Edge 500 vs 800 vs ???

s1mon
s1mon Posts: 618
edited August 2012 in Road buying advice
Hi,

I want to get a computer for my new road bike this weekend and was set on getting the Edge 500 in red/black as I would like the heart rate and cadence plus red/black would look good on my white/black bike :lol: but now keep looking at the 800 ! I was really only interested in my speed/distance/cadence/calories/heart rate and then downloading the route when I got home but the mapping looks pretty cool on the 800. Should I save the £'s and get a 500 or get the fancy 800 or something else but it must be Ant+ comptiable.

Thanks.

Comments

  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    I've had the Edge 500 since last February and I've never found myself wanting anything else. I can see how the 800 would be good, particularly if you are somewhere new and get lost. Up to you I suppose! I doubt you'll regret buying either though in all honesty.
  • Hello Mate,

    Ive had the Edge 500 for about a month now and love it. It does all I need and a lot lot more. I don't think the mapping is necessary unless you are doing a long ride out of your normal area such as Lands End to JOG.
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    Thanks both.

    I have a Giant TCR which came with a wheel magnet and cadence sensor does anyone know if I need to use these with Ant+ sensor or would I need to put the Garmin one on :oops: basically does my Ant+ sensor pick up the signal from the Giant supplied magnet and cadence sesnor then the Garmin will get the signal from the Ant+ sensor ? if that makes sense :lol:
  • ilm_zero7
    ilm_zero7 Posts: 2,213
    I have a 705 - tried and tested technology, but if anything happened to it I would jump to the 800 - it is v nice and the virtual training partner is excellent
    http://veloviewer.com/SigImage.php?a=3370a&r=3&c=5&u=M&g=p&f=abcdefghij&z=a.png
    Wiliers: Cento Uno/Superleggera R and Zero 7. Bianchi Infinito CV and Oltre XR2
  • sonny73
    sonny73 Posts: 2,203
    I have an Edge 500 and would reflect what the others say above, it's superb and covers more than I need. The mapping would be good for some for sure on the 800, one of my mates has one and it's a god send for him as he is so poor with directions. But I also like the size of the 500.
  • I get lost a lot. The 800 was the only sensible choice for me.
    They use their cars as shopping baskets; they use their cars as overcoats.
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    I bought the 800 and have never used the mapping, like I thought I would when I chose it over the 500.

    As I understand, the 500 still allows you to download a map of the route you've done, so the 800 is only useful if you regularly venture to new roads where you actively need the satnav feature (which really is very good, by the way, on the odd occasion I have tested it)
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    Can I download routes and follow them on the 500 ?
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    Think that once you get to the 500 price it's worth paying the difference to get the nav on the 800. I've got the 800 and wouldn't be without it, the ability to map routes on the fly is well worth it IMHO.
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    Stueys wrote:
    Think that once you get to the 500 price it's worth paying the difference to get the nav on the 800. I've got the 800 and wouldn't be without it, the ability to map routes on the fly is well worth it IMHO.
    I'm confused with all the different versions available with the 800 :oops:
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    s1mon wrote:
    Stueys wrote:
    Think that once you get to the 500 price it's worth paying the difference to get the nav on the 800. I've got the 800 and wouldn't be without it, the ability to map routes on the fly is well worth it IMHO.
    I'm confused with all the different versions available with the 800 :oops:

    http://www.handtec.co.uk/product.php/35 ... ion-bundle

    Link above is what I got. Comes with the nice HRM and cadence/speed meter. Also comes with European wide road maps, which is handy as you can use if you can abroad with the bike or hire car, etc.

    The maps have every road that I've been on since I've had it, that includes lots of remote single track roads where I live and a good few hacks around some quiet parts of the new forest. The other useful thing is that you also get points of interests on the maps so can find food, bike shop, etc.

    Depends what you want to use it for but it made sense for me for the £100 extra over a 500. Its fairly handy being able to get out on the bike and just ride somewhere with no concern about going somewhere new and getting lost/researching a route first.
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    I can get the Garmin 800 basic set at only a little bit more than the red premium 500 set, is the basic 800 colour carbon/white finish ?

    What will the maps be like on it ? And how much will it cost if I'd like to add a better map and heart rate monitor ?

    My bike already has an Ant+ sensor and cadence.

    Thanks.
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    Depends what you want, a lot of people just run open source maps and say they are just as good as the paid ones. Cadence is the main thing so you already have that, if you want a HRM then you need the premium one but if you aren't bothered too much then don't buy one. You can always add later.

    No idea on colours, sorry
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    Ok thanks, I might just get the basic unit and get the heart rate strap later. If I want to add the better maps what would I need to buy ?
  • Ka12
    Ka12 Posts: 216
    I am going through the same decision at the moment about which 800 to buy and after playing about tonight with the open source maps I have got 2 sets of UK maps working with garmin base centre and have the files to put the maps on the 800 and they look fine for navigating the countryside where I live. All the small lanes I usually ride on are clear on the maps.

