Garmin 010-00555-00 Edge 605 Bicycle Monitor with GPS
Garmin 010-00555-00 Edge 605 Bicycle Monitor with GPS
Garmin has really upped the ante on the entire cycling computercategory with it’s two new gps-enabled navigator/computers, the 705 and its younger sibling, the 605. These are true navigational aids with full-color maps and turn-by-turn directions in addition to advanced route-planning and saving capabilities. On top of that, the 705 adds heart rate and cadence monitors, a barometric altimeter, and wireless capability that lets you share routes and workout data with other riders instantly. Sleek and waterproof, with a 2.2-inch color screen that lets you customize what data you see and how you see it, these two devices help make the most of every ride.
The Power Of Location-Based Data
Anyone who has used Garmin’s original Edge 205 or 305 already understands the power that attaching location data to traditional measurements like distance, speed, time, calories burned, and heart rate can provide. Knowing exactly where you worked hardest, rode fastest (or most slowly) lets you tailor your workouts to improve to improve your riding skills for specific distances, conditions, and types of terrain. It gives a complete picture of how you interact with every portion of your ride.
Altitude is recorded using a barometric altimeter for the Edge 705. This accurate altitude data makes it much easier for cyclists to match their altitude profile with their speed, cadence, and heart rate during post-ride analysis. The Edge 605 gives a somewhat less precise altitude measurement via the GPS positioning system itself.
A First-Rate Bike Computer
The Edge 605 automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude. The 705 also track your heart rate, cadence, power (from optional ANT + Sport-enabled third-party power meters), climb and descent. Other nifty features include the following.
- Virtual Partner lets you race a virtual competitor over a specified distance and speed.
- Courses let you race against a previously recorded workout, so you can compare your current and past performances over the same ride.
- Auto Pause pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride.
- Auto Lap automatically starts a new lap each time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance
- Click stick helps users navigate through the various options.
Full-Featured Navigation
The Edge 305 Screen (actual size) The larger color screen (actual size) on the Edge 605 and 705 shows you your surroundings more clearly and supports real turn-by-turn navigation. |
No more scratch paper paper-clipped to your handlebars. In addition to their cycling computer functions, The Edge 705 and 605 provide the same robust navigation as Garmin’s vehicle navigators, with turn-by-turn spoken directions (turn left in 500 yards) and a 2.2-inch (diagonal) color display that shows maps in great detail.
Both devices come pre-loaded with a built-in basemap, and a MicroSD card slot you can use to load new maps or store workout, course and ride data. Garmin has lots of street and topographic maps available for purchase and you can download courses and rides from Garmin or other riders at the Garmin Connect website.
Both feature a high-sensitivity receiver that holds a signal under trees and near tall buildings and have a click stick for easy screen navigation.
Connectivity and “ANT + Sport”
One of Garmin’s most ambitious decisions has been to approach fitness devices as a total platform with their “ANT + Sport” connectivity system. All of Garmin’s new fitness devices, including the Edge 605 and 705, the Forerunner 50 heart rate monitor watches, will interface wirelessly with any devices that are compatible wiht the “ANT + Sport” protocol, including devices from other manufacturers. Currently, Garmin the devices will pair with power meter from SRM or Quarq to measure power – torque and cadence for each leg at the pedals – which is often cited as a true indicator of an efficient ride. It’s unclear what other manufacturers will buy into the ANT + Sport platform, but this kind of open connectivity with products from other companies offers a great deal of potential flexibility.
The wireless function also makes it easy to connect one Edge unit to another to share rides, courses and workout data.
Heart Rate and Cadence Monitors
The Edge 705 heart rate monitor uses a robust wireless technology that eliminates cross-talk and interference and delivers real-time heart rate data exclusively to the user’s device. This data is stored with each track point for post-workout analysis. The Edge 705 with speed/cadence sensor incorporates a self-calibrating, wireless speed/cadence sensor that mounts to the rear chain stay of the bicycle.
Be Part of A Community
In 2007, Garmin acquired Motion-based, the largest shared repository of customer-generated gps-based routes, courses and maps. This was a significant move for Garmin to support the gps user community and bring a wealth of route options to gps users. With a simple connection to your computer, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect our new, one-stop site for data analysis an sharing.
You can also upload to optional Garmin Training Center software for further analysis. Garmin Training Center stores large quanities of workout and ride data. Some of the things you can do are
- Review your workout data, including pace/speed, distance, time, calories burned; and if available, heart rate, cadence and detailed elevation.
- View a detailed graph of your workout data, plotted over time or distance.
- View a map of your workout that shows the exact path you traveled.
- Categorize your workout history according to type of activity.
- Review previous workouts, which are saved by day and week.
- Create customized workouts with specific goals and rest intervals. Then send them to your fitness device.*
- Schedule workouts for a specific day with calendar.
