Review of GARMIN 010-00447-20 Edge 305HR Bicycle Monitor With GPS & Barometric Sensor

GARMIN 010-00447-20 Edge 305HR Bicycle Monitor With GPS & Barometric Sensor
By: Garmin Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 32
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Awesome!

On: 2008-10-09

I believe,it is the best cycle computer.
It also works on the training roller.

Great, but I'm on my 5th unit...

On: 2008-08-25

Clearly a great tool for cycling, and I love it - when it works. But Ive now had to return mine for the 5th time, due to the unit shutting itself off mid-ride. Very annoying, and dealing with Garmin customer service is super slow (usually 30-45 minutes on hold before you can find a human)

Love it, just wish it were reliable.

Wonderful Tool for Cyclists

On: 2008-07-13

I have found the Gramin Edge 305 to be an outstanding tool for cyclists. It was SO easy to install and modify the data I wanted to observe. Being a senior cyclist (over 60) I was just amazed at the amount of data this unit collects and calulated. I remember when just having a simple mechanical bike speed indicator was a BIG deal. Now I can download all the data I ever wanted to observe about every ride. Now my only problem is my wife is tired of looking at my ride analysis after every ride.

Slightly disappointed

On: 2008-07-13

I have had the 305 for 2 weeks now. I like it, but it isnt all that I hoped.

Installation is easier than any other computer you can get (unless you get the cadence meter). Strap it to the stem and thats it. It does come with mounts for 2 bikes, but if you want to mount both to the stem you will have to realign one mount from the handle bar mount angle (just takes a little prying, but I almost did break it in the process). Stem is the preferable mount just because it is a bit big for a handle bar mount. It comes with one piece of rubber that is for mounting it on bars/stem smaller than 1" diameter. The rubber also helps prevent slipping. Also it only comes with one angled spacer that makes it easier to read from a stem mount. If you want to mount on the stem for an additional bike you will probably want to purchase an additional mounting kit just for the angled spacer. I did, and the extra kits should be a lot cheaper than $17.

I do have a problem on one of my bikes with the 305 rattling against the handlebar mounting screws on the top of the stem. It hasnt damaged the 305, but I dont like that it constantly rattles against the bike so I am going to try to pad it.

After a little playing around, it is easy to use. Doesnt take long to figure out the screens. I have profiles set up for two bikes, but I am not sure of the purpose of this if you dont have the cadence package (if you had it on one bike on not the other you can set this in the profile). The profile asks you to enter each bikes weight, but I have no idea why it needs this information. I was disappointed that it doesnt save the screen settings for each bike, so there really doesnt seem to be a point to switching profiles (unless you do have the cadence meter). It would have been nice to set custom displays for each bike (for instance I dont wear the HR monitor when commuting on bike 2, so I dont want to waste screen space on this).

Most of my disappointment comes from its accuracy. Calories burned is worthless. It just computes the value from distance traveled, so its so far off its laughable. Since people have been complaining about this since the 305 was released I am surprised Garmin hasnt fixed this.

Elevation is all over the place. Sometimes when I do a a loopback it shows a difference of up to 50 difference in the same areas. I realize that weather fluctuations will throw off a barometric altimeter, but the 305 is supposed to use the GPS to help stabilize it. From when I turn the unit on, after waiting a minute for the satellite reception, it takes another minute for the elevation to settle. And even when its settled and sitting perfectly still its constantly fluctuating +/- 10. It also seems to lag a bit behind too so when you crest a hill it still shows you as climbing for a couple of seconds longer (sometimes for quite a few seconds). This affects grade too. Going up a hill it said I was on a 6% grade, going down that same hill 30 minutes later it said it was a 4% grade.

Heart rate is hit and miss. Sometimes its perfect, sometimes it reads very high and I get warnings to lower it (in the impossible 230 area). I know all HR monitors can be finicky and it depends on your clothes, power lines, amount you sweat, etc, but I used to use a Polar and had less trouble with it (although it wasnt perfect either). I have some HR monitor gel coming to see if that helps.

