Garmin Edge 305 GPS Bundle
Took it out for my first real ride that was 5 hours total and 4 hours riding time. By the end, I had 1 bar left on the battery meter. This is a real ;problem if your into long rides like Centuries and Double Centuries. There is no way you can take this device on a 12-18 hour without it shutting off on you.
I would rate it a 5 out of 5 as a bike computer. Love the fact you can populate the fields with whichever element you choose; heart rate, speed, etc. The heart rate monitor was good as well.
It weight less than the Ciclosport HAC4 for those weight weenies who might imagine this device as a boat anchor.
The lousy battery life relegates this a toy for me however, as I really want need this device to stay on for the 12 hour+ rides.
Great little device but the battery dies after about 7 hours without even using the heart rate or cadence monitors - not anywhere near the 12 hour life as advertised. Probably OK if you don't ride much but it's a pain for me. The screen is very small making it difficult to view data while riding. Nitpicks aside - viewing ride stats on motionbased.com and google earth pretty much make up for any shortcomings but the battery life is a real downer.
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.
Simply put, I love this product. It's kind of like the Swiss Army Knife of bike computers, employing every metric the serious cyclist needs to tailor and hone their workouts. The only piece of data missing is wattage (you reading this Garmin!) which would be great, but probably very costly to integrate.
I love the customization and the complete wirelessness of the computer. It basically makes all other bicycle computers obsolete by comparison. Installation is a breeze without any of the pain in the ass calibration required from virtually every other bike computer on the market. It just works right out of the box.
The Edge 305 has a Virtual Training partner that will make you a stronger, faster rider. It also includes interval training and which is a blast to use and for the real tweaks, an advanced training feature where you can set up your own grueling workouts -- a real bonus for the masochists among us!
One thing to note is that there are mounts for two bicycles in the box, so there is no need to order an additional bike mount if you intend to make the Edge 305 a duel use computer for your road and mountain bike. This kind of mitigates the relatively high price the computer goes for in that you can have one computer for two different bikes.
I haven't experienced any of the battery issues mentioned in some of the other reviews, which I suppose is a testament to my wussy 4 -5 hour rides, so that shouldn't be an issue for most people.
And finally, after years of ignoring a huge market, Garmin wised up and is implementing Macintosh OSX support which while not included in the box, will be available on-line within the next couple of months (Thank you Garmin!!).
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!
Thought I might be paying to much for a cycling computer but this one is worth it. Easy to install cadence/distance unit. Easy to follow instructions. Easy to set up computer for your personal readouts to follow during your ride. Incredible data and software to analyze it following your ride. If you are a mountain biker, this would be incredible because it will show you exactly where you are in relationship to where you started. Fantastic for any level of rider. Very highly recommended. I spent a lot of time researching the market and I think the Garmin Edge 305 with the Heart Rate and Cadence bundle is the top system on the market today in this price range.
I just bought the Edge 305, but have used it on my trainer and walking around my local office buildings. I have had both the 201 and 301 and am VERY impressed with the 305's GPS reception.
Fit and finish is excellent and the hardware sync'd quickly.
I'll follow up with a long-term assesment.
Simply a great training tool. A little buggy in some areas, but with firmware updates any little problem can be easily fixed. Team this up with a subscription to Motionbase and you'll spend as much time analyzing your workout as you actually spend working out.
The product literature shows mounting the unit on the stem, but I found that too distracting to try and view it while riding. So I moved mine to the handlebars and can see everything great.
Did have one snafu of finding that the battery to the cadence unit was installed at the factory backwards. Once I figured that out, it worked fine.
All my buddies are envious. One just ordered his after he saw all of the data it collected on our workout.
I have owned this unit for a few weeks now and my comments are:
Pros:
**Extremely accurate display of speed (My Cateye Double Wireless is also on my bike) Easy to read.
**Stem mounting is rugged. I was a bit concerned that this would be awkward but I like it better than units that mount on the handle bars. Also, the angle of my stem at least makes for easy, solid button manipulation and viewing.
**No magnets or other sensor mounting required. The unit comes with two mounts, so you can easily switch between two bikes. Because of the GPS, you are not required to mount a wheel sensor. I think this is a real plus. I bought the HR and wheel/cadence sensor 305 unit but have yet to use them. Looking back, I probably would have purchased the 205 instead of the 305 because of the simplicity and clean mounting, I'd imagine this would be great for mountain bikes as well, where mud can be an issue.
**The software interface is quite impressive. You can view your route plotted against the map. Haven't explored all the options, but software was easy to install and GPS unit data was easy to upload via USB.
Cons
**Battery life When it comes to battery life, it's kind of like a cell phone. They say 12 hours, continuous use but I have yet to experience. All I know, is that I have to remember to charge it the night before I go out to avoid a nasty surprise. On the plus side, it will seem to continue to function on low battery for quite some time. I have yet to lose data because of battery failure.
Basically, you can read the review written by Torv Carlsen and you'll have my opinion of this new Garmin toy. The complaint about battery life, for my use (old, fat, diabetic) that simply doesn't much apply. I don't think I COULD ride to the end of the battery. (G)
However, the data this machine returns has helped me improve my condition fairly dramatically in an amazingly short time. I had been using my Garmin RINO and a spreadsheet prior to acquiring this new toy. The data storage and processing in this unit, plus, for my simple needs, the "race against yourself" feature are fantastic tools that have helped me make measurable gains in health and conditioning.
Granted, the unit price is a bit on the steep side, but given the data return, it's well worth it to me. It's also VASTLY cheaper than a heart attack, which was my "other option."
I have long been a "fan" of Garmin, but have been sorely disappointed by their attitude toward Mac. To date, is has caused me to have to set up a Windows machine as my dedicated GPS computer. Their change of heart toward Apple is very welcome.
I admit to being a bit of a tech-junkie and have previously purchased a several HRM and GPS-enabled bicycle computer systems. The Edge 305, which I have owned for three months, is the first one that I felt was worth the investment. It strengths are: user configurable displays, high contrast screen with backlight (last several hours for night riding), user-friendly downloads with fast USB communication/charging, very lightweight (~ 3oz), with secure mount/dismount, very straightforward button/menu system, waterproof (haven't tested this yet).
The 'Training Center' software is excellent, with a full set of graphs and maps, much easier to navigate than e.g. Ciclosport or Cambietta software. Ride histories are downloaded automatically as soon as the USB cable is plugged in. Even better, there's a website (motionbased.com) that one can upload rides and get complete reports, including overlaid Google maps, weather, and lots of statistical information about the ride (HR, speed, grade etc). Note that motionbased.com charges a monthly user fee (currently $8/month). The ride history storage is quite good - in the 'smart' recording mode, a data word is recorded every 10 seconds. There are 13,000 storable points, so it should be possible to record about 36 hours of ride data before a download. This would be handy for multi-day trips when a computer isn't available.
Nothing is perfect in life. Here are the issues I have found so far with the Edge.
1. The battery life is close to 9 hours, definitely not the advertised 12 hours. I completed a 200K brevet last weekend, which took 9:10 with stops (the Edge was left on). About 20 minutes before the end I got a 'low battery' warning' but it kept running to the end. Note that I don't have a cadence unit, which probably decreases the battery life. The Edge was fully charged before the ride.
2. The 'grade' display is useless. It bounces around +/- 5% on hills. I think the unit is sampling too fast - Garmin will likely fix this in a firmware update soon.
3. The map display is simply a track history, and does not display actual map information (roads, towns, etc). It's handy for out-and-back rides, since you can see approaching turns on the return trip, but it would be terrific if one could load map data. (Note that positions are recorded and the route is displayed on a 'real' map after download to the 'Training center' or motionbased.com software.)
4. Although there are two bike mounts included, they are at different orientations (90 degs apart) so if you have 2 bikes with the same setup, you'll have to buy another mount ($15).
The Edge 305 has all of the bells and whistles that you would want in a bicycle computer. Each of the functions is relatively easy to use, providing great infomation concerning speed, cadence, heart rate, elevation, ascent, grade, etc. The only draw back is that the battery does not last more than a few hours. This is a negative if you are out on a tour. Two weeks ago I did GRABRAAWR in Wisconsin. This seven day ride covering 430 miles was great, but every night I needed to find an outlet so that I could recharge the battery. This is the only fault that I can find in the Edge 305.
