Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Overall the Forerunner 201 works well for bicycling, although I wouldn't discard my conventional bike computer for several reasons:
1. In Speed mode (vs. Pace mode) there's no option to average out the readings, and the unit is too sensitive to motion. With the GPS mounted on a bike and the bike at a complete stop, tiny motions of less than 1 cm continuously trigger the autostop/autostart, so it keeps beeping and accumulating elapsed time and distance. Setting the Auto Pause threshold to a non-zero value mitigates this problem at a slight risk of false pauses.
2. The % grade (custom) readout is highly erratic. If you're moving too slowly (less than 5 mph), even if you're burning your lungs on a climb, it may read 0% or even a negative number like -3%! Seems like there may be a math underflow bug in the algorithm when the vertical displacement is too small over successive readings.
3. The altitude reading is not credible when you don't have a clear view of the sky. The unit seems to extrapolate from the last trend it had to "update" the readout, rather than indicating that it's unable to read the altitude. I was on King's Mountain Road (SF Peninsula) under tree-cover, came out into an open spot and the altitude reading jumped by over 500 feet when the GPS got an actual reading from the satellites. There are 2 stretches like this on the climb, and it happened both times.
Enabling Auto Lap in the Training Assistant mode sets the GPS to record trackpoints (time, latitude, longitude and altitude), supposedly at fixed distance intervals, the finest preset value being 1 mile. At firmware version 3.40, the current track can hold 3000 points, with the oldest points being overwritten by the newest when you exceed 3000.
You might think this means you can go 3000 miles without losing any data, but it seems to sample more often than at 1 mile intervals. I've found that after about 7 hours, I start getting my oldest trackpoints overwritten. The only way around it is to remember to stop the timer, reset, then start the timer: this starts a new track (the previous track is still in the unit's memory until you clear History).
The Windows-only Forerunner Logbook application downloadable from Garmin's website is able to download tracks and display (a) speed or pace vs. time, (b) map of the route (from timer start to timer stop), (c) altitude vs. time. There were some goofy data for my most recent ride which showed me exceeding 80 mph(!), probably caused by gaps when the GPS signal was too weak to register. The Logbook application can also export the data as an XML file where each data sample contains Zulu time, latitude, longitude and altitude (in meters, regardless of your settings on the Forerunner or in Logbook). However, the format seems not be recognized by any program (including Forerunner Logbook; i.e., it doesn't know how to read the XML file it wrote!), making it of rather dubious value. Garmin's more recent Training Center (again Windows-only) app does better. GPSBabel (and MacGPSBabel) can now translate LogBook's XML to other formats, including HikeTech (see below). With your track data in GPX format you can use, FlightTrack (Mac OS X) to make dynamic 3D maps overlaid on digital terrain models; and the web-based GPS Visualizer (www.gpsvisualizer.com) to overlay tracks on hi-res satellite/aerial photos, generate elevation profiles and generate kml or kmz files to load into Google Earth (download from earth.google.com, Win 2000, XP, OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.x only).
I found the pins securing the wrist strap impossible to budge with a screwdriver, as stated in the manual. I had to take it to a watch repair shop where the repairer used a "jeweler's band pin removing tool" -- with some careful effort -- to pop the pins in order to remove the wrist strap. So it seems you either leave the wrist strap on or off (or buy the jeweler's tool): it's too difficult to switch around.
Why is Garmin still stuck on serial port interfaces? USB has been around for a few years now and is much easier to deal with. It would also be friendlier if you didn't have to use the charger cradle in order to connect to a computer. The standard charger sold in the US is 120v only. It wouldn't have cost much more to design a universal 120-240v charger for worldwide use. Garmin's MSRP for their 240v version is an outrageous $32.90! (It can be found mail-order for around $20.)
The owner's manual is pretty minimal. It doesn't explain the elements of the Map Mode display. Perhaps it works well at walking/running speeds, but on a bike I can't pay attention to the road and simultaneously focus on its tiny symbols. And on most rides the display is too small to cover the range of the entire route without the waypoints/auto lap points overlapping.