The distance traveled is also off, but this is fairly common for a GPS to be a bit off. It isnt enough to worry about, but if you want exact measurements every time you are better off with a traditional computer.

Where the 305 is really great is the virtual partner. For a quick work out you can set the partner to a time/distance/speed and race against it. It can be fun to set it to run 20 miles at an 18mph pace and try to beat it. Sure its just basically setting a time to beat, but as you are riding it shows you how far ahead or behind your goal that you are. It can be a real motivator.

Courses are even better. Once you ride a route and set lap points, you can ride the same route again and try to beat your past performance. You can also set up other training programs such as intervals, but I have not used this feature.

Also as others have said, the 305 is of no use to find your way around. You want a 605/705 if that is what you are looking for.

The screen isnt hard to see when riding. Most screens you can customize how much you see, and if you set too many fields it can be a bit hard to see everything easily. At first you also find yourself playing with it a lot when riding, which is a bit dangerous. This week I looked up from playing around with it and rode right through a broken bottle flattening my back tire. (Yes I felt stupid after the fact.)

GPS reception has been good, but I live in area without any trees. When riding through a tunnel on the local bike path, it auto-paused itself when it lost contact but picked up contact immediately as I came out the other side.

Software is bad. I have it on my Mac and PC but havent played around with the Mac version enough to comment. You cant really do much with the software besides look at graphs of your ride. Which is nice, but it isnt done very well. The included maps it uses are pathetic and you cant even click on your route to highlight on the rides pace/elevation graph to compare where you were. Although if you click on a section of the graph it will show you where on the map you were. It also doesnt mark your lap sections on the maps or graph of your ride. You cant edit your courses either. Motion Based (which Garmin owns) looks neat, but its almost $100 a year or $12 a month. Seeing I am lucky if I get 5 months of riding where I live, $60 for this service seems a bit much.

Battery life has been excellent so far, but it is a new unit. Lithium Ion batteries decrease in performance as they get older. You can charge it all you want, and it wont kill the battery, but age will. If kept in a warm place the battery dies at a quicker pace. This would be less of a big deal if you could change the battery yourself. But after a couple season you can forget it lasting for any longer rides. I searched Garmins site to see how much they charge to replace the battery, but couldnt find anything. If you do a Google search for Edge 305 battery you can find people talking about using cell phone battery boosters to give the 305 a longer life.

Overall I like the product, but think it could be vastly improved. Garmin doesnt seem to be listening to users though since the 605/705 suffer the same problems, so it doesnt look like we can expected an improved 305 or better software anytime soon. In the end I think I would suggest a normal computer over the 305 if accuracy is important to you.

The best bike accessory I've ever purchased!

On: 2008-06-09

Excellent, excellent, excellent!...

A lot of other folks have gone over the various pros and cons so Im not going to do that. If you do your research on what you need and what this unit provides you wont go wrong.

Lets be clear... this unit was not designed to be like your car GPS with the nice mapping that you follow. It HAS some basic mapping features but it is meant to be a training tool. And, with that in mind, it is one of the best. It has all of the stats I want with heart rate, mileage, elevation, cadence (if you get the add-on), averages, etc.

The race yourself features, the training workout setups, and the courses are all great features and very cool if you decide to use them. I, personally, love the virtual partner feature. It allows me to race myself whenever Im on a course that Ive done before. This can totally change the mentality of your workout. You can also race someone elses recorded course if you get it from online.

I bought a cheapo armband and now I can use this for running, hiking, canoing, etc as well. Cool!

This unit is well constructed and has held up supremely in rain, mud and, yes, even wet snow! If you spend a little quality time with the menu system before diving in, youll find that its pretty easy to use (but... please spend at least a little time).

If youre a serious biker and want a good training tool, you should definately check this unit out. If you REALLY want the complete mapping of a standard GPS then check out the Edge 705 as well.