I read a bunch of reviews before buying my Edge. I was prepared for it to not be perfect but went ahead. My impressions are:-
Surprised (for good)
- Following a pre-loaded course is a really useful navigation feature. I recently did a 60 mile loop on unknown roads without stopping once to look at a map (I downloaded the route from motionbased.com and converted it to a CRS using some software I found on the motionbased forum).
- Heart-rate monitor suffers from far less interference than my Polar did. Particularly I found the Polar got thrown by bus power cables overhead and other things. Haven't had an issue with the Edge losing the signal like this.
- I really like the ability to customize the screen to show as little or as much data as you like. Also to have multiple setups you can switch between.
- I was impressed by just how small the unit is.
Bad side
- Software is nowhere near as good as the Polar software for recording training activities. Particularly I could find no way to correct bad data points without going in and editing the XML files from the device. Also the Polar software gives week by week graphs showing aggregate training time in different zones, etc which is not so clear with the Garmin software and non-existent in motionbased (as far as I've found).
- The calorie calculator seems pretty dubious based on feedback I've read elsewhere. I've ignored it.
- Creating new courses / routes is a pain. It's fine if you want to ride a course you've ridden before, using exactly the same directions. For new courses though I had to create a route on GoogleEarth Plus and then convert it to a GPX (using freeware) and then convert it to CRS (using more freeware). The end result was excellent but it took a lot of fiddling. There is also a CRS creator out there but it didn't seem easy to edit / save courses mid-creation with that.
On a side note, make sure you use the speed/cadence sensor. Before I mounted it I tried using just the Edge unit for speed. It's fine until you ride through an area with tall buildings and your speed drops to 0 mph.
All in all I'm impressed.
Works great right of the box. I haven't had the battery issues yet as the other reviewers mention. Easy to read instruction booklet and screens. Cadence and heart rate monitors seem accurate. You can design your own custom screen with up to eight functions at a time which is cool. The Edge 305 Cadence / HRM bike bundle will give you a wealth of information about your rides and workouts.
On the downside:
-Calling customer support will cost you a half hour - at least.
-The spoke sensor mount doesn't fit well on flat spokes (Mavic Ksyrium SSC) I had to use the mount from my old Cateye computer.
- NO ODO! Bummer! Garmin tech support says they're working on it and hopefully will be available as a software update soon. Add a star when that happens...
Unlike other GPS products, such as Garmin eMap GPS, I was abit disappointed to learn that the Garmin Edge 305 GPS does NOT come with features used for displaying a map on the main screen, or have info on Turn by Turn Routing, Turn by Turn Route Prompting, 3D Perspective Map View, Text-to-Speech Voice Prompts, nor does it allow uploading of GPS Maps from a computer or have internal or additional memory. The waypoints are stored in the unit and are downloadable to view the map on a home computer. I was hoping that I could find a GPS unit that would allow me to upload maps of bike routes throughout Southern California and provide directional information. Hopefully the next generation of Garmin Bike GPS products will intergrate these features.
Pros: 1. Accurate mileage if you stay in the open. 2. Basic GPS information with maps.
Cons: 1. You will lose the signal sporadically in the woods. 2. Cadence needs constant adjustment. 3. Calorie count grossly inaccurate. This past summer I rode 100 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway and calories were barely counted on the ascents. On the flats, calorie numbers are about about 40 percent inflated. 4. Software doesn't work with Macs. 5. Expensive.
Recommendation: Until Garmin does a software fix, avoid this item. If you're going to spend the money, go with a Suunto T6.
Tells me everythng I need and moves easily among my 3 bikes - great unit.
I have been quite disappointed in this product. I have had it for 5 months now, so have really given it a chance. I compare it to my previous GPS, a Garmin GPSIIIpilot and my previous bike computer/HR monitor, a Polar 710. I was so excited about the Edge combining these two functions into one and reducing the clutter on my handlebars. It seemed ideal, on paper.
As a GPS, it does record your position for downloading to a computer. But, I have yet to discover anyway to get information into it so that you can use the GPS to tell where you are or guide you on your journey. ISN"T THAT THE POINT OF A GPS? And, be sure to plan several minutes ahead of your departure to turn on the unit. Once moving, it has great difficulty acquiring satellite lock. I lost about 10 miles of a ride one time.
Most of the bike computer functions work fine. But, be aware that it bases most everything on the GPS calculations, so even though it has a spoke mounted sensor, it won't record distance or speed from that - though it might display. You can only overcome this by turning off the GPS. And, above when the GPS didn't lock, it did not automatically switch over to use the speed sensor.
I have had problems with the Cadence sensor. Many times it doesn't "connect" with the main unit. Be prepared to spend time debugging this from time to time. Maybe this is just how wireless works (or doesn't). I also had my battery go dead twice in a very short time, so maybe I got a bad one and haven't debugged it yet.
I find the menus in the Edge to be very difficult. I have trouble finding options, even after having set them many times. It takes many button presses to get to simple options that you might want to change while riding. Over time, I have just trained myself to forget about using all the functions because it is too dangerous to operate while riding. My old GPSIII was so logical that I thought Garmin "got it", but maybe those people have left.
Now my biggest complaint - the Heart Rate Monitor. For me, it just doesn't work reliably. That means, effectively, it just doesn't work. It does connect pretty reliably to the Edge - meaning Edge shows it present. But, it doesn't seem to send updates. I have tried wetting the contacts, moving it up and down on my chest. Tightening and loosening it, but I get intermittent operation at best. Sometimes it will show my HR at 60-80 bpm when I am running and actual rate is 150-170 bpm. Or, it might show the right HR, but then peg there and not update for several minutes. I just cannot rely upon it to guide a workout. As a novelty, it is still poor.
Then there are bugs. For instance, the "autostart timer" function turned off the timer yesterday, but never restarted it. It has shut off all by itself several times while riding. It claims startup in 1-2 minutes, but many times it seems to take over 5 minutes. There's more.
And, a year ago Garmin promised Mac compatibility and SW, but has yet to deliver on that promise.
I love my Edge 305. I have the Cadence and HR model.
They loose a star for the software though, at this price the unit should come with a full set of maps. Considering you can't ride a bike on major roads and highways, why is that the only thing shown on the maps? All my rides end up in the middle of nowhere on the included mapset. So count on spending another $100 to add maps if you want to plan out your bike trips.
Another beef is that it is possible to accidently hit the release button and have the device fall off your bike. Again, at this price point, there's no excuse. It should be IMPOSSIBLE for the device to fall off unintentionally. Some form of a double lock is called for here.
In the end, it falls short of perfection, but not by much. I'd buy it again and I can't imagine riding without mine. if I were a mountain biker it'd be even more of a neccesity. I love it.
To the people complaining about battery life. Get an Energizer USB phone emergency battery available at any Walgreens or Publix. The GPS runs fine on any USB power source. The down side is duct taping the external battery to your handle bars.
overall i am very pleased with the 305 and all its functions.
high quality gps construction and fairly easy to use.
i use it for both biking and running. have had no problems with battery
life but i simply recharge it after every three 30 - 60 minute workouts.
i do wish there was a wrist strap available as i have to hold it in my hand while running.
initially thought it was broke when it would not turn on but eventually found the tiny notes on how to reset it.
the cadence function quit working after 8 months. i replaced the dead battery in the cadence sensor (which i assumed was the problem) but it still did not work even though the light on the sensor blinked and everything was aligned per the instructions. eventually got it to work
again after doing an accessory restart scan.
Began using the Edge 305 in May '06 and have used it regularly since--ride 3-4k miles per year.
