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Whether you are preparing for that Century race, or even if you are just trying to motivate yourself to go a little bit farther or a little bit faster every day, you will really like the addition of a speed cadence sensor with your GPS device. For ultimate fitness progress you can monitor your pedaling cadence as you ride with a self-calibrating, wireless speed/cadence sensor. It will help you track your speed, distance and pace so that you can monitor your workout performance. It measures and reports your pedaling strokes per minute, providing feedback for optimal efficiency. The Garmin speed/cadence sensor (GSC 10) is compatible with the Edge 305 and Forerunner 305. The best part is that you can use the speed cadence sensor even on your stationary bike so that you can continue to work out even on the bad weather days we seem to be getting more of this time of year.
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In the last few years I noticed that I’d been putting on a few extra pounds, so I decided to do something about it. I’ve never lived a sedentary lifestyle or anything like that, but if I don’t have a tangible fitness goal in mind it’s tough to stay motivated. That’s when a friend told me about a personal bicycling milestone known as the century. Just as you might assume from the name, it consists of a 100-mile-long cycling course.
This isn’t the sort of event you can jump into without doing some diligent training. I found some bicycle GPS mounts online and set up a tracking receiver for my Schwinn road bike. It allows me to plot out my practice routes well in advance so that I can time myself along the way and get an idea for how I’ll do once the real century rolls around. In just a few months, I’ve cycled my way into shape.
Have you broken your GPS antennas on your navigation systems, or is it just not strong enough? Having trouble keeping track of your GPS receiver? Need a second mount so that you can move your automotive GPS units from one vehicle to another, or need to replace the holder that you used to use? Need to recharge your batteries, but still love your GPS device? It is time to consider replacing those lost or broken parts and save the hassles of replacing your trusted GPS receiver that has become like an old friend, one of your all-time favorite traveling companions.
There are lots of options. Perhaps you need a case, a holster or lanyard to protect your handheld GPS units, but help you remain primarily hands free on your adventure. Or you might just want to spruce it up and individualize it. With the right GPS accessories you can fix it up, protect it or update it without a great deal of trouble, and probably save yourself some serious cash while you are at it by breathing some new life into an old friend.
With most new GPS devices it has become less important to have an external antenna jack since the most newer chips are sensitive enough to acquire an adequate signal inside a vehicle or boat. However, it is not always possible to obtain good satellite coverage through a front windshield as sometimes the GPS receiver cannot or will not be placed near a window. This is when an external GPS antenna can help. Even backpackers will benefit from the ability to safely store the receiver inside a pack with an antenna attached to your backpack shoulder straps. It can also help outdoor use in places in like heavy tree cover, mountains or in canyons where signals are weak. Also, tall buildings in cities can create “urban canyons”, or in any place that the receiver doesn’t have a good view of the sky you will want to minimize temporary loss of signal when you are in motion to maintain the best possible accuracy by having a lock on the greatest number of satellites.
Memory is used to load detailed topographic maps, street-level maps, or additional waypoints into your GPS receiver. Detailed maps can use a great deal of memory on your device, so you need to consider how much internal storage capacity your device has. Higher end GPS devices also usually accept a memory card for additional storage. You can also share data easily between different GPS units of your own, or with a friend if you are using a memory card. There are several sizes of memory cards to choose from to expand the memory of your GPS navigation system. Most are between 1 and 4 GB of memory; although, you can purchase larger or smaller memory cards than this if you are interested, depending on how you plan use your GPS units.
It is preferable to have a device that can be supported with external power, like a travel charger or a cigarette lighter power cable to recharge or at least extend the life of the batteries in your GPS units. Due to the power requirements while in use, the device should support standard batteries (AA or AAA) that you can carry in your pocket or pack for easy replacement on the trail. Lithium batteries are often recommended for the newer GPS devices to ensure longer battery life, and power geocachers or avid GPS enthusiasts should consider rechargeable batteries. You sure don’t want to end up lost because your GPS unit’s battery died on you while you were out in the middle of nowhere, so planning ahead is always smart. Stay safe and have fun!
Of all the reasons to buy a motorcycle, it’s the thrill of the open road that stands out most. Movies such as “Rebel without a Cause” and “Easy Rider” have served to reinforce the idea that motorcycles can free us from the constraints of everyday life – the routines, deadlines and mind-numbing predictability. That explains why so many people take up biking later in life; they feel an urge to shake things up and see parts of America from a whole new perspective.
Getting lost and exploring unfamiliar territory is part of the charm, of course, but it’s always best to have directions right at your fingertips. One might think that navigating a cross-country motorcycle trip would be a cake walk, but that’s only true if you stick to major highways. In case you decide to explore the back roads, a motorcycle GPS mount gives you a reliable means of returning to civilization.
Get Back into the Joy of Discovering the Outdoors
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
posted by outdoorlover 7:09 PM
It is easy to get back into the joy of discovering the outdoors on a bike, even if you are over 50. Finding the right bike for your body, the way you want to be riding (trails or roadways) and in your price range is an important place to start. A stop at your local bike shop where there are trained folks to help you get the right bike for your situation is a great idea and will save you lots of time and frustration. Having the right gear and being prepared are also very important.
We all know that when we ride a bike it is a good idea to wear a good bike helmet, no matter how old we are – safety first! Getting hurt in an accident is never fun, but you sure don’t want to chance a traumatic brain injury. If you are looking for adventure, or just trying to break up the boredom, one of the handheld GPS systems is a handy addition for your biking pleasure, and there are several GPS bicycle mounts to choose from for hands free convenience. Now get out there and have some fun!