unionmade

So, I'm toying with the idea of a Garmin 500. Right now I've got a Cateye Strada with cadence, and I can't do without. After searching, it seems I'm wasting money on the Garmin if I don't do HR as well. But I'm perplexed by the different configurations. I don't really like the looks of the red unit. If I buy the silver/black and separately buy the cadence and premium HRM, am I getting the same thing? Looks like I can price it all for about the same.

Also, am I wasting my money as a weekend rider (who's trying to improve)? I do use Strava, but find it pretty inaccurate.

DropDeadFred

I had to get mine separate because they didn't have the black and white in the set. anyways, I have been reading my data and trying to use it to improve. It's really nice to have the multiple screens. If you don't need it, you don't need it. If you are just riding weekends and don't plan on training I wouldn't think its really necessary.

mvnsnd

Yes, you need the Garmin 500 unit, a GSC-10 Cadence and speed sensor and either the standard or premium heart rate strap. I have the neutral (black) color and got everything separately. It's the same as the 'bundle', except the color.

jmX

Just to be clear: he doesn't need a GSC-10 or a HR strap to make use of an Edge 500. The edge 500 will do speed and altitude fine without them. If he wants cadence or HR, then those sensors are needed, and any ANT+ sensors will work.

As for whether or not you're wasting your money is something you'll have to figure out on your own.

unionmade

Thanks for the input. I didn't "need" new wheels, but (to paraphrase Helen Hunt) my Psimet's make me want to be a better man. Starting to feel same way about this. I do use the cadence on my cateye a lot (it's the setting I keep up when riding). Will the 500 log my cadence, so I can review later after downloading? That might be helpful.
Heart rate might also spur me to get better (I'm trying). I'm a long way from racing, but at 44, I'm thinking spending the next 5+ getting better, with a long term goal to enter some races with 50+ categories.

jmX

The edge 500 logs temperature, gps location, altitude, cadence, heart rate, watts, and speed into its data files. You can look at all of that data later on a computer.

pdedes

It will log your cadence, your route, your speed, temp, power if you have any ant+ unit. Buy any ant+ cadence/speed sensor and hr strap you wish. Best training tool ever.

bikepro

The nice thing about the Edge 500, or any other Garmin for that matter, is the flexibility. With only the head unit, you have speed, distance, altitude, latitude and longitude. Later, you can add the HRM strap, speed-cadence and Power (PowerTap, etc.). These sensors are pretty much universal as long as they use ANT+.