Strengths: Compact size, wireless works great for cadence, speed and heartrate; easy installation unlike what I read by others, the instructions help; during the short days--I use a night rider HID that does not interfere with the signal--something that my wireless Flight Deck had trouble with; software updates for the unit and the PC s/w work well and Garmin has corrected numerous problems/bugs with the software; download is easy making for great logging of activity--some cons see below; love the altimeter for mountain riding; the custom display is easy to use--you can put what you want on the screen and it really manages it quite well for as small as it is;
Weaknesses: the battery life is really terrible and is not as represented by Garmin--when I wrote tech support about it they did not reply (hmmm), sure you can buy a battery rig to extend the life but if it lasted as long as advertised (15 hours) you wouldn't need to and its a hassle to lug the gear just to power this unit--when riding centuries you may not make it--BATTERY LIFE AT THE EDGE'S FOUR MONTH BIRTHDAY IS MAX 7-8 HOURS--though a century goes much quicker than that, if you take breaks and leave it on, then you're doomed; it does not have an auto-off function like a Flight Deck does so if you forget to turn it off after a ride, the battery will be exhausted the next day you use it--very frustrating; unlike Polar HRMs the Edge cannot calc an accurate calorie burn to save your life--approx +50% too high--seems like Garmin could tweak the algorithm to fix this; you cannot edit the history on your PC--Garmin has made this inaccessible to you unless you are a db s/w guru so if it blinks out on you on a ride--your history is hosed, you'll have to add an activity to account for the deficit; have not used courses yet as I have not found that too intuitive (it could be you have to spend more than fifteen min figuring it out which I don't want to do yet); it would be very helpful if it actually had routing functionality like I have on a Garmin Quest (which I can also mount on the bike but then I've got a handlebar that looks like a cockpit)--you cannot go anywhere using this for directions--the GPS is there to track your ride horizontally and vertically.
My conclusion about this product is that the engineers do not actually ride and it could benefit from more focus on its functionality from cyclists. It is an early generation so there's hope but it is expensive so I'd expect to use it for a while. I would probably buy it again for the logging and history functionality, the riding display and that it comes with HRM and cadence.
This is a great bicycle tool. I mountain bike and this tool lets me see how I am doing during a ride and stores all the info so it can be looked at after the ride.
The ride data can be uploaded to the Garmin motionbased web site and from there you can see where you rode on Google Earth very cool.
This product has the potential to be a great cycling computer. In reality I paid almost $400 for the functionality of a $30 computer. Part of this is because I use Mac, but in a press release in Jan 2006 Garmin said it would have a Mac version of it's Training Center software. As of Jan 2007, I'm still waiting. Supposedly it's finished and going to be released at MacWorld, but I'll see it when I believe it.
As far as mounting, the unit itself is fairly straightforward, but unless it's two inches from you face you're going to have a hard time seeing the display. Typical of large companies, they assume every bike is a cookie-cutter diamond frame, so the cadence/speed sensor does not work on my recumbent. The heart rate monitor works 80% of the time.
Overall, I'd say save your money. Even with the Training Center software there's no way to preload routes and the map function is so rudimentary it's worthless. There are plenty of better, and cheaper, computers on the market.
Excellent features and characteristics. Heart strap came with a dead battery. Battery life of computer only about 10 hours - a bit shorter than Garmin says (12).
The Edge 305 provides a wealth of knowledge, is easy to install, as well as use. I would love to have given it 5 stars (it deserves them), but one thing that does not work correctly, and really bugs me is the calories expended. It couldn't be more inaccurate if they tried to make it that way. The first day that I installed it, I took it for a quick 1 mile test ride. IT indicated that in that mile I burned 100+ calories. Wish it were true, but it is not. Unfortunetly the next day I was going to take it out on a 100 mile ride, but crashed as I started out and have not riden since (3 days). I wore the chest strap in the office today to test the calories burned further. After 2 hours it read 0 were burned. I just took it for a car ride of 7 miles. In those 7 miles DRIVEN IN A CAR, it indicates I burned nearly 600 calories, again I wish, but no way.
Other than that flaw, whioh I hope they fix with a software update, I highly recommend this product, it all other ways it is great.
Since I'm a Mac user I waited until the "Garmin Training Center" software was available for Mac OS X before unboxing my 305. Setup of the speed/cadence sensor on the chainstay was straightforward but a little cramped on my mountain bike. Automatic determination of wheel size is a pretty cool feature.
The software is rudimentary and works; I haven't tried the Windows version so I don't know how they compare. No crashes in 30 minutes of use, and communicates just fine with the 305 over USB.
Features I'd like to see in the Mac software: click in the route to jump to that point in the performance graph, view more than one graph at a time, export to Excel format (XML is a pain to work with), allow simple setting of waypoints.
Features I'd like to see in the 305 firmware: basic navigation! Really pretty unbelievable that Garmin didn't include waypoints and a "goto" feature in a unit this pricey. The "map" is really just a track view, like the Geko: you can't scroll it, there are no streets or other mapping items.
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.
For those concerned with the battery life, a travel battery charger with mini-usb (that I use for my cell phone) works great for recharging the Garmin Edge 305 (and my husbands 205). So I simply throw it into my pouch for those 75 mile rides (i.e. the MS 150). I give the 305 only 4 stars though because I do not like the HR monitor as well as the Polar HR monitor.
I bought this device because I wanted to see my rides on Google Earth. That said, this device does not disappoint. With Sport Track software - forget Training Center - your workout appears on the screen as soon as you finish uploading. No more wondering where I rode last month. With the GPS tracks it is easy to visualize where you rode.
This is a great tool for training. I have used it both on and off road and it has worked great every time. I have not had any trouble with the heart rate strap like others have noted. The strap is not as comfortable as the Polar (725) but it still works well. I wish the Edge would show GPS coordinates this would be a big plus (SAR). All and all this is a great computer and has a lot of data to offer.
Wow! What a great product!! I use this on both my road and mountain bikes. Excellent GPS unit that provides may fields of info necessary to build a training diary. Excellent capability to upload into Garmins proprietary Training Center software which gives graphical representations of rides and includes terrain maps. This unit is well worth the money!! Very nice ability ro race yourself with saved routes from prior rides. Great way to see if you're improving. You can even complete pre-loaded workouts! The GPS unit fits nicely on the stem with a great viewing angle. The bottons can be a bit tricky if you're wearing full finger gloves, however. You can inadvertantly hit a button you do not want to press, but that happens inoften. The unit has an auto start/ stop function which makes for 90% hands-free operation. The button that changes the view is large and easily accessible. GPS will even show elevation changes upcoming. Very nice field change function to show you just what functions you wish to see. The Cadence and hear rate functions work flawlessly, with an occaisional need to reset the Cadence trigger. Great battery life too. You do have to keep it charged when not in use. Interaction between the unit and Training Center software is easy. Initial set up so that the profiles match was tricky, but instructions are easy to figure out.
Overall, this is the ULTIMATE cycle computer!!
I love this product. I purchased the Edge 305 to go on a new bike, it was easy to install, with decent instructions. It was easy to get started using it. It gives all the information you could possibly want about your ride, and its simple to download. Some people might think its too much information, but you can tailor the data fields that are displayed to see as little or as much info as you want. The data (milage, elevation) appears to be very accurate.
On the down side, the display can be hard to read in the sunlight. I've played around with the contrast tool, but still have problems. I also think the use instructions could be clearer, on my first ride, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting milage, and later realized you have to turn it on! I'm used to bike computers that start automatically. Changing the data fields being displayed is a bit of a pain, I want a timer showing when I'm on the indoor trainer, and % grade when I'm on the road, and its a pain to constantly switch the fields. Also, if a data field is not being displayed because you don't need to see it constantly, (average speed comes to mind) you have to change the data fields being displayed to view the info, and then change back if you are not at the end of your ride. I am fortunate because several people in my bike club have the Edge 305 and they could answer questions so I didn't have to constantly thumb through the instruction manual. The software that comes with the Edge is very basic, but I have no complaints about it.
All the issues I mentioned above are annoyances rather than problems and I feel this is a great product and I recommend it to anyone who is not intimidated by all the features.
If you are looking to get more out of your biking make sure to try Garmin Edge 305 bicycle computer. Despite the hefty price tag it delivers a lot of value and make rides more enjoyable.
Edge 305 provides the following high level features:
* typical bike data (speed, distance, cadence and ect)
* heart rate monitor (heart rate zones)
* map (rudimentary)
* altitude graph
* virtual partner
Stuff I like about device:
Very easy to install. Not need to know tire radius, the device would use GPS data to calculate all required information (and in most cases would use GPS to calculate your route anyway)
Automatic heart rate zone calculation based on your Max heart rate.
Ability to upload all info about route (map and data) into the computer or web site to see how you did and where exactly you biked. You can sign up (free account) into [...] and upload data and see other peoples routes. (I only wish this site used Flash/Flex technology instead of html/ajax to make it more interactive and usable).
