Garmin Edge Explore for Audax?

[Dingham]

Anyone using a Garmin Edge Explore 2 for Audax rides?   Any thoughts?

I have a Garmin 820 and it’s fine most of the time but has let me down a few times on Audax events.  After a couple of hours following the organiser’s GPS file it loses track of where I am, saying ‘Off Course’ and advising a U turn.  This’ll be when I am in the right place but of course if it hasn’t got it’s act together by the next turn then I really am off course.  Also, the battery life is only just up to 100k Audaxes so I’d need something better for longer Audaxes.
I don’t use the performance tools on the 820.  I had a 1030 or its predecessor briefly and didn’t like it as I thought it was too big, that’s when I got the ‘new’ 820, and have had a couple since.
Maybe the new 840 or 540 would be OK, but I don’t need the performance things and  I like the idea of the bigger screen on the Explore 2.
I Iike OS maps so the ideal I suppose would be something that used them and could turn by turn navigation…

[citoyen]

I have the first gen Edge Explore. It’s fine for audax if all you want is navigation. It’s excellent for that.

The main down side is the relatively limited battery run time - I can just about get around a 200 without recharging, as long as I’m sensible with it (using the auto screen off function makes a big difference).

[Paul H]

I've been using the Explore 2 for a couple of years, absolutely faultless, does everything I want and that's with most of the features turned off.  Just be a bit careful not to confuse the original Explore with the Explore 2, the original has a reputation for being troublesome, though the post above demonstrates not everyone has found it so.  If you haven't already, read the DC Rainmakers review, there's nothing in it I'd disagree with
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/07/garmin-edge-explore-2-in-depth-review.html

Before jumping, it might be worth exploring what's going wrong with the 820.  It's not a model I know, though I have in the past bought two Garmins (One from here) that were apparently unreliable and I managed to get them working as faultlessly as the Explore 2.

Expect this thread to end up in the GPX section, I don't think there's anything Audax that distinguishes it from using a Garmin on other rides.

[drossall]

I'm very happy with my Edge Explore 2. I ride 100km and some 200km events, and it copes with those with no problem. You probably know that you can maximise battery life on most GPSs in various ways, including only using the mapping screen (which is heavy on updates and therefore battery) unless you need it.

I had an Edge Touring Plus before that (still got it actually, I use it for "light duties"). The Explore is a significant improvement, not only in battery life but also in ability to connect to speed and cadence sensors (if you care about that stuff - it's not that important on Audaxes). There are also more and easier options for loading routes, and it synchronises wirelessly with Garmin Connect (via a phone or whatever). It will provide a track to your loved ones, showing where you are (if you want them to know that!)

The accident alert feature is rather irritating. Theoretically, if you have a crash, it gives you 30 seconds notice and then sends off an alert to your nominated person (again via a phone). In reality, in my experience, it does it when you brake at junctions, or possibly even accelerate hard, which can be a bit annoying for all concerned.

[Lightning Phil]

I have the Edge Explore 2 Power and the power mount. On its own without external power connected it’ll cover a 300 and most of a 400, caveat beware if riding in cold temps. With external power bank connected it’ll just keep running as long as you’ll ever need.

The screen is nice and clear with no need for backlight during the day. After sunset I put it on 10% backlight which is plenty. I usually have it showing various metrics, 5 field display I think with the map popping up for turns. It’ll give a one beep advance warning, and two beep at the actual turn.  Or you can turn on audio and it’ll give turn by turn in a spoken voice via your phone. In built up areas where turns may be complicated I may have it showing map page. Switching between screens is as simple as swiping left or right.  It’s doesn’t appears affected by rain in it’s responsiveness.

The emergency alert I’ve turned off. Like Mr Rossall I’ve found it alerts at the most lightest of bumps such as walking bike down steps.

It can get confused if doing an out and back section, picking up the return route first, if you start the course before crossing over to the side of the road the outbound is on.  If I get an audax like that I now edit the finish to fall slightly short of the start, and that seems to have cured it.

I import all organiser gpx into Garmin Connect, and edit there, adding course points for controls as necessary. Then send from paired phone to the GPS.

It works with both ant+ or Bluetooth sensors if you use any. 

Most settings you can change on the paired phone.  It has three fixed profiles but I just use road and that’s fine for my uses.

I’m a fan as originally I got it in 2022 for touring where I might want to plan a route mid tour and send it to the gps. My previous long term audax gps is an Etrex. I still have the Etrex and the mount is still on the bars as a backup.  But the Explore 2 has proved so reliable I started using it for audax last Spring.

It also supports Garmin IQ and thus custom data fields if someone has developed something of interest such as Audax time in hand etc.

[jaymack]

Has your Garmin always had poor battery life? If it's been in slow decline for a while that may be the route cause of the unit's issues; you could spend approx' £30 and have a new battery fitted. I used Satnav Specialist to replace the battery in a Tom Tom, and they did a marvellous job the unit went from flaky to fabulous. They also repair Garmins -https://satnavspecialist.co.uk/product/battery-replacement-service-garmin-edge-820-explore/

[drossall]

It also supports Garmin IQ and thus custom data fields if someone has developed something of interest such as Audax time in hand etc.

Thanks. I've just put a field on my Explore 2 and Fenix 5

[Dingham]

Thanks everyone for some very useful comments.

[ransos]

I hope the Explorer 2 is better than the first model. Mine was prone to crashing and had terrible battery life, plus the indicator was a work of fiction. My current 830 is far, far better.

[vorsprung]

I am using an eTrex 20
The screen is tiny, it's slow to boot and occasionally gets condensation inside
But on the plus side it is reliable enough and runs on 2 x AA batteries for 24h or off my SON generator forever

When it dies I am not getting another one (this is number 2, the first one fell off and the screen broke) I am switching to Android

[drossall]

I should have added that another great thing about the Explore 2 over the Touring Plus is that the Explore advises you, after a ride, for how long you should rest. One 100km Audax and it will tell you to take it easy for three days. Brilliant!

[pineapple bod]

I should have added that another great thing about the Explore 2 over the Touring Plus is that the Explore advises you, after a ride, for how long you should rest. One 100km Audax and it will tell you to take it easy for three days. Brilliant!

That is a mystery algorithm.  It told me I needed only 18 hours rest after a 200 at the weekend.  Perhaps it meant 18 hours sleep.

[citoyen]

Just be a bit careful not to confuse the original Explore with the Explore 2, the original has a reputation for being troublesome, though the post above demonstrates not everyone has found it so.

Weeeeeell... I wouldn't go so far as to say I haven't found it troublesome. It occasionally freezes mid-ride and has to be turn-off-and-on-agained to carry on working, but I have successfully used it to navigate a 1000km audax without problems, so it's not all bad.

It does sound like the 2nd gen is an improvement though.

The accident alert feature is rather irritating. Theoretically, if you have a crash, it gives you 30 seconds notice and then sends off an alert to your nominated person (again via a phone).

I first became aware of this "feature" when it went off mid-ride, seemingly without provocation, and I couldn't work out how to disable it in time. Got an alarmed call from my wife a minute later. I suppose a false positive is better than a false negative.

[drossall]

Pretty-much the same happened to me. As I got going again after stopping at a roundabout, I became aware of this blaring noise. Couldn't work out where it was coming from. It was the phone in my back pocket of course, triggered by the GPS, and alerting me that it was about to tell my wife that I was dead or something. Which it duly did because I didn't spot what was going on.

It's happened once or twice since. Net effect, if I do get knocked off ever, she'll ignore the alert anyway.