speedy FFW

Don't give up on it yet. Do you have an external Card Reader? It seems that occasionally when transferring maps directly to the GPS it corrupts the card and requires a low level format. When I had similar problems with my 1 GB card, I used the external reader/writer and performed a low level format with the tool from the following link: HDD Low Level Format Tool Besides hard disks, it does a low level format on flash disks. After I used the tool I was able to format the MicroSD card with the regular format. Since then I only transferred maps through an external card reader and had no more problems.

I use Garmin's on my bicycle since 3 years. Currently I wold recommend the Garmin 76csx with RAM Mount. The RAM Mount is rock solid and absorbes vibration. It has a good change to protect your unit the next time you want to make a flip over your handle bars while Mountain biking With the new Sirf chipset it will keep reception in heavy wooded areas or areas with heavy foliage. I use this unit for car driving (autorouting), long distance bicycling, off road biking and hiking. That's why this unit is perfect for me. In any case it will keep a tracklog which you can transfer to the Garmin Map software. Not just will it show and print the exact tracks you where riding. It will also show you an altidude profile which can be printed. You can also trace along your track and see how your average speed was, your speed at any giving time, how much and long you stopped. The possibilites are basically endless. If you want to see info how I use it on a bicycle see here: Scout. It contains examples of autorouting screenprints, but also an example off a tracklog while offroad with my Mountain bike. From here is also a link of the configuration I use for bicycling with the Garmin (which basically can be used for the 60c, 60cs, 60csx, 76c, 76cs or 76csx). Or some map screen prints for our long distance events: 2006 Brevets - Central Florida The dark red are routes and the yellow are bicycle trails/tracks, which I have been riding once and kept on the computer. Good luck with your decision.

I currently still own: Garmin GPSMap 76s Garmin GPSMap 60cs Garmin GPSMap 76cs Garmin GPSMap 76csx

I would recommend the Garmin 60cs for several reasons: - big difference between B&W and color - you can differentiate much better between green (wood), blue (river), black (small streets) and your track - great readability during day and night (at night I use a LED helmet light to read instead of the backlight function of the GPS) - the battery life on this unit is a significant improvement - my typical experience on the bicycle: 20 hours rechargeables, 25 hours alkaline, 40 hours lithium - in the mountains you probably will like the barometric pressure, altitude and compass feature - it is the allround tool for roadbike, mountainbike, hiking, geocaching and car use (after you used autorouting on the bike and car you don't want to miss it again - e.g. just program the start of your ride and it will autoroute you there) - during the SixGap ride in the Georgia mountains I only lost signal twice going downhill with speeds > 30 mph from switchback to switchback. Never lost signal uphill or while riding on flat roads Take a look on the bicycle use, mounts and the autorouting feature with screenprints on my webpage Scout - The GPS Navigation tool

I am in long distance bicycling. For any 24h event or rides >= 250 Miles I use the lithium batteries. I live in Florida where cold is not to much of concern. But my experience is still that they provide more than 30% compared to regular AA's. I usually did get between 40 and 45 hours of continues run time on my 60cs. I don't have a lot of comparison with regular AA's, since for shorter rides I use rechargeables.

You are not alone. When I first received the unit and RAM Mounts were not yet available, I used this hole to tie the unit down with my 76s Mount. Right next to the antenna I cut the rubber piece half way through. I used some glue from an outdoor store that is used to fix rubber materials like: diving suits, boats, tubes ... Takes 24h to dry. This worked quite well for me. Actually that well that used it afterwards with my lanyard I wouldn't cut it off.

Yes I agree. I would love to see to get my 2 or 3 lines options with small letters back.

You could look at the Minoura Handle Bar extension, that since this year fits oversized handlebars and the stem. This gives you extra space to attach any GPS bike mount. I use a Garmin unit. First I used a Garmin bike mount, but didn't like it, since it had to much vibration and bouncing, especially on the Mountain bike. As just mentioned the RAM Mounts are very sturdy and with beeing mounted with a connection between two 1" balls, it takes away some tension and vibration. My Garmin 76s was sitting in it rock solid. I can highly recommend the RAM mounts. I currently have the RAM mount for my new Garmin 60cs on order.