The only somewhat bad comment I have - battery life. For most cases as long as you remember to charge it's not a problem. But it's somewhat different from my previous bike computer that didn't require any charging at all.
Overall, if you like to bicycle (road or mountain) and somewhat geeky, Garmin Edge 305 would give you more data then you even need.
[...]
I've had this device for a little over a year. I was an early adopter. I must say, I really enjoy this thing. This with the services provided by [...] make for a really nice setup. I did have issues with the HRM, but garmin send me a new one, no questions asked, by email request (no hold time!). The battery life issue should be noted, it only lasts about 5 hours. Garmin has been great about addressing defects; when the product was first released there was a defect in which the device wouldn't shut off when plugged into a USB port, but it was quickly fixed. All in all, a great product with great support.
I am very happy with my purchase, the Garmin 305 is accurate and reliable. Recently did the MS150 and it lasted both days with out a problem.
I would highly recommend this product to assist cyclists in their training.
Purchased this as a training aid, and found this was a training issue. This is a neat idea and when it is fully functional and can provide accurate data for heart rate and cadence, this will be a amazing tool. I have read from other sources that the calorie calculator is inaccurate as well. I could not seem to keep all of the sensors functioning at the same time. The constant fiddling caused my riding partners to tease me about my super computer that ruined my rides. The data I got was unusable. One example was 17 miles into a ride I lost my wife and went to see if she was O.K. (stress) so 156 rpm on the pedals, 28.6 mph the heart rate sensor read 45. No Way.... I loaded firmware to the unit, mounted and remounted sensors, bought conductive jelly to try to get this thing to work. Even if you get it to work the GPS takes up to 90 sec to locate satellites from the same position that you were in when the unit was turned off. This does not seem like a long time until you have to catch back up with the pack. The GPS works great, however I ride set routs and this feature became more of a novelty with out the data to support what was happening at the geographical position. The windows soft ware is passable however the mac version is unusable. The maps in the software are not update-able as far a I could figure and the use of Motion Base is almost mandatory for plotting and accurate maps. Very happy with amazon they took it back for a refund no issues.
The Edge has proved to be a great purchase so far. It's more accurate that I expected and I am really enjoying all the information it provides. The battery seems to last plenty long enough. I rode a 7.5 hour century this past week and had a couple bars left on the battery indicator when I got home. The chest strap for the heart rate monitor is so comfortable that I don't even notice I'm wearing it. The only complaints I could make would be regarding the mount and the wheel magnet. I must have bent the clip on the first mount when I installed it because the clip broke off mid ride last week, resulting in the Edge falling off the bike. No damage! The wheel magent lasted one ride and then on the next I felt something wack me in the leg while I was riding. I found the magnet stuck to my chainring but the plastic part is screws into is long gone. Thankfully I'm satisfied with using the GPS for speed and distance so I'm not too worried about not having the magnet. Overall I have to recommend this product highly. I love getting home after a long ride and checking out a map of where I've been.
The Edge 305HR+ is a great add on to keep track of your bike training. Keep in mind this unit is not a "TOMTOM". It's geared more towards storing data of what you've riden as opposed to telling you where to go. I use it for mostly mountain biking and keeping track of my weekly progress as well as using Garmin's Motion Based website to create maps of the trails I ride. I'm still getting to know how some of the features work, but for the most part was very simple to setup and use right away.
Works well so far. Earlier models seemed to have several software issues, but those seemed to have been pretty well worked out now by Garmin. Fairly user friendly. Takes a little time to learn how to use it, but worth the effort.
This is an amazing gadget, scarcely larger than high-end cyclocomputer and it includes a GPS, heart rate and cadence. In my experience, this is the best cycling computer available. The GPS makes this "install and forget", no wheel calibrations needed.
Pluses:
Altimeter is accurate to within 10 feet according to elevation markers on Skyline Drive in VA.
Data is recorded aperiodocially, whenever things change, to save memory.
Multiline display makes setup easier, and shows much more information.
Minuses:
Battery life is marginal for long rides. I haven't exhausted the battery yet, but an 8 hour ride took it down to about 10% left.
Proprietary battery.
It auto-pauses but does NOT auto-start at the beginning of a ride.
HRM gives false readings (220 HR) under power lines that don't bother a Polar HRM at all.
HRM chest strap not the most comforatble I've used.
Finally, if you use with with a Mac, you -must- get Ascent, 3rd party software that works flawlessly with this device. Ascent is much more capable than the Garmin software (either the Windows or Mac versions)
This unit is great. Bundled software could be better..... Where is my odometer.
Great product. Does everything pretty well and Motion Based web site is pretty cool. I have two minor complaints: having to remember to charge it and the autostart/stop function. I am used to a cycle computer and having to put batteries in it every 5 years, it is hard to get used to charging it. I also use a shimano fligth deck - and I also miss using the hoods to change the screens. Also a couple of time I stopped and the unit never re-started the timer. The reception is awesome though, it even works in my house and tracks me moving around and up the stairs. Display is a little smaller than what you think from seeing the pictures of it but still pretty good. Overall it is pretty cool - especially because of the web link and analysis.
I'm posting this for those who are considering purchasing one or those who keep telling themselves the lie that this is a good product. It's not. Here's my opnion why.
I'm on my third unit which died yesterday after updating to the latest 3.2 software. Dead - no amount of reset button combinations, plugging into AC and other tricks will work. After updating the Sw, the screen went blank. So now I'm faced with forever hold times to talk to someone at Garmin who is going to tell me that it's out of warranty and I can send it in to be fixed & returned within 4 weeks for a charge of $X.
The first unit did not read heart rate. Took over a month to get it replaced. The replacement unit didn't either. Finally the third unit reads my heart rate "most" of the time. It has nowhere near the reliability nor accuracy of my Polar HRM. I've used 3 different types of HRM cream, spit, etc.
I fully recognize that there can be defects in any product and maybe this was just bad luck but I think the problems with this device go much further. There have been constant firmware & software updates over the past year to fix things that should have been correct in the first place. Remember when the alarm volume was so low you couldn't hear it while riding? Or how about the lap issues & altitude issues and average grade issues. All things that should have been right from day one. Instead, it appears they rushed this product out the door and used us as beta testers. This isn't a small step up from a simple cateye - this is for people who take biking seriously and really want to rely on the data to improve and enjoy and understand their cycling more.
After using this product for a while I feel they got the user interface wrong. The screen should be horizontal not vertical in my opinion. The map data and metric data would fit much better and be easier to read while riding. I own one of their handhelds for hiking and to me it looks like they just adopted the hiker approach for the biking world. The interface doesn't translate 1-to1 like that. Biking is completely different. The way I interface with the product going 25mph down a road is much different than the way I use a GPS on a hike.
This product needs to be dependable and based on my experience and reading post after post on the [...] forum of people who are experiencing major problems it's not.
What would happen if Garmin released a product this unreliable in their aviation division? They couldn't. If they can do it right for planes, why can't they do it right for bikes? I would have gladly accepted a product that had less features but was rock solid.
The whole experience has not been worth it. If someone is reading this considering buying this product I'd look elsewhere. I'm a geek and really wanted to like this product. But I spent all last summer lying to myself that this was a good product. Now that a simple software upgrade has completely wiped out my unit, I'm finished with Garmin.
You need a bit of techno-knowledge to really appreciate this device. Just takes awhile to learn it's possibilities. Out of the box it seemed to work flawlessly, however, as I began to use it, it started to show some quirks. Contacted Garmin via email and received a quick response to the problems. The solution was to download a newer chipset. The unit worked again for a few days and then failed. Still looking for a solution. Installing the various pieces on your bike will take some time. Not wanting to fool with the installation, I took it to my bike dealer and they installed the unit the correct way. Worth the extra bucks. Now I just want it to work. Still waiting for a new solution.
I bought the Garmin unit because I was tired of riding the same exact route and getting pretty large differences in distance readings with other computers. (Power lines, etc interfere and mess up the readings.) With the Garmin unit on the same courses, the readings are consistently within a few hundredths of a mile over 25-35 miles. (The difference is probably just how I am taking the curves.)
