Hot Potato

Well, I have been waiting to pounce on a Garmin Edge 605 on sale, and even thought of using one of those ultra cheap internet sales sites. Then I discover that the Garmin GPSmap 60cx unit is hand held, and has a handlebar mount available.

I already have bike computers with speed and cadence, I want the GPS unit for road maps on the fly.

I am not interested in cadence or heart rate on the GPS.

I AM interested in entering courses, and using the GPS unit to follow those courses accurately. I suck at following cue sheets, I want my GPS unit to beep or talk at me when a turn is coming up.

I am not a weight weenie, a hundred grams difference on a unit is not going to matter to me.

I DO HAVE Gander Mountain gift certificates for a couple of hundred dollars, and GM sells the 60Cx but not the Edge.

Cell phones suck as navigation devices, relatively speaking, so being able to use the unit in a car and on the bike would be a plus.

Anyone have any advice to offer on either one? I am not using it as a cycle training aid, just as a navigational aid, or at least that is my intended purpose now.

luv2climb

I have a 60CSx and a 705. The 60CSx is a great unit but not on the handle bars. The bar mount that they sell is not safe. In my half dozen test rides the unit came out of the mount at least once each time and that was on the road not even a trail. If you dont mind carrying it in your jersey it will work great but then you may not hear the turn warnings. Or, you will need another mount that is more secure.

As for on the bike I do prefer my 705 as it is made for use on the bike. If you were to get the 705 you would have cadence also and be able to eliminate your other computers. I also run courses a lot of the time and the 60CSx cannot do that.

That is my short and sweet response.

ebrady

I do not own either of these, (as of right now ), but while doing some research I came across the GPSMAP 76csx on Amazon for about $275 dollars. This is cheaper then what the 60csx is selling for in stores.

Hot Potato

Thank you! I was worried about that cell phone like clip-in handlebar mount.

I favor my existing bike computers because, well, I already have them. And because those cr2032 batteries last years for me in the regular bike computer, and the Edge GPS units need re-charging. Which means I will forget and run out of juice, losing my maps but not my speed, mileage and cadence if I have the other computer still on the bike. Regular batteries was an advantage of the 60cx, but not if it is going to pop off the mount and can't easily do courses.

I will probably go for the Edge 605, since I don't want cadence or heart rate.

Skyler_WA

Hot Potato,
Your GPS interests sound identical to mine. I learned a lot by reading these two threads:

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/471140-does-anyone-use-gps.html

https://groups.google.com/group/rando...96a35791dd7401

Hot Potato

Great links. Makes me wonder if GPS technology is designed to do what I want though. So did you take the plunge, or are you still thinking about it?

Skyler_WA

For the next six months, my riding will be mostly commuting to work and back and I don't need a GPS for that. I would like to get one for next summer, but I'll wait until next Spring to see if there are any newer/better models out or if the current models are cheaper then.

haningp

I've been using a gps60cs (older than the csx model) with a handle bar mount and just love it. I use the gps when walking, hiking or even driving (with the dash board mounting). So it cn be used for just about any occasion. I've never had a problem with the handlebar mount. I don't go off road, only road and bike path riding but have used on many rides over the past couple of years. I don't have any experience with the 605 unit though

Hot Potato

I downloaded and played with the garmin training software. I was surprised to learn that you needed route or course data in it to make a course, you couldn't just make a course from a map? Then I found the bike toaster website, but couldn't figure out why something like that wasn't in the garmin software.

Found out that a hill that has been kicking my butt has some 18% plus grades, now I don't feel like such a wimp.

gps_dr

You all realize that Garmin is not the only source of handlebar mounts?

Ram Mounts are very secure and not that expensive.
So that is not an excuse for getting the Edge.

Until the Edge series allows the display of multiple tracks, the 60CSX or 76CSX are
better navigational units and use ubiquitous, cheap AA power. If you want a fitness device,
the Edge is better at heart/cadence stats and lets you know if you are ahead or behind prior rides or a set pace. (I had the choice of an Edge 705 w/heart rate monitor a Colorado 400t with same. I chose the Colorado and have been disappointed with the lack of multiple track display and screen brightness.

ebrady

+1
Fitness, go with 605/705/Colorado
For long distance riding and brevets, go with 60CSX/76CSX.

I had thought about the 605/705 for brevet riding, but battery life killed the deal for those two. I did a 200K today, and with the 76CSX running for 11 1/2 hours, the battery meter still showed 3 out of 4 bars, using high drain AA batteries.

allan6344

I was thought about upgrading from a 305 to the 705 too but I got an Oregon instead to use when I need navigation on the bicycle. It uses AA batteries and it's easier to scroll around the map with a touch screen if you need to change/add a route or just look at the map when away from the PC. Hard to beat the value of the 60CSx though.

Hot Potato

I went to Gander mountain to see the hand held GPS units they had, mostly because I have gift certificates to GM. Ended up blowing all the gift money on camping equipment upgrades for when I go car camping with the kids. After filling the basket and paying, I realized I never even got to the section where the GPS units were. Now if they only had the GPS units closer to the front of the store, this might not have happened.

socalrider

I use the Garmin Vista HCX.. Buy the Topo Maps CD and you will have all off-road trails in addition to all streets in the US.. I bought mine specifically for the off road trails in my area. It does not have the detail as far points of interest or restaurants that the city navigator cd has but I personally find it more useful..

I use mine for road and mountain biking.. Buy an additional 1gb or 2gb micro sd card and load lots all the maps you need.. The 2gb, you can almost load the entire us maps.. Pick and choose areas or entire states if you like.. The battery is excellent even when you keep the backlighting on.. You can upload your rides just like the cycling specific garmins to motionbased.. You just do not have a HR or cadence option..

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=8703

Kazer

i've logged over 20,000 miles on a motorcycle with that handlebar mount and the 60csx and i've never had an issue with it popping out. it also has a lanyard which you can loop around the bars if you're really concerned!