Garmin Edge Explore

[Old Guy New Hobby]

I had a Garmin Oregon. It was big, expensive, used a funky mount, and had a lousy display. But I liked it a lot. I would load GPX files. The unit would show me road maps with a GPX overlay. Basically, it worked in what I call breadcrumb mode. If I wanted to detour, the Oregon calmly showed me where I am and where the GPX route is. I could easily scroll the map to look at roads in the area.

Sooner or later, all things come to an end. I replaced the Oregon with the Edge Explore (no numbers, just Edge Explore). The Explore is less expensive, includes maps with updates, is smaller, has better mounts, and a wonderful display. But it wants to give me routing "assistance". If part of a route uses the same road out and back, it gets all confused on the return and issues instructions to "U-turn". If I detour, it goes nuts trying to get be back on the route. If I want to scroll the map, I have to exit Ride mode first. Is there some way to make the Edge Explore work in breadcrumb mode?

[John Nettles]

You want to be in Track mode if possible.  Tracks are the breadcrumbs you are talking about.  Worst case, call Garmin Customer Service.  They are pretty good at answering questions.  Hope this helps, John

[Old Guy New Hobby]

Thanks, John. You told me what to ask for in Garmin-speak. After playing around with the Edge, I called Garmin. The person I talked with confirmed the Edge doesn't have track mode. I fail to see their logic. The hardware is very well designed. It's too bad the software isn't designed for touring. (Or at least my idea of touring.) The world isn't perfect, but at the price point, I can live with the Edge's imperfection.

[Old Guy New Hobby]

Just in case some reader is interested, I found an option in the menus to turn off recalculating. Now when I detour, I get one prompt to make a U-turn, then the prompts stop. This stops endless large white turn arrows on the map, improves the GPS behavior, and saves a lot of battery. The CPU isn't continuously recalculating, and the back light isn't continuously turning on (assuming the back light is set to turn on at an "event" and turn off after a few seconds).

It's not tracking mode. I still can't pan and zoom the map. I still get annoying turn directions when I'm on the route. But it's a considerable improvement.

[mdxix]

confirmed the Edge doesn't have track mode.

Where are you getting the routes from? How?

There is no such thing as "track mode". But you can load "tracks" instead of "routes" to the Edge. No change of modes required. It just works.

[Old Guy New Hobby]

I create routes on ridewithgps.com, then export them to tracks. Then I move the gpx file into the "new files" folder in the Garmin. When I'm ready to ride, I select "Courses" --> "Saved Courses" --> select the track I created. The Garmin converts my gpx track into .fit file in the "Courses" folder and deletes the gpx track file. I'm off and running with turn-by-turn directions.

If there's a way to avoid the turn-by-turn directions, I haven't found it.

[mdxix]

I create routes on ridewithgps.com, then export them to tracks.

These are all the correct steps for tracks.

If there's a way to avoid the turn-by-turn directions, I haven't found it.

Turn-by-turn is normally a hugely popular feature. But I also fake turning it off. I do not have the exact details with me. I can look them up later if you have trouble finding them.

• Turn off screen prompt: somewhere in the map menu, you can remove the display of street name & turn prompts.
• Turn off tones: under system settings, you can silence beeping prompts.