    I think I am going to go with the basic unit and then if I want to add city navigator maps on I can at a later date - the UK version is about £30 to buy or £60 for the euro maps.
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    If I buy the red premium 500 I'll wish I spent a little more to get the fancy screen and maps :wink:

    If I buy the basic 800 the only thing I'll be missing from the red 500 is the heart rate strap as my bike already has a cadence and Ant+

    Can I upgrade the basic 800 to the full all singing all dancing premium pack if I want ?

    What will the basic 800 map be like ?

    Thanks.
  • Ka12
    Ka12 Posts: 216
    Basic map is very basic but the open source maps look very good.

    You can add on a heart rate monitor at a later date if you want to. Only thing to consider is the cost of buying the items individually rather than in a bundle.
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    I'm still deciding which to get :roll: but might as well go for an 800 if I don't I'll wish I had the mapping.

    If I'm mostly sticking to the roads am I right in thinking I'll need the Europeon city Navigator maps and the 1.50k Discoveror maps are more suited to off road ?

    I just need to decide if should buy it all separate as I've got cadence and Ant+ on my bike already but need the heart rate strap and maps :?

    Will the 800 unit fit on a 90mm stem ?
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    800 all day. Love pre planning new rides or when I get lost (often) never having an issue. It was amazing for Ironman, pre loaded the route and used the gradient profile view to calculate effort.

    I used to use my iPhone but stopping frequently for directions was a PITA.
  • dw300
    dw300 Posts: 1,642
    You can theoretically map a course and upload it to your 500 and follow that route (doesn't show actual mapping, you're just following GPS points), however since version 2.6 Garmin f*cked the firmware, so the line disappears sporadically. You can roll back to firmware version 2.4 and it'll work, but if you haven't preplanned a course then it's not going to help you anyway.

    Would I be right in saying the Cad/HR bundles differ by about £175 .. making the 800 almost twice as expensive .. it's not like it's £50 more.
    All the above is just advice .. you can do whatever the f*ck you wana do!
    Bike Radar Strava Club
    The Northern Ireland Thread
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    I can the the basic 800 plus a HR strap (premium) and just add the UK maps for £324.00 from Amazon or if I get the City Navigator Europe maps its £355.00 not sure if there's any difference in the map quality ?
  • dw300
    dw300 Posts: 1,642
    s1mon wrote:
    I can the the basic 800 plus a HR strap (premium) and just add the UK maps for £324.00 from Amazon or if I get the City Navigator Europe maps its £355.00 not sure if there's any difference in the map quality ?

    Yeh, that sounds about right if the same bundle with speed/cadence sensor is about 400. Not sure about the difference in maps.
    All the above is just advice .. you can do whatever the f*ck you wana do!
    Bike Radar Strava Club
    The Northern Ireland Thread
  • Look at the Mio Cyclo 305, new cycle gps, much cheaper than the Garmin and more like an iphone for a bike. Does everything the Garmin can do but easier. The best gps out there now.
  • Ka12
    Ka12 Posts: 216
    Keep an eye on ebay as in the end I bought a new garmin 800 with GB Discoverer 1:50K mapping for £280 and as I had already decided to use the open source maps I sold the GB Discoverer memory card for £137 on ebay - that made the cost for my Garmin 800 unit £164 after ebay and paypal selling fees.
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    Gladiator wrote:
    Look at the Mio Cyclo 305, new cycle gps, much cheaper than the Garmin and more like an iphone for a bike. Does everything the Garmin can do but easier. The best gps out there now.
    Will it work with my Giant Ant+ sensor and cadence ? So I would just need to use the Mio HR strap ?
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    Does anyone actually have both, or is everyone just recommending the one that they decided to buy?

    500 btw - I'd rather be lost than ride around with a shoebox on my stem. Also there are rumours of an 800 replacement which I'll buy as soon as it comes out as well.
  • s1mon wrote:
    Gladiator wrote:
    Look at the Mio Cyclo 305, new cycle gps, much cheaper than the Garmin and more like an iphone for a bike. Does everything the Garmin can do but easier. The best gps out there now.
    Will it work with my Giant Ant+ sensor and cadence ? So I would just need to use the Mio HR strap ?

    It should do as its Ant+ compatible, but the Mio Cyclo 305 HC comes with all that and maps anyway. And you can pick one up for £275 if you shop about. Check it out here
    http://eu.mio.com/en_eu/mio-cyclo.htm?u ... n=redirect

    You can map/plan routes, download other peoples routes, and also theres a Surprise Me feature, you type in how mant miles or time and it will randomly generate 3 routes for you, and they change every time. Brilliant bit of kit.
  • s1mon
    s1mon Posts: 618
    That Mio looks pretty big but like the sound of the surprise me function 8)