I have eschewed the older Edge products in the past that didn't include a navigation unit --- I was certainly not interested in any over-priced bike computer. The Edge 605 and 705 are true navigation units, however. The lack of a user-replaceable battery is a major drawback, but since finding the gomadic charging system, those objections are alleviated somewhat.
If all you do is local rides with friends who know good roads, the navigation unit is a luxury. I spent most of this year in Munich, which is both new to me and doesn't have the club structure the typical American city has and the unit (and maps) paid for itself withon 3 weeks. The tour across france (see blog for details) also made it clear that my new touring mode would be map and garmin navigation unit, rather than map and compass. The edge 705 costs $500, but that has no maps. You'll have to shell out $120 for US maps (all of the US), and $250 for all of Europe. For extensive cycle touring these maps are well worth the money. On 9/24/08, Dietrich, Daniel L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have had bad luck with cycling computers, a Cateye that ate > batteries, a Topeak that worked until I had to change the battery and > a cheaper one that periodically reads 70 mph while stopped at a light > (amazing average speed on my commute though). > > I got a Garmin eTrex HCx for Xmas, and use it on the bike. I don't > think I will go back to a cycling computer. Advantages: > > - Accurate, doesn't miss a beat. > - Customizable display. > - Use on multiple bikes without changing wheel sizes. > - More information than you'll ever need. > - Maps, location, direction at your fingertips. > - Use for driving, hiking, walking around. > - Load with custom POIs for bike shops, coffee shops and microbreweries. > - AA batteries. > > Disadvantages: > > - Big and bulky, even though the HCx isn't that big. > - Have to change out the batteries. > > That said, I still carry paper maps, but they're mostly just ballast > at this point. I don't find the battery to be a big issue, but I'm > not doing multi-day tours. I get about 24 hrs battery life. > > One thing to keep in mind. You can get the Garmin unit for $ 200 - > 250. That WON'T include the detailed maps, large memory card or bike > mount. That will cost you another $100 - 150. Also, you CAN'T to my > knowledge load maps from a friend. The MapSource software keys to > the GPS hardware. You can't load maps from a Mac, and the MapSource > software is so-so at best. > > I think the Edge is a slimmed down version of the HCx. I didn't like > the price, built-in battery and didn't find the training aspect all > that useful. > > I also know others who use Garmin units for running, hiking, etc. and > really like them. > > Good Luck, > > Dan > > On Sep 24, 2008, at 2:47 PM, Anthony Thompson wrote: > >> I've been using paper maps exclusively for a long time. But I >> confess I have wondered about the Garmin Edges. >> >> The biggest reason I've been resisting one of these units is the >> worry over battery life. I like multi day tours and I don't like >> carrying along lots of batteries and bulky chargers. I mean what if >> you camp? How do you recharge the unit? >> >> While I'm asking, how resistant are these units to bad weather? >> >> Still skeptical in Kentucky, >> >> --Tony >> >> >> >> On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 3:55 AM, Piaw Na(蓝俊彪) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> wrote: >> >> There's been a few discussions about using GPS units on tour on these >> lists, and on my recent Tour Across France, I found a little-mentioned >> setting on the Garmin MapSource software which turned the GPS unit >> from being a nice toy/substitute computer to an almost-essential >> touring tool: >> >> http://piaw.blogspot.com/2008/09/introducing-piaw-routing.html >> >> It's obviously most useful for people who do dynamic routing on their >> GPS units (as described in: >> http://piaw.blogspot.com/2008/05/tips-on-using-garmin-76csx.html), and >> do self-support multi-day tours. It does have interesting quirks (as >> described in the article), but with this tool, I found roads that I >> never would have found otherwise, so I'm publishing how to use it in >> the hopes of seeing others use it (and refine it). >> >> -- >> Piaw Na >> http://piaw.blogspot.com >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > -- Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com Piaw Na http://piaw.blogspot.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