Also, I really like being able to look at the heart rate and elevation trends on the computer after a ride. It makes me feel better about courses that I thought were flat but actually were not. Also, it's really good for seeing exactly how high/hard different hills are. Finally, for competition routes, it helps finding where the hitting-the-wall points are. i.e. I felt like I was riding consistently through the ride, but the heart-rate fell off by 5-10 bpm... That helps me in determining when to take a power gel pack or when to conserve/expend energy along the course.
I've read about the battery life issue, but personally, I am not doing 5-7 hour rides. 3-4 hours / 60-80 miles is the high-end for me. On longer century rides, I am more interested in time anyway so a simple stopwatch is more than enough.
I do however wish that the unit had an auto-off feature if no movement was detected in 10-15 minutes. (My girls have found it, pushed the button, and left it on before.... I only discover this when I go out the next day to ride.)
The altimeter is very accurate. I keep a "total ascent" field on my primary display to give me an idea of the climbs done. This is a cumulative count... i.e. If you climb 10 feet, fall 10 feet, climb 10 feet, and fall 10 more feet, the field reads 20 feet -- even though your actual altitude did not change. That's exactly what I wanted. I use this information on a route to let me know how much climbing effort is remaining. i.e. If I know a route has 2200' of climbs, I am riding fast/hard, feel fine, am past half-way but see on only 500' of climbs have been done, I know to back-off and pace myself to finish strong.
I have had some minor communications issues with the software. However, I just wiggle the cable and retry and 99% of the time the unit works fine. On that rare 1% exception, rebooting fixes the problem.
The heart rate monitor is very accurate. I've used high end Polar monitors -- and this one is every bit as accurate as those.
Installation is a snap. The ergonomics of how it fits on my stem (90 mm) is perfect. It looks like it was made for the bike.
As far as the issues others have had, I really don't know what to say. I did upgrade the firmware. Other than that, I've done nothing different. There's clearly issues since so many people have bad things to say. I simply did not experience those issues. I would suggest buying from some place like Amazon, using it a lot upon reciept, and sending it back for credit if you have problems.
All in all, I would highly recommend it even with the minor issues mentioned above.
My cycling monitoring with the EDGE 305 has been easy and comprehensive, it is a great product.
This is a beautiful thing. If your standard cycling computer isn't doing the trick, get one of these suckers. If you have several bikes, you can help justifying the price by getting several mounts and just trading it between bikes.
I love the overload of data it provides. HRM, cadence (on my non-recumbent bike), altitude, maps, etc. Two things you'll want immediately after getting this: Google Earth (upgrade to Google Earth Plus to interact directly with the GPS), and also get a login at mapmyride.com. That also talks directly to the Edge, meaning you can blog your ride minutes after getting home, if you're so inclined.
Great product!! Only negative is the cover for the computer/USB connector. Good value for price.
After using a HAC4 for several years I made the jump to the Garmin Edge. It has exceeded all expectations. Works as advertised and measures things no human would ever need to know, but is interesting anyway. Can easily be switched from bike to bike without worrying about pickup magnets, wheel sizes, and other nonsense. The first time I used it was on a tour in New Hampshire and Maine, and it worked perfectly out of the box. Highly recommended.
When it works it's features are fun and interactive. Technically, it is very weak. It has a lot of quirks when exchanging information between the device and computer. When downloading from the device to the computer the device will beep appropriately and give a report confirming data transfer. However, the computer side will report that it cannot communicate with the device. After several blind repeats the computer side will generally "spontaneously" eventually accept the data. The bad news is that repeating the transfer process risks "frying" the device and making it inoperable. Very frustrating.
Great product!! Only negative is the cover for the computer/USB connector. Good value for price.
After using a HAC4 for several years I made the jump to the Garmin Edge. It has exceeded all expectations. Works as advertised and measures things no human would ever need to know, but is interesting anyway. Can easily be switched from bike to bike without worrying about pickup magnets, wheel sizes, and other nonsense. The first time I used it was on a tour in New Hampshire and Maine, and it worked perfectly out of the box. Highly recommended.
This is a beautiful thing. If your standard cycling computer isn't doing the trick, get one of these suckers. If you have several bikes, you can help justifying the price by getting several mounts and just trading it between bikes.
I love the overload of data it provides. HRM, cadence (on my non-recumbent bike), altitude, maps, etc. Two things you'll want immediately after getting this: Google Earth (upgrade to Google Earth Plus to interact directly with the GPS), and also get a login at mapmyride.com. That also talks directly to the Edge, meaning you can blog your ride minutes after getting home, if you're so inclined.
My cycling monitoring with the EDGE 305 has been easy and comprehensive, it is a great product.
I bought the Garmin unit because I was tired of riding the same exact route and getting pretty large differences in distance readings with other computers. (Power lines, etc interfere and mess up the readings.) With the Garmin unit on the same courses, the readings are consistently within a few hundredths of a mile over 25-35 miles. (The difference is probably just how I am taking the curves.)
Also, I really like being able to look at the heart rate and elevation trends on the computer after a ride. It makes me feel better about courses that I thought were flat but actually were not. Also, it's really good for seeing exactly how high/hard different hills are. Finally, for competition routes, it helps finding where the hitting-the-wall points are. i.e. I felt like I was riding consistently through the ride, but the heart-rate fell off by 5-10 bpm... That helps me in determining when to take a power gel pack or when to conserve/expend energy along the course.
I've read about the battery life issue, but personally, I am not doing 5-7 hour rides. 3-4 hours / 60-80 miles is the high-end for me. On longer century rides, I am more interested in time anyway so a simple stopwatch is more than enough.
I do however wish that the unit had an auto-off feature if no movement was detected in 10-15 minutes. (My girls have found it, pushed the button, and left it on before.... I only discover this when I go out the next day to ride.)
The altimeter is very accurate. I keep a "total ascent" field on my primary display to give me an idea of the climbs done. This is a cumulative count... i.e. If you climb 10 feet, fall 10 feet, climb 10 feet, and fall 10 more feet, the field reads 20 feet -- even though your actual altitude did not change. That's exactly what I wanted. I use this information on a route to let me know how much climbing effort is remaining. i.e. If I know a route has 2200' of climbs, I am riding fast/hard, feel fine, am past half-way but see on only 500' of climbs have been done, I know to back-off and pace myself to finish strong.
I have had some minor communications issues with the software. However, I just wiggle the cable and retry and 99% of the time the unit works fine. On that rare 1% exception, rebooting fixes the problem.
The heart rate monitor is very accurate. I've used high end Polar monitors -- and this one is every bit as accurate as those.
Installation is a snap. The ergonomics of how it fits on my stem (90 mm) is perfect. It looks like it was made for the bike.
As far as the issues others have had, I really don't know what to say. I did upgrade the firmware. Other than that, I've done nothing different. There's clearly issues since so many people have bad things to say. I simply did not experience those issues. I would suggest buying from some place like Amazon, using it a lot upon reciept, and sending it back for credit if you have problems.
All in all, I would highly recommend it even with the minor issues mentioned above.
You need a bit of techno-knowledge to really appreciate this device. Just takes awhile to learn it's possibilities. Out of the box it seemed to work flawlessly, however, as I began to use it, it started to show some quirks. Contacted Garmin via email and received a quick response to the problems. The solution was to download a newer chipset. The unit worked again for a few days and then failed. Still looking for a solution. Installing the various pieces on your bike will take some time. Not wanting to fool with the installation, I took it to my bike dealer and they installed the unit the correct way. Worth the extra bucks. Now I just want it to work. Still waiting for a new solution.
I'm posting this for those who are considering purchasing one or those who keep telling themselves the lie that this is a good product. It's not. Here's my opnion why.
I'm on my third unit which died yesterday after updating to the latest 3.2 software. Dead - no amount of reset button combinations, plugging into AC and other tricks will work. After updating the Sw, the screen went blank. So now I'm faced with forever hold times to talk to someone at Garmin who is going to tell me that it's out of warranty and I can send it in to be fixed & returned within 4 weeks for a charge of $X.
The first unit did not read heart rate. Took over a month to get it replaced. The replacement unit didn't either. Finally the third unit reads my heart rate "most" of the time. It has nowhere near the reliability nor accuracy of my Polar HRM. I've used 3 different types of HRM cream, spit, etc.
