Navigation

The only difference between the Edge 810 and the Edge 510 is the former’s ability to offer turn-by-turn navigation.

Wait, that’s not strictly true. While the 510 uses GPS and GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) to get a location fix when you turn it on, the 810 only uses GPS. GLONASS is a space-based satellite navigation system and Russia’s equivalent to the US GPS system. As a result the 510 is said to have an improved satellite acquisition time and it seems odd that the lower end model would be the only one to benefit.

The 810 is still quick to pick up a satellite and only takes seconds in most situations, however in a built-up city, where the high rises buildings can block the signal, it can take a minute or two. That’s frustrating at the start of a ride, in this case when ready to leave RCUK HQ for the ride home, and I’ve often just begun the ride while the computer is still searching for a signal. It’s a double-edged sword as by moving I’m making it more difficult for the computer to pick-up a satellite but it normally locks on within a mile of riding down the road. It’s not a huge problem – and only one that afflicts occasional rides in the middle of London – but it’s one that exists.

Where were we? Back to navigation. The Edge 810 can offer turn-by-turn navigation but not out of the box. The computer comes as standard with Garmin’s ‘Basemap’ and that’s, well, basic, showing only key  roads – and certainly not the country lanes where most cyclists will want to head.

You can still follow a basic breadcrumb trail, but you can also do this on the Edge 510, so having bought the premium model it’s likely you’ll want to take advantage of the full navigational features. Maps can be purchased via Garmin or downloaded via the internet and are plugged into the computer using a Micro SD card. Garmin provided our Edge 810 with European street mapping and this has provided everything we need to head out and follow a new route using turn-by-turn instructions.

You can create a route online using a number of sites (Garmin Connect, Bikehike and Ridewithgps to name three) and it’s easy to transfer the route to the Edge 810 by connecting the unit to your computer. If you use Garmin Connect then you can upload the route to the Edge 810 directly but if you use a third party website then you will need to save the route as a GPX or TCX file then drop it in the relevant folder. Also, if you use Garmin Connect to create a route and then save it, then you can upload it wirelessly to the unit using the smart phone app.

As well as courses you can also create workouts, setting up, for example, an interval session to act out either on the road or turbo trainer.

Garmin’s new Edge Touring Plus computer also looks an interesting proposition for less data-intensive cyclists. It’s designed, as the name suggests, for touring cyclists and offers similar navigation to the Edge 810 but only basic data (for example, speed, distance, ascent, elevation and heart rate).