Touring - Garmin GPS/Bike computers

Witch garmin is for bicycle.I am looking at the Garmin 705 at this time and also looking at the PN--60. It's not a garmin.As most know.

The "Edge" series is designed for cycling.

Almost any of them will work fine. You might want to pass on the 500, because the "courses" feature (which lets you preload a route) doesn't work very well. However, if you can live without that, the 500 is back on the table.

The 800 looks pretty snazzy but isn't particularly cheap.

I love my 800, but none of the Garmin's hold a charge long enough for serious touring unless you can recharge regularly. I had a 705 and didn't like it nearly as well. Didn't seem to hold a charge as long as the 800 and wasn't as user friendly.

I guess I'm the exact opposite: I like having real buttons on my Edge 705 rather than the touchscreen on the Edge 500/800. I've had little trouble keeping the 705 charged. I typically stop for lunch at a sandwich shop and have found that if you ask nicely, it's pretty easy to get someone to plug the GPS in for an hour. If not, there are also battery-based USB chargers that should work.

Garmin mapping GPSMap 60 CSx. Best outdoor mapping GPS on the planet. I've got thousands of hours backpacking, motorcycling and now cycling with both of mine.

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/igonator/5.jpg

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/igonator/Map1.gif

About $350 to get into the GPS, software and mount.

Garmin mapping GPSMap 60 CSx. Best outdoor mapping GPS on the planet. I've got thousands of hours backpacking, motorcycling and now cycling with both of mine.

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/igonator/5.jpg

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/igonator/Map1.gif

About $350 to get into the GPS, software and mount.

WOW! what thermometer is that on your steerer cap? it's really neat!

WOW! what thermometer is that on your steerer cap? it's really neat!

ACA has both the stem cap thermometer and clock:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/564_25/stemcaptain-stem-cap-clock.cfm


http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/images/products/StemCaptains-xl.jpg

Hi, I plan on mounting my Garmin 76CSx to my bike. It's identical to the 60CSx but floats (I needed it for fishing too) I used it on my motorcycle for a few years and it was great. The battery life is nice, about 18 hours, and it uses AA batteries so replacing them in a pinch is a snap.

WOW! what thermometer is that on your steerer cap? it's really neat!
It doesn't work. It measures the temperature of the bike, not the ambient temp. My bike is black so the thermometer reads 7 or 8 degrees higher than the ambient temperature. Looks great though.

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/igonator/3-2.jpg

Nashbar's closing out on the Garmin Edge 605 including the city maps for $329 right at the moment.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_522117_-1___

FYI, the Garmin 705 is no longer being made, as per http://garmin.com . So, it looks like, its the Garmin 500, or the Garmin 800 for cyclists.

Hope this helps.

Nashbar's closing out on the Garmin Edge 605 including the city maps for $329 right at the moment.

Just be aware of the 605's limitations before buying. I had a co-worker who bought a 605, discovered that it didn't have some feature she deemed essential and ended up upgrading to the 705. I think her issue was with lack of HR or cadence due to the fact that the 605 doesn't support ANT+. Or maybe the lack of altimeter? She bought it as a training tool for the Death Ride (http://www.deathride.com/)...

Altimeter is a must.

I have an Oregon 400T which has tons of features, touchscreen, etc. Does everything I need.
It was the Editors Choice Award winner in 2009 at backpacker.com
For all it's rave reviews it sure had a short lifespan. It's no longer made.
You can still get them at Amazon.

ACA has both the stem cap thermometer and clock:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/564_25/stemcaptain-stem-cap-clock.cfm


http://www.adventurecycling.org/store/images/products/StemCaptains-xl.jpg

Thanks mate! Didn't expect the um, premium pricing... :lol:


It doesn't work. It measures the temperature of the bike, not the ambient temp. My bike is black so the thermometer reads 7 or 8 degrees higher than the ambient temperature. Looks great though.

you've got a point there... i've one of those cheapo thermometer that comes on a keyring, can't figure out how to rip it out because of the strong adhesive used to join it to the mount... if not i'd have one thermometer free. its compass buddy, i got out as the glue contact wasn't strong enough to hold it.. it popped out and i stuck it promptly to my stem for adventure racing. :thumb:

can't figure out how to rip it out because of the strong adhesive used to join it to the mountTry some fingernail polish remover. Just a few drips around the edges at a time, then wiggle.

Try some fingernail polish remover. Just a few drips around the edges at a time, then wiggle.

hmm, will give it a shot; thanks!

Here is the track from today's ride after I downloaded my GPS to Mapsource topo on my PC. I find the profile data especially useful. Gotta have an altimeter for that.

http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp230/igonator/burk-RMT-LMP-loop.gif

any GPS unit these days store altitude data when you export a track via gpx file. All gps units have an electronic altimeter where you can view in real time and use various software to view or websites like mapmyride. Some units will have a barometric altimeter, which is slightly more accurate but can also be more inaccurate if not calibrated properly.

I guess I'm the exact opposite: I like having real buttons on my Edge 705 rather than the touchscreen on the Edge 500/800. I've had little trouble keeping the 705 charged. I typically stop for lunch at a sandwich shop and have found that if you ask nicely, it's pretty easy to get someone to plug the GPS in for an hour. If not, there are also battery-based USB chargers that should work.

FWIW, the Edge 500 does not have a touch screen. I own one and absolutely love it. However, as someone mentioned, the battery life is short (about 14 hours for me), so I also use an inexpensive Planet Bike computer in case I don't get the Edge charged.

Here is a profile comparing elevation with my speed:

210826

And here here a download of a map:

210827

Both were done using http://connect.garmin.com which will even replay my ride.

Steve

Here is my 76CSx mounted:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y3lbH98mMg0/TjC5zZuG3kI/AAAAAAAAAQM/rCvRDQR9LtE/s640/IMG_4985.JPG

I'll be using it to map my rides and find some nice roads, but I may be using my Forerunner 305 instead since it measures cadence.