravel loop almost made the hike-a-bike scrambles worth it. Almost.

 

[bvibert]

I really enjoyed the ride down west of the pond. That coupled with the downhill to the gravel loop almost made the hike-a-bike scrambles worth it. Almost.

There's some good stuff out there, I just had to get off my bike a bit too often.. I'm not sure how much I like the sounds of alternative route through the gravel loop though.

 

[Greg]

There's some good stuff out there, I just had to get off my bike a bit too often.. I'm not sure how much I like the sounds of alternative route through the gravel loop though.

That section of rock scrambling and the rock gardens probably seemed a lot longer than they were since it was our first ride through there. Sorta like driving somewhere that you're not familiar with; it always seems longer.