Great Lakes - Okay, I want to buy a Garmin Edge...

which one should I get?... the 305?

and where is the best place to buy?

and can a bike illiterate like me install it you think?

the 305 is the minimum that you should buy. the 705 if you're feeling the need to go for the ultimate shiny. it's very easy to set up. there's a few on here that have them if you need some help.

i have the 305 myself and have thought a few times about upgrading to the 705, but just haven't felt the need to yet.

I have had the 305 now for two years. It gives me all the info I need. I suppose if I was totally into biking 24/7 I might go with the 705. As far as installing it, I did it myself and I am a bike illiterate.

I like my 305 a lot. If you want maps and to avoid the known issue with battery disconnection over bumps with the 305 then go with the 705. Buy online. You won't find anything near good prices in stores.

I bought mine from Geomangear (http://www.geomangear.com/). WIth the $75 rebate that Garmin was running at the time I was able to get my setup for under $200.

I like my 305 a lot. If you want maps and to avoid the known issue with battery disconnection over bumps with the 305 then go with the 705. Buy online. You won't find anything near good prices in stores.

I bought mine from Geomangear (http://www.geomangear.com/). WIth the $75 rebate that Garmin was running at the time I was able to get my setup for under $200.

Thanks for the mention.

The 305 is a great starting point. I run the 705 myself but I'm probably bordering on "power user"... I have something over 400 rides logged on an Edge of one variety or another.

That rebate was sweet but it expired well over a year ago. Argh!

The 305 is definitely enough if you just want to map your rides, cadence, speed, heart rate, elevation and a few other things.
The 705 with the ANT+ protocol is very nice, when you want to combine it with a ANT+ powermeter like from Quarq, SRM or Powertap.

I also bought my 305 at geomangear and haven't had any problem with the hardware after about 2000 miles of riding.

I have a 305 that I received for Christmas - got it at a pretty good deal thanks to the MS Live Search that was giving cash back on certain purchases. I have been really happy with it so far. I love being able to pull speed, heart rate and cadence data off of it and having it show the route I took. Hopefully I dodge the battery disconnect issue...

I have a 705,got it for Christmas can't wait to get out on the road and use it.Right now just using it on the trainer and rollers for basic functions speed,cadence,power(just got a PowerTap).If you get a 705 don't buy it with City Navigator preloaded on the microSD card.Buy City Nav on dvd and load map of USA on your own 2 gig microSD card.That way you can create routes with turn by turn directions on your PC.You can not create your own routes with preloaded card that comes with the 705.


Modern Bike has it for $549.00 no tax/free shipping
http://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup.asp?IGPK=2126176061

Went into Performance @ lunch today, picked up the red phone and had them price match the edge 705 with HR & Cad to Probikekit.com. PBK has it @ $383. Plus, lunch time 10% off...paid a final $345!!!!

^^^^ sweet.

later.

I also have a 305 (no battery issue *knocks wood*) and thinking about upgrading to the 705. But I'm a gadget geek so its killing me not to have the latest and greatest. Most folks would be fine with the 305.

which one should I get?... the 305?

and where is the best place to buy?

and can a bike illiterate like me install it you think?

Just swallow hard and get the 705, you know you will be jonesing for an upgrade if you don't ;)

I have the 705 and it's great, I am still discovering all it's features. It's great in the car too, it will make a route for cycling, auto or pedestrian. (I don't know if the 305 has that feature)

As far as installation, I had to consult my cycling guru, ;) (Gary helped me) it was beyond me but I have 10 thumbs (helpless females, sheesh)

Went into Performance @ lunch today, picked up the red phone and had them price match the edge 705 with HR & Cad to Probikekit.com. PBK has it @ $383. Plus, lunch time 10% off...paid a final $345!!!!

no way!!! Do they price match? If so I am "so" doing that... I'm googling PKB now!

it's www.probikekit.com and make sure you change to US currency :)

okay I did it... gulp!!

:eek:

Nice. Enjoy.

305 is a datalogger with about 8 hours battery life.

705 is a datalogger + navigation device with more battery life than I have ever needed.
I have done summer rides that began before dawn and ended 1.5 hrs after dusk w/o problem.

okay I did it... gulp!!

:eek:

shweet.....:thumb: you will love it!