Garmin Edge 205 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer
by Garmin
List Price:
Category: GPS or Navigation System
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Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: GarminBrand: Garmin
Designer: Garmin
Edition: Electronics
Model: 010-00447-10
Publisher: Garmin
Studio: Garmin
Music Label: Garmin
Product features:
- Monitor Emphasizes Form Factor, Feature Set & GPS Sensitivity
- Includes Highly Sensitive GPS Receiver For Accurate Data
- Sirf-Stariii Receiver For Great Reception In Challenging Conditions
- Lightweight & Waterproof
- Monitors Vertical Profiles, Climb & Descent, Altitude, Speed, Distance & Time
- AmazonBasics Quilted Case for Small Electronics Including Cameras, Mobile Phones, and GPS Units (Black)
- AmazonBasics Universal Travel Case for Small Electronics and Accessories (Black)
- AmazonBasics Carrying Case for 4.3-Inch Portable GPS (Black)
- Garmin Edge 305CAD GPS with Cadence Kit (010-00447-00)
- Castelli 2009 Women's Audrey Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey - violet - A9055-061
Digital camera reviews of Garmin Edge 205 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer
Digital camera Review: A GPS that cannot tell you where you are!
Summary: 2 Stars
Starting with some positive comments, the unit itself (hardware) is nice, it's slightly larger (thicker) than a standard mobile phone and feels sturdy. The screen is clear (but small) and buttons feel nice and are well placed. The unit has the new SirfStarIII technology for increased sensitivity, e.g. under tree cover, and my limited experience until now is that the reception is indeed good.
So not a bad unit, but it should be understood that this unit is set up as a trip computer, and not as a navigation unit (although it does have some navigation options). It has some nice options like racing a virtual partner, which are well documented on the Garmin web-page. What the web-page does not make very clear though is:
- It cannot give you the current position!!!
- It does not have WAAS/EGNOS for better location precision
- It does not have the "Upcoming turn feature" that the Geko has
As a trip computer it has the following limitations:
- The speed it gives fluctuates significantly more than with a normal (simple) cycle computer with a wheel sensor.
- The height fluctuates so much that the grade it gives is completely useless (note that the Edge 305 should be better as it has a barometric sensor as well). Also, the total ascent and descent will systematically be too high. In a test I left the Edge for two hours in the same place, and had it record every second. Minimum height was 51m, maximum height 84m, total ascent 215m, total descent 218m, and maximum speed 3.5km/h.
The included Garmin training center software works okay, but is very limited:
- You cannot combine tracks (to upload to the Edge e.g.).
- You cannot compare more than two tracks.
- It only exports data in Garmins own (and uncommon) .hst file format
Also note that if you want to overlay your track onto a map, you will need other software. The user manual (printed out) isokay but also very limited.
The Edge comes with a rechargeable battery that is not user exchangeable (tip: instead of using the car-charger, it may be possible to use a universal USB car charger and the supplied cable at a fraction of the cost. Note however that I have not yet tested this).
I mainly bought this unit to map mountainbiking tracks in order to be able to combine the best trails into some nice routes, and then use the Edge to find the routes. Using some third party software, this is possible, but it should have been much easier. I assumed I would be able to use it together with a map while hiking, and was very (and unpleasantly) suprised to learn that I bought a GPS that cannot tell me where I am.
I am still hoping that Garmin can do an update of the firmware (I am using version 2.30 now) such that the unit gives the current location (ideally with an option for different grids). Without this option, two stars is all it gets from me.
Summary of Garmin Edge 205 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer
Take your ride to the next level with the Edge 205 Garmins GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer. Perfect for touring and the trails, the lightweight Edge is the ultimate fitness partner. With the easy-to-use Edge 205 on your bike, you always know where you are going and how far you have gone. The Edge 205 measures speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, plus much more. 205 features include: Easy-to-install - no calibration required. Just snap it in the included bike mount and go High-sensitivity GPS receiver knows your position even in tree cover and canyons, making it extremely reliable for navigation Customizable cycle computer shows up to eight different data fields for continuous feedback Virtual Partner lets you race a virtual competitor, making training fun Courses lets you race against a recorded course to try to match previously set speeds at every point along the way Auto Pause pauses the training timer when you slow down below a specified speed and resumes when you speed up again so you can focus on your ride Auto Lap automatically triggers a lap every time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance Training Center software gives you the ability to create workouts, manage and download courses, and create a detailed post-ride analysis that charts your performance With its waterproof, sleek design, the Edge is the perfect companion on any bike, and attaches to either the stem or handlebars. Its rugged case frames an easy-to-read, large, backlit display that can show up to eight different data fields along with altitude and a map view. Included Training Center software gives you the ability to overlay your ride data onto a course map. It offers interactive analysis tools that measure your speed, distance, climb, and descent against varying terrain, elevation and more. Create and schedule custom workouts or use workout templates and download to the Edge. Cyclists: get your Edge from GarminAmazon.com Product Description Whether you're prepping for your next ride or just want a more accurate way to measure your performance on the trails, the Garmin Edge 205 GPS-enabled Personal Trainer and Cycle Computer can help. The Edge 205 is easy to use, requires no calibration, and features customizable screens and data fields to meet your needs. Measuring speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb, descent, and more, the Edge 205 will help you to always know where you are and how far you've gone.
 Main menu. View larger. |
 Bike computer display. View larger. |
 Course with elevation profile. View larger. |
 The Edge 205 GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer is the ultimate fitness partner. View larger. |
The included PC-based Training Center software gives you the tools to create workouts, manage and download courses, and create a detailed post-ride analysis that charts your performance and measures your speed, distance, climb, descent, and heart-rate data against varying terrain, elevation, and other conditions. And with the Edge 205's built-in USB interface, uploading and downloading information is simple and fast.
The virtual partner screen depicts a digital cyclist (representing your desired speed) in relation to your real-time speed. From this set of data the icons will show how far ahead or behind you are from your digital competitor. The Courses feature allows you to race against a recorded course to try and match previously set speeds at every point along the way. By combining the Virtual Partner and Courses features, you can race an opponent who varies speeds while climbing hills and navigating turns.
Training in urban areas can be tricky, and traffic congestion can skew training data. To help remedy this problem, Garmin has included an auto-pause function that pauses the training timer when you slow down below a specified speed and resumes when you speed up again so you can focus on your ride, not on data collection. And with the auto lap function, this smart little device automatically triggers a lap every time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance.
With its sleek, waterproof design (the Edge 205 meets IEC 60529 IPX7 standards, which means that its components can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes), the Edge 205 is the perfect companion for any bike, and it can attach to either the stem or handlebars. This lightweight device (88 grams) is powered by an 800mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery and delivers an average of 12 hours of use per charge. The rugged case frames an easy-to-read, large, backlit display that makes it a breeze to view the data fields. So whether you're racing against your virtual partner, fighting to shave precious seconds off your old record, or training for the next big race, the Edge 205 is there to help monitor your progress and make you a better cyclist.
What's in the Box
Edge 205, bike mount, Training Center CD, A/C charger, USB PC interface, quick reference guide, and owner's manual.
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