I fully recognize that there can be defects in any product and maybe this was just bad luck but I think the problems with this device go much further. There have been constant firmware & software updates over the past year to fix things that should have been correct in the first place. Remember when the alarm volume was so low you couldn't hear it while riding? Or how about the lap issues & altitude issues and average grade issues. All things that should have been right from day one. Instead, it appears they rushed this product out the door and used us as beta testers. This isn't a small step up from a simple cateye - this is for people who take biking seriously and really want to rely on the data to improve and enjoy and understand their cycling more.
After using this product for a while I feel they got the user interface wrong. The screen should be horizontal not vertical in my opinion. The map data and metric data would fit much better and be easier to read while riding. I own one of their handhelds for hiking and to me it looks like they just adopted the hiker approach for the biking world. The interface doesn't translate 1-to1 like that. Biking is completely different. The way I interface with the product going 25mph down a road is much different than the way I use a GPS on a hike.
This product needs to be dependable and based on my experience and reading post after post on the [...] forum of people who are experiencing major problems it's not.
What would happen if Garmin released a product this unreliable in their aviation division? They couldn't. If they can do it right for planes, why can't they do it right for bikes? I would have gladly accepted a product that had less features but was rock solid.
The whole experience has not been worth it. If someone is reading this considering buying this product I'd look elsewhere. I'm a geek and really wanted to like this product. But I spent all last summer lying to myself that this was a good product. Now that a simple software upgrade has completely wiped out my unit, I'm finished with Garmin.
Great product. Does everything pretty well and Motion Based web site is pretty cool. I have two minor complaints: having to remember to charge it and the autostart/stop function. I am used to a cycle computer and having to put batteries in it every 5 years, it is hard to get used to charging it. I also use a shimano fligth deck - and I also miss using the hoods to change the screens. Also a couple of time I stopped and the unit never re-started the timer. The reception is awesome though, it even works in my house and tracks me moving around and up the stairs. Display is a little smaller than what you think from seeing the pictures of it but still pretty good. Overall it is pretty cool - especially because of the web link and analysis.
This unit is great. Bundled software could be better..... Where is my odometer.
Works well so far. Earlier models seemed to have several software issues, but those seemed to have been pretty well worked out now by Garmin. Fairly user friendly. Takes a little time to learn how to use it, but worth the effort.
This is an amazing gadget, scarcely larger than high-end cyclocomputer and it includes a GPS, heart rate and cadence. In my experience, this is the best cycling computer available. The GPS makes this "install and forget", no wheel calibrations needed.
Pluses:
Altimeter is accurate to within 10 feet according to elevation markers on Skyline Drive in VA.
Data is recorded aperiodocially, whenever things change, to save memory.
Multiline display makes setup easier, and shows much more information.
Minuses:
Battery life is marginal for long rides. I haven't exhausted the battery yet, but an 8 hour ride took it down to about 10% left.
Proprietary battery.
It auto-pauses but does NOT auto-start at the beginning of a ride.
HRM gives false readings (220 HR) under power lines that don't bother a Polar HRM at all.
HRM chest strap not the most comforatble I've used.
Finally, if you use with with a Mac, you -must- get Ascent, 3rd party software that works flawlessly with this device. Ascent is much more capable than the Garmin software (either the Windows or Mac versions)
The Edge 305HR+ is a great add on to keep track of your bike training. Keep in mind this unit is not a "TOMTOM". It's geared more towards storing data of what you've riden as opposed to telling you where to go. I use it for mostly mountain biking and keeping track of my weekly progress as well as using Garmin's Motion Based website to create maps of the trails I ride. I'm still getting to know how some of the features work, but for the most part was very simple to setup and use right away.
The Edge has proved to be a great purchase so far. It's more accurate that I expected and I am really enjoying all the information it provides. The battery seems to last plenty long enough. I rode a 7.5 hour century this past week and had a couple bars left on the battery indicator when I got home. The chest strap for the heart rate monitor is so comfortable that I don't even notice I'm wearing it. The only complaints I could make would be regarding the mount and the wheel magnet. I must have bent the clip on the first mount when I installed it because the clip broke off mid ride last week, resulting in the Edge falling off the bike. No damage! The wheel magent lasted one ride and then on the next I felt something wack me in the leg while I was riding. I found the magnet stuck to my chainring but the plastic part is screws into is long gone. Thankfully I'm satisfied with using the GPS for speed and distance so I'm not too worried about not having the magnet. Overall I have to recommend this product highly. I love getting home after a long ride and checking out a map of where I've been.
Purchased this as a training aid, and found this was a training issue. This is a neat idea and when it is fully functional and can provide accurate data for heart rate and cadence, this will be a amazing tool. I have read from other sources that the calorie calculator is inaccurate as well. I could not seem to keep all of the sensors functioning at the same time. The constant fiddling caused my riding partners to tease me about my super computer that ruined my rides. The data I got was unusable. One example was 17 miles into a ride I lost my wife and went to see if she was O.K. (stress) so 156 rpm on the pedals, 28.6 mph the heart rate sensor read 45. No Way.... I loaded firmware to the unit, mounted and remounted sensors, bought conductive jelly to try to get this thing to work. Even if you get it to work the GPS takes up to 90 sec to locate satellites from the same position that you were in when the unit was turned off. This does not seem like a long time until you have to catch back up with the pack. The GPS works great, however I ride set routs and this feature became more of a novelty with out the data to support what was happening at the geographical position. The windows soft ware is passable however the mac version is unusable. The maps in the software are not update-able as far a I could figure and the use of Motion Base is almost mandatory for plotting and accurate maps. Very happy with amazon they took it back for a refund no issues.
I am very happy with my purchase, the Garmin 305 is accurate and reliable. Recently did the MS150 and it lasted both days with out a problem.
I would highly recommend this product to assist cyclists in their training.
I bought this device because I wanted to see my rides on Google Earth. That said, this device does not disappoint. With Sport Track software - forget Training Center - your workout appears on the screen as soon as you finish uploading. No more wondering where I rode last month. With the GPS tracks it is easy to visualize where you rode.
For those concerned with the battery life, a travel battery charger with mini-usb (that I use for my cell phone) works great for recharging the Garmin Edge 305 (and my husbands 205). So I simply throw it into my pouch for those 75 mile rides (i.e. the MS 150). I give the 305 only 4 stars though because I do not like the HR monitor as well as the Polar HR monitor.
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.
Since I'm a Mac user I waited until the "Garmin Training Center" software was available for Mac OS X before unboxing my 305. Setup of the speed/cadence sensor on the chainstay was straightforward but a little cramped on my mountain bike. Automatic determination of wheel size is a pretty cool feature.
The software is rudimentary and works; I haven't tried the Windows version so I don't know how they compare. No crashes in 30 minutes of use, and communicates just fine with the 305 over USB.
Features I'd like to see in the Mac software: click in the route to jump to that point in the performance graph, view more than one graph at a time, export to Excel format (XML is a pain to work with), allow simple setting of waypoints.
Features I'd like to see in the 305 firmware: basic navigation! Really pretty unbelievable that Garmin didn't include waypoints and a "goto" feature in a unit this pricey. The "map" is really just a track view, like the Geko: you can't scroll it, there are no streets or other mapping items.
Excellent features and characteristics. Heart strap came with a dead battery. Battery life of computer only about 10 hours - a bit shorter than Garmin says (12).
The Edge 305 provides a wealth of knowledge, is easy to install, as well as use. I would love to have given it 5 stars (it deserves them), but one thing that does not work correctly, and really bugs me is the calories expended. It couldn't be more inaccurate if they tried to make it that way. The first day that I installed it, I took it for a quick 1 mile test ride. IT indicated that in that mile I burned 100+ calories. Wish it were true, but it is not. Unfortunetly the next day I was going to take it out on a 100 mile ride, but crashed as I started out and have not riden since (3 days). I wore the chest strap in the office today to test the calories burned further. After 2 hours it read 0 were burned. I just took it for a car ride of 7 miles. In those 7 miles DRIVEN IN A CAR, it indicates I burned nearly 600 calories, again I wish, but no way.
Other than that flaw, whioh I hope they fix with a software update, I highly recommend this product, it all other ways it is great.