Great price, quick delivery

On: 2008-05-31

I purchased the 305HR as a replacement for a lost unit. I didnt think about purchasing a different product as I was happy with the features with the 305HR. What really impressed me was the quick delivery and great price.

Bike Computer

On: 2008-05-05

Great Bike Computer, no wires. GPS very sensitive, can pick up signal indoors. Easy to use. Easy to upload rides onto internet for further review. Elevation seems to be very accurate.

Nice HRM bike computer

On: 2008-04-24

Ive had this for a couple of weeks now and its great. HRM works great and the unit has completely customizable visible fields (up to 8 visible at once); hr, time, distance, speed etc. I dont have the cadence sensor and with the gps, I dont think I need it. I like that the unit can go from bike to bike without needing a sensor and spoke magnet on each bike. I love plugging the unit into my computer after a ride and seeing my route on google earth. I have a Polar s720i and I like the edge much better--Ive removed the Polar hardware from my bikes. The software isnt beautiful but it works--the Polar software is nicer and more full-featured. Im hoping some software updates for the garmin are coming. Good product--highly recommended.

Excellent GPS and HR tracker

On: 2008-04-13

After trying a GPS device from another well known company, I gave up and bought the Garmin Edge 305HR. I checked the devices elevation indicator against a topo map and found it to be quite accurate. Another nice thing is that the 305HR syncs up with satellites quite rapidly where the other device took up to 15 to 20 minutes longer to sync and in some cases, not at all.
Finally, the device can be mounted on the handle bar stem so that you can reference it at all times.

Great when it works

On: 2007-12-18

I loved everything about the 305, except for its proclivity for ceasing to function. I went through three of them in a year. The first one went back to the store where I bought it, the second one was returned to Garmin, the final one was exchanged for a Suunto T6 which I have been very happy with (i.e. it works.)
Garmin has released several firmware updates that did address the early problems I was having with the unit, but after the third one simply turned off several times on a commute home I gave up. The low (MUCH lower than the advertised) battery life per charge was frustrating as well. I could have lived with that if the unit had been reliable, but as is, I could not recommend this product. Hopefully the new version will work better.

Think twice about buying this product!

On: 2007-11-17

I have the edge 305 and the forerunner 305! Both suffer from the same problem. They quit working! I bought the Forerunner first. I thought it was a nice product. It gave me all the readings I wanted. Then one day it just stopped working! In a couple of days it started again, but my lesson had been learned! Support was useless. I did not want to be with out my HRM so I bought the Edge 305. I was thinking it was a better product! True it has a few more viewable functions. I liked that! The screen is bigger! I liked that. The GPS is good! I like that! Soon I was using the Edge 305 all the time!

It (the edge 305) has just quit on me for the second time! I am pissed! The features I like are nice but Garmin is not the only HRM out there that has GPS! Even though I was not that happy with my Polar HRM I plan on gong back to them because of the lack of relability of Garmins HRM! BEWARE BEFORE BUYING THIS PRODUCT! If you can not afford more than one unit you will be stuck when it stops working!

Amazing piece

On: 2007-11-12

The GPS gets a signal indoor ! I have two more GPS devices at home, none of them ever did it. My mio P350 sometimes even looses the signal outdoors. But this thing never lost a signal. The main drawback is that the HR strap must be really wet before it reads your BPM correctly. And I also dont like the attached PC software. But for the price, its doing much more than I have expected. A friend just got his Polar for the same money, and he doesnt even have a GPS...

Accurate,User friendly and Fun

On: 2007-11-10

I have been using the Garmin Edge 305 for the past month for mountain biking, riding 3-4 days a week on average and have used it on a gruelling 3 day 150 km trip. I find it a great training tool for mountain biking. Easy to set up and use. Accurate for all parameters except calories. The Motion Based software is simple to use, fun, and a great way to share workouts with riding buddies, borrow courses from others and review workouts visually and physiologically . It would be nice if it would be possible to share the info from Garmin Training Center software as well. My only regret is not having purchased the device earlier.

