Garmin Edge 305

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pdm362

Guest
Hello,
I was hoping to get a GPS system to help me get faster and make sure I am actually working out. I was looking at the Garmin Edge 305. I talked to a couple guys after the 6MR ride yesterday but I am not sure about committing to the purchase until I get more info. So if anyone has some input, it would be very appreciated.

Paul
 

walter

Fourth Party
What kind of info are you looking for?

Alot of us have been using the 205/305 over a period of time. It provides great data for riding/training. The 305 comes with a built in HRM and a cadence sensor, while the 205 just has the basic data tools.

The problem that has come about lately is the fact that some folks are having issues with the unit functioning properly. For some it turns on and off when it wants. For others it doesnt turn on at all. It seems that after being used on a regular basis offroad the internals get loose and begin to cause problems. I have not had any issues with my 205 but it has only seen a fraction of use compared to most of the other guys.
 

ArmyOfNone

Well-Known Member
I have a 205 myself and I absolutely love the thing. It is a great way to track your rides and your progress. I swear by it and freak when i dont ride with it.

However, a little computer isnt going to make you faster my man. Ride your bike. Push yourself while your out there. You know if you are working or not. You dont need a computer to tell you that. Plus, its fun, all cool kids are doing it and it hasnt been banned in atlantic city casinos.
 
P

pdm362

Guest
I have a 205 myself and I absolutely love the thing. It is a great way to track your rides and your progress. I swear by it and freak when i dont ride with it.

However, a little computer isnt going to make you faster my man. Ride your bike. Push yourself while your out there. You know if you are working or not. You dont need a computer to tell you that. Plus, its fun, all cool kids are doing it and it hasnt been banned in atlantic city casinos.
I've been riding for a while now and I read Joe Friel's "Cyclist Training Bible" and it has a whole bunch of detailed workouts that specify HR and Cadence so I thought I should get a monitor. I also saw a lot of people at the H2H race use GPS and HRM and such especially in the higher classes. I also saw it on Ebay for about $250 so I figured I get some info before buying.
 

bonefishjake

Strong like bull, smart like tractor
Team MTBNJ Halter's
some folks swear by the HR thing, but i've used it all of one time. i'm usually pretty sure of when i'm pushing myself too hard. ok, sometimes.

anyway, my issues with the garmin are pretty well documented in my blog thingy...if you happen to have some time to kill. basically like walt said, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and it seems to happen for no reason at all. let it sit around for a day or so and bam, it works again.

but, like fred, i freak when i can't ride with it. i "need" to see, at the very least, what mph and av. mph are so i can tell if i'm having a good day, a bad day or goin' half mad day. the upside is, they've come down in price quite a bit over the last year and if you have no use for HR or cadence (i can't get my cadence to register on the road bike at all) then go for the 205 and you'll be good.
 

mike_243

JORBA Board Member/Chapter Leader
JORBA.ORG
I have one and use it all the time the only issues I have had were the locking up but I caused that myself and the TechSupport had me reset the device which work as advertised.
 

Sircrashalot

New Member
I have a 305 and love it. Have had no issues with it to date, with maybe 20 rides on it and many crashes including two dunks into the streams at 6mr. I like it because during the ride I can check pace, etc. It helps me to push myself and keeps me from settling into too slow of a pace. After the ride I love uploading the data to see how bad I suck in great detail, and then having a race with my last ride.

I paid for the HR monitor and wore it twice- it pretty much told me I was about to die from two minutes into the ride until I was done. . I'd rather not know.

I paid for the cadence sensor, found it useless for dirt, switched it to my road bike that I have ridden 3x.

I havent yet used it to ride somewhere I dont know my way around by downloading a track into it, but that was a purchase factor for me also.
 

Frank

Sasquatch
I like the 205 and use the "race yourself" mode when I ride alone.:rolleyes:
I also would rather not know how hard my heart is beating.:eek:


note: I was typing this post the same time as Sircrashalot...
 

743power

Shop: Bicycle Pro
Shop Keep
It seems that after being used on a regular basis offroad the internals get loose and begin to cause problems. I have not had any issues with my 205 but it has only seen a fraction of use compared to most of the other guys.

hah, in my old car which is no longer street legal, the suspension was so stiff that head units would usually last less than a year.

I'll be picking up a 305 this summer and I will be knocking on wood 3 times before every ride based on what I have read from you guys.
 

J-Dro

Well-Known Member
However my understanding is that the 205 works all the time :hmmm:

I'm not sure what you mean by this. The 205 & 305 share exactly the same architecture, so if your referring to the periodic shut-off problem that has been discussed here before, it effects both models. I have a 205 BTW.
 

RNG1

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure what you mean by this. The 205 & 305 share exactly the same architecture, so if your referring to the periodic shut-off problem that has been discussed here before, it effects both models. I have a 205 BTW.

My bad I'm getting all mixed up, I have been looking at the 405 and not the 205. I actually would think that the 205 or 305 would be more expensive than the 405 now that I think of it.
 
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