Garmin Edge Software

Tony666

I have just bought a Garmin Edge 305 and have to say the software that comes with it leaves a lot to be desired. I found references to other software on line but was wondering if anyone here has software that they can personally recommend.

Thanks

richa

Tony,

There are a few options for different tasks.

What in particular are you after?

I like Tracklogs for mapping. I know there are some free options out there but for not a lot of money you get really good mapping software. You can also download a 30-day trial.

Tony666

I was thinking more of software to design and upload routes as well as download. Sort of like the software it comes with only better!

richa

Have a look at tracklogs then.

I use it for designing any route that i want go on such as the sportive I'll be going to this Sunday. Works very well. 1:50,000 is pretty good for most mapping purposes.

SteveR_100Milers

Mapmyride.com is also very good at creating and then downloading routes (for both roads and off road point to point routes).

magliaceleste

For plotting routes and downloading them as courses (or routes if you must) nothing can beat Tracklogs. Been using it with a Garmin 205 then a 305 for a few years now with no problems whatsoever. You can download a route you've ridden back into Tracklogs if you want to see where you've been, or keep the route to ride another time.

For keeping track of your rides/results and lots more, Sportstracks is brilliant.

The Garmin software is frankly very poor.

antonylp

Another vote for TrackLogs, excellent for creating routes or courses.

For analysing your post ride data www.motionbased.com is excellent

willbevan

found the best one for route plotting is

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/

find it deals with course points better than others (presuming you want a left, right markers) as i dont like looking at the map all the time.

Good free software to store your data is sporttracks

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

Much better than training centre imho, only use training centre to create advanced workouts (put i belvie someone is workong on that for sporttracks as a plugin)

PeteCamb

I bought a Garmin from Maplins a couple of years ago, tried it and it said I was 400yds from where I actually was (opposite side of a fast trunk road). I took it back and got a refund.

It's a damned expensive way of map reading, learn to read a map properly, use good quality maps and you can navigate any bridleway or footpath.

How many articulated lorry drivers have ended up in a lane with no way of turning round to get out? Should map reading be part of the driving test, along with first aid, mechanical and electrical knowledge?

liversedge

PeteCamb wrote:

It's a damned expensive way of map reading, learn to read a map properly, use good quality maps and you can navigate any bridleway or footpath.

Hi Pete,

Not sure there are too many roadies that will be riding along bridleways and footpaths, and they certainly won't be reading a map whilst riding at 20-30mph on A and B roads with cars and possibly your lost truck. The nearest to map reading that is practical on a raod ride is to use turn by turn guides or "breves" that the Audax folk use. GPS systems lilke the Garmin are simply electronic versions of the same thing (plus lots of other data collection and download facilities)

Take care,
Mark

SteveR_100Milers

I happen to think the whole satnav thing is brilliant, and especially useful for cyclists. As for lorries getting stuck down lanes, i'm sure partly due to the driver trying to ask it take short cuts etc. I have had one in my car (OE fitted Alpin one) and its pretty easy to get it to route you along major roads in the UK and Europe.

Tony666

It's a damned expensive way of map reading, learn to read a map properly, use good quality maps and you can navigate any bridleway or footpath.

Actually this misses the whole point of what the Garmin is for and I can read a map anyway. It is not just about map reading - in fact that seems to be its weakest point. But as a training aid it's unsurpassable. I won't cut and paste this as you can read it for yourself https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=331

st68

garmins are a good device for tracking your ride more than showing where to go

Cunobelin

Bad News....

There is a problem with the EDge series (I have the 305) in that it uses non-standard files

*.tcx
*.crs

It does not link for this reason with Memory Map or some other software will not link with the Edge.

There is free software called "Sportracks" http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks which offers some rudimentary mapping and allows export in *.gpx that allows Memory-Map and others to use the information. This includes Bikely and Google Earth. You can also download from these sites in this format, and upload to the Edge (within some limits)

Some more up to date versions of the software can deal with the Edge, but you need to check carefully

APIII

My 305 works perfectly with Memory map. The 705 is a different story, but I believe an update will be available shortly.

Anderl

Cunobelin,
try www.gpsies.com. You can create routes in almost any format. It will also convert existing routes to other formats. I prefer it to mapmyride and bikeroutetoaster as mapping software.

Tony666

I have just read an article which links to free software to convert between many formats inc Garmin http://www.marengo-ltd.com/gps/

Cunobelin

APIII wrote:

My 305 works perfectly with Memory map. The 705 is a different story, but I believe an update will be available shortly.

I have Memory-Map 2004 and am reluctant to replace the system at a considerable cost, but even with Memory Map v5 I cannot download routes without them truncating.

fto-si

Cunobelin wrote:

Bad News....

There is a problem with the EDge series (I have the 305) in that it uses non-standard files

*.tcx
*.crs

It does not link for this reason with Memory Map or some other software will not link with the Edge.

There is free software called "Sportracks" http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks which offers some rudimentary mapping and allows export in *.gpx that allows Memory-Map and others to use the information. This includes Bikely and Google Earth. You can also download from these sites in this format, and upload to the Edge (within some limits)

Some more up to date versions of the software can deal with the Edge, but you need to check carefully

I use my Garmin Edge in conjunction with Memory Map and have no problems with it.

APIII

Cunobelin wrote:

APIII wrote:

My 305 works perfectly with Memory map. The 705 is a different story, but I believe an update will be available shortly.

I have Memory-Map 2004 and am reluctant to replace the system at a considerable cost, but even with Memory Map v5 I cannot download routes without them truncating.

You're restricted by the 100 waypoint limit on the edge, but that is usually sufficient for day rides. I have to remember to clear the unit before I transfer a route (navigation>find>delete all) otherwise it will be truncated.

deadpool2e

I am shortly getting a 705 and need some good software that can do the same as Garmins Training centre. Anyone got any ideas??

cyclingvet

Tracklogs is the dog's ***********. Half the price of Memory Map for a full England OS Map and It is so easy to plot routes yourself and upload to the 305 and vice versa.

deadpool2e

may be a thick question but how do i upload new maps to edge 705???

Claypole

Have taken delivery of 705 and the software really is as bad as everyone says. On the mac, the best option seems to be the rather impressive Ascent - http://www.montebellosoftware.com/index.html

Not fully tested yet, but the best way I can see to create routes and courses is http://bikeroutetoaster.com/ BUT make sure you are using Firefox so you don't end up downloading XML files.

Garmin seem to be a company who can do some things really well, and some stuff like software, you do get the impression that it's obviously a nuisance to them. After trawling the interwebs it seems they are creating some frustrated users through not getting some basics right.

Hardware seems fantastic though!

Winston Smith

Claypole et al

If like me the sort of navigation you want is where it will redirect you back to the route when you leave it, and not simply redirect you the fastest way to your end destination, then
have a look here for how to navigate.

Claypole

Wiggle have done a decent job at explaining some basics: http://www.wiggleblog.com/2008/05/19/ga ... /#more-688

DA_BURB

I already have Garmin Navigator from my car sat nav and have successfully loaded maps on to the Edge. But I wanted to put them onto a SD Micro card but can't work out how to do that - any suggestions?

Claypole

http://www.gpsies.com/ has made some more improvements

You can drop descriptive waypoints - near your track, not on it, and these waypoints are recognised as course points when you save it as a Garmin Training File (TCX)

If you have the Garmin browser plugin installed you can export direct to you device.

Nice.