I'm all about minimizing the amount of stuff I need to carry
with me, which is why smartphones have been great -- they can
double as a camera and even a portable gaming handheld. But when
it comes to riding my bike, I still prefer a dedicated device.
This is why I picked up a Garmin Edge 510, and now I don't think
I'd ever go back to using a smartphone to track my workouts.
For me, the big draw was knowing I could get all the benefits of
a fitness app in a small package without worrying about the
battery. When I'm 30 or 40 miles from home, the last thing I
want is to be stranded without a phone should I need to call my
wife to pick me up or, worse, if I'm in an accident. By leaving
my phone running with the screen on, pulling data from sensors
and recording via GPS, I knew I'd eventually be out riding and
need to use my phone, only to pull it out of my pocket to find
it in the red. The first longer ride I did with the Garmin was a
joy simply because I didn't have to worry about the longevity of
the Edge 510.