Nice unit, poor software [Roadie perspective]

On: 2007-09-03

Despite a large number of user and site reviews to the contrary I believe this item is let down by poor software design and quality. The Edge products are something of a hook item in that they are sufficiently crippled out of the box to require subscription to online services or other products. Having used the unit for about 3000km now I think I can offer some addition perspective to what is already out there...

Dont get me wrong the concept of a GPS based cycle computer is great - I regularly and easily swap it between the bikes I frequently use without wires or calibration. The unit feature set is also pretty comprehensive, in fact one has to be quite judicious in display setup options so as not be overwhelmed by data. The GPS chip is plenty good for road, quick(ish) acquisition and tracking sufficient for speedo accuracy etc. With the good stuff out of the way...

But - and for me this is considerable but - the unit firmware is flakey (you will have to figure out how to do a soft reset as the unit will freeze up on you), and the Training Center software is even worse. Here come the hooks, for me (in NZ) the basemaps included for course planning are practically useless (though there is a way to create your basemaps own if you have the time and data), the cost of correcting this the Garmin way is horrendous [h1]. A great alternative, however exists in MapMyRide (though you dont get to insert course waypoints). But you still have to resolve the following...

Getting data in and out of the unit becomes more problematic over time, in fact I have installed Training Center on 3 separate PCs (all of the XP variety) and all of them stopped receiving data from the GPS with an error sooner or later. Sometimes they would receive sometimes they wouldnt - final resolution was a complete uninstall (AND manual user dir delete). The alternative is use of the MotionBased site, (2) though paid subscription is required [h2] for a full suite of services. An alternative exists again in the form of SportTracks, a great donorware piece of software (no affiliation).

Other minor gripes include the usual - HRM interference, at times poor barometric related elevation performance - especially in the wet [dont even think about it in heavy rain]. GPS related gripes - the Course following option is a little flakey if created via software as opposed to ride history. Lapped or complex courses (retracing sections) also problematic - a moving snake option highlighting the current, say 1km, section of the course would alleviate this somewhat though. Finally youd think you would be able to 1. insert an autolap point on a course *before* you rode it (like a lapping waypoint), and 2. insert more than one autolap points. But no, you cannot achieve either of these with the 305 Edge.

In summary, yes the Edge 305 is full featured and bloody convenient for multiple bikes. After you get the unit turned on, the on bike features even work pretty well. The great letdown comes when you want to download, analyse and share all that data you collected out on the road, or heaven forbid do some planning before you hit the road to take advantage of a GPS platform. If you are prepared for multiple workarounds on the SW side of things the Edge 305 is still a great option, if not its power (and potential) is wasted and youd be better off with a Polar or similar speedo.

Edge 305 Firmware 3.20
Training Center Version 3.2.3

Hope this helps.

Ron
ps. I wouldnt even think of dropping money on an Edge 605/705 until these SW issues are sorted. More bug testers and actual cyclists involved in the next edition please Garmin.

Just Works!

On: 2007-08-23

So far no problems with the unit after a month or so of use. No satellite drops, unit functions superbly. Here in New Mexico we do have more open space, so maybe that contributes to the stability of satellite connection. May add the cadence module at a later date, but for right now its good.

Ingenious device

On: 2007-08-22

The thing I like most about this product is that you can configure the display just about any way youd want to see it. Most cyclometers dont allow this kind of customization. Another thing I like is that through the motionbased.com web site you can upload your workouts to Google maps or Google earth. Excellent for bike riders that want to share routes with others. One last thing: I have had other wireless cyclometers that pick up interference from other sources, and this ends up skewing your results, making it look like youve ridden much faster than you ever really could. This has happened to me frequently with Polar and Cat-eye devices, and it can be very frustrating. The Garmin has NEVER done this! There are other features that are fun to use, like the Virtual Partner, which allows you to race against a course youve previously ridden. The Garmin points you in the right direction all along the way and allows you to see your progress against the time you set for the course.

