Garmin 510
GPS bike computer for performance cyclists
- Connected features such as live tracking, send/receive courses, social media sharing and weather information
- Compatible with GPS and GLONASS satellites for faster satellite acquisition
- Distance, speed, ascent/descent and GPS position
- Optional heart rate, speed/cadence and power
- Wireless data transfers via your smartphone to Garmin Connect™ to analyse and share
- Activity profiles store preferences for different cycling activities
Why I bought my GArmin
When I got into cycling 2 years ago trying just to keep up with my friends was a challenge. I'd often get dropped on the hills and them waiting for me at the top. I wanted to get fitter and faster, I downloaded strava for my iPhone to track my rides. How far I'd gone, how fast, I've I'd improved over previous segments. All this data was great but it was only viewable once I'd got home and looked at my phone.
I decided to bite the bullet and buy a Garmin, there's quite a few to choose from and which one you buy will entirely depend on what you plan to do with it. There's a few handy comparison tables to help you online but this is a simple chart to show each units main features below.
The Garmin 510 has been superseeded now by the 520 which includes extra features, an alternative would be the 810.
I decided to bite the bullet and buy a Garmin, there's quite a few to choose from and which one you buy will entirely depend on what you plan to do with it. There's a few handy comparison tables to help you online but this is a simple chart to show each units main features below.
The Garmin 510 has been superseeded now by the 520 which includes extra features, an alternative would be the 810.
For me the choice came down to the fact the 510 had heart rate and speed and cadence capability, was touch screen and could link to my phone. You can upload your rides straight to the web using your Bluetooth connection to your phone . If you want navigation capability too the 810 or the newest in the range 1000 offer this as well as all the features of the 510
some screens on the 510
The garmin is fully customisable, you can choose how many screens you want available to a role through, then on each screen you can choose how many data fields you want , up to 8. Certain screens are set and can't be changed.
On my Garmin I have it set to show current speed, average speed, heart rate , cadence , average speed and time of day this is a good way to try pace yourself over a ride whilst keeping an eye on your heart rate for fitness.
one of my favourite screens and uses of the Garmin is the ritual partner , ever remember those computer games you'd play. You race a lap on a track then the next lap it shows you a ghost car for you to race against? Well this is the same principle. At the beginning of a ride you can either set an average speed you want to try keep to and race against this or if you have a favourite route you can load this into your Garmin using a PC and race against this. It's a great way of seeing how you improve and great motivation
On my Garmin I have it set to show current speed, average speed, heart rate , cadence , average speed and time of day this is a good way to try pace yourself over a ride whilst keeping an eye on your heart rate for fitness.
one of my favourite screens and uses of the Garmin is the ritual partner , ever remember those computer games you'd play. You race a lap on a track then the next lap it shows you a ghost car for you to race against? Well this is the same principle. At the beginning of a ride you can either set an average speed you want to try keep to and race against this or if you have a favourite route you can load this into your Garmin using a PC and race against this. It's a great way of seeing how you improve and great motivation
Sharing your Data
The main selling point of the 510 for me was the fact it had Bluetooth, no getting home having to fire up the pc to load up my ride . I switch Bluetooth on both devices, the phone recognises the Garmin, syncs it to Garmin connect (Garmins own software) and if you have set up your Garmin connect to link with Strava it will automatically upload there too. You can then use strava to analyse your data.