Garmin Edge - suitable for racing with?

tartan_army

Thinking about purchasing a Garmin Edge 305 and found lots of interesting and useful posts about them on here.

Just one thing I've been wondering, do people find them suitable and useful for racing with?

Obviously I can see their training, long ride and sportive benefits but what about time trials and road races? Do people use them for that or is it a bit overkill? I guess racing against yourself on a time trial course would be pretty useful.

My concerns would be about the size of the unit, is it secure enough and unobtrusive enough particularly during a road race? And would it be much more likely to end up in a thousand pieces come a bit of a smash and therefore a simple small computer would make more sense?

Does anyone bother with having a Garmin for training/ long rides and small simple computer for racing?

Sorry for stream and questions and thanks for any comments/ suggestions!

phil s

I had a 305 and found it excellent to race with, especially on a course with several laps so you can get a sense of good lap times and so on if you are trying to break away. Not too big at all. The post-race data is good as well

richa

Team Milram believes so...
http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/uk/teammilram

As does Slipstream...

Tour de France cycling team, Slipstream Sports, have announced a sponsorship deal with Garmin. As a result, the team name will now change to Team Garmin.

Team Garmin will train and race with the Edge 705 GPS-enabled cycling computer and travel with nüvi 770 personal navigation devices. The sponsorship will extend through 2010 and the entire team – from kits to cars, will be re-branded for the Tour de France.

For more information on Team Garmin, the cyclists, and sponsorship deal, visit the websites www.garmin.com/teamgarmin and www.slipstreamsports.com.

James_London

Raced with a 305 without any issues. The unit is very robust although it's larger than most.

Mounting on an ITM computer mount or FSA Control Center mount is preferable for placing the unit further forward where you can see the screen easily. It also doesn't protrude above the top of the bars so much and sits between the drops so would be somewhat protected in a crash.

I agree with previous posters that being able to review data after the race is valuable too, particularly with the GPS as you can identify where you were on the course at the time - including exporting to Google Maps/ Earth from Garmin Training Center (sic) or similar so you can see satellite images and identify landmarks.

tartan_army

RichA wrote:

Team Milram believes so...
http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/uk/teammilram

As does Slipstream...

But I ain't no Millar or Zabel!

Cheers for replies, think it looks like should be ok for racing with. Will need to check my insurance to see if am covered for it in case of an accident.

Had a look for the ITM computer mount or FSA Control Center mount James spoke about, not sure why it would be safer in front of the bars really compared to the stem though.

James_London

tartan_army wrote:

Had a look for the ITM computer mount or FSA Control Center mount James spoke about, not sure why it would be safer in front of the bars really compared to the stem though.

It sits lower and can be below the top of the bars - either way it's tricky to hit it in a crash. The more important thing with the mounts is that it's further forward and easier to glance down at without taking your eyes off the wheel in front.

James_London

James_London wrote:

Mounting on an ITM computer mount or FSA Control Center mount is preferable for placing the unit further forward where you can see the screen easily.

I withdraw my previous comment on the FSA Control Center. It's not stiff enough and with a heavy computer like the 705 wiggles around too much for my liking. The ITM mount is very good though.

dennisn

I feel that people who use these devices during a race are a major danger to other
riders and themselves because they tend to watch the little screen as opposed to
paying attention to the other riders and what is happening in the race. It's like driving
a car while reading or watching TV. Same thing for power meters and heart monitors.
It only takes a second to crash in a race, it happens that fast. One second you're rubber side down and the next your hide is getting ripped off by the road. If any of this sounds fun to you just keep watching your monitors and it won't be long. Maybe it's all for the best and you'll learn a valuable lesson about paying attention to what's important and
what isn't. Hopefully you will be the one that gets tore up because of your little screens
and you don't take out someone with the common sense not to use them while racing.

Dennis Noward

cougie

I cant see that they're much use in racing. Slipstream are using them cos they are paid to.

What do you need to know ? How fast you are riding ? Downhill/uphill - headwinds ? Speed means nothing. Maybe distance is useful if you know how long your race is - so I'd use a £20 computer rather than a £200 computer.

Jez mon

I think they are useful as tools for measuring you effort, as are power meters, obviously just don't stare at them.

dennisn

Jez mon wrote:

I think they are useful as tools for measuring you effort, as are power meters, obviously just don't stare at them.

I stand by my previous statement. Dangerous to all around you in a race and usless
on top of that. Doesn't mean a thing, if, in the middle of a race, you look down and see
blah, blah watts of power, blah, blah cadence, blah latitude, blah, blah longitude, and blah elevation and you're off the back. Even if you're off the front or riding with the main group it's all still useless numbers.

dennis noward

Jez mon

Sorry, I actually made a mistake in my previous post. What i meant to say was tools for recording effort.

James_London

Whilst I agree looking at a computer in a race can be hazardous, being able to look back at the data after the fact is undoubtedly valuable in understanding where things went right and wrong and why and not at all dangerous.

If you're off the front, knowing your power output is very useful in informing your tactics (and there's nobody else around to knock off). If you're off the back not much is going to help except maybe a tow from the team car!

I completely agree that speed and most other information is irrelevant but knowing how hard you're working (power, HR) and how far there is to go (time or distance) are relevant.

tartan_army

Thanks for everyones replies and comments, I knew their would be some responses the other way also...Dennis obviously has some strong feelings on the matter!

I think you are right Dennis that potentially they could be dangerous but hopefully everyone is sensible about things like this. I agree that all I really look at during a race are average speed during a time trial and potentially distance during a road race. Agree with James and Jez that reviewing info after would be useful for most. Still to decide if I'll get one or not.

James, tried to find an ITM mount like you were suggesting but can only seem to find polar ones. Can you suggest a link with the sort of thing you mean?

James_London

Google is your friend:
http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en& ... 1&ct=title

Here's a decent picture of the one I meant:
http://www.jensonusa.com/product/hb/HB4 ... _____1.jpg

cougie

My mates just got one. We rode with it on Sunday. The screen is pretty small so bit tricky to help you out with where you are going. I guess it would be good for a sportif that you can download the route into before you go - but the sportifs I've done this year have been well signposted anyway.

Most of the time I dont have any fixed route in my head anyway - its all exploring new lanes - I suppose it could be handy if I got really lost though ! Not that I ever am lost, of course....