On Thursday, I created two routes in Bike Route Toaster and uploaded them to the Garmin 705. The process was delightfully easy - much more so than the whole memory map, gpx conversion etc that I had to do with the 305. I tried the first course on Friday night. The timing of the beeps in relation to the turning point was great but the direction, left turn, right turn or straight, didn't bear much correlation to the route I knew I'd plugged in. That had nothing to do with the Garmin itself; purely how I'd created the route in Bike Route Toaster. It's the first time I'd used Toaster so I'm sure that I can improve my route plotting skills for future rides - would welcome any tips on that.
Today I went out into the peak district for a longer ride. Most of the roads are very well known to me now but there is one section which I always get lost on, as I just don't go there that often. Turn announcements were about 60% accurate again today so when I was getting to the little known area near to Macclesfield Forest, I switched to map view so I could see myself on the screen and watch as I moved along the route - EASY! It was just so simple - watching the little triangle moving along the course and reassuring to see all the other junctions coming up in the right places, confirming that I was going the right way. At one point it beeped at me to turn right up a very steep lane and I shouted out loud "noooo, not up there" just as some walkers were going by. They shot me a weird look.
I used the profile view at one point on a very steep section but it was too depressing to see that what was already killing me was mild in comparison to what was up ahead. :-0 I did the Macc Forest climb, which was on the Cheshire Cat route - still hard work but I managed to keep my HR down to 152 (first time I did it I got a max HR of 169 on it).
I just uploaded to Garmin Connect and here is the route - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/6107199
A couple of saddle stops today - probably the most painful ride in 2 years, right from the off. I am still shredded. Tomorrow it comes off and I'm going back to the old one.
I wonder if I'm going to get a number this week ?!?
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Hi Karen
Nice to see that the training is going so well. It is a shame about the saddle but if it is not right is it is best to stop now before it gets worse.
Your times are getting all the more impressive and I have no doubt hat you will breaze the Etape. I remember on the Brian Robinson being impressed with teh speed.
If you were out today was it you that I saw and shot past going down the Cat towards Buxton as you were climbing out of Buxton.
I love riding around Macc forest.
On the strength of this review I think I will delay upgrading my Garmin until you've got the turns 100% accurate.
I get lost very easily. I'm also very good at plotting routes that go down footpaths/bridleways instead of roads.
Glad you are enjoying the Garmin. The more people I hear raving about them, the more I want one.
Bad luck with the saddle. It sounds like the right thing to do, ditching it before things get too raw. A new saddle is on my list of things to get.
Thanks for the comments guys - I don't know why but I didn't receive notification via email that you had commented.
Rich, I don't think that was me, I was only on the cat for a short bit - came up at Derbyshire Bridge past the pub and then first left towards wildboarclough - I was wearing pink giro italia jersey.
Red Bike, don't go on my review - the Garmin itself is perfect. The dodgy element was my route plotting. If you want to put in a route and follow the route on the map (so not looking at your speed/hr/distance/time screen) it is so, so easy. If you're delaying your purchase until I have the turns right, I'd better get a move on with it! :-)
Post a Comment