- Get custom workout templates designed by the experts at TrainingPeaks.com
What’s In The Box
Edge 605 GPS-enabled cycling computer, bike mounts, AC charger, USB cable, owner’s manual on CD-ROM, quick reference guide
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great product. Good for multi sport - cycling, hiking, running,
Great tool for recreation biking.
Gradient display is quite useful while climbing mountain. Temperature display is missing.
I did a 14 mile hiking in Mount Diablo with this GPS, it guided me perfectly.
However I lost a cadence sensor magnet during off-road biking. I am not sure about the availability of cadence sensor magnet availability.
In India, I have loaded a uncertified map “mapmyindia”. To my surprise, the ‘turn-by-turn- started working.
Auto-Lap and Auto-Pause are great features.
If someone need a nagigation, GPS for biking, walking, running, hiking just go for this device.
4 Stars You need the SD card for local roads…
We bought the Edge 605 with the North America SD card for local bicycle safe roads. Without this card, you are directed to highways. My husband wanted a GPS so he could take random roads to find new routes and then be able to find his way home. His average ride is 50 - 70 miles. Being able to meander through country roads and then push “go home” and actually be dropped at your front door is great. He’s not computer literate, so it’s been a learning curve for him, but he loves it. He ignored a turn and wound up in a busy strip mall with a lot of traffic. He decided to trust the GPS unit, still thinking it would throw him on a highway. He was pleasantly surprised when it directed him across the hwy to local roads.
The only negative comment I have is needing the SD card to be routed to SAFE roads for cyclists. It should be part of the package.
4 Stars Great device but…
I have been using the Edge 705 for a month now. I download the data daily to the Mac version of the Garmin Training Center. Having all this information available helps you focus your training and you can see where improvements can be made by measuring your heart rate, cadence, pace etc.
I have a few complaints.
The release lever snapped. Having aerobars on the handlebars it leaves little room for sliding the Edge sideways - I’d have preferred to slide the Edge forwards or backwards; I don’t have space on the handlebars for such a large device. I let Garmin know of this and apart from one unhelpful response from one of their “specialists”, I am expecting a replacement to be sent to me.
The distance travelled jumped by over 10,000 miles. The tracking map did not change from my usual route not did the Longitude or Latitude look wrong when I analysed the raw data (XML version for those people interested in reading raw data). I had been going under an underpass when the device beeped so was told by another “specialist” that the device got confused by the signals. With no other change in data, it sounds more like a bug rather than handling a known issue. Make of it what you will. It has only happened the once.
And finally, the elevation. With GPS, I am not surprised that the accuracy is not down to the nearest foot having got other Garmin devices I use for Geocaching. However, I am quite surprised that the accuracy of elevation is quite off. I start my route from my house and I finish here also. I have yet to finish at the same elevation or even near it. I climb the same hill twice and again I have yet to see the same size hill on the route profile. It is a good indicator but it is not accurate.
A good thing.
One thing I was impressed with was the route tracking. I set up a route that repeated a section of road. If you veer off the route the device notifies you. Once back on route, you get confirmation of that too. I tested the logic of the device. On the second time of cycling the repeated section, I exited where I had done so the first time around. On the second I had set the route to continue straight rather than turn right. After thirty feet or so after turning right, I got notification that I had “lost the route”. The visual map showed both the first route and second route but the device had worked out that I should have gone straight. I deviated through a parking lot and winded my way back to the original road and was notified that the route had been found again. Impressive.
Despite the above, I like the device a lot and do recommend it. Don’t expect perfection however as it not close.
5 Stars The best Cycling computer on the Market
I am a tech guy. If you are too you, are going to love this Garmin bike computer, easy to set up, accurate distance (I set it to automatic, not tire circumference) set up the auto stop to go on after 3 MPH so when you stop it will not go on until you go over 3 MPH crossing street with bike it will not throw off average speed, under training.
Tech support great
I needed to change my Garmin connect user name they contacted me right back.
Oh if you buy this, make sure you upload to [...]
And check out other rides that you can download to your Garmin edge
and the best price I found was on Amazon.com
1 Stars If considering, don’t. Get the 705 or nothing.
This product is misleading. There is discussion on this page and Garmin’s website that documents it as having features that it does not have. The fine details show that they are actually talking about the Edge 705, not the 605. If you buy this, do so knowing that the Speed/Cadence sensor does not work with this device. The heart rate sensor does not work with this device. In fact, no ANT+Sport sensors work with this device. If you want any of those features, you are looking at the wrong product. Review the Edge 705 instead.
Garmin 010-00555-30 Edge 705 Bicycle Computer and GPS Navigator (Includes Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor)
If you’re unsure, go to Garmin’s website, find this product and click on the “Compare These” link. Select the 605 and the 705 to see just how little the 605 really does.
Filed under: Portable GPS Reviews