Read all the Reviews

On: 2007-07-27

I read all the reviews on Amazon and then purchased an Edge 305. I have been using it for about 1 month now and can say I love it. I used it overseas(all across France and Italy)with a compatible course creating software ([...])and can confirm its a great bit of kit to navigate around with. Used it on the bike and in the car and its great. It has all the data you could want for training etc, but the software is a little less mature than the Polar stuff. I did have it lock onto the start point of a course and refuse to drop the start point despite what course I was on, simply reloaded the software on the GPS (easy if you use their web update software).

Its not the greatest every day speedo as you have to charge it and its far too high powered for the daily commute.

Flexible bike training tool

On: 2007-07-27

Very flexible data display.

Computer-side software (PC & Mac) could use some work. Ships with PC only software, but slightly less functional Mac software can be downloaded.

Almost everything worked great on my ride up 10,000 foot Haleakala on Maui (really), but the "percent grade" number fluctuates too much when youre going up hill at low speed (like when your at 9,000 feet and feeling the altitude).

Battery life adequate but not great.

Read all the Reviews

On: 2007-07-26

I read all the reviews on Amazon and then purchased an Edge 305. I have been using it for about 1 month now and can say I love it. I used it overseas(all across France and Italy)with a compatible course creating software ([...])and can confirm its a great bit of kit to navigate around with. Used it on the bike and in the car and its great. It has all the data you could want for training etc, but the software is a little less mature than the Polar stuff. I did have it lock onto the start point of a course and refuse to drop the start point despite what course I was on, simply reloaded the software on the GPS (easy if you use their web update software).

Its not the greatest every day speedo as you have to charge it and its far too high powered for the daily commute.

Update Feb 08.

My Garmin Edge got water in it whilst riding in the rain at low speed. This is the reply from Garmin Warranty Dept. What a Joke. How can they claim IPX-7 Rating then write this.

Quote

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

Ipx-7 rated means the device have been submerged in one meter of still water for up to 30 minutes. Please keep in mind the water was still and did not have a current to it. Current created by rain, swimming, or showering with the device may cause the casing of the device to leak in water. Using the device in water related applications will void your manufactures warranty. In the Forerunner manual it is suggested a triathlete can take advantage of the Forerunners multi-sport workouts. However, although a triathlon is usually long-distance swimming, bicycling, and running; a triathlon is not limited to these activities only and it is not recommended these units be used for swimming.

Unqoute.

Be warned its not waterproof in the rain on a bike. Make your own judgement on Gramins ethics around this claim. They offered to split the bill for repair......

Garmin 305 Review

On: 2007-05-07

Works great, with a few minor notes:

1. heart rate monitor battery was dead after first use. Was giving erratic readouts, which was due to the bad battery.

2. Garmin needs to get rid of the Adobe SGV Viewer application since it did not load properly on my Windows XP w/Explorer. Garmin has indicated that a SW update will soon correct this and remove the need for the SGV Viewer. Most key functionality was still present without this, and it only applied to the MotionBased application.

Garmin 305 Review

On: 2007-05-06

Works great, with a few minor notes:

1. heart rate monitor battery was dead after first use. Was giving erratic readouts, which was due to the bad battery.

2. Garmin needs to get rid of the Adobe SGV Viewer application since it did not load properly on my Windows XP w/Explorer. Garmin has indicated that a SW update will soon correct this and remove the need for the SGV Viewer. Most key functionality was still present without this, and it only applied to the MotionBased application.

garmin 305 for mac, almost

On: 2007-04-10

Great gizmo, except for that you cant update firmware from a Mac (yet). It should be noted that the GPS software on the device is a little old, (it was purchased 3/07) but seems to work just fine. Im not sure what the newer versions provide. The device works as advertised.

