I am trying to figure out an easier way to track speed and distance for riding. Right now I am doing maps, rulers, and writing down what time I am a certain points and doing the math later- in other words, totally the old fashioned way too much work way- LOL! :lol: I was looking at the Garmin Forerunners and wondering if me wearing one would while riding would work. It would be fabulous if they did because then it would actually track my hiking too.
I know people who use them and like them, but if money is a concern, the Garmin eTrex will work just as well for less than half the price. It’s their entry-level handheld hiking GPS – I put it in a little camera bag and clip it to my saddle. I got mine a few years ago at Walmart for about $60…
I have one and use it often, usually when exploring new areas, checking distance on particular loops, or collecting pace data.
Bear in mind that GPS isn’t perfectly accurate as far as distance travelled, particularly in hilly terrain. It measures point to point and doesn’t account for folds in the landscape, which makes the actual path travelled longer than the unit claims. Around here, we figure in about a 10% error.
I have an older Forerunner and love it. Like BG said above, especially with the older models, be aware that it isn’t going to be 100 percent accurate (I have heard the newer models are better, but even the newer models need to get regular signals to track and that can be difficult in some terrain). While I use it primarily to track distance (and average speed) on unfamiliar trails, it can also be helpful to learn pace - I love to get into a good clip and try and guess how fast I’m going, then look down at the gps to see what my mph really is. I have also used the feature to “record” trails so if I loop together a new bunch of trails and find it good for training purposes, I can get directions for that same trail the next time.
Yeah, a 201 Forerunner. A wrist GPS shaped like an elongated watch. The GPS is simple to use - just turn it on, and do your ride. That’s it. It will tell you how fast you are going, how far you’ve gone, and the elapsed time. It’s when you download the data to the computer that you get to see the neat stuff. That, too, is easy to do.
[QUOTE=gothedistance;6272811]
Yeah, a 201 Forerunner. A wrist GPS shaped like an elongated watch. The GPS is simple to use - just turn it on, and do your ride. That’s it. It will tell you how fast you are going, how far you’ve gone, and the elapsed time. It’s when you download the data to the computer that you get to see the neat stuff. That, too, is easy to do.[/QUOTE]
Thanks- that’s exactly the one I’m looking at!
Exactly what kind of neat stuff? I want to be able to interface with google earth, somehow, and place my route on top of it.
Here. Have fun playing with the data on this former training ride - put it in satellite mode, run the player (tab at the top right) to open another page where you can click on the play button to watch the moving tracker to see what ways I went, watch the changes in elevation, my speed, etc.
This is really a neat tool.
You can also upload your ride to Google Earth to see the tracks. Just click “Export” (when on the Player page) and it will open a drop box that includes “view in Google Earth”.
That IS cool. And all I need to do that is a 201 Forerunner?
Yup. The “MyGarmin.com” site is free to Garmin users. Your GPS attaches direct to your computer/laptop via a usb cord and your gps’s recharging cradle (the internal battery is rechargable) and the unit will automatically download your tracks directly to the mygarmin.com website under your account.
From there you can edit your data name, etc., and send the link to your friends to oooooo and ahhhhh over.
I use the GPS for not only endurance riding and training, but also for foxhunting, and also for trail clearing to see where we’ve been and where we need to go.
[QUOTE=gothedistance;6272870]
Here. Have fun playing with the data on this former training ride - put it in satellite mode, run the player (tab at the top right) to open another page where you can click on the play button to watch the moving tracker to see what ways I went, watch the changes in elevation, my speed, etc.
This is really a neat tool.
You can also upload your ride to Google Earth to see the tracks. Just click “Export” (when on the Player page) and it will open a drop box that includes “view in Google Earth”.
:)[/QUOTE]
Alright- that did it! Mine is ordered:lol: Thanks for enabling
forerunner 305
I have a 305 and use the heart rate monitor it really helps with conditioning. Very easy to use and keeps a history
[QUOTE=R Holyoak;6278491]
I have a 305 and use the heart rate monitor it really helps with conditioning. Very easy to use and keeps a history[/QUOTE]
I am assuming you mean on your horse as opposed to you? Did you have to do anything to adapt the HRM to the horse?
I downloaded an app for my iPhone called Gazelle. It tracks my distance, speed, time riding, minutes per mile, and you can break it down to give you the average per mile too. It uses the GPS capabilities of the smart phone, and so far it seems really accurate. it was $2.95
Do I assume correctly that this (and similar apps) only works if you’re riding where you have cell service?
forerunner 305
I just lengthened the strap and wrap it around the barrel. I then wet the contact spot.
I have one and love it. I use it for jogging, hiking, biking, riding on trail, or just riding in the arena if I want to track mileage and time. It’s a very versatile tool. We are in Florida so it’s pretty flat here - I can’t imagine it’s off by much. I’ve double checked it with other tools (on the roads that I jog on) and it’s dead accurate. We have a local riding trail that is a 5 mile loop and I use it to track our time and pace on that trail. Plus if I want to add in an extra mile, or two, or three - I can do so by tracking it on the watch.
For running (if you’re into that) it’s excellent for sprinting sets. I usually sprint half of a mile, walk a quarter, sprint another half - etc. until I can’t take anymore. Impossible to do without the watch, unless your entire route was pre-mapped. We do something similar with the horses also, but not sprinting. We will usually trot for 2 miles or so, walk for a half, trot for another two, etc. Again, always using the watch.
totally confused
[QUOTE=R Holyoak;6281230]
I just lengthened the strap and wrap it around the barrel. I then wet the contact spot.[/QUOTE]
We just purchased the Garmin Forerunner 610 with HR monitor. However, when we tested it on the 5 horses we have this morning, we wet the contacts and applied it to the horse’s barrel. It seemed like the readings were about 2x what I would expect for a resting heart rate. Is there some reason to convert it somehow for equine use? Where exactly are you putting it (I can certain extend the strap i that is all that is needed)?
I have a Garmin eTrex Venture HC. I use it to track trails and it is pretty accurate. I set the “ping” time to every 30 seconds so it is way more accurate than if the “ping” time was every 3 to 5 minutes.
I track time, speed, miles. I upload to Everytrail or to the Garmin site. I can set way points and have had a blast tracking to a particular site by navigating to it. LOL had a blast doing that one day with a couple of friends.
I will upgrade to a fancier Garmin one of these days (I also have a heart monitor which is fun to train with too!)
A human HRM needs to be converted for a horse. I use a 305 with a conversion I bought from the Distance Depot. I have an electrode that is placed where you normally take their pulse…basically where the girth goes behind their elbow. There is a second electrode pad that is placed under the saddle, behind their wither (basically under the stirrup bar).
My receiver, which has been modified, is strapped to the front of my saddle. I then connect both electrodes to the receiver and turn my watch on. Works pretty well as long as the girth is tight enough.
I will try to post a picture later…