Disappointment? I don't know. Garmin cleary stated in their specs: Tracks: 10,000-point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks, 500 points each, let you retrace your path in both directions. See complete specs at: Garmin 60cs Specs Now you have 20 tracks with 500 points each to come up to 10,000 trackpoints. With the Vista or 76s you were able to load 10 tracks with 750 = 7,500 trackpoints only. By the way 750 points per track for the Vista and 76s came with advanced software updates. Tracks can be easily copied, edited and splitted within MapSource. I agree that I would prefer to have 750 points per track, but I couldn't say that I didn't know before I bought my 60cs. The only thing I dislike about the tracks is that the Tracback function did get more complicated. With the 76s I just selected Tracback and was asked: Original or Reverse. While riding my bicycle, using one hand and within 2 seconds I was able to follow my track. My tracks could be 100 or Miles long. Now I have to use the Rocker key to move the Panning Arrow, Zoom Out, Zoom In and try to hit the point on the map that I want to navigate to. Way to complicated while riding the bike. I prefer to have an option to use the Tracback function the new or the old way.

On the Altimeter setup page you have to set the Barometer Mode to "Variable Elevation". As the manual specifies (page 66): Elevation trip data is not recorded when in the Fixed Elevation mode. But be also aware of the downside: The track log will grow for the same distance by factor 3 to 4. That's not something I expierienced with my 76s.

e.g. GPSCity does sell this as a seperate item: Garmin Belt Knob - GPSCity.com

I was surprised by the 50 waypoint limit for Autorouting also. I ride long distances with my bicycle and follow specific routes. So just having a start and finish waypoint doesn't do it. Currently I split the route in segments of 50 waypoints or less e.g. Part1, Part2 ... This works fairly well, only sometimes it doesn't route what it is supposed to route and is routing around with adding busy roades and more Miles. I tried it with all settings: Car/Motorcycle, Bicycle, Pedestrian etc. Fastest, Shortest. It just won't route as Mapsource V5.4 with CitySelect 5.02 would do. Overall it is rarely and I am very pleased with the Autorouting, but still hope they will remove the 50 waypoint limit and make it to the 250 waypoints for Autorouting.

I clean up and combine tracks frequently. I usually also open two instances of MapSource. I open the file with all the tracks in the first instance and copy all tracks that I want into the second instance. Next, I edit the tracks to remove and delete any points I do not want e.g. once you start looping, just highlight from this point on down to the end of the list and delete all points. Checkmark the box "Center map on selected item(s)" within the edit mode of the track. If you now move cursor up and down it will center the current track point in the middle. If you use Shift Cursor up or down it will highlight that segment and will adjust the zoom scale automatically. After this exercise you should have several tracks that make up togehter what you are looking for. Now you just take the second, third track and so on, go in edit mode, mark all points anc copy. Go to the first track and paste on the end. Watch that you do not exceed the max. number of waypoints for one track e.g. 750 for the 76s, 500 for the 60cs. Save this in a new .mps file and you are done. I just sounds harder as it really is. Getting used to it, it will work quite fast

Last weekend I participated again in an Ultracycling event. The total time was almost 25 hours. I had my 60cs with me and on Autorouting at all times, with deactivated Compass, fixed Altimeter and the Beeps for Autorouting on. I am on regular mode (not battery saver) and have WAAS on. In addition I used it this week for Autorouting to drive to and from work. I had 50% backlight on for approx. 1 hour. I use 2 AA Lithium batteries. The total run time so far is 31:02 hours and it still shows 4 bars. I love this unit. This is no comparison to my 76s that wouldn't have made the 25 hours with the Lithium cells.

I was playing with it yesterday night. I was able to turn off the compass, but not the barometer.

This was only true for approx. 30 Minutes. I was able to put it into the shopping cart, by the time I checked out the last one was gone I called them and they confirmed that they only had a small shipment and were sold out not knowing when the next one is coming in.

Thanks for the info. I just ordered from Amazon for 102.59.

Does anybody know what version you get on current orders of City Select North America? Is it 5.00 or is it 5.02 including the Update CD that Garmin offers with a database of June 03 (see link Garmin City Select North America Update) I would be specifically interested what people received on recent orders from Amazon.

I read different comments about the readability of the 60c display. I am an Ultramarathon cyclist that cycles e.g. 24h rides. So far I use a 76s and can read the display very well even with a cloudy/overcasted sky and/or during rain. At night I use a LED helmet light (run time 100 hours in low setting). With this LED light I can read my bike computer and 76s very well. I don't want to use backlight, since I hope to get the 24h battery life without backlight. This and autorouting would be the main reason to upgrade. Can someone comment on the readability with a cloudy/overcasted sky and at dark using a LED light shining at the display? Somebody having experience reading during rain?