Fifty Plus (50+) - Who knows Garman?

I'm thinking that I just need a Garman 250, but my bike shop guru says I should wait for the 7?? to come out next year.

All that I really want is something that will show me a map of wherever I happen to be. I'd like to be able to use it either on my bike or in the car. A sexy voice to tell me when to turn would be a plus but, if I'm traveling with my wife, I already have that. Won't the 250 do that? Would I be happier with a 350?

I'd like to know too. Tell us the ups and downs of each model.

I'm confused. Do you mean the Edge 205 or 305 (or 605 or 705, eventually), Garmin's bike-specific computers? If so, the 205 and 305 won't give you a map that tells you where you are that is detailed enough to use in the car. The 605 and 705 will, but they're going to be pricey.

I'm leaning toward the Garmin GPSMap 60Csx (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=310) because I don't care about cadence or heart rate monitor (which the Edge 705 comes with) but I do want a barometric altimeter, which the 605 doesn't have.

I really don't know what I'm talking about, but I, too, am searching for a GPS that I can carry on my bike or kayaking, but that I can also use to find my way home when I'm lost in an unfamiliar city. Hopefully some others who know more will chime in.

I really don't know what I'm talking about, but I, too, am searching for a GPS that I can carry on my bike or kayaking, but that I can also use to find my way home when I'm lost in an unfamiliar city. Hopefully some others who know more will chime in.

That's what I find frustrating. I can find a gazillion websites that have just the most basic information but I can't find one that compares the available features of the various models.

I just got a magellan explorist, which is a small handheld gps. It's got built in maps, although not real detailed. But it was great recently for marking boundaries on some property we were looking at, and I've used it for walking the dogs for distance. On the bike, I've been tying to my handlebar bag, but they make bike mounts for it. I just haven't been able to get distance and speed on the same screen, but it's not much problem to go from screen to screen.
I looked at the edge, but wanted the maps function too, for hiking and traveling in the car. But I recently ordered a garmin forerunner 205 (my Christmas present) cause I thought it might work better for walking the dogs AND biking- since you wear it on your wrist so your hands are free for leashes (my husband sort of commandeered the magellan to play with on the golf course anyway)
If you are looking at the garman edge 305, if you sign on for the powerbar newsletter you'll get a $75.00 rebate coupon.
vickie

forgot- go to sam's or someplace and play with the garmin nuvi- touch screen, color, really cool. Too much for me though, but you could use it on the bike or in the car.
vickie

forgot- go to sam's or someplace and play with the garmin nuvi- touch screen, color, really cool. Too much for me though, but you could use it on the bike or in the car.
vickie

That's designed for auto use. Do they have a bicycle handlebar mount for it?

I finally found the right website. Garmin has a bunch of different products. Unfortunately, the ones that are specifically intended for bicycle use are designed for training rather than wandering so they don't have the maps that I want and they have a bunch of features that I don't care about. The hand held GPS-Map units come closest to matching my bicycling objectives but they look like they'd be less useful in the car.

I'm leaning toward the nuvi-350. I figure that I'll use it mostly in the car and it has an 8 hr. rechargable battery. Maybe I'll figure a way to adapt it to use on our bike.

Now if the bike shop can order it for me (I'm not sure they're set up to buy automotive Garmins), I'll be set.

Loads of GPS info here:

http://gpsinformation.net/

I've had an Edge 305 for about a year and a half, and it's one of my favorite things. My problem is with MotionBased, which is exceptionally Mac unfriendly. The data that the Edge collects is great, but the analysis if the data is where Garmin fails. Soon it will release Garmin Connect, which should remedy the troubles, I hope. I suggest you wait until then, especially if you have a Mac.

The Garmin Edge(s) are training aids, not navigation aids, and are better at showing you where you've been rather than where you're going.

I just ordered a Garmin Edge 305 through Costco.com for $269.99 plus tax - They're about $400 at REI, so that's about the best price that I can find. Also there is a $75 rebate on it through Powerbar, so the final price will be about $225.

I'm leaning toward the nuvi-350. I figure that I'll use it mostly in the car and it has an 8 hr. rechargable battery. Maybe I'll figure a way to adapt it to use on our bike.