Once again we Mac (and Linux and even Win 95) users are ignored by a manufacturer when it comes to software support. The only way to update the firmware is with a Windows PC because the firmware is wrapped up inside a Windows-only "Updater" executable. On a Mac, you can use a serial-to-USB adapter cable and Virtual PC running Windows 98 or later to update the firmware. You may have to install a Windows driver from the manufacturer of the adapter cable. In my case, I also had to tell Virtual PC that COM1 was the "usbserial0" port on my Mac.
For Mac OS X, I found a set of 3 shareware programs from HikeTech.com to be useful. They are: (1) Link2GPS for transferring waypoints to/from the GPS and downloading tracks from the GPS; (2) TopoDraw to display tracks as a 2-D map (you can even overlay tracks on digitized maps as long as you have at least 3 waypoints you can identify on the map to establish its scale and relationship to the track data); (3) gpswrite to chart altitude vs. distance, speed vs. distance. The 3 programs work together using files in GPX format.
NEWER ALTERNATIVES (at higher prices, of course): In 2006, Garmin has 2 newer lines of sports-oriented GPS units. The Forerunner 205 is a wristwatch unit with all the features of the 201, a smaller-but-higher resolution screen, and more sensitive GPS circuitry and faster satellite sync. It comes with a 120v/60Hz charger only, no international version. There's a model 305, which adds a heart-rate monitor. Another new series is the Edge, aimed squarely at cyclists. The 205 is the basic model, the 305 the higher-end one, which adds cadence and/or HRM and a barometric altimeter. The Edge series has a larger grayscale screen, better sensitivity and faster satellite sync, and offers a 240v/50Hz charger as an optional accessory.
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Garmin Forerunner 201 Waterproof Running GPSFinally, an alternative to awkward pedometers and cycling computers. The Forerunner 201 offers athletes an easy-to-read display and integrated GPS satellite receiver that provides precise speed, distance, and pace data--all in one compact unit that straps to your wrist. It's a lightweight, accurate training assistant with performance tracking, auto-lap, auto-pause and more. And because it is a high quality Garmin GPS device, you get many of the features GPS users have come to rely on, such as precise latitude, longitude, altitude data. Choose either the 201 model for rechargeable power or the 101 if you prefer to use 2 AAA batteries. The Forerunner 201 is easy to use right out of the box and delivers the benefits of GPS technology at an affordable price.
To please folks who are passionate about their exercise and training, Garmin has added something special to the Forerunner 201 called the Virtual Partner. The feature allows you to set your training goal by configuring your Virtual Partner's pace and workout distance. You'll get a graphic perspective of your performance by viewing your pace in relation to your Virtual Partner's pace, so you can always see at a glance if you're keeping up or falling behind.
Almost as important as the training device itself are the accessories to integrate it with your active lifestyle. If you're into cycling, the best way to keep an eye on your GPS while you ride is with a bike mount bracket that straps to the handlebars of your bike, motorcycle, or whatever you're traveling with for easy viewing.
Other Forerunner 201 features: Mark specific locations, and then look-up and navigate to these points using an electronic map. Retrace your steps to a starting point or reverse your normal route for routine variation. Amount of calories burned can be tracked and calculated over the course of a workout. Lap history--such as lap time, lap distance, and average pace--can be stored for up to two years. Performance data can be automatically archived and calculated to provide an accurate record. Automated stopwatch provides auto-lap and auto-pause features. Lap timer indicates when a certain speed is reached or when you've fallen below a pre-set level. Pace whistle sounds alert when you begin traveling slower or faster than your desired pace. Distance whistle sounds when you reach a specified duration or distance in your workout. Download free Garmin software to transfer data from your Forerunner 201 to your PC for storage and analysis.
What's in the box: Forerunner 201 unit Wrist strap A/C desktop charger with serial interface
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