Best GPS for Touring ACA Atlantic Coast Route

[NOLA]

I've read most of the posts and info on the ACA site and elsewhere, but still need some direction (no pun intended).  I am planning on cycling the ACA Atlantic Coast Route (Maine to Florida) this summer (+/- 2,500 miles).  I will be primarily camping so I need to be independent of plug in power as much as possible.  I am not very computer oriented, and would like to purchase the best, easiest to format/use/read, and most durable/reliable GPS devise there is for navigational purposes for this trip and so that I can use the ACA waypoints.  Price is not a driving factor.  I plan to purchase and use the ACA route maps also, but want the GPS in addition.  Can anyone point this electronically challenged person in the right direction?  Also, I noticed the ACA has made some recent changes to the Atlantic Coast Route.  Is this likely to outdate the waypoints that I download or will they be updated?  Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.     

[Tourista829]

Want to be independent of plug in power, for around $900, including labor, you could be, if you consider the following:

Garmin 605            GPS                   $400  on sale at   REI
Shimano Nexus 72 Dynohub               $110                  Harris Cycle
Rebuild Front Wheel Labor/Spokes      $100                  Local Bike Shop
Dahon ReeCharge  Lithium Battery      $ 99                   Dahon UK Cycles*   *will run an I-Phone or other phones & accessories

If you want to get fancy add the following:
Busch Muller IQ Cyo R or N Version     $121                   Harris Cycles**     **Senso lights comes on, if you go through a tunnel
Senso Plus Front Light  60 Lux

Busch & Müller Rear Light                  $38                    Harris Cycles
Toplite Line Plus Rack Mount
Generator Taillight             

Labor to put lights and all together     $40                    LBS

[FredHiltz]

Charging from a Dynohub is an intriguing idea. Tourista, does it put out DC? I am woefully behind here, recalling dynohubs of the past century that gave AC. Of course a rectifier is easy to add.

Nola, how are you with wiring things up and fashioning a mount for the Dahon battery? This power comes at the cost of extra wires and stuff on your bike.

I'm afraid I do not agree with the 605 for touring, although it is a great unit for local training rides. Beyond its need for a recharge every day, its limit of 100 waypoints means you would have to load new routes and waypoints every two or three days. For that, you need to carry a small computer or find one to use.

Garmin's Etrex series and GPSMAP 60Cx series are much better suited and no more expensive. They hold 1000 waypoints and run for three days on two AA cells, which you can buy everywhere and carry easily. I prefer to carry a 120v charger and four rechargeable AA cells, going about a week between power outlets. These units mount on your handlebar with no need for extra wires and batteries on the bike.

I know the updated waypoints are done for the Atlantic Coast route, but do not know if they are on the web site yet. You could try downloading them again and look, or ask anyone at the ACA office when they will be published.

Fred

[Tourista829]

Charging from a Dynohub is an intriguing idea. Tourista, does it put out DC? I am woefully behind here, recalling dynohubs of the past century that gave AC. Of course a rectifier is easy to add.

Nola, how are you with wiring things up and fashioning a mount for the Dahon battery? This power comes at the cost of extra wires and stuff on your bike.

I'm afraid I do not agree with the 605 for touring, although it is a great unit for local training rides. Beyond its need for a recharge every day, its limit of 100 waypoints means you would have to load new routes and waypoints every two or three days. For that, you need to carry a small computer or find one to use.

Garmin's Etrex series and GPSMAP 60Cx series are much better suited and no more expensive. They hold 1000 waypoints and run for three days on two AA cells, which you can buy everywhere and carry easily. I prefer to carry a 120v charger and four rechargeable AA cells, going about a week between power outlets. These units mount on your handlebar with no need for extra wires and batteries on the bike.

I know the updated waypoints are done for the Atlantic Coast route, but do not know if they are on the web site yet. You could try downloading them again and look, or ask anyone at the ACA office when they will be published.

Fred

[Tourista829]

Fred,

Don't feel bad, most people in the USA, have little knowledge or no idea about Dyno Hubs. When I was in Europe, they were much more prevalent. Dynohub is technically, a term exclusive to Sturmey Archer. It is an ac device, 6 volt, three watt unit that replaces the front hub. The standard is the Schmidt, it has the least resistance, very well built, most efficient, and expensive. It will power both front and rear lights as well as an accessory that allows you to run a GPS, Cell Phones, and other devices. In recent years, Shimano has come closer in quality, lower resistance, and better efficiency, at 1/2 the price. Lighting is as good as 80 Lux with the Schmidt Edelux. The less expensive BM IQ Series CYO N or R Series put out 60 Lux at 60% of the price. The BM units have two features I like. When you are  stopped at a light, the front and rear lights have a stand light feature, and will stay on for a few minutes. The senso feature is what I really like. The headlight & tail light have a three positioned switches. 0,1,2. One is on always, one is off always. The final position works with a photo cell that senses light conditions. If you happen to go into a tunnel it automatically turns the lights on. (although there are not too many tunnels, I would think twice before riding through one, in the USA) Some of their rear lights can work on both dyno and back up battery power. You got to hand it to the Germans for their innovation and engineering. BM has even designed a new system called DIWA, (Distance Warning) that when you slow down the rear light gets brighter, like a brake light. As you may be aware Peter White, Chris Juden, and the late great Sheldon Brown have written extensively on this topic.

