I really like the Edge 305 but keep hearing about how it is fragile and gets poor battery life. Is there a comparable product that lacks GPS but has all of the other features of the 305? I'm mainly interested in wireless speed/cadence and HRM - after that it is just gravy.

Tons of computers do speed cadence and HR. You can go to most bike shops and get one, or search online at nashbar, performancebike, etc.

They are not all created equal though. I'd like something that I can grow with. The Edge seems pretty good but if I can drop what I assume is the one big feature that sets it apart (GPS) and keep everything else, I might save some money. and still get a computer that I won't outgrow for awhile.

I've got a Polar CS200 and love it. You can either buy the base model or get one with HRM and/or cadence.

However, I'm about to pull the trigger on a Garmin 305 because I want the GPS and everything else it offers.

Love my 305. That's why I got a 705. No complaints here. I had a Polar CS200 before the 305 and it did the job, but not as well as the 305 IMHO.

I've read about some people having some issues with their 305. Remember, you are going to have a few duds in every batch of electronics that come from any manufacture. It amazes me to hear that 12 hours of battery is not enough for some people. Who wants to ride for 12 hours straight? I can see that being an issue for people out on the road with no charging source. I don't think that applies to the masses. And if you do fall into that group, there are portable charging devices.

I'm selling my 305 on ebay if anyone is interested. Comes with a new cheststrap heart rate transmitter. Item # 110269813602