GPS Advice Wanted

stephec

I've got £200 worth of Amazon vouchers burning a hole in my pocket and I'm looking at GPS's.

I don't really want to have to put any cash up as well, but I'm looking for one that has a hrm on it, can be used on or off road, and has downloadable information.

I was looking at the Garmin 305, can any one recommend it, or are there alternatives?

danowat

I brought a 405 a couple of years ago for running, and now use it, with a bike mount and cadence sensor, on my bike.

Its a brilliant bit of kit, the 305 is pretty similar, albeit a bit larger, but its still a great bit of kit.

sungod

do you want it for navigation/maps, or only for cycling info (hr, cadence, speed, distance, climbing, etc.)?

if you don't want the navigation then the garmin edge 500 *bundle* (has hrm and cadence sensors) is about 200 quid from amazon (cheaper non-bundle options don't include sensors)

otherwise there's the 305 but that'll cost more to get both sensors, the navigation features are very basic (no mapping), although the ability to add workouts might be useful

model comparison...

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do? ... roduct=331

tonyw43

705 all the way, best thing I've ever bought.

Variado

I got a 305 from Handtec in Feb last year, cost me around £150 with HRM (no cadence). Cracking bit of kit if you don't need navigation, 'just works'. I log everything to SportTracks, which is also great (although it's a shame it's Windows-only).

I think the 500 can do power if that's your thing (or you think it might be in the future), the 305 can't.

stephec

TonyW43 wrote:

705 all the way, best thing I've ever bought.

I'm thinking it might be worth the extra, just working out how to stealthily appropriate the extra funds.

If I buy this basic package - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Edge-GPS ... 811&sr=1-1 - do I need a speed sensor to give me my bike speed? I would have thought that the gps function is capable of working out speed.

tonyw43

That basic package will give you your gps based speed, so no need for the speed/cadence sensor there. If you wanted to add to it in the future, the GSC-10 sensor will give a more accurate speed as well as cadence. It runs of the rear wheel as well, so is useful for turbo sessions.

stephec

Did you see much difference between the gps unit and the speed sensor in speed readings?

amaferanga

You only really need the GSC10 for indoor use. GPS-derived speed is good provided you have a good view of the sky (i.e. it can be a bit jumpy under trees, but my experience with an Edge 205, FR310XT and Legend HCx is that the GPS-derived speed is more than good enough 99.9% of the time).

sungod

STEPHEC wrote:

TonyW43 wrote:

705 all the way, best thing I've ever bought.

I'm thinking it might be worth the extra, just working out how to stealthily appropriate the extra funds.

If I buy this basic package - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Edge-GPS ... 811&sr=1-1 - do I need a speed sensor to give me my bike speed? I would have thought that the gps function is capable of working out speed.

you don't need he sensor for long-term speed indication as the gps will give that, but short-term speed is more accurate with the sensor, the main thing the sensor gives is cadence, but you can always add one later

i've got the 705, it's a great device, mine came with the europe city navigator maps, which is very handy for touring, but again you can always add maps later or try out some of the public domain ones

FitzM

Bought a Garmin 305 last Autumn having used my iPhone and iMapMyRide App for a few months.

My 305 provides me with all the information I currently need/want and it is available with a HRM.