Garmin EDGE 705

[Mike]

Half the fun of getting fit these days is finding cool technology to measure, motivate and mark the milestones. Such it is with some devices for bicyclists from Garmin, a maker of navigational gizmos that show you where you've been, where you're headed and how fast you're getting there.

The Garmin Edge line is designed to be mounted on the handlebars. It keeps track of speed, distance and the route you travel by beaming into the network of global positioning satellites orbiting 21,000-plus miles above the Earth.

I've been using the Garmin EDGE 705 for all my rides, in tw different bikes, for more than a year. It measures my speed, cadence, heart rate, distance, calories burned and then gives me averages and lap times for specific stretches of my training route.

What sets them apart from the other electronic gear that essentially measures the same things for anywhere from $50 to $150 is the GPS function and a very slick piece of software called Training Center that lets you analyze your fitness rides by more than just the numbers. After installing the software and then connecting the Edge to your computer via a USB cable, you can overlay the course you just rode over a computer map. All the data downloads into the PC, allowing you to also see elevation and terrain details, sprint times, where you lagged and where you hammered.

This lets you then design your own workouts that let you set targets based on past performance and specific courses. But the coolest part is a feature called Virtual Partner that, in essence, lets you race against yourself. You set a desired pace and a pretend, digital cyclist runs the course in relation to the real-time pace you just set. Some users plug in a buddy's pace for the same route, even if they rode it on a different time or day than you did, thus letting you compete against friends. The software comes from a company called Motion Based and you can find forums on the company's Web site (http://www.motionbased.com) in which users share questions, comments, challenges and training tips.

Installation of the Edge is about a one-minute job. A couple of plastic ties attach the holder for the device to your handlebar stem. The Edge fits snuggly into it, even on the most jarring of roads, yet it can easily be removed and taken inside to hook up to your computer.

Because it bases its measurements on GPS, you can also take the Edge from bike to bike. I use it on a mountain bike and on my road bike. There's no calibration to be made for tire size because as soon as you take the bike out of the ground, it makes contact with the satellites and measures distance and speed by your position instead of tire rotation.

Next to price, my chief complaint about the Edge 705 unit is that it is powered by a rechargeable internal lithium ion battery. The company advertises about 12 hours of use per charge. Mine gets closer to 10.

It starts at $499 for just the unit. With everyting, including an SD map card, the cadence and HB monitor, it costs $649. Amazon has some special pricing... see here: http://pcmike.com/u/o

[Motivo]

I bought a Nuvi 350 for $200 (got a real good deal). I then hooked it up to my computer and was able to add trail and biking feature to it. It doesn't have the fitness, but it allows me to go on major trails and biking routes with nearest rest stops, scenic points, and endings.

[maurypotter]

Mike is this device compatible with a Mac

[wari]

Mike is this device compatible with a Mac

It's more compatible with the Mac than it is with Linux. The Garmin Training Center software sucks on a Mac, but it works, Garmin Connect works quite well. Here's my activities that's been recorded: http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=wariwahab

There are lots of good Mac software that works with 705, for example, TrailRunner, rubiTrack and Ascent, all excellent and they have different strengths and weaknesses.

BTW, all Garmin Sports products are Mac compatible. I've used the Forerunner 305, 405 and the Edge 705 with no problems. On Linux with the 405, now that's a different matter. Good thing about the Edge 705 is that all the data created are accessible via Mass Storage Mode, so, no worries about importing or exporting.

[Jonesy]

Costco had a great sale on the Forerunner 305: $150, including S&H. But when it arrived today, I'm bummed to find out it apparently is only wrist-mountable! Nothing in the instructions at all about handlebar mounting. First GPS unit I've ever bought, so I don't know whether to return it or not. Any advice greatly appreciated.

[wari]

Nothing in the instructions at all about handlebar mounting. First GPS unit I've ever bought, so I don't know whether to return it or not. Any advice greatly appreciated.

My old 305 came with a handlebar mounting kit and a cadence sensor. But if you didn't get that bundle, I'm sure you can get the handlebar mount. If you wish to use both on the bike and on your hands, you have to change the rubber strap to the Velcro ones provided.

[Jonesy]

Am I "seeing" this correctly, that the bicycle clip in the Quick Release Kit attaches to the handlebar with Zip ties, and the 305 would then snap into the clip? What happens to the Velcro strap?