The holy grail of bike computers

On: 2007-04-01

Ive owned this unit for about six months now, and I must say that this unit has everything I want in a cycling computer. I got the heart-reate combo unit and since then Ive bought the cadence indicator too. Setting it up is simple and plug and play in the computer works like a charm. The unit comes with a cD with Garmins Training Center software. Caveat: This is for biking only, if youre interested in a MultiSport device, check out the Garmin ForeRunner series.

[...]

Excellent tool for training

On: 2007-03-12

The Edge 305HR is an excellent tool for Mountain Bike training. There are no wires to get caught on things and nothing to install on the fork or wheel. Only negative was my heart rate monitor was shipped with a dead battery.

Garmin 305HR

On: 2007-03-09

Device works great, but HR strap did not work out of the box and had to have it replaced. Other than that, its a great product. Takes a bit of time to learn all of the functions but the buttons are big and self explanatory.

Great product, but the associated SW and Web service could be better

On: 2007-02-01

Great product which adds a new dimension to your cycling. Tracking your route, elevation, heart rate, etc is wonderful. Product works as advertized, but may not meet your full expectations: Altimeter function is not consistent, PC Based SW is spartan unless you purchase a $100+ map set, and the Web based service is very slow, cumbersome, and confusing.

Having said all that, it is a cool toy

excellent partner for your rides

On: 2007-01-16

At the beginning the HR sensor didnt work, I had to install a new battery in the chest band to make it work. Besides that little problem, the installation was very simple.
Ive used the edge 305HR for a month. Excellent partner. For improved accuracy I applied the latest firmware and also upgraded the Training Center Software.
It does what is supposed to do. The time, speed and distance alarms are good features for training.

Track every juicy detail of your next bicycle ride...

On: 2006-07-10

I upgraded to the Edge 305HR after owning the 205 for about 5 months and after deciding that I wanted heart rate information to accompany the wealth of information that was already being captured by the 205.

Ive used the new Edge 305HR for about 60 miles of combined road and mountain biking. Like the 205 it captures a wide range of information about your ride - distance, elevation, calories burned, etc.

After following the directions (which involve wetting the sensors prior to putting on the heart rate monitor), Ive found that the heart rate information is incredibly reliable. It is great to see, for example, that on a recent 32 mile ride in a hilly area of Northwest San Antonio that over an hour of the ride was at my target heart rate (80% of my maximum heart rate). I upload my info from the Edge and take advantage of the free Motionbased.com account in order to chart my progress.

I have experienced ZERO problems with erratic heart rate readings, etc. that have been indicated in previous reviews of this unit. Id suggest owners of the 305HR that are having these problems should review the instructions carefully (making sure that the sensors are wet and the unit is snug on the body...just below the breastbone) or contact Garmin to order a replacement.

This unit is working exactly as advertised and will provide a great deal of quality information to help you achieve your training goals.

Track every juicy detail of your next bicycle ride...

On: 2006-07-09

I upgraded to the Edge 305HR after owning the 205 for about 5 months and after deciding that I wanted heart rate information to accompany the wealth of information that was already being captured by the 205.

Ive used the new Edge 305HR for about 60 miles of combined road and mountain biking. Like the 205 it captures a wide range of information about your ride - distance, elevation, calories burned, etc.

After following the directions (which involve wetting the sensors prior to putting on the heart rate monitor), Ive found that the heart rate information is incredibly reliable. It is great to see, for example, that on a recent 32 mile ride in a hilly area of Northwest San Antonio that over an hour of the ride was at my target heart rate (80% of my maximum heart rate). I upload my info from the Edge and take advantage of the free Motionbased.com account in order to chart my progress.

I have experienced ZERO problems with erratic heart rate readings, etc. that have been indicated in previous reviews of this unit. Id suggest owners of the 305HR that are having these problems should review the instructions carefully (making sure that the sensors are wet and the unit is snug on the body...just below the breastbone) or contact Garmin to order a replacement.

This unit is working exactly as advertised and will provide a great deal of quality information to help you achieve your training goals.

