Have you seen the new Garmin Edge cycling GPS units? All I can say is, ‘wow!’
These new Garmins have all the features I have been looking for in a handlebar mounted device: GPS (with the usual speed, distance, etc.), street-level mapping and directions, color screen, power (through a link with SRM units), cadence, heart rate and more! In a nutshell, these new Garmin Edge devices are the perfect convergence of everything we might want to see on our handlebars, all in one neat, tidy package.
I am working on getting an evaluation unit for a review on the show, so stand by.
In the meantime, wipe that drool off your keyboard! 😉
Mike F.
Holy Cow David! I nearly wet my pants when I saw this. Just when I’d fallen madly in love with my Edge 305 I find out about a new version. I’ve been using the Edge 305 for a while now (I also have a Forerunner 305 (in addition to two other Garmins for each of my cars).
I always delight in showing off my Edge 305 to other riders and describe how I use MapMyRide to create my bike route, convert it to a CRS file and import it into the Garmin Training center and then synch it to my Edge. I never have to use route cue sheets (though I sometimes print them out from MapMyRide and keep them in my back jersey pocket “just in case.”). I expecially like how I can use the Traing Center software to insert “course points” to alert me to turn ahead or remember refuel during long rides.
But I’ve always wanted a built-in street map to have in case I need to improvise as I suddenly find out the route I’m following dumps me onto a dirt road (it happened last week and I ended up with a flat) and I need to improvise. Or how about when I want to cut a ride short because of bad weather and need a the quickest way home.
Know anyone who wants a gently used Garmin Edge 305?
Mike F.
South Orange, NJ
Greg Hawley
When I first read about the new Garmin units, I was happy to hear that the first convergence cyclo-computer had arrived. That lasted until about 10 minutes ago. Thinking that the SRM unit would be competitive to the Power Tap (at about $1000 US), I visited SRM’s website. When I read the pricing for the SRM units, I was a little disappointed. I can’t say anything good or bad about SRM (other than cost). In fact, the SRM unit may be worth the money; however, between the SRM and the new Garmin, it would appear you’d have to shell out $3,000 US. When I make the move, I may settle for two devices on my handle bars (unless something else gets announced at Interbike) — perhaps a Power Tap or an iBike and an Edge 305. If the iBike can come out with something that works on a trainer (there a couple non-bikeable months in Wisconsin), I’d go there. I REALLY like the concept of having a power meter than doesn’t require replacing existing components (speaking from the perspective of somebody about to get a new machine). Great concept, but I’ll pass for now.
David, I hope when you get settled to the new house in Utah, you come back to the power meter comparison!
DaveP
Are the being sold with handlebar mounted Soloar charging units??
😉