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I have owned two Nuvi-350 ( One was stolen) and the battery life is not 8hrs its really only 3 or 4 hrs Maximum even with the back light turned off , But its a fantastic GPS but not for biking as previously said It does not track courses routes you have done and would be very hard to mount on a bike safely

You can also get the Garmin 305 Rebate from here
http://app.parago.com/promocenter/rebateshq/validator

Depends on what you want it for. If you just want a training tool and are not concerned with mapping then stick with the 205/305, if you do a lot of climbing the 305 will be better. If you are mainly concerned with mapping and don't care about cadence, HR, etc then get one of their portable mapping units as suggested here. If you want both then wait for the 7xx series, but recognize the unit will be small so the diplay will not be as easy to read as a mapping only unit and I don't think it actually gives voice instructions it just beeps and shows you the turn you need to make.

BTW - right now probably SportTracks is the best software for this unit IMO. It does auto download and the new features in the v2 release are great, it even does a rough power calculation. It is also donorware so the price is right. News is Garmin is dropping MotionBased and Training Center and providing a Web based tool that has the features of both without the subscription by start of the year. So that will be interesting as well.

I wouldn't get any GPS device that didn't have the map feature.

I have owned two Nuvi-350 ( One was stolen) and the battery life is not 8hrs its really only 3 or 4 hrs Maximum even with the back light turned off , But its a fantastic GPS but not for biking as previously said It does not track courses routes you have done and would be very hard to mount on a bike safely

So how about if I just carry it with me on the bike and only turn it on after I get lost. Would it work for that? Following a bread crumb trail back to where I started doesn't appeal to me. Even if it did, I'm pretty sure I could manage backtracking, at least in daylight, without GPS.

I use a Garmin 305. You can map out a course on any number of web sites, convert it to a CRS format, then download it to the Garmin.

If you make a wrong turn, or if there was some major street reconstruction, or if your batteries run low, you're hosed.

I use a Garmin 305. You can map out a course on any number of web sites, convert it to a CRS format, then download it to the Garmin.

Uh - that's not wandering.

So how about if I just carry it with me on the bike and only turn it on after I get lost. Would it work for that? Following a bread crumb trail back to where I started doesn't appeal to me. Even if it did, I'm pretty sure I could manage backtracking, at least in daylight, without GPS.

Yes it would be perfect for that, It would fit in your pocket or backpack etc, I sometimes take it with me for that very reason, You have to make sure you tell it in the settings your on a bike otherwise it will take you on Freeways buts its a real simple setting to change (From Car to bike) everytime you need to

I have an older Streetpilot and love it. I use it in the car, motorcycle and for geocaching. One of things I wish it did have is waterproofing. Because it's older, it doesn't have as many roads as I'd like ie the dirt and gravel or even county paved roads, but the newer versions do.

I'm thinking that I just need a Garman 250, but my bike shop guru says I should wait for the 7?? to come out next year.

All that I really want is something that will show me a map of wherever I happen to be. I'd like to be able to use it either on my bike or in the car. A sexy voice to tell me when to turn would be a plus but, if I'm traveling with my wife, I already have that. Won't the 250 do that? Would I be happier with a 350?

I have a Garmin Quest which I use on all my bikes; it has a great display, and can also be used in a car. The Garmin MapSource software is compatible with both the Quest and the Garmin GPS 276C which I use in my car. The user interface is very intuitive, although it's not "touch-screen". The Garmin updating mechanism is one of the best I've found.

Good Luck -

- Wil

I have the 305. Wish I could get my money back. It takes a long time to get sketchy information from Motionbased. Very little more USEFUL information than a good cycle computer can give you at less than $30.

I've used a Garmin emap in my car now for about 7 years. Works great. I'm thinking about updating and getting something for my trike. I met a couple of guys last year that were using a Nuvi on their trikes. They did use plastic over the units to keep them dry. Also they had an extra battery unit of some kind to keep it going. They had to be innovative to mount them on the trikes.
For me Garmin's website gives a lot of details on their units if you take the time for the details.
www.garmin.com

I have a Garmin Quest which I use on all my bikes; it has a great display, and can also be used in a car. The Garmin MapSource software is compatible with both the Quest and the Garmin GPS 276C which I use in my car. The user interface is very intuitive, although it's not "touch-screen". The Garmin updating mechanism is one of the best I've found.

Good Luck -

- Wil

I also have the Quest, which isn't sold anymore. It's designed for car usage, but I've mounted it on my bike. I'm sure that Garmin makes something similar and better nowadays.

I would send them an email and tell them of your needs and have them recommend you something from the current product line.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=132

Have a look here also , Im sure you will find something that will work for you

http://www.mountguys.com/