This product has the potential to be a great cycling computer. In reality I paid almost $400 for the functionality of a $30 computer. Part of this is because I use Mac, but in a press release in Jan 2006 Garmin said it would have a Mac version of it's Training Center software. As of Jan 2007, I'm still waiting. Supposedly it's finished and going to be released at MacWorld, but I'll see it when I believe it.
As far as mounting, the unit itself is fairly straightforward, but unless it's two inches from you face you're going to have a hard time seeing the display. Typical of large companies, they assume every bike is a cookie-cutter diamond frame, so the cadence/speed sensor does not work on my recumbent. The heart rate monitor works 80% of the time.
Overall, I'd say save your money. Even with the Training Center software there's no way to preload routes and the map function is so rudimentary it's worthless. There are plenty of better, and cheaper, computers on the market.
This is a great bicycle tool. I mountain bike and this tool lets me see how I am doing during a ride and stores all the info so it can be looked at after the ride.
The ride data can be uploaded to the Garmin motionbased web site and from there you can see where you rode on Google Earth very cool.
Began using the Edge 305 in May '06 and have used it regularly since--ride 3-4k miles per year.
Strengths: Compact size, wireless works great for cadence, speed and heartrate; easy installation unlike what I read by others, the instructions help; during the short days--I use a night rider HID that does not interfere with the signal--something that my wireless Flight Deck had trouble with; software updates for the unit and the PC s/w work well and Garmin has corrected numerous problems/bugs with the software; download is easy making for great logging of activity--some cons see below; love the altimeter for mountain riding; the custom display is easy to use--you can put what you want on the screen and it really manages it quite well for as small as it is;
Weaknesses: the battery life is really terrible and is not as represented by Garmin--when I wrote tech support about it they did not reply (hmmm), sure you can buy a battery rig to extend the life but if it lasted as long as advertised (15 hours) you wouldn't need to and its a hassle to lug the gear just to power this unit--when riding centuries you may not make it--BATTERY LIFE AT THE EDGE'S FOUR MONTH BIRTHDAY IS MAX 7-8 HOURS--though a century goes much quicker than that, if you take breaks and leave it on, then you're doomed; it does not have an auto-off function like a Flight Deck does so if you forget to turn it off after a ride, the battery will be exhausted the next day you use it--very frustrating; unlike Polar HRMs the Edge cannot calc an accurate calorie burn to save your life--approx +50% too high--seems like Garmin could tweak the algorithm to fix this; you cannot edit the history on your PC--Garmin has made this inaccessible to you unless you are a db s/w guru so if it blinks out on you on a ride--your history is hosed, you'll have to add an activity to account for the deficit; have not used courses yet as I have not found that too intuitive (it could be you have to spend more than fifteen min figuring it out which I don't want to do yet); it would be very helpful if it actually had routing functionality like I have on a Garmin Quest (which I can also mount on the bike but then I've got a handlebar that looks like a cockpit)--you cannot go anywhere using this for directions--the GPS is there to track your ride horizontally and vertically.
My conclusion about this product is that the engineers do not actually ride and it could benefit from more focus on its functionality from cyclists. It is an early generation so there's hope but it is expensive so I'd expect to use it for a while. I would probably buy it again for the logging and history functionality, the riding display and that it comes with HRM and cadence.
I have been quite disappointed in this product. I have had it for 5 months now, so have really given it a chance. I compare it to my previous GPS, a Garmin GPSIIIpilot and my previous bike computer/HR monitor, a Polar 710. I was so excited about the Edge combining these two functions into one and reducing the clutter on my handlebars. It seemed ideal, on paper.
As a GPS, it does record your position for downloading to a computer. But, I have yet to discover anyway to get information into it so that you can use the GPS to tell where you are or guide you on your journey. ISN"T THAT THE POINT OF A GPS? And, be sure to plan several minutes ahead of your departure to turn on the unit. Once moving, it has great difficulty acquiring satellite lock. I lost about 10 miles of a ride one time.
Most of the bike computer functions work fine. But, be aware that it bases most everything on the GPS calculations, so even though it has a spoke mounted sensor, it won't record distance or speed from that - though it might display. You can only overcome this by turning off the GPS. And, above when the GPS didn't lock, it did not automatically switch over to use the speed sensor.
I have had problems with the Cadence sensor. Many times it doesn't "connect" with the main unit. Be prepared to spend time debugging this from time to time. Maybe this is just how wireless works (or doesn't). I also had my battery go dead twice in a very short time, so maybe I got a bad one and haven't debugged it yet.
I find the menus in the Edge to be very difficult. I have trouble finding options, even after having set them many times. It takes many button presses to get to simple options that you might want to change while riding. Over time, I have just trained myself to forget about using all the functions because it is too dangerous to operate while riding. My old GPSIII was so logical that I thought Garmin "got it", but maybe those people have left.
Now my biggest complaint - the Heart Rate Monitor. For me, it just doesn't work reliably. That means, effectively, it just doesn't work. It does connect pretty reliably to the Edge - meaning Edge shows it present. But, it doesn't seem to send updates. I have tried wetting the contacts, moving it up and down on my chest. Tightening and loosening it, but I get intermittent operation at best. Sometimes it will show my HR at 60-80 bpm when I am running and actual rate is 150-170 bpm. Or, it might show the right HR, but then peg there and not update for several minutes. I just cannot rely upon it to guide a workout. As a novelty, it is still poor.
Then there are bugs. For instance, the "autostart timer" function turned off the timer yesterday, but never restarted it. It has shut off all by itself several times while riding. It claims startup in 1-2 minutes, but many times it seems to take over 5 minutes. There's more.
And, a year ago Garmin promised Mac compatibility and SW, but has yet to deliver on that promise.
I love my Edge 305. I have the Cadence and HR model.
They loose a star for the software though, at this price the unit should come with a full set of maps. Considering you can't ride a bike on major roads and highways, why is that the only thing shown on the maps? All my rides end up in the middle of nowhere on the included mapset. So count on spending another $100 to add maps if you want to plan out your bike trips.
Another beef is that it is possible to accidently hit the release button and have the device fall off your bike. Again, at this price point, there's no excuse. It should be IMPOSSIBLE for the device to fall off unintentionally. Some form of a double lock is called for here.
In the end, it falls short of perfection, but not by much. I'd buy it again and I can't imagine riding without mine. if I were a mountain biker it'd be even more of a neccesity. I love it.
To the people complaining about battery life. Get an Energizer USB phone emergency battery available at any Walgreens or Publix. The GPS runs fine on any USB power source. The down side is duct taping the external battery to your handle bars.
overall i am very pleased with the 305 and all its functions.
high quality gps construction and fairly easy to use.
i use it for both biking and running. have had no problems with battery
life but i simply recharge it after every three 30 - 60 minute workouts.
i do wish there was a wrist strap available as i have to hold it in my hand while running.
initially thought it was broke when it would not turn on but eventually found the tiny notes on how to reset it.
the cadence function quit working after 8 months. i replaced the dead battery in the cadence sensor (which i assumed was the problem) but it still did not work even though the light on the sensor blinked and everything was aligned per the instructions. eventually got it to work
again after doing an accessory restart scan.
Tells me everythng I need and moves easily among my 3 bikes - great unit.
Pros: 1. Accurate mileage if you stay in the open. 2. Basic GPS information with maps.
Cons: 1. You will lose the signal sporadically in the woods. 2. Cadence needs constant adjustment. 3. Calorie count grossly inaccurate. This past summer I rode 100 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway and calories were barely counted on the ascents. On the flats, calorie numbers are about about 40 percent inflated. 4. Software doesn't work with Macs. 5. Expensive.
Recommendation: Until Garmin does a software fix, avoid this item. If you're going to spend the money, go with a Suunto T6.
Works great right of the box. I haven't had the battery issues yet as the other reviewers mention. Easy to read instruction booklet and screens. Cadence and heart rate monitors seem accurate. You can design your own custom screen with up to eight functions at a time which is cool. The Edge 305 Cadence / HRM bike bundle will give you a wealth of information about your rides and workouts.
On the downside:
-Calling customer support will cost you a half hour - at least.
-The spoke sensor mount doesn't fit well on flat spokes (Mavic Ksyrium SSC) I had to use the mount from my old Cateye computer.
- NO ODO! Bummer! Garmin tech support says they're working on it and hopefully will be available as a software update soon. Add a star when that happens...
