Tandem Cycling - Garmin 705

Who is using a Garmin X05 series GPS on their tandem. What software are you using with and how do you like it.

I just picked up a 705 , mapping and routing was my justifacation but I am always entertained by ride data. I have been told that when you download data from the Garmin you can only use it with 1 program, that dosn't make sense to me but that is what I was told.

I have been using a polar CS600 quite happily for years on my single. I picked up the Garmin because we tend to ride slightly different routes on the tandem then I did on my single and I would prefer not to get to lost.

I like SportsTrack for analyzing rides.

http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/Downloads/

It's much more comprehensive than Garmin's TrainingCenter and it's Donationware. But, I use Garmin's Mapsource for planning rides and TCX Converter to translate rides to different formats.

TCX Converter to translate rides to different formats.[/QUOTE]

Is TCX converter a garmin program ?

Sometimes you need to convert from one type of file format to another. For example from a TCX format (a Garmin format) to GPX (a standard format). TCX Converter will do this conversion.

http://www.teambikeolympo.it/TCXConverter/TeamBikeOlympo_-_TCX_Converter/TCX_Converter_ENG.html

(When I put a planned ride on the 705, I always use the GPX format. A big display comes up before a turn and with this format and the 705 recalculates the way to get back to the planned ride if you go off the planned ride.)

[turn and with this format and the 705 recalculates the way to get back to the planned ride if you go off the planned ride]

Recalculating is a part of the 705 frim ware upgrade?

TCX is a file format that Garmin uses. I don't imagine that the converter is a Garmin utility but it may be. There are any number of converters available. rmac will probably write back with which one he uses. Depending on what you need to convert to:

SourceForge offerings (http://sourceforge.net/search/?type_of_search=soft&words=tcx)

[turn and with this format and the 705 recalculates the way to get back to the planned ride if you go off the planned ride]

Recalculating is a part of the 705 frim ware upgrade?

Yes, I think it was an upgrade in version 2.4 or 2.5. The current version is 2.6. Make sure you upgrade the firmware if you have an earlier version.

I use the 705 (and the 405 running version) with Sporttracks. Forget about the Garmin software, it's crap. The 705 base maps are excellent though and if you like to explore are a great investment. We ride from a lot of different base locations and it's great to have the Garmin do a "return to start" calculation for us.

We use a 705 on the tandem, and I also use it on my single as the head unit for a Quarq Cinqo Saturn power meter.

I use Cyclingpeaks WKO+ to analyze and track the data, mostly for the power data.

If I want to look at a file with profiles, but no power data, I use www.Motionbased.com, although Garmin is going to quit supporting it sometime in the near future.

For mapping, I like www.bikeroutetoaster.com. In my experience, its much faster and less of a memory hog than mapmyride.com.

Lots of people like sportracks.

in buying the 705 should i buy the extra map on the sd card??

I have other gamrin units so i already have Mapsource on my laptop to route with

thanks

in buying the 705 should i buy the extra map on the sd card??

Do not buy the maps on the SD card you will not be able to update them or transfer them to your desk top to create routes

I use www.Motionbased.com, although Garmin is going to quit supporting it sometime in the near future.

While that statement is technically correct, it is only half the story. Garmin is converting users of Motionbased to Garmin Connect, including their historical data. Read about their transition plans here (http://www.motionbased.com/gc/view.mb). I like Motionbased and used it exclusively. Until I lost my GPS at RAGBRAI last summer that is
Duppie

My limited experience with Garmin Connect is that it's not as easy to use as Motionbased.

I have upgraded from the 305 to the 705. I have noticed that the altimeter is not accessible or working on the unit in real time. The data is there when downloading to training center or motionbased. Is there a way to read the total accent on the 705?

Thanks

Gordon

WKO has much better analysis than Sporttracks. I have WKO as well (bought it when I bought my computrainer) but I find Sporttracks makes a much better training log than WKO. I import key files (usually race data) into WKO for analysis. WKO is $99, Sporttracks is free (plus a donation if you really like it).

Altitude data sucks on the 705. It takes about 15 minutes for the GPS based altitude measurement to "zero in" on your actual altitude with any accuracy. I also find that the pressure altimiter is sensitive to wind direction. When I use it canoeing on our small cottage lake it typically shows an elevation change of about 70 feet on a 5 km flatwater loop. You can reconfigure the screens to show elevation, grade, or total climb/descent but take the numbers with a grain of salt.