Remaining questions:
How reliable are the Oregon 750 & Edge 1000?
Are any useful hiking features are missing from the Edge 1000?
Does the Edge 1000 charge quicker than the Oregon 750t with NiMh battery pack (internally via USB)?
Is the Edge 1000 courses feature useful (e.g. comparing pace with a previous ride such as the same Audax we rode a year before or a course created based on planned average speed for pacing purposes)
a quick answer as to the Edge 1000:
I've had mine for several months now, and have the cadence and speed senors, plus heartstrap plus Garmin Varia read Radar unit
there are/were a few bugs on the software, mainly that the unit switches off during a ride .... On Sunday, I went for a long ride with my son, and the unit switched off 3 times. Not a big problem though as when you switch it back on, all info is still there, and you do not loose anything from your ride
This is a common problem with many users on the Garmin forum, but a new version of software has been released (v12.20) .... many are saying that the problems are sorted. I downloaded the new software yesterday, and have done 2 rides so far with no problems what so ever.
On Sunday, after 6 hours of riding, the unit only had 15% battery left. We stopped for a short 20 min rest and I connected an Anker powerpack to the unit for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the unit was 55% charged.
Loads of good features and definately worth the money I paid. Works like a car satnav and no problem getting around. (my previous unit was/is a Garmin Edge 500 ..... a nightmare as if the road is closed due to an accident or roadworks, you a fooked
You can download a previous ride such as an audax ride, and you can compare your speed to the previous ride (a different screen pops up with 2 bikes .... you can also download someone elses ride from Strava and compare (if you are trying to get a KOM)
there is live tracking (you partner can track your ride and will know exactly where you are
add the Garmin Varia Radar and the remote button (a button that connects to you handlebar), and no need to swipe the screen to see the other screens .... my son uses this feature often (especially checking the hills or what's ahead) .... a green dot appears on the screen showing where you are in relation to the terrain/hill/hills
The Garmin Radar unit is the best buy for me this year so far .... brilliant, never fails and a dot appears on the garmin screen when a car is approaching from the rear .... takes some of the stress out of riding, especially if you ride fast on pot holed roads