I like the Dahon's UK Division, Prologic, and their Reecharge unit for $99.00. Although I also like the Busch Muller E-Werke it does not have a battery and you have to change the settings or you will fry what you are charging. The Reecharge actually has a Lithium Battery. The unit will work with any Schmidt or Shimano hub generator. If you read the following, it will give you an overview of the unit. http://uk.dahon.com/accessories/2010/biologic-reecharge. It has an easy mount for the steering tube, is easily removable, and a separate bracket for ie, an I-Phone. The battery is great and can obviously be used when the bike is not in use.

If one is handy, it is possible to wire the lighting and the accessory unit to the dyno unit. However there is a difference between the Schmidt and Shimano units and one should be aware of them. 

Regarding the Garmin 605, my mistake. I need to read up more about Garmin GPS's. (I have used one in my car and airplane for years.) I was told that with a hardware update and the addition of an SD card, that there was a way of adding additional way points. Obviously bad information from Garmin. I appreciate the info on the Garmin Etrex Aeries, GPSMAP 60Cx Series and the info on the Atlantic Coast Route ACO way points. I am sure this is more info than you would every possibly want. I would have normally sent it in an email to you, but thought this might help Nola and other readers.

I am a big believer in the above system and it is worth the small added resistance to never have to worry about carrying extra batteries. Like any system, it is not full proof and a back up system is always advisable for lighting, in case a wire breaks. One can never be too safe, if riding a lot at night. Bob

[FredHiltz]

Thanks for the tutorial, Bob. That is an impressive piece of engineering. My first and last dynohub was the SA built into a 3-speed Raleigh English Racer (38 lb.!) in 1950. They have come a fair way since then, eh?

The newer Garmin receivers can store maps and track logs in the big SD memory, but not waypoints. I wish they would. We could get across the country without having to reload.

Fred

[FredHiltz]

I was told that with a hardware update and the addition of an SD card, that there was a way of adding additional way points. Obviously bad information from Garmin.

I missed the "hardware update" in my first reply. Maybe Garmin is listening? The owner's manual does not mention it, nor does the change history in their updates page. If you hear more, please let us know.

Fred

[JHamelman]

Also, I noticed the ACA has made some recent changes to the Atlantic Coast Route.  Is this likely to outdate the waypoints that I download or will they be updated?  Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.     

They waypoints have been updated on the website. They reflect the route as it now stands.

Have a great ride!

.Jennifer.

[NOLA]

All:  Thanks for the help.  I've decided to follow Fred's advice and go with the Garmin GPSMAP series, but I am now faced with the decision of which device within that series (60CX, 60CSX, 76CX, 76CSX, 78, 78S, 78SC).  All of these seem about the same to this novice, but it appears that the primary difference is that the devices in the 78 series (78, 78S, 78SC) have the following advantages:  (1) 18 vs. 20 battery life, (2) 1.7 GB built-in memory, and (3) storage of 2,000 waypoints (vs. 1,000).  This is making me lean in the direction of the 78 series.  Does anyone have any insight/advice/guidance on this?  Also, does the Atlantic Coast Route have more than 2,000 waypoints and, if so, then what's the work around?  I am hoping to have as much of the route "pre-loaded" as possible so that I don't have to deal with updating on the road (if that makes sense).  I know that this question has been asked before relative to other routes but I could not get back to the answer.  I REALLY appreciate the help.  - NOLA.     

[FredHiltz]

The AC route that I have, possibly not the current version, contains 3206 waypoints. The workaround is to carry a CD or a memory stick holding three or four overlapping groups of waypoints and a simple program like G7ToWin that will run directly from the device. Get a few minutes on the computer of a friendly cyclist or a computer store to reload your receiver. Most libraries will not let you connect your own device for fear of malware.

There's a lot of good information and more detail elsewhere in this group. With the GPS discussion thread list showing, enter Waypoints in the search box. A good starting thread is http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php?topic=4473.0

The Garmin 78 series is so new, there seems to be no experience yet. From their website, the installed base map is nautical and there is no handlebar mount. And it costs more.

We can speak from experience with the 60 and 76 series. The nautical 76, like the 78, floats not because it is lighter but because its case is larger. The 76 handlebar mount places most of the unit aft of the bar, where some cyclists hit it with their knees when out of the saddle. The 60 handlebar mount places most of the unit forward of the bar, which works better.

"S" in the model number indicates a barometric altimeter. Basic GPS gives your altitude, but the barometric altimeter is more accurate and less "jumpy" or "noisy" in its reading. You can judge whether to spend the money for it. The "S" also indicates a built-in compass, which is nearly worthless. It works only if the unit is held perfectly level and it needs to be re-calibrated every time you change batteries. A $5 keychain compass is a lot better for bike navigation.

Fred