Unlike other GPS products, such as Garmin eMap GPS, I was abit disappointed to learn that the Garmin Edge 305 GPS does NOT come with features used for displaying a map on the main screen, or have info on Turn by Turn Routing, Turn by Turn Route Prompting, 3D Perspective Map View, Text-to-Speech Voice Prompts, nor does it allow uploading of GPS Maps from a computer or have internal or additional memory. The waypoints are stored in the unit and are downloadable to view the map on a home computer. I was hoping that I could find a GPS unit that would allow me to upload maps of bike routes throughout Southern California and provide directional information. Hopefully the next generation of Garmin Bike GPS products will intergrate these features.
The Edge 305 has all of the bells and whistles that you would want in a bicycle computer. Each of the functions is relatively easy to use, providing great infomation concerning speed, cadence, heart rate, elevation, ascent, grade, etc. The only draw back is that the battery does not last more than a few hours. This is a negative if you are out on a tour. Two weeks ago I did GRABRAAWR in Wisconsin. This seven day ride covering 430 miles was great, but every night I needed to find an outlet so that I could recharge the battery. This is the only fault that I can find in the Edge 305.
I read a bunch of reviews before buying my Edge. I was prepared for it to not be perfect but went ahead. My impressions are:-
Surprised (for good)
- Following a pre-loaded course is a really useful navigation feature. I recently did a 60 mile loop on unknown roads without stopping once to look at a map (I downloaded the route from motionbased.com and converted it to a CRS using some software I found on the motionbased forum).
- Heart-rate monitor suffers from far less interference than my Polar did. Particularly I found the Polar got thrown by bus power cables overhead and other things. Haven't had an issue with the Edge losing the signal like this.
- I really like the ability to customize the screen to show as little or as much data as you like. Also to have multiple setups you can switch between.
- I was impressed by just how small the unit is.
Bad side
- Software is nowhere near as good as the Polar software for recording training activities. Particularly I could find no way to correct bad data points without going in and editing the XML files from the device. Also the Polar software gives week by week graphs showing aggregate training time in different zones, etc which is not so clear with the Garmin software and non-existent in motionbased (as far as I've found).
- The calorie calculator seems pretty dubious based on feedback I've read elsewhere. I've ignored it.
- Creating new courses / routes is a pain. It's fine if you want to ride a course you've ridden before, using exactly the same directions. For new courses though I had to create a route on GoogleEarth Plus and then convert it to a GPX (using freeware) and then convert it to CRS (using more freeware). The end result was excellent but it took a lot of fiddling. There is also a CRS creator out there but it didn't seem easy to edit / save courses mid-creation with that.
On a side note, make sure you use the speed/cadence sensor. Before I mounted it I tried using just the Edge unit for speed. It's fine until you ride through an area with tall buildings and your speed drops to 0 mph.
All in all I'm impressed.
I admit to being a bit of a tech-junkie and have previously purchased a several HRM and GPS-enabled bicycle computer systems. The Edge 305, which I have owned for three months, is the first one that I felt was worth the investment. It strengths are: user configurable displays, high contrast screen with backlight (last several hours for night riding), user-friendly downloads with fast USB communication/charging, very lightweight (~ 3oz), with secure mount/dismount, very straightforward button/menu system, waterproof (haven't tested this yet).
The 'Training Center' software is excellent, with a full set of graphs and maps, much easier to navigate than e.g. Ciclosport or Cambietta software. Ride histories are downloaded automatically as soon as the USB cable is plugged in. Even better, there's a website (motionbased.com) that one can upload rides and get complete reports, including overlaid Google maps, weather, and lots of statistical information about the ride (HR, speed, grade etc). Note that motionbased.com charges a monthly user fee (currently $8/month). The ride history storage is quite good - in the 'smart' recording mode, a data word is recorded every 10 seconds. There are 13,000 storable points, so it should be possible to record about 36 hours of ride data before a download. This would be handy for multi-day trips when a computer isn't available.
Nothing is perfect in life. Here are the issues I have found so far with the Edge.
1. The battery life is close to 9 hours, definitely not the advertised 12 hours. I completed a 200K brevet last weekend, which took 9:10 with stops (the Edge was left on). About 20 minutes before the end I got a 'low battery' warning' but it kept running to the end. Note that I don't have a cadence unit, which probably decreases the battery life. The Edge was fully charged before the ride.
2. The 'grade' display is useless. It bounces around +/- 5% on hills. I think the unit is sampling too fast - Garmin will likely fix this in a firmware update soon.
3. The map display is simply a track history, and does not display actual map information (roads, towns, etc). It's handy for out-and-back rides, since you can see approaching turns on the return trip, but it would be terrific if one could load map data. (Note that positions are recorded and the route is displayed on a 'real' map after download to the 'Training center' or motionbased.com software.)
4. Although there are two bike mounts included, they are at different orientations (90 degs apart) so if you have 2 bikes with the same setup, you'll have to buy another mount ($15).
Basically, you can read the review written by Torv Carlsen and you'll have my opinion of this new Garmin toy. The complaint about battery life, for my use (old, fat, diabetic) that simply doesn't much apply. I don't think I COULD ride to the end of the battery. (G)
However, the data this machine returns has helped me improve my condition fairly dramatically in an amazingly short time. I had been using my Garmin RINO and a spreadsheet prior to acquiring this new toy. The data storage and processing in this unit, plus, for my simple needs, the "race against yourself" feature are fantastic tools that have helped me make measurable gains in health and conditioning.
Granted, the unit price is a bit on the steep side, but given the data return, it's well worth it to me. It's also VASTLY cheaper than a heart attack, which was my "other option."
I have long been a "fan" of Garmin, but have been sorely disappointed by their attitude toward Mac. To date, is has caused me to have to set up a Windows machine as my dedicated GPS computer. Their change of heart toward Apple is very welcome.
I have owned this unit for a few weeks now and my comments are:
Pros:
**Extremely accurate display of speed (My Cateye Double Wireless is also on my bike) Easy to read.
**Stem mounting is rugged. I was a bit concerned that this would be awkward but I like it better than units that mount on the handle bars. Also, the angle of my stem at least makes for easy, solid button manipulation and viewing.
**No magnets or other sensor mounting required. The unit comes with two mounts, so you can easily switch between two bikes. Because of the GPS, you are not required to mount a wheel sensor. I think this is a real plus. I bought the HR and wheel/cadence sensor 305 unit but have yet to use them. Looking back, I probably would have purchased the 205 instead of the 305 because of the simplicity and clean mounting, I'd imagine this would be great for mountain bikes as well, where mud can be an issue.
**The software interface is quite impressive. You can view your route plotted against the map. Haven't explored all the options, but software was easy to install and GPS unit data was easy to upload via USB.
Cons
**Battery life When it comes to battery life, it's kind of like a cell phone. They say 12 hours, continuous use but I have yet to experience. All I know, is that I have to remember to charge it the night before I go out to avoid a nasty surprise. On the plus side, it will seem to continue to function on low battery for quite some time. I have yet to lose data because of battery failure.
Simply a great training tool. A little buggy in some areas, but with firmware updates any little problem can be easily fixed. Team this up with a subscription to Motionbase and you'll spend as much time analyzing your workout as you actually spend working out.
The product literature shows mounting the unit on the stem, but I found that too distracting to try and view it while riding. So I moved mine to the handlebars and can see everything great.
Did have one snafu of finding that the battery to the cadence unit was installed at the factory backwards. Once I figured that out, it worked fine.
All my buddies are envious. One just ordered his after he saw all of the data it collected on our workout.
Thought I might be paying to much for a cycling computer but this one is worth it. Easy to install cadence/distance unit. Easy to follow instructions. Easy to set up computer for your personal readouts to follow during your ride. Incredible data and software to analyze it following your ride. If you are a mountain biker, this would be incredible because it will show you exactly where you are in relationship to where you started. Fantastic for any level of rider. Very highly recommended. I spent a lot of time researching the market and I think the Garmin Edge 305 with the Heart Rate and Cadence bundle is the top system on the market today in this price range.
I just bought the Edge 305, but have used it on my trainer and walking around my local office buildings. I have had both the 201 and 301 and am VERY impressed with the 305's GPS reception.
Fit and finish is excellent and the hardware sync'd quickly.
I'll follow up with a long-term assesment.
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!