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| GARMIN 010-00447-10 Edge 205 Bicycle Monitor With GPS | 
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| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $269.22
Buy New: $143.00
You Save: $126.22 (47%)
New (72) Used (1)
Avg. Customer Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 3045
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Native Resolution: 128 x 160
Size: Garmin Part #010-00447-10
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 1.8 x 0.9 x 3.7
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Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 010-00447-10
Model: 010-00447-10
UPC: 753759051754
EAN: 0753759051754
ASIN: B000BKP7ZW
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 31-34 of 34 | | « PREV 1 | | |
 Very cool, very useful, and very informative March 26, 2006
32 out of 35 found this review helpful
I was a bit dubious about swapping out my regular cyclocomputer, especially for the extra dollars. Could something like the Edge 205 really give me that much more than the distance, speed, and time information I usually acquired with my $30 computer? Well, after a few rides with the 205, I can say that I'm a fan. The thing went on in a jiffy, works like a charm, and gives me all sorts of information I didn't have before. Wonder why that hill is so tough? Well, dummy, it's 13% grade. Didn't know that before. Wonder how much of that ride was spent ascending? Oh, about 1/3. Didn't know that before. How much climbing did I do on that ride? Oh, about 2,500 feet. Didn't know that before. And all this from a ride I've done at least a dozen times, and one I consider to be a "throwaway" training ride. A very cool, useful, and informative device. Well done, Garmin.
A Great Training Device for Bikers March 8, 2006
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
I think the last reviewer said it best. Garmin set out to make a bike computer that blows away the competition. And they succeeded. As long as you understand that this is not your typical GPS device, with detailed maps whose primary function is to let you know where you are and keep you from getting lost, you will not be disappointed. The device gives you all the great features that you would expect from a high end bike computer; And then it gives you a whole bunch more.
By using GPS you can keep track of where you went and use that data later to compare with previous rides. You can also map out your rides in detail after they are complete with Google Earth. The included training center software is good, but not great. The Motion Based website is a great addition (Though the EDGE is not compatible with the website yet) and between the two you should be able to analyze your data to your hearts content.
It is an excellent training device and is very accurate. It acquires satellites very quickly and seems to keep track even in narrow canyons and pretty dense forests. It can also be used while hiking. It is very customizable and allows you to read as much or as little data as you want and you can set up that data any way you like.
I first attempted to gather data like this with a Forerunner 201. That was a mess. That device provided one frustration after the other. Garmin appears to really have looked at the negative reviews that followed their initial Forerunner devices and really created a fantastic device that is truly created with the biker, not a runner, in mind.
So any complaints? Just a few minor ones. The bike mount that comes with it is pretty cheesy. It is held on with zip ties. For $250 dollars I would like to see a little more. The bike mount you can purchase (for about $15) for the Forerunner is so much better. I hope they eventually upgrade that. The Flap that covers the USB cable port on the back of the unit is a pain as well. It is very hard to seat it properly. A little bit of patience and perseverance and you do eventually get it right. Other than that the device is great and highly recommended.
A great cycling companion March 5, 2006
10 out of 13 found this review helpful
The Garmin Edge 205 is exactly what Garmin positioned it to be: a sophisticated cycle computer and training partner that derives its data from a highly-sensitive GPS receiver. It is not the GPS unit to get if you're trying to geocache on your mountain bike or need advanced navigation features.
I am most impressed by this device. Setup was easy and the unit fit perfectly on my Gary Fisher Tassajara Mountain Bike. After two mountain bike rides on trails at the heavily wooded Government Canyon State Natural area near my home, I was pleased to see that the new SiRFstarIII receiver lives up to all of Garmin's hype. The GPS tracks were very accurate with detailed elevation and grade data.
Couple this unit's accuracy with a free, Motion-Based Lite account and you have an ability to thoroughly analyze your cycling workouts.
Once you complete a ride, you can convert that ride's track into a course. Courses enable the unit to display the detailed elevation profile as you ride that same route in the future. Most importantly, they enable you to track how you are performing on that same course so that you can meet your fitness goals.
I think you'll find the Garmin Edge 205 to be a great companion and a powerful fitness tool for your future cycling adventures.
 A GPS that cannot tell you where you are! February 17, 2006
88 out of 98 found this review helpful
Starting with some positive comments, the unit itself (hardware) is nice, it's slightly larger (thicker) than a standard mobile phone and feels sturdy. The screen is clear (but small) and buttons feel nice and are well placed. The unit has the new SirfStarIII technology for increased sensitivity, e.g. under tree cover, and my limited experience until now is that the reception is indeed good.
So not a bad unit, but it should be understood that this unit is set up as a trip computer, and not as a navigation unit (although it does have some navigation options). It has some nice options like racing a virtual partner, which are well documented on the Garmin web-page. What the web-page does not make very clear though is:
- It cannot give you the current position!!!
- It does not have WAAS/EGNOS for better location precision
- It does not have the "Upcoming turn feature" that the Geko has
As a trip computer it has the following limitations:
- The speed it gives fluctuates significantly more than with a normal (simple) cycle computer with a wheel sensor.
- The height fluctuates so much that the grade it gives is completely useless (note that the Edge 305 should be better as it has a barometric sensor as well). Also, the total ascent and descent will systematically be too high. In a test I left the Edge for two hours in the same place, and had it record every second. Minimum height was 51m, maximum height 84m, total ascent 215m, total descent 218m, and maximum speed 3.5km/h.
The included Garmin training center software works okay, but is very limited:
- You cannot combine tracks (to upload to the Edge e.g.).
- You cannot compare more than two tracks.
- It only exports data in Garmins own (and uncommon) .hst file format
Also note that if you want to overlay your track onto a map, you will need other software. The user manual (printed out) isokay but also very limited.
The Edge comes with a rechargeable battery that is not user exchangeable (tip: instead of using the car-charger, it may be possible to use a universal USB car charger and the supplied cable at a fraction of the cost. Note however that I have not yet tested this).
I mainly bought this unit to map mountainbiking tracks in order to be able to combine the best trails into some nice routes, and then use the Edge to find the routes. Using some third party software, this is possible, but it should have been much easier. I assumed I would be able to use it together with a map while hiking, and was very (and unpleasantly) suprised to learn that I bought a GPS that cannot tell me where I am.
I am still hoping that Garmin can do an update of the firmware (I am using version 2.30 now) such that the unit gives the current location (ideally with an option for different grids). Without this option, two stars is all it gets from me.
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