Great GPS, but unreliable HR and speed readings

On: 2006-05-25

The Garmin Edge 305 is a very cool looking unit, and the GPS system is useful for anyone who does not know the territory well. However, my particular unit almost constantly displayed inconsistent and highly variable speed and heart rate readings. For example, on a recent recovery ride, during which I road at a pretty steady pace of 15 mph, the unit displayed HR readings that varied between 120 to 247!!! I have also had problems uploading data from the unit to the Training Center and the Motion Based Agent. On one occasion, the data was simply lost; on another, it showed up with the wrong date (even though the Edge 305 itself displayed the correct date).

When I called Garmin customer service about these problems, I had trouble getting through. When I finally was able to speak with a customer service representative, she kindly offered to exchange my Edge 305 for a new one. The only problem was, they didnt have any in stock -- at the manufacturer!!!

My experience with the Garmin Edge 305 confirms my theory that the more you pay for a cycle-computer/heart rate monitor, the less reliable it is.

Great GPS, but unreliable HR and speed readings

On: 2006-05-24

The Garmin Edge 305 is a very cool looking unit, and the GPS system is useful for anyone who does not know the territory well. However, my particular unit almost constantly displayed inconsistent and highly variable speed and heart rate readings. For example, on a recent recovery ride, during which I road at a pretty steady pace of 15 mph, the unit displayed HR readings that varied between 120 to 247!!! I have also had problems uploading data from the unit to the Training Center and the Motion Based Agent. On one occasion, the data was simply lost; on another, it showed up with the wrong date (even though the Edge 305 itself displayed the correct date).

When I called Garmin customer service about these problems, I had trouble getting through. When I finally was able to speak with a customer service representative, she kindly offered to exchange my Edge 305 for a new one. The only problem was, they didnt have any in stock -- at the manufacturer!!!

My experience with the Garmin Edge 305 confirms my theory that the more you pay for a cycle-computer/heart rate monitor, the less reliable it is.

A decent GPS, so-so cyclometer, so-so training tool

On: 2006-05-17

I can appreciate Garmins effort to get into the cycling/training market. BUT.....

These are issues that Ive found:

(1) The GPS tracks in forest but the MPH becomes slower and therefore inaccurate. I compared with the Cateye cyclometer already on my mtn. bike and there is almost a 1.5-2 mph slower difference on average because of inaccurate GPS.

(2) Calories burned is also not accurate. I called tech support at Garmin, and they admit as much. I was going downhill for about 3 miles on my road bike and calories burned showed 345! When I went uphill for a 6 mile climb of 1900 feet the Edge showed 350 calories burned--definitely not right. They need to re-figure their algorithm, and they admit it.

(3) The cadence sensor can be a pain to use. It doesnt seem to work all of the time.

(4) Expensive--it may have the combo of GPS/cyclometer/HR but its still pricey, and really doesnt any of them well. If you want GPS then take the $350.00 and invest in a pure GPS unit. A cyclometer/HR training monitor can be had for less than $350.00

Sensor Frustration

On: 2006-03-25

I had high hopes for this unit. Trying to get some one from Garmin on the phone to help may take up to an hour! The sensor is not easy to setup for cadence etc.. Cant get the sensor to work on the road bike. Too much of a pain for this feature to work. Riders need candence. Need to go back to the Polar. Too bad, because I liked many of the features, but perhaps Garmin has too many different products to worry about satisfying the bike rider market.

The best training tool I have ever used!

