Bicycle Odometers

Review by M. J. McCowen : Great cycling computer

I've only used it a couple times since receiving it 3 or 4 days ago. So far, it is great. The best computer I've purchased, with all the bells and whistles, the easiest to use also. I was using a Polar s720i and it is nice also but not as user friendly either on the road or at home. The Edge also will allow for battery changes on the heart strap, cadence/speed sensor and the main unit is rechargeable. Can't say that for the Polar.

The Edge is self-calibrating for wheel size so you literally put on the speed/cadence sensor, 5 minutes to install, strap on the heart monitor, get on the bike and go. There are lots of ways to set up the screen for the items you like to view while riding, speed, cadence, almost anything you can think of is viewable.

I especially like the "virtual partner", it is great to "race" against yourself on a course you made. Sometimes you don't have a riding partner, now I always do.

While I have not had the battery life problems others have had, I also haven't been on any long rides yet, just got it, so really can't give my opinion on that. The only drawback I have had so far is that you can't upload maps to it from Garmin's other products. Although, your tracks are viewable through Garmin mapping software used on other products, I have an eTrex Vista C also.

Overall, pricy but feature loaded, I love it so far and all in all, it's not much more than Polar's 720.

Review by D. Jensen : Almost the perfect cycle computer

I have the 305/Cadence/HRM bundle. With a few exceptions, I believe this is a very good cycle computer for tech junkies or for people who like to keep very detailed training stats. In addition to the normal speed (current/average/max), distance and time data from a standard cycle computer, you get point in time data throughout your ride. The included training center software allows you to review this information and get a very detailed analysis of your training--probably more than most of us need. Nonetheless, it's fun to go back and look at your speed, cadence and heart rate during that killer hill--even if you're not training at an elite level.

You can compare your performance on the same course over time and see if you're improving and also see the areas that are causing problems. For a more detailed analysis with better maps, you can use the Motion Based web service. Although it is subscription for the advanced features, you can review your last ten rides in detail for free. Motion Based is also a good source of previously recorded courses uploaded by other users if you are looking for new routes.

A workout feature allows you to define a workout and the 305 will alert you at predetermined times to change your effort to meet the plan. Simple workouts can be programmed directly into the unit. More complicated workout structures can be created using the included software and downloaded to the unit for use. I haven't tried the `virtual partner' feature that simulates riding against another person by showing how far ahead or behind you are at any given time.

Other nice features:
- User configurable data fields for the main screens allow you to arrange the layout the way that makes sense for the way you train and ride.
- Auto pause can be set for a dead stop or for a user-defined speed. When paused, time and distance `paused' is recorded providing both riding time and total time for any workout without the need to use a stopwatch.
- Good backlight for night/low light use.
- Can be configured to display heart rate as beats per minute or per cent of max.
- The speed/cadence sensor backs up the GPS for speed computation when there is no satellite signal (such as indoors on the trainer). Since it uses the GPS to establish speed and distance, there is no need to configure the wheel size--even for the magnetic sensor. When the GPS is working, it auto calibrates the wheel size so it is set when the GPS signal drops.
- Auto lap on distance or when passing a specified point on the route.

Things that could be better:
- The included software does not provide for creating courses (routes) from scratch, and its ability to edit a previously recorded course is limited.
- No persistent odometer.
- Although it is possible to program up to 8 data fields on each of the two `bike' data screens, once you go above four fields the field sizes shrink making them more difficult to read.
- [Update] No indicator of whether the current speed (on the speed display) is ahead or behind the average pace--a common feature on most cycle computers.

Cons:
- Built-in battery is not user replaceable, and may not last long enough for endurance rides.
- The GPS `map' is simply a track of your route--no actual map is provided. If you get off course, it's better than nothing, but not by much.
- I agree with other reviewers that the calories burned estimation algorithm is not the best.

Conclusion-A very good training tool with a star off for the limitations of the software and the minor imperfections in the feature set.

UPDATE:
Several people have commented on battery life being significantly less than the 12 hours advertised. I recently did a five hour ride and noted that the battery indicator was showing 50% at the end. This would translate to roughly 10 hours using both the cadence sensor and the heart rate monitor. Though less than the advertised max, I find it acceptable as I would only expect to get maximum battery life under ideal conditions. Ten hours is more than enough to last me through a century. I have updated to the most recent software version(3.10) and that may make a difference. I plan to do a double century this summer and purchased the Lenmar PPU1700B (other similar devices are available from various manufacturers) as an auxiliary power source to extend the battery life for the duration longer endurance rides.

UPDATE (6 months in)- I have had only one significant annoyance with the 305--the battery life on the cadence sensor is too short--it's as if the unit never turns off and drains the batteries in no time. Other than that, the unit works flawlessly and the actual battery life of the unit itself is reasonable for all but the longest rides. The Lenmar PPU1700B works great as an auxiliary power source (I put it in the a small handlebar bag and route the cable back behind the handlebar to the 305). Despite the issue with the cadence sensor, I continue to recommend this product.

Review by John Voitel "GPS John" : The Neatest Cyclometer Out There!

The 305 is a neat item, and very clean to install. Satellite reception is excellent, even in dense forrests and far superior to my Garmin GPSMAP 60CS. The stem mount is very clean with rubberized mountings, with a supplied wedge for proper viewing angles.

The cadence and speed pickups are neatly packaged in one sensor on the rear tire, and the cadence magnet is unobtrunsive. Installation documentation is very clear and accurate.

The software for downloading rides is very good, although it lacks some functionality that is available in Garmin's other products (waypoint and route management), and you cannot erase the unit from your PC. No big deal there. Seeing your actual ride or hike track on a map is pretty cool.

It has multiple (3) bike profiles, so more than one bike use is possible. If using this only on one bike, then bike 2 can be used as a secondary information screen for trip data, like average speed, average cadence, average heart rate, etc., things that you won't want on your primary biking screen.

The one item that is missing, and I was surprised about is that the 305 does not have a persistant odometer. It does have a ride trip meter, and there is no separate data field that keeps track of your total mileage. You can do this in the PC based software though. I prefer a built in odometer function for routine maintenance on my bike, when I hit 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 mile cycles per year. I'm working with Garmin tech-support and they admit they sort of, kind of, missed it. That's the primary reason why I gave this item four stars.

Battery life is another concern, especially when the unit is searching to pair up with the heart rate and cadence sensors. If you turn off those features, it consumes less power. For most one day rides, the unit is fine. It would be great if Garmin put a solar cell on the front of the unit where all the black is.

If you really like GPS and capturing as much data as possible about your ride, heart rate, cadence, timings, grades, maps ... this is the unit for you! Enjoy!

Update:

Battery life is a serious issue with the Edge 305! I am getting no more than five hours out of an overnight charge and that is with just the cadence sensor. I have asked Garmin Tech Support about this three times, and the answers are disappointing. If you ride long, I cannot recommend that you go with the Edge 305 until they correct the battery life issue. I'll update you with Garmin's responses!