Originally Posted by
CCrew
"Yes, but a Garmin eTrex VentureHC (hiking model) is half that price at Amazon and does everything the OP says he wanted."
Unless sometime in the future he wants cadence and HR. and the cycling specific software that he can view his rides on. Options do have value. Not to mention a much smaller package.
Venture is cheap because it's outdated technology. Crappy patch antenna and an antique chipset.
The 605 uses the SirfStarIII chipset first used by Garmin in 2005. The VentureHC uses the MTK chipset introduced in 2007.
Yes, there are some specific cycling features offered by the models targeted specifically at that market, but the OP said he was looking for something affordable and with only a few specific capabilities. The VentureHC has those features for $120 vs. the 605 which costs $240 and has the potential to add some more (unasked for) features if you spring for extra options at additional $$.