Garmin Edge 705 Bicycle Computer and GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor
Sunday, August 24, 2008 | | |Garmin Edge 705 Bicycle Computer and GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor
- GPS w/ Speed/ Cadence/ Heart Rate Monitor
- Large 2.2 in Color TFT Display at 176 x 220 Pixels
- Built In Basemap, a microSD Card Slot for Adding Map Detail and Storing Workouts
- Heart Rate Features, Current, Average, Max, and Heart Rate Zones
- 2 Lbs (WxLxH) 1.0" x 2.0" x 4.3"
Trainer. Navigator. Edge 705 pushes you to do your best, then shows you the way back. This GPS-enabled cycle computer knows no limits. Edge 705 comes with a built-in basemap, plus it has a microSD card slot for adding map detail and storing workouts, courses and saved rides. Also included are a wireless heart rate monitor to measure your heart rate and track your heart rate zone and a speed/cadence sensor to monitor your pedaling cadence and wheel speed as you ride, both operating with Garmin's innovative ANT + Sport wireless technology. Edge 705 automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. Connected to your computer via USB, you can then download your workout data, analyze it and store it. You can even share it wirelessly with other Edge 705 buddies without being near the computer. When it comes to the curve of workout technology, Garmin takes you to the Edge.
Amazon.com Product Description (9/5/2007)
Garmin has really upped the ante on the entire cycling computer category with it's two new gps-enabled navigator/computers, the 705 and its younger sibling, the 605. These are true navigational aids with full-color maps and turn-by-turn directions in addition to advanced route-planning and saving capabilities. On top of that, the 705 adds heart rate and cadence monitors, a barometric altimeter, and wireless capability that lets you share routes and workout data with other riders instantly. Sleek and waterproof, with a 2.2-inch color screen that lets you customize what data you see and how you see it, these two devices help make the most of every ride.
The 705 comes in three different models. The basic model comes with a heart-rate monitor and a City Navigator street map for U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. You can also get models that add a speed/cadence sensor, and a supplemental map.
The Edge 305 Screen (actual size) The larger color screen (actual size) on the Edge 605 and 705 shows you your surroundings more clearly and supports real turn-by-turn navigation.  |
The Power Of Location-Based Data
Anyone who has used Garmin's original Edge 205 or 305 already understands the power that attaching location data to traditional measurements like distance, speed, time, calories burned, and heart rate can provide. Knowing exactly where you worked hardest, rode fastest (or most slowly) lets you tailor your workouts to improve to improve your riding skills for specific distances, conditions, and types of terrain. It gives a complete picture of how you interact with every portion of your ride.
Altitude is recorded using a barometric altimeter for the Edge 705. This accurate altitude data makes it much easier for cyclists to match their altitude profile with their speed, cadence, and heart rate during post-ride analysis. The Edge 605 gives a somewhat less precise altitude measurement via the GPS positioning system itself.
A First-Rate Bike Computer
The Edge 605 automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude. The 705 also track your heart rate, cadence, power (from optional ANT + Sport-enabled third-party power meters), climb and descent. Other nifty features include the following.
- Virtual Partner lets you race a virtual competitor over a specified distance and speed.
- Courses let you race against a previously recorded workout, so you can compare your current and past performances over the same ride.
- Auto Pause pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride.
- Customizable computer screen shows up to eight different data fields. The user may customize the display for the size and placement of the data.Â
- Program alerts to sound if the user strays outside the range of speed, heart rate or cadence values. Alerts can also indicate when a set amount of time or distance has passed.
- Auto Lap automatically starts a new lap each time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance
- Click stick helps users navigate through the various options.
Both devices come pre-loaded with a built-in basemap, and a MicroSD card slot you can use to load new maps or store workout, course and ride data. Garmin has lots of street and topographic maps available for purchase and you can download courses and rides from Garmin or other riders at the Garmin Connect website.
Both feature a high-sensitivity receiver that holds a signal under trees and near tall buildings and have a click stick for easy screen navigation.Â
Connectivity and "ANT + Sport"
One of Garmin's most ambitious decisions has been to approach fitness devices as a total platform with their "ANT + Sport" connectivity system. All of Garmin's new fitness devices, including the Edge 605 and 705, the Forerunner 50 heart rate monitor watches, will interface wirelessly with any devices that are compatible wiht the "ANT + Sport" protocol, including devices from other manufacturers. Currently, Garmin the devices will pair with power meter from SRM or Quarq to measure power â€" torque and cadence for each leg at the pedals â€" which is often cited as a true indicator of an efficient ride. It's unclear what other manufacturers will buy into the ANT + Sport platform, but this kind of open connectivity with products from other companies offers a great deal of potential flexibility.
The wireless function also makes it easy to connect one Edge unit to another to share rides, courses and workout data.
