Tracking Elevation

[oldgroundhog]

Is anyone aware of a GPS system or any other product on the market that will track and record elevation gain or loss?  

Thanks,  Groundhog

[gponce101]

I've used the Garmin Edge 305. Works great.

[FredHiltz]

As does my Garmin GPSMap 76CS. I think most modern units that incoporate altitude recording will display total gain/loss since reset and will also include altitude in the track log so you can see a profile of your route. Check the specs before buying, of course.

The 76CS shows a profile on its screen, which can be interesting to hand around at lunch stops. Profiles on the computer with MapSource are more useful, though.

Fred

[JayH]

Some of the more fancy cyclocomputers also track elevation log and can give a rought % grade of ascent/descent.  Ciclosport makes a bunch of wireless cyclocomputers that do this. Some that even interface with a PC via a data cable.

www.ciclosport.de  

and click on the cycling/navigation link


Jay

[valygrl]

I have the ciclosport M434 (I think that's the model) that shows current elevation, total ascent, total descent, max elevation, current % grade, avg % grade up, avg % grade down.  Also all the other normal cycle computer stuff, of course.

it doesn't have a file download, there's a more expensive one that does have file downloads, but you have to buy another extra interface, and it's quite spendy.  

The nice thing about it is that since it's a cycle computer, the battery lasts forever, as opposed to those garmins, that have to be charged daily.  doesn't matter if you are in town, but on tour there's no way I would be a slave to a daily charge.

Also, if you go the GPS route, make sure it has a barometric altimeter, the GPS based altitude readings are extremely unreliable.

Cheers.
anna

[jdhair]

The HAC4 ciclocomputer also records altitude, plus cadence plus speed, heart rate, temperature, and will calculate power output in watts.  Great cycle computer, if a bit expensive.