I am torn between a high end polar cycling computer and a garmin edge 705. I like the Polar stuff for it's better training side and software, but like the navigation features of the 705. Both are on the top end of my budget. Bottom line, should I fork out the money or just getting something budget. I am currently using a basic bike computer and my Droid Eris phone with sports tracker pro installed. I can track my stats and upload to my group online. I enjoy all the stats and like the online community. I also like the fact that I can see my improvements. Any ideas?

As long as it's connected to something power

Hmm...Not sure I understand your recomendation.

power control 7

Looks nice but a liitle pricey; especially for the power meter.

Well, what exactly are you hoping to get out of your training? Are you racing, doing large organized group rides, centuries, weight loss, etc.

Since you have an android phone try out my tracks from google. Some people here rave about it.

https://mytracks.appspot.com/

for what its worth, if you dont really need maps, i think the garmin 500 is about as good a computer as you need. it does breadcrumb mapping (you can upload routes to it and follow them roughly). if you know you wont ever use power, the 305 is just as good. you get cadence, heart rate, and the ability to download ride data and analyze/share it. the 305 or 500 are significantly cheaper than the 705, of course.

I race MTB but do large group rides on the road. Mainly I want to increase muscle strengh and endurance.

Have you looked at the Garmin Edge 500? It won't map like the 705, but it will do a breadcrumb trail and give you compass and directional info. It also has a more accurate HRM based calorie counter and costs a good chunk less. I don't know if the Polar unit you were looking at was gps based or not, but I bought the Edge 500 specifically because I have several bikes and I can mount it on any of them and go and have all features except cadence which I only have the sensor on one bike. Here is a (possibly overly) in-depth review of it:

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2009/11/g...th-review.html

I've looked at the Garmin Edge 500 and it is definatley a canidate. The Polar has a GPS unit you can purchase and reveiw your ride after the fact. Over all I want something that is accurate. I've read several reveiws that said that the Edge lacked a little bit in acurracy with calories and candence.

I'm sorry, the reveiw was for the Edge 705 not the 500.