Heart Rate and Cadence Monitors
The Edge 705 heart rate monitor uses a robust wireless technology that eliminates cross-talk and interference and delivers real-time heart rate data exclusively to the user’s device. This data is stored with each track point for post-workout analysis. The Edge 705 with speed/cadence sensor incorporates a self-calibrating, wireless speed/cadence sensor that mounts to the rear chain stay of the bicycle.
Be Part of A Community
In 2007, Garmin acquired Motion-based, the largest shared repository of customer-generated gps-based routes, courses and maps. This was a significant move for Garmin to support the gps user community and bring a wealth of route options to gps users. With a simple connection to your computer, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect our new, one-stop site for data analysis an sharing.
You can also upload to optional Garmin Training Center software for further analysis. Garmin Training Center stores large quanities of workout and ride data. Some of the things you can do are
- Review your workout data, including pace/speed, distance, time, calories burned; and if available, heart rate, cadence and detailed elevation.
- View a detailed graph of your workout data, plotted over time or distance.
- View a map of your workout that shows the exact path you traveled.
- Categorize your workout history according to type of activity.
- Review previous workouts, which are saved by day and week.
- Create customized workouts with specific goals and rest intervals. Then send them to your fitness device.*
- Schedule workouts for a specific day with calendar.
- Get custom workout templates designed by the experts at TrainingPeaks.com
What's In The Box
Edge 705 gps-enabled cycling computer, heart rate monitor, City Navigator for U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico street map, bike mounts, AC charger, USB cable, Owner's manual on CD-ROM, Quick reference guide
Great little box! (2008-08-25)
I have had GPS on my bikes for years, yet they all lacked something: namely they were fine for handheld use, but were really lacking in their use on bicycles. Sounds kind of dumb, I know, but they just did not perform as well as you might think. They go overboard on details, but do not give you the info you need.
Recently I got back into riding and decided to take another look at GPS. The 705 caught my eye. Yeah, it does a lot of wacky stuff that I seriously doubt I will ever use (such as sending data back and forth between units), but it seemed that it would do everything that I did want it to do. And it does.
For one, it keeps track of three bikes. I know that is not a lot for some, but it is great for me, as I have a MTB and a recumbent and am thinking about a road bike at some point. This is an important feature just so you can more easily keep track of bike maintenance. Each of the three bikes has a separate odometer, so this feature alone makes it a snap.
There are lots of other cool things it does as well, with the help of the MotionBased and Garmin Connect websites. The Garmin Training Center software is pretty good as well and that lets you keep tabs on your own computer.
My only real wish for this thing would be the ability to ignore certain roads. It will ignore major roads when computing routes, but there are a few roads that I try to avoid (because of idiot drivers) that are not major roads. Not that this is that much of a problem as going a different way would cause it to recaclulate the route.
All in all it is a really nifty gadget.
except that it.... (2008-06-09)
A super training aid. Except, the instructions are vague at best and it is not intuitive to operate. I would have expected that it would come supplied with the detailed city streets map card rather than the base map, it is after all the top of the line for exercise usage and most athletes would prefer to avoid major streets and see the neighborhood streets.
All in all a top notch product and worth consideration for those who want to track their training history. Be prepared to spend a fair amount of time learning the nuances of this item.
Dave in Albuquerque
Garmin Edge 705 review (2008-04-16)
I have used my Garmin Edge 705 for a little over a week now. I upgraded from the Edge 305. When I first received my 705, the instructions stated to charge it before using it. The 705 came with a half charge so I didn't think it would take that long to fully charge it. 2 days later it was charged. Garmin Support told me "The expected time of charge is around 3 hours. The problem you see is a software bug. Let the unit run completely down and once you charge it next time it will show the correct information." Since doing this, the charge times are back in line.
Using the 705 is very similar to the 305. It uses the same handlebar mounts, heart rate monitor and cadence sensor. The 705 is slightly larger in size and uses a `joy stick' located between the Lap and Start/Stop buttons for navigating the menus. So, those with the 305 should have no problems adjusting to the 705.
Mine came with the pre-loaded Navigator maps. Using Garmin's MapSource, you can download waypoints and routes to the 705. The 705 has an auto-routing feature to guide you from waypoint to waypoint. It has three modes to adjust your route from point to point (Car/Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Pedestrian). Using the Bicycle mode, my routes went waaay out of the way and added many unnecessary miles. Even though I told it to avoid unpaved roads, it tried to route me down several. If you miss a turn, it will re-route you back on course. It would be best to use a third party mapping software and download more precise waypoints/routes to the 705. In Car/Motorcycle mode, it looked to route fine.
The battery life is very long (about 15 hours)! I left it on overnight and woke up to it still running. My 305 had problems with turning itself off when going over bumps. The 705 has never experienced this problem. The 705 is also faster to lock on to satellites than the 305.
Overall, I am satisfied with the 705. It would have received 5 stars if not for trying to route me way off course in Bicycle mode and the initial battery charge issue.
Garmin Edge 705 Bicycle Computer and GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensorat Amazon.com Now
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