Beau210

Looking to get a better computer than the Gamin 110. Want something I can program workouts to and will take HR, Cadence, log my miles, etc.. Also would be nice if it could navigate me through areas I don't know and show me new rides. Like the garmin products especially with garmin connect. Anyone have this unit and if so how do you like it? Pro's and Con's? Thanks guys.

renton

If you need that get the 800; if you don't get the 500.

dalava

Or get a used 705 for dirt cheap

adriano 

https://www.amazon.com/Cue-Clip-Map-S.../dp/B001PTA294

Seattle Forrest

I like mine.

This has been pretty useful.

RT

Any smartphone and the right app will do all of those things. There are two crowds: Dedicated GPS device people and Smartphone/App people. Each have their advantages.

I fall into the latter group.

Beau210

Do other companies cadence readers work with it or do I have to buy garmins?

Beau210

I don't have a smart phone so that doesn't help me.

dalava

There is no existing solution out there to satisfy OPs needs with smartphone/app without some compromises.

On the other hand, a Garmin 800/705 will do exactly what OP wants, no more and no less.

Munk69

As long as your cadence works on ANT+, your good to go. I have a duotap in my Trek that works just fine... My HR strap is Bontrager and it works as well. Both transmit ANT+

Seattle Forrest

... for a few hours. Then you can get one of those hub-powered lights they have in the Fred forum and hack it to re-charge your phone.

How do you use a cadence sensor or HRM with a smart-phone?

RT

On a regular battery (I have an extended one), I could do this for over two hours. Unless I am doing a century, I don't need that long. YMMV.

Endomondo, SportyPal, SportsTracker all support the Polar Wearlink+, but you may be right about cadence. I have never had the need for a cadence sensor yet.

EDIT: Also, my old Garmin Edge 500 lost satellite under a canopy of trees or behind a large mountain (we have lots of those here). I have yet to lose data from any of the above listed apps :-D

Seattle Forrest

They carried that feature forward to the 800. Mine loses the satellites in mountain canyons, and they don't have to be very narrow or deep for it to happen. I can't get an accurate track log from the North Cascades Highway, even.

Nachoman

I had the 800 and got rid of it for the 500, which I much prefer. The one time I got lost and tried to use the map function on the 800, I got too frustrated trying to read a map on a screen the size of a business card. No thanks.

Beau210

Anyone else have trouble with the maps? Is that the only difference between the 500 and the 800? If so the 500 is way cheaper and I may do that.

Shimagnolo

Miss South Carolina.

Phil85207

I have the 800 when my 305 forerunner met its untimely death when it came off my bar mount and went under the wheels of a SUV. For the most part I have been happy with it except for the "new and improved HR strap" It's junk. I use my old one with no problems. I would suggest you go to the garmin 800 forum and check it out. Just keep in mind that most of the people on there are having some kind of issue and are looking for an answer. I like mine fine but maybe could have gotten by with a cheaper unit. I went for this one because of it user friendly aspect. It is easy to get around on. Good luck in your quest.

Seattle Forrest

The screen is smaller than I'd like (sometimes ... I wouldn't actually want to carry a bigger one around, I just want it to project a hologram of a bigger screen or something), but it works fine. I was going to do a specific ride, had a cue sheet and everything, but couldn't find the trailhead I was supposed to park at. So I found another place to park, and did an entirely different ride, out in suburbs I'd never been to before. Having the map on my stem was a tremendous help. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, I just wanted to do a loop and not double back. The screen is big enough to see that the road I'm on connects with other ones before too long, and to get around freeways and stuff like that.

If you've already got a cadence sensor and HRM (or don't plan to use these), you can save $100 on the Garmin and use Open Street Maps instead.

Mithrandir

I agonized over this last year, but ultimately due to being a spendthrift I went with the 500. Although I haven't used an 800 I feel I made the absolute best choice.

I thought at first that I might get lost on longer rides without a turn-by-turn GPS like the 800, but that never actually happened. I guess that since we're so used to automotive driving it's easy to get lost when you have such a large range of destinations available at your fingertips, but on a bicycle, I always felt far more spatially-aware of where I was, and as I said, I never got lost.

Beau210

My big thing is a tend to be hesitant of going to new places/ routes if I'm not with someone else who knows the way and I figured this would be great for that since I wouldn't have to worry about getting lost.

Beau210

Not only that but I got a $200 dividend at REI this year plus my 20% off member coupon so an 800 would only cost me about $180

Vetboy

I have a 500 and an 800 - like them both. Mostly use the 500 around home, but the 800 is great when away from home and not sure where I am (it gives turn by turn directions and you can also input courses from Garmin Connect - either make your own or use someone else's) . Also, I use the 800 in my car. I don't find the screen size too small - in fact I was thinking that it could be a bit smaller when on the bike. Touch screen is nice too.

Joe

STP

Nice!

gigantor

I think it's worth it.

I used one to navigate a century ride and would have spent a lot of my time worrying about finding the right turn otherwise. Simply looking at the device and following the track was great.

I use a smart phone with apps, but apps can only get you so far when cycling. For one, the network and phone may not work as well in a certain area, while my dedicated device with its more powerful antenna has always been far more reliable, and to this day, has never failed me.

705 or 800 if you need a map

thcri

I have the 800 and love it. I make my own routes from Mapmyride and others and upload it for turn by turn directions. And pull some from Garmin Connect. I have the Trek DUO Tap, heart rate monitor and Power Tap that all talk to it. Yes I love data.