One Minute Review of Garmin Edge 205 and Edge 305

The Garmin Edge 205 and Edge 305 are brand new as of Spring 06. Specially designed for cyclists, these GPS speed and distance monitors are really cutting edge. They mount on the stem with a big readable display, which you can set up to show anything you want.

Getting cycling speed and distance via GPS is easy. No entering your wheel size - just wait 20 seconds or so while it finds the satellites and off you go. When you are done, turn off the unit (it runs 10 hours on a single charge, and can be charged via the USB cable) and the workout is saved and ready to download to the PC.

At the computer, things happen pretty automatically and you get a graph of your workout, including speed, altitude, pace and grade, as well as heart rate and/or cadence (available with the Edge 305). You can go with the Edge 305 Bundle that includes both, the HR and Cadence sensors, or you can go with either the Edge 305HR or the Edge 305CAD to get just one. If you change your mind later, you can always add on the additional sensor.

Obviously there are less expensive ways to get speed and distance on a bike, but Garmin has packed a lot of features in a small and light package, and it all seems to work pretty trouble-free. The ability to see your route graphically after the fact is the main draw.