On: 2006-02-22

I recieved my Edge 305HR on 2/20 so I thought I would charge it up and take it for a quick spin to see how it works. After 20 miles, I can trully say that "I love it". I have had no problems with the battery life nor any other features at this time. I find this a great tool for fitness training and measuring your heart zones. Set up was fairly easy and we measured accuracy against my old cycle computer on my sons bike. You must be aware that this is a training computer and not designed to be a GPS map like other GPS systems. However, I would strongly recomend using Motionbased.com as a add-on tool (basic account is free). Motionbase has done an excellent job in allowing you to upload your data onto the internet to view your course as well as download other courses from other riders onto your Edge.
Unit also works well with Google Earth to get a satellite view of your ride.
The Gramin preovided software is ok, and could use a manual on how to use it. Once you have downloaded a ride and are able to "copy and paste" that ride into a "course" or "workout" to use again against the "Virtual Trainner". This is very helpful while preparing for centry rides. Various features are really helpful as reviewing your heart rate against various climbs to allow you to pace yourself as well as improve endurance. Also if you are like me and want to burn some extra calories, its nice to look down and see how many you have burned so far during your ride then view your progress on various software.
The screens are completely customizable and very easy to change.
I have odred the cadence as well and should arrive in the next day or so just so I can also messure my RPMs.
I havent mastered all the features at this time, but I can truly say that this is the best thing I have compared to the following: Polar 725, Suunto X9, and Garmin Forerunner 301 and 305.
Hope you enjoy!

The Edge is the best Cyclocomputer out there

On: 2006-02-21

I have been waiting for the Edge 305hr for the past 6 months and it was worth the wait. I also purchased the CAD accessory so that the unit would also work with my indoor trainer ((Most speed functions are tied to the GPS. With the speed/cad sensor the GPS does not need to be "on" to get accurate data while indoors). Not only can you upload your rides and compare data, you can upload your outdoor rides to Motionbased.com and get a flury of data, race against yourself (your previous times over the same track), against a virtual opponent...etc. Just AWESOME.

The best training tool I have ever used!

On: 2006-02-21

I recieved my Edge 305HR on 2/20 so I thought I would charge it up and take it for a quick spin to see how it works. After 20 miles, I can trully say that "I love it". I have had no problems with the battery life nor any other features at this time. I find this a great tool for fitness training and measuring your heart zones. Set up was fairly easy and we measured accuracy against my old cycle computer on my sons bike. You must be aware that this is a training computer and not designed to be a GPS map like other GPS systems. However, I would strongly recomend using Motionbased.com as a add-on tool (basic account is free). Motionbase has done an excellent job in allowing you to upload your data onto the internet to view your course as well as download other courses from other riders onto your Edge.
Unit also works well with Google Earth to get a satellite view of your ride.
The Gramin preovided software is ok, and could use a manual on how to use it. Once you have downloaded a ride and are able to "copy and paste" that ride into a "course" or "workout" to use again against the "Virtual Trainner". This is very helpful while preparing for centry rides. Various features are really helpful as reviewing your heart rate against various climbs to allow you to pace yourself as well as improve endurance. Also if you are like me and want to burn some extra calories, its nice to look down and see how many you have burned so far during your ride then view your progress on various software.
The screens are completely customizable and very easy to change.
I have odred the cadence as well and should arrive in the next day or so just so I can also messure my RPMs.
I havent mastered all the features at this time, but I can truly say that this is the best thing I have compared to the following: Polar 725, Suunto X9, and Garmin Forerunner 301 and 305.
Hope you enjoy!

The Edge is the best Cyclocomputer out there

On: 2006-02-20

I have been waiting for the Edge 305hr for the past 6 months and it was worth the wait. I also purchased the CAD accessory so that the unit would also work with my indoor trainer ((Most speed functions are tied to the GPS. With the speed/cad sensor the GPS does not need to be "on" to get accurate data while indoors). Not only can you upload your rides and compare data, you can upload your outdoor rides to Motionbased.com and get a flury of data, race against yourself (your previous times over the same track), against a virtual opponent...etc. Just AWESOME.

Best Cycling Computer Yet

On: 2006-02-02

Garmin really has a winner with the Edge. Heartrate and Cadence information is right on. Training Center software lets you build workouts, and view your data. The Edge has many options to let you personalize the display. Not cheap but works. GPS and elevation are much better then early Forerunner products. Worth the wait.