Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Garmin 305 owners

looking at getting the Garmin 305HR and wanted to know if if comes with the speed sensor or do you just use the GPS. I noticed you can buy the speed\cadence seperate so not sure what the unit comes with. I looked on the website and while I think I know, it's not super clear on the items in the box. Also, please confirm that you do not need to have any kind of subscription service for the GPS capabilities. Can you also tell me if you have had any quirks with it and was the chest strap big enough for you. I have a 56-58 inc chest and while the Polar strap will work, it's tight.

Thanks

I have a 205, so I don't know anything about the heart monitor. But I can answer some of your questions.
You can get the 305 with either a heart monitor or a cadence monitor. I'm not sure if you can hook both up at once.

The unit does display speed and distance. But it uses the GPS functions to do this. There is nothing you have to add to the bike.

There is no subscription service to use the GPS. People in the US already paid for it with tax dollars. The rest of the world gets a free ride.

I used a Garman E-trax on my bike for a few years and I thought I would like the smaller, slimmer 205 better. It does have some nice features. But I miss a few things from the E-trex. Like an odometer listing total miles, and an easy way to list out elevation change. But it may be that these are there and I have not found them yet.

Devin

I got the 305 edge bundle including HR and cadence for Christmas.

To be specific that package was around $300 and included:

305
heart monitor chest strap
cadence sensor (plus spoke and crank magnets)
CD-ROM with training program (let's you save history etc.)
charger and USB cable
2 mounts (I broke 1 during the initial install, thank goodness a spare was included).

No subscription is required to use the GPS.

Pros:
-wireless installation
-auto-calibrating - it magically determines your tire/wheel diameter
-correlating altitude, speed, cadence and heart rate provides a ton of data to geek out over
-USB charging from the wall or PC.
-Water proof (I live in Seattle and have had heavy rain and snow on this)
-Really nice display options and training modes.

Cons:
-Rather useless as a navigation system. You can save waypoints, and courses you frequent, but there's no map or other means to "locate" a new location you have never been to.
-Software is ugly and doesn't easily export raw GPS data for use with google earth etc. (with some work this can be done, but it's a hack or premium software purchase)
-Mine completely failed after 6 weeks of use. It wouldn't turn on. Fortunately I got an RMA from Garmin and had a refurbished item in 10 days with my waypoint data copied over.
-Battery life is fine for shorter distances, but I doubt it'd last a long ride like a century (you may disable GPS to save juice and the cadence sensor will count wheel revolutions like a conventional cyclometer)

Bottom line, the wireless installation and rich amount of training data is top rate. GPS is a means to that end, not a navigation system like you'd find in a car.

Thanks for the info. Mine is on the way and can't wait for it to get here.

This is killing me! I want one! I can see I need to break down and get one. Where'd you get yours from?

This is killing me! I want one! I can see I need to break down and get one. Where'd you get yours from?

Try Jay @ http://www.geomangear.com/ he is a great guy to talk to--very good PRE-SALES info.
I bought a pkg off him that included the HR monitor an extra Cadence Sensor and magnets and enough harware to set up 2 bikes. Plus a CHARGER that plugs into the car cigarette lighter. It takes about 10 seconds to swap the computer from one bike to another.

Computer also allows you to set 3 bike profiles. Many types of info available to put on screen (max. of 8 at one time.) only drawback is tha GPS is kind of useless for navigation.

Also Garmin has great "Tech Support" and its easy to get thru to a HUMAN. I talked to them before I purchased mine.

North America
(for all Garmin products
except Apollo aircraft)

Hours of Operation
- Monday - Friday
- 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Central time (closed holidays)

Phone
- 1-800-800-1020 (U.S.)
- 1-888-442-7646 (U.S.)
- 1-866-429-9296 (CAN)
or
- (913) 397-8200

Amazon.com has them for $280.00 w/ the HR and cadence bundle.

Try Jay @ http://www.geomangear.com/ he is a great guy to talk to--very good PRE-SALES info.
+1

This is killing me! I want one! I can see I need to break down and get one. Where'd you get yours from?

Well, I hate to say this, but I am getting mine through a benefits progam from my work. No cost to me.

Brian

I just noticed that on the geomangear.com, they have the 305HR for $237.00 so if your looking to get one, it might be the time.

I'm watching this thread!

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Best regards,

Got mine a couple of weeks ago -- went with the full package, HR and cadence.

It's way cool. analysis is very impressive, and i love that you can program so much of it (auto-stop below a certain speed, what the display um displays, etc.). The altimeter is not very consistent (unless my house is going up and down 50 feet every time i turn it on) but it does seem accurate in terms of change in altitude over the ride.

I've also used it running. One of the best things it does if you hike / run is allow you to mark a waypoint (as in where you parked) and then from anywhere get a bearning and disatnce to that place. Heck, you could even use it to find a car in a big parking lot.

I also noticed that when it lost the sat signal for a while (tunnel), the speed reading went a little wonky (524 mph). I'm guessing it would have correctyed based on wheel magnet, but it found the sat again. Also, it takes a few moments to adjust. So, you accelerate, look down and think "no way this is 8mph", and then it reads right. It just takes a moment or two.

I really love this thing.

I use it on my MTB too, just without a cadence sensor / wheel magnet, so it needs GPS for speed. No big deal.

Well, I hate to say this, but I am getting mine through a benefits progam from my work. No cost to me.

Brian

Come on! You LOVE saying that! :p

Well, I hate to say this, but I am getting mine through a benefits progam from my work. No cost to me.

Brian

Are they Hiring?? :rolleyes:

Are they Hiring?? :rolleyes:

Come on! You LOVE saying that!

Ok, well maybe a little. :D Not at the moment. It's GE though, lot's of opportunity around the country and world.

I can put in a vote for getting one from Geoman. After sales service and help is the best. Even though I could have bought mine for less elsewhere, I wouldn't even consider buying another one from anyone else.
They are a great tool to have for riding, and they are fun also. If you are an information junkie like myself, you have to get this item. You will not regret it.

Love my 305 but I thought the strap at full extension was kinda tight for 48" chest.


Can you also tell me if you have had any quirks with it and was the chest strap big enough for you. I have a 56-58 inc chest and while the Polar strap will work, it's tight.

Thanks

Love my 305 but I thought the strap at full extension was kinda tight for 48" chest.


I had a someone with a 54" chest tell me his fit ok, so I'm hoping no major issues once I get it. I got measure today for a suit and my chest is down to a 54.

Just bought the 305 with HR & cad from PCNation.com $270 with free shipping (received it in 3 days). Have only used it twice (on known routes each time) and the distance and elevation gain were spot on. Interestingly, when I downloaded to motionbased.com the elevation gain changed and was way off.