I am new to the world of Garmin gps based bike computers and the like, and would appreciate any feedback or thoughts.
I use strava but via my phone and use it more for tracking. I don't pay for the premium or care too much about any KOMs. I also have a wireless polar wheel based computer.
I would like to be able to follow cue sheets and the directions for gravel rides I am unfamiliar with. The Garmin edge 520 seems best for this, but as I understand it, the 25 can also do that. I do like the smaller size of the 25, but if I get off course having a map would be nice.
If I go with the 520 should I also get the speed sensor? A lot of the cue sheets have very detailed and easy to miss turns at things like 36.3 miles in. Does the speed sensor help improve the distance measurement accuracy? I don't really understand how the unit measures distance via 2 methods and then decides which one to present, an average?
I've got the 520, but I also looked into the 25. Have you checked out the DC Rainmaker reviews of the two units? http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/07/garmin-edge-520.html and http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/06/garmin-edge-20-25.html. He's pretty comprehensive. There's also the 20, but it doesn't have Ant+ or auto-upload to Garmin Connect and Strava via Bluetooth, which I really like.
I have a speed, cadence, and heart-rate sensor with my 520, but you can have all of those with the 25 (you just can't attach a power meter to the 25). I don't think the speed sensor affects the distance measurement very much, but it definitely sharpened up the starting/stopping detection. If you do want to have these sensors, I recommend the bundle, since it saves quite a bit over buying the sensors individually over time.
I like to create courses and follow them even if I know where I'm going; I use the Garmin Connect site for that and then push them to my Edge from course creation page on the computer, but it will send it next time your Edge boots up and connects to your phone, which I really like. I haven't added the extra map layers to my computer, so I can't help you with that, but the screen shows a line drawing of the course and where I am on it, so it's pretty easy to tell if I'm off course (it also gives me a "course lost!" warning).
My complaints with the Edge 25 were the battery life and the charger (but it's so well priced!). The listed battery life is maybe 8 hours and the charger is a little cradle that it pops into, vs listed 15 hour and micro USB for the Edge 520. The charging cradle is only a problem in my bikepacking fantasies where I would have to take an extra cord.
Thanks reubenc. For me the battery life difference might make the 520 the more reasonable choice. I am still undecided about the need for the speed sensor. I do ride in some heavily forested areas and I think the improved accuracy might make that choice an easy one.
Nice. I really enjoy mine; I think it's a great product. You can see more data per screen with the 520 as well, but again, I don't know what I do with my cadence and heart rate information, especially in real time, so I don't really know if that's super necessary for me to see. I like it, but I don't think I need it.
I bought the Garmin 520 about a month ago and really like it. I haven't been out on too many outdoor trips but have played with changing the basemap (see DC raininmaker site for instructions). Also have been able to download routes from ridewithgps with cuesheet directions by exporting TCX file. I like this much better than creating them on the Garmin site.
