I Have a Gps Bike Computer
Posted3 months agoActive3 months ago
utcc.utoronto.caTechstory
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Gps TechnologyCyclingPersonal Productivity
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Gps Technology
Cycling
Personal Productivity
The author explains their reasons for using a GPS bike computer, sparking a discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of tracking cycling data.
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Plus I think I'm scared to crashing while looking down at GPS, and I think usijg maps would always force me to stop.
Another huge benefit of a bike computer is that you can pair it with a rear facing radar. This has transformed my biking on roads. It absolutely doesn't replace looking over your shoulder, but it increases your awareness. You now know that there are three cars approaching from behind so you know what to expect. There is no way I'd go on a long cross-country ride without a radar.
However, with the Varia radar riding is amazing. I look down before looking back. I only look back of the radar is clear.
When it squawks - check behind.
(I can't recommend the newer x50 series -- they made the screens a lot brighter, at the cost of significant battery life.)
I do like my bike computer, if only to show me my speed. It also beeps when the radar detects a car behind me.
You don't have to keep looking at it: a quick glance when you're coming to an intersection, to know if you have to slow down and get ready to turn or just keep going.
As other said, it can also provide additional features like warning you about cars coming from behind or reminders to eat/drink.
And contrary to some other comments, it's not another screen asking for your attention. Setup correctly, it's just a map that refresh itself and follows you. Allowing you to focus only on your sensations, instead of having to think about where you are, where you're going...
Finally, cue sheets are nice, but even if you don't care about being "lost" or having to find your way by yourself, you'll probably end up on bad roads with lots of traffic. Meanwhile, if you're just following precisely a nice route going only on quiet roads/paths, you won't end up in bad situations and you'll find your ride more enjoyable.
The cue sheet is structured the way it is because it's expected it will be folded in half horizontally to fit in a map/cue sheet holder, and perhaps vertically as well (if people have a small holder; you fold vertically first, initially hiding the entire right column since you only need it after lunch, then horizontally). Cue sheet holders typically let you flip them up to see the back, so the exact division of a horizontal fold doesn't have to be perfect. Each numbered section covers a (relatively) distinct section of the ride to make it easier to keep track of where you are in the cue sheet overall.
Cue sheets for different circumstances need different sorts of structure. For example, for some cue sheets it would be quite important to include the distance (cumulative and/or from the previous cue). In others, such as this one, individually numbered cues and distances to them are mostly distractions.
(I'm the author of the linked-to blog entry, and as you can tell I have Opinions on cue sheet design.)
I think we might have copied that from you here in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the nice thing is, that by law the have to replace the signs when they are broken/missing (they are legally similar to road signs for cars). However, it sometimes still isn't always possible to just follow numbers because might might have missed or misread a sign, and you might just find out a kilometer later...
Anyway, it's ten thousand times better than in our neighbour state Rhineland-Palatinate
Edit: the Knotenpunktnetz NRW, if anyone is interested: https://radservice.radroutenplaner.nrw.de/rrp/nrw/cgi?lang=D... (you have to zoom in a little too see routes ... if you zoom in more, every sign is shown!)
A guy showing off his sheets as he makes his way to third place in the 2023 Tour Divide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azJS106xeNA&t=1482s
I’d prefer turn by turn instructions rather than documentation of future suffering.
I love that someone makes these things though.
https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/i-made-a-printable-cue-s...
There is a huge spectrum of possibilities between being totally unaware of where you are going and following a route turn by turn and I kind of feel I have an higher than average awarness of where I am going and where are the cardinal directions.
I still like to memorize the route these days. When I do that, I mostly don't use the map feature of the bike computer: I look at my speed, cadence, and heart rate.
Means he can lead rides confidently and fluidly while also being completely present and aware.
GPS tracking, maps in a 1.5" screen, bluetooth reports of speed/cadence from one of those little spoke dealies.
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1221709/#devices
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garmins-new-edge-mtb-cyc...
It also helps you judge corners when you're descending on unknown roads.
I shudder at the thought of having to stop and juggle around paper cue sheets/a map...