GPS or Traditional bike computer

In article ,
Brian Huntley wrote:
On Feb 2, 9:35 pm, Werehatrack wrote:
I don't use either of them. I stopped caring how far I'd come and how
fast I'd travelled a while back. I just ride; when I get there, I get
there.

I can see that when you're out for a ride, but when you're bicycle
touring it's sure handy to know how far you are to the next food/water/
camp/turn, assuming you also have some knowledge of what's ahead. Even
if you don't, it's a good reminder to stop and eat or whatever, before
you bonk without realizing it.

I can also think of a few times it would have been nice to have a GPS
instead of a bike computer, just so I could turn it off for a while
and not be reminded about the horrible lack of headway I was making
into the wind.

The Garmin Edge would be pretty terrible for that kind of use. No
maps.

_ Booker C. Bense

Booker Bense writes:

I'm considering buying either a Garmin Edge 305 Deluxe Wireless
Bike Computer or a Polar CS 400. I want to be able to read
altitude, incline, cadence, heart rate, calories burned & the usual
speed time etc. Being able to download to a computer would be nice
but not required.

I understand that the difference between these is that the Garmin
is GPS based while the Polar uses traditional wheel sensors. What
are the merits of both systems?

Garmin uses a wheel sensor as backup if you get the cadence option.

Which is more accurate. On the surface it seems to me that the
Polar would measure distance more accurately but then what do I
know.

Wheel sensors are only more accurate if you know the true rollout
distance, figuring this out is harder than you might think.

Fear monger! What's hard about measuring the distance the bicycle
makes, on your floor from the valve stem at the bottom to when it is
again at the bottom, with normal inflation and rider position? If you
can operate a KBD you are smart enough to do that and measure it in
the units the manual gives. Mine accepts mm or inches.

Jobst Brandt

the roller is more accurate here if set up correctly on actual wheel
travel.
The Garmin 76 gets me down I-95 and unbelievably bang right on Kayak
Jeff's doorstep but is inaccurate measuring a mile or two or 1.2 or
1.15 or..for a straight line running distance.
cateye's enduro is accurate using a fresh rubber measure to 2-3 feet
over 5-6 miles on grippy asphalt.