Here are a few hints, tips and clarifications on the Garmin Edge 800 GPS Bike computer fields and settings (which apply to the Edge 500 also)  that I have found helpful and sometimes difficult to find either in the manual or via an online search.

First, let me explain that I always use the Auto Pause feature which stops the stats and timers when you are on a ride and stopped (or below the minimum speed setting that you set with the Auto Pause feature (I usually set my minimum speed at 3mph)).

I believe that Auto Pause is NOT set by default when you first get an Edge bike computer, which means that your stats and timers ~ most importantly your average speed ~ continue to run while you are on a ride but stopped (to cross a road for example). So if you want your average speed to be your actual average, while riding (and not stopped), you’ll need to turn Auto Pause on (I don’t know why this is not the default).

What I just discovered recently is the exact differences between the Time Stats on the Edge computers. Although there are a number of time stats (lap times, times to destinations, etc.) the two key time stats that I am referring to are “Time” and “Elapsed Time”.

“Elapsed Time” is exactly what is says in the manual which is the total time recorded from the time that you press Start to the time you press Reset (or end your current ride data).

“Time” is what I think of as Ride Time. This is only the time that you have ridden on your ride and does not include the time that the unit is on Auto Pause. In the Garmin manual it says that this is “Stopwatch time” (very confusing, I think). I have also seen this called ride time or trip time on the older wheel, magnet based bike computers. Trip time can be confusing since it could potentially go either way depending on how you read it.

OK, so much for the time stats. Another little trick that I just learned about my Garmin Edge is that there is a much easier way to  change what is being displayed in any (programmable) window on any screen in the edge without going into the Menu>Bike Settings>Training Pages… process.

The easier way to change any of the stats being displayed in a window (or box) on the Garmin Edge computers is just to press and hold the window or box that you want to change on the screen until it turns blue.That will take you right into the menu area where you can change the display to anything else that you would like it to be. This should be right at the top of the manual where it explains how to change these things!

Of course, if you want to rearrange the entire screen (like change the number of windows (or boxes) on a screen then you’ll need to go through the regular Menu path process.

The last little thing that I wanted to mention is about the Lap Markers on the Garmin Connect Maps. Personally, I always upload my ride data, from my Edge 800, to Garmin Connect cause it is so cool to have all the stats and a detailed map of your rides to refer to after your ride is over.

What I discovered though is that not all of my laps show up on the Garmin Connect maps (in the numbered bubbles). All the laps do show up on the main screen and in the “Splits” tab but not on the maps. I actually called Garmin support on this to see if there was some way or some trick to seeing ALL of the laps on the map screens and confirmed that there is not. Garmin Connect randomly picks a few of the lap markers and, for now, that is all you get.

Another kind of cool feature with the Garmin Edge computers is the Color Mode Screen Display. This setting is set to Auto mode by default which means that in the daylight hours it is a black on white display and at night it automatically turns to white on black. The photo that I included above was my Edge 800 GPS from last night while the unit was in night display mode. This, of course, can be set to whatever your preference is.

Once again, I still love my Garmin Edge 800 GPS Bike Computer and I think that this is the most fun and useful cycling accessory that I own. I never intend to go back to the old style bike computers again.

If you do not already have a GPS bike computer and are considering getting one (or giving one, since it is that time of year), please see our Bike GPS page for a summary of these units and some good online resources.