Training and Garmin Edge 305

sfarrell

Hi,

I am considering buying a ‘Garmin Edge 305 GPS Bundle With HR And Cadence Sensors’ to replace my existing Polar with cadence etc.

Before I buy it I have a few questions from people who use them.

1. Is the speed and cadence unit able to be fitted on the rear wheel?
2. Can I use the speed and cadence unit on a turbo?
3. Is it worth while as a training tool?
4. Does any one have problems with them?

Or should I just stick to my polar?
Thanks

Simon

APIII

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes (I'm on my second unit after the first one packed up for no apparent reason. I have to be fair to Garmin though, they sent out a new one pretty quick.)

It's a great gadget, you'll enjoy it.

BillR1

Yes to all 4 points and Garmin also sent me a new one before I sent my original back !!!

You can subscribe to training peaks and the Garmin will synchronise with their training software which is pretty awesome.

Enjoy your Garmin

Bill

FSR_XC

This might help:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12552401

I should be buying one in the next few days.

Halfords currently selling them for £129 - that's as cheap as I have seen anywhere.

popette

FSR_XC wrote:

This might help:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12552401

I should be buying one in the next few days.

Halfords currently selling them for £129 - that's as cheap as I have seen anywhere.

thanks for that point about Halfords - just ordered one. That is remarkably cheap (shown as £139 now but still a bargain). I was going to wait for the 705 but as it's still not clear when that one is coming out (I emailed Garmin and haven't heard anything back), I've gone for the 305 as it's just so cheap in comparison.

oldwelshman

I have a garmin 305 which seemed ok at first, mainly used it for hr and route profiles after rides.
Now it just turns off going over bumps.
Its software is also crap, see forums for garmin mtbforums.
I plugged mine in once to upload data and it completely wiped out my database with 7000 miles data!! Apparently a known problem so make sure you back your data up regularly.
As I bought mine off ebay, Garmin told me I did not have warranty so if you get one, keep receipt and warranty and check it!!!
I never used tha cadence, I sold the cadence unit for £15 to some one on here
I am not really sure why you would want to watch your cadence just to get a value.
Your cadence is natural and you get a feel for it and nearly every cyclist finds their own natural cadence anyway.
You could increase or lower it by about 10 if you wanted to and there are many people who will argue high is better than low cadence and vice versa.
If I ever get another one (unlikely) I would just go for HR model which is of more use.

vermooten

My Garmin Edge is great. Yes the software's basic butit's way better than the Polar thing I had before. The cadence monitor was very useful for me, helped me to spin faster and get a feeling for high cadence.

there's a new model out soon which has better mapping and is in colour too, might want to wait for that.

oldwelshman

vermooten wrote:

My Garmin Edge is great. Yes the software's basic butit's way better than the Polar thing I had before. The cadence monitor was very useful for me, helped me to spin faster and get a feeling for high cadence.

there's a new model out soon which has better mapping and is in colour too, might want to wait for that.

Not sure how the cadence monitor helps you pedal faster?
Just use a lower gear than normal and you have to pedal faster

willbevan

I would suggest you try this software

http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/index.html

I findit much better than Training Centre, still need Training Centre for courses,and workouts

GeorgeShaw

Not sure how the cadence monitor helps you pedal faster?
Just use a lower gear than normal and you have to pedal faster

If you're a relative beginner like me, then it can be quite hard to gauge exactly what your cadence is, and using the Edge allowed me to quickly adopt a higher cadence that has certainly helped me to handle longer distances this year.

Now I need to build up more strength, and I'm told one way to do that is to go up hills at a lower cadence. OK, you can just use a higher gear ... but you can use the Edge to give you both immediate feedback on your current cadence, but also to record your training so that you can see the effect that different cadences have on your speed, etc.

That's what I'm hoping, anyway.

ARob

i got one in november

love it!

its worth it just for the 'shinny kit' points you get showing it to other cyclists or being able to say we're going up a hill at 15% now (or gasp it).

only point i've found is that having so much data can make you lazy! 'if its that steep no wonder i'm slow' rather than getting on with it as you might if you didn't know

best bit is being able to race yourself over the same course another day to beat the time you got last trip.

find the software ok but a bit limited - worst thing is the course/ route thing but you can download routes from web and have been some posts on this - i find mapmyride the best as you don't have to change formats or anything and then rollow the map on the garmin. when you get to a junction you can see the route go off to the left/ right. much the simplist way i've found to navigate.

well worth it but agree the cadence bit is of limited use. only plus is that you get a back up speed sensor using the usual wheel magnet whcih helps sometimes when satalite signal goes (v rare as is super sensitive). only got the cadence bit becasue amazon send me the wrong one :roll: or wouldn't have bothered

chill888

I love my EDGE 305 - and the cadence thing works great - unlike my old polar


If getting ready to buy, you might look and wait for the 705. Looks a nice upgrade and even measures power

fatrat

The 705 doesn't measure power on its own. What it will do is display and record power from a compatible power meter (which you will have to buy separately)