310xt or other Garmin Device
Currently using the Garmin 310xt for bike computer and for running. I'm a little concerned that using it for both will cause it to run out of battery life while i'm out on the run. Is this likely to happen on a fully charged battery? Am I better off getting a separate bike computer? Does anybody have any recommendations for bike computers. Currently running the PT pro power meter. Thoughts?
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Race day, I'll put the 910 on my wrist in T1 to have as a back up only (in case the 500 craps out for some reason) but won't turn in on til I get close to T2 so that it can begin satellite detection.
John - I have used my 310 for three complete races (1 in 2010, and 2 in 2011) with no problems at all, to include the swim. The longest was a 12:46, and I figure I had the unit turned on for probably 30min prior, so that means I easily got 13hrs and change. And Garmin advertises 16 hours. Probably the best way to tell if yours will still hold a charge that long is to test it out well in advance of the race.
As far as bike computers, I really like my Joule 2.0 that I got off of eBay for less than $100. But I am not looking for Maps or GPS or anything like that on the bike computer. I just want to see the metrics that are important at that time....which is a whole 'nother discussion. Before getting the Joule, I used just the 310 on my wrist. While it works, it is sub-optimum as you can't easily glance to see your real-time power output. Like Roy, I still use both on the bike so that I do have a backup in case the Joule craps out.
Hope this helps.
I just got a 310xt, and have used a Joule with my PowerTap for the past 3 years. Yesterday, I forgot my Joule for the duathlon I did, and used my Garmin for the whole race (on my wrist the whole time). The things I missed having on the Joule (apart from being able to see it more easily): having 8 metrics on display, and most important, having real time Intensity Factor on screen. I've never had the Little Yellow Computer, but it does not display current IF/NP does it? That is the one metric I find most useful on race day. I click on to a new interval every 20-30 minutes (usually terrain based switches), and try to keep my IF into the target for that race, say 0.69 for an IM, or 0.9 for an Olympic race, etc.
I use IF instead of NP (which I can toggle to easily if I want it), as my FTP may very from season to season, but my IF plan for a race is always the same, and that's the way RnP communicate to us, so the training plans and race execution strategies are written in IF language.
I lost my Joule last month, and, like Joe, I found a very cheap replacement on Ebay.
BTW, unless you are going to be running a 100 miler, you won't run out of battery on the 310XT.
Al - I started out with the LYC. Yes, it does not display IF nor NP. It is only AVG, and you can select what averaging you want: 1s, 2s, 3s, 10s, 30s.... One thing I will say that the LYC was good for was being able to really dial in my effor when outsidet. I had it set on 2s averaging and would try to always be +/- 5W to target.
That being said, the 2.0 is hands down the better option.
I've used my 310xt both through the bike leg and run leg of an IM before with no issue, but only thing I want to remind everyone of is that battery life degrades over time.
If you are talking about a 310xt, chances are you've had it for a few years. I've had mine for going on probably 4 or 5 years now and the last time I really attempted to stretch the battery (~10hrs) was at IM back in 2010. Mine seems to be fairing a lot better than my laptop or other batteries of similar age, but if I were going to plan on using it for a very long event I'd do a trial run first to see what my battery life actually is these days, because I really doubt it's 16 hours anymore.