sten_super
Brain Surgeon
I took part in my first organised ride on Sunday, the British Heart Foundation Cotswold ride, 40 miles starting and finishing at Cheltenham racecourse, and I loved it. I think I've progressed another step on the ladder in the cycling addiction stakes.
However, one thing that has put me off doing longer rides is my inability to come up with decent routes, and a rather risk averse nature which means I'm not brave enough to plan routes which take me miles from home (at least, not without the ability to carry out emergency repairs). To counter this, I've bought a saddle bag (to store spare inner tubes, tools, puncture repair kit etc.) and a GPS unit.
The GPS unit I've gone for is the Mio Cyclo 305, which is on offer on Sport Pursuit at £169. Does anyone have any experience of these? I've done quite a bit of reading and it seems that it's broadly similar to the Garmin 810, except that it's (at this price) about £200 cheaper. There is a higher model Cyclo 505, but as far as I've been able to work out the only difference is that it's got wifi (so it automatically uploads rides and downloads gpx files that you upload via pc), and it's £50 more expensive (and is only UK maps, not western Europe, not that it makes much difference to me). I wanted something that would give me turn by turn directions, and I also like the idea of being able to ask it to suggest some routes (could make the morning commute a bit more interesting). Have I made a horrible mistake? My order is still processing at the moment (not being dispatched for a couple of weeks, as is the Sport Pursuit way) so I can cancel if so.
On a final (unrelated) note, had my first tumble this morning since taking up 'proper' cycling. Took a corner too fast (not that fast!) in the wet and came off, only minor scrapes thankfully. Strava makes that just shy of 1600 miles before cycling, which, as an uncordinated overweight man, I'm pretty proud of. It's certainly a lot further than I thought I'd make it!
However, one thing that has put me off doing longer rides is my inability to come up with decent routes, and a rather risk averse nature which means I'm not brave enough to plan routes which take me miles from home (at least, not without the ability to carry out emergency repairs). To counter this, I've bought a saddle bag (to store spare inner tubes, tools, puncture repair kit etc.) and a GPS unit.
The GPS unit I've gone for is the Mio Cyclo 305, which is on offer on Sport Pursuit at £169. Does anyone have any experience of these? I've done quite a bit of reading and it seems that it's broadly similar to the Garmin 810, except that it's (at this price) about £200 cheaper. There is a higher model Cyclo 505, but as far as I've been able to work out the only difference is that it's got wifi (so it automatically uploads rides and downloads gpx files that you upload via pc), and it's £50 more expensive (and is only UK maps, not western Europe, not that it makes much difference to me). I wanted something that would give me turn by turn directions, and I also like the idea of being able to ask it to suggest some routes (could make the morning commute a bit more interesting). Have I made a horrible mistake? My order is still processing at the moment (not being dispatched for a couple of weeks, as is the Sport Pursuit way) so I can cancel if so.
On a final (unrelated) note, had my first tumble this morning since taking up 'proper' cycling. Took a corner too fast (not that fast!) in the wet and came off, only minor scrapes thankfully. Strava makes that just shy of 1600 miles before cycling, which, as an uncordinated overweight man, I'm pretty proud of. It's certainly a lot further than I thought I'd make it!
