Mr. Beanz

Ahhh today was a good day. Pretty easy day at work, payday and the teller that usually cashes my paycheck asked if I had gotten a Christmas bonus this week. Nope, that's my check and a little OT.

Then off to REI where I picked up a Garmin edge 500. I used a friend's member number so that he'd get store credit from my purchase. Cashier asked if I was a member so I just shouted out the member number. Then he says, enjoy it Mr. Jones......like I look like a Mr. Jones and not a Mr. Beanz.

Gosh, now I got a lot of reading to do.


garmin2 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr


garmin1 by gulpxtreme, on Flickr

RaleighSport

>.> I wish my love was a cyclist. Awesome though.

Mr. Beanz

My Love a cyclist? ....I was talkin' about "my baby" the bike.

1nterceptor

Sweet, one of these days I'm going to
give up on these GPS watches and get
me one of those real bike computers

RaleighSport

I know but your thread title had me thinking it was a gift for the missus got me all wistful..

Mr. Beanz

I wanted it but I didn't wanted it.

Gina talked me into it. I'm one of those $14 computer will do guys. But since I had the cash and it is Christmas.....

Mr. Beanz

freighttraininguphill

Now you've gotta program that thing to show you the distance, altitude, percent grade, total ascent, and total descent on the first page.

That's how I set mine up, plus heart rate since I bought the optional HR strap.

Mr. Beanz

I'l prolly go speed, distance, average, altitude, grade, time and total ascent.

I thought about the whole package but my bike is set up for DuoTrap system. The sensor is $69 and the Garmin sensor would look kind of funny placed over the cut out type thingie. So if I go the entire package, I'd use the Duo Trap sensor which would add up to nearly $200 more for both.

Knowing my cadence aint worth that much to me.

freighttraininguphill

Oops, forgot about the time. I also have that on the first page. Since my average speed sucks, it's on the second or third page.
I don't know what the DuoTrap is, so I have no idea what it looks like. I don't have the speed/cadence sensor either. I have too many bikes that I use the Garmin on for it to be practical or cost-effective to outfit them all.

socalrider

you don't need the extra sensors.. Just mount it and ride.. If you need extra mounts look to ebay, they are about 1/2 what the stores charge..

magohn

Awesome! Im looking forwards to the crazy climbing stats you can now post...

Mr. Beanz

Now to RIDE the bike...been working so much, not even sure if I can still ride a bike.

jeepseahawk

Yea, no videos for 2 weeks, you need to get your priorities straight. What did Gina get for her baby?

Mr. Beanz

.......I got her a couple new GP4000's last time. It was my turn.

CraigB

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the reading. You'll find out soon enough that there just isn't that much there to read. Their documentation leaves a lot to be desired. Kind of like computer software these days.

Black wallnut 

Nice gift for yourself but why on earth did you not also purchase a membership? You patronage dividend would have paid for it next April.

az_cyclist

Sweet. Mr. Beanz! Enjoy that Garmin!

psalm

I can understand that, and agree with it, but not on that Madone.

freighttraininguphill

Ditto. I bought a membership the day I purchased my GoPro, and they told me I could have all my pre-membership 2011 purchases credited towards my dividend as long as I had receipts. So I brought in the receipts for the Dahon Speed D7 folding bike and the Contour Flex Strap mount. Unfortunately I no longer had the receipts for the 2 spare ContourHD batteries, the vented helmet mount, and the XL handlebar mount. That would have been another $120 credit. Oh well.

Mr. Beanz

Yeah, that's the bad thing about a nice bike.

engstrom

Nice purchase. I absolutely love my Garmin Edge. I upload all my rides to Garmin Connect and track all my info there. You'll love that computer. Although I do have to admit that when I read your thread title I thought it was about what you bought Gina for Christmas.

magohn

I have the 705 and its by far the best thing i bought for keeping me interested in my progress in the hobby. I can calculate EXACTLY how many miles I have ridden this year (btw - if i can ride 50 miles between now and the 31st it will be 2000 miles and only 3 flats!). I recommend getting the heart rate monitor strap. I found it very useful in keeping my efforts in check when I rode back to back centuries this summer. It allowed me to realize when I was pushing too much and not to "overdo" it.

The only drawback with the 705 is that it doesnt record air temp like the 500 does. The 705 will provide "get me home" directions - invaluable for me as I can get lost 10 miles from my house

Have Fun!

socalrider

what is the real battery life of the 500.. my 305 is on its last legs and is only good for about 6 hours now..

Mr. Beanz

The manual says 18 hours on a full charge but I have yet to ride and find out.