Great Training Tool for Almost Any Cyclist

I did a lot of research before I decided on which Garmin Edge I was going to get. I already had a bike computer with cadence and I wasn’t interested in the features of a heart rate monitor or a barometric altimeter, so I quickly narrowed my choice down to the 205 and 605. The 605 had very attractive features, but I ended up getting the 205 because of the price. My primary reason for purchasing the unit is because I cycle to work daily and I wanted an easy way to compare my morning commute times.

The GPS unit is about the size of a cell phone. Each time it is turned on, it takes about 30 seconds to a minute to get a satellite lock. I have yet to lose a satellite signal once I’ve gotten the initial lock and I routinely ride through some very wooded areas. The screens and features are pretty easy to navigate through. All of the data screens are customizable and you can quickly switch between 2 different bike profiles. The size of the screen is sufficient enough to process the readings at a glance while you’re riding a bike. You can press and release the power button to activate the back light if you are using the unit in low/no light conditions.

Once you load the Training Center software on your computer, downloading your workout history is as simple as plugging in a usb cable. The actual Training Center Program could be tweaked to better display the data it downloads from the unit, but the software is functional. However, I’ve found the MotionBased website to be very useful. It displays the same data as the Training Center software but the interface makes the readouts a lot easier to navigate through and comprehend. Plus the Motionbased website allows you to correct the elevation readings which is helpful if you don’t have the 305 or 705 models. You can register for MotionBased free service and the web site will display your 10 most recent history files, or you can pay a subscription fee and have all of your history files available. The MotionBased service allows you to share your ride data with anyone via the internet. You can also download trips that other MotionBased users have made and transfer it to your GPS unit so that you can make the same trip and even compete against their time if you’d like. It would be nice if the Training Center software was more similar to the Motionbased service, so if you choose any of the Garmin Edges make sure that you take a look at the Motionbased site.

Overall, I think this GPS unit is a great training tool for anyone serious about improving their ride times. Make sure you do your homework before purchasing because one of the other models in the Edge series may be more suitable for your needs. I would recommend the Garmin Edge line of GPS units to any cyclist who would like to become a better rider.