Comments on: Out of the Box: Garmin Edge 205 GPS unit http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/ Mountain Bike Reviews, News, Deals and How Tos Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:42:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Rob L http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90992 Rob L Thu, 03 May 2007 11:54:24 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90992 Cool I'll have to try out that one also. The garmin software just isn't very i dunno. polished. It feels like a crappy VisualBAsic junker thrown together by myself for a college project. Or maybe a sr. group project. Still have to try MB. I like the idea and like looking at tracks for things I want to ride. I almost picked up one of your routes the other day to look at Karl, man I miss being out on the west coast. East coast trails/etc are just different. Not to mention I got 2 flats on 1 trail earlier this week after 0 in CA...argh. Yah it is a kick to watch the system power up as I get ready. Now if only I could remerge laps after ending up hugging my handle bars and accidentally setting a lap. :) Cheers Rob Cool I’ll have to try out that one also. The garmin software just isn’t very i dunno. polished. It feels like a crappy VisualBAsic junker thrown together by myself for a college project. Or maybe a sr. group project. Still have to try MB. I like the idea and like looking at tracks for things I want to ride. I almost picked up one of your routes the other day to look at Karl, man I miss being out on the west coast. East coast trails/etc are just different. Not to mention I got 2 flats on 1 trail earlier this week after 0 in CA…argh.

Yah it is a kick to watch the system power up as I get ready. Now if only I could remerge laps after ending up hugging my handle bars and accidentally setting a lap. :)

Cheers
Rob

]]> By: Karl Etzel http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90890 Karl Etzel Wed, 02 May 2007 16:14:09 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90890 Looking forward to your review on this, I've been using a Forerunner 305 (with cadence) for a few months, plus Cyclingpeaks software for workout analysis. Overall very happy with the hardware, the Garmin software is so-so, and Motion Based not impressed at all (at least after one try). Got a bunch of writeups on my tech review section in case folks want to compare notes. Besides, what techie would not like a bike computer that says "Locating Satellites" when you turn it on? :) Cheers Karl Looking forward to your review on this, I’ve been using a Forerunner 305 (with cadence) for a few months, plus Cyclingpeaks software for workout analysis. Overall very happy with the hardware, the Garmin software is so-so, and Motion Based not impressed at all (at least after one try). Got a bunch of writeups on my tech review section in case folks want to compare notes.

Besides, what techie would not like a bike computer that says “Locating Satellites” when you turn it on? :)

Cheers
Karl

]]> By: Rob L http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90295 Rob L Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:22:54 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90295 Tim - I haven't had enough time to really play with it. The TC is a bit annoying in that insists on re-downloading rides I've already done (and deleted) (ie a test ride or such). I wish it had better mapping data/tied into google maps and such. Honestly I've only gotten a couple rides on it as it was dead when I went out to ride the other day, damn cadence and hr sensing does eat up more power. The graphing overlays for comparing HR vs Speed vs Climb/etc are okay but I think I'm going to try MB out this weekend. What I need to do is go out and get a decent ride or two on. Trying to talk with wife into Schaeffer on Sunday and then maybe try and run to Greenbriar on Monday. jdb - Actually it has a built in rechargable thats decent. Tim's should go 10-13 hours on one charge, mine with the HR and Cadence on will not last as long. The battery does last pretty well apparently I've seen people are still using theres after a year or some almost 2. Factory service to replace the battery. But yah batteries do make me cringe. They have since all my battery toys in the 80's.... Tim - I haven’t had enough time to really play with it. The TC is a bit annoying in that insists on re-downloading rides I’ve already done (and deleted) (ie a test ride or such). I wish it had better mapping data/tied into google maps and such. Honestly I’ve only gotten a couple rides on it as it was dead when I went out to ride the other day, damn cadence and hr sensing does eat up more power.

The graphing overlays for comparing HR vs Speed vs Climb/etc are okay but I think I’m going to try MB out this weekend. What I need to do is go out and get a decent ride or two on. Trying to talk with wife into Schaeffer on Sunday and then maybe try and run to Greenbriar on Monday.

jdb - Actually it has a built in rechargable thats decent. Tim’s should go 10-13 hours on one charge, mine with the HR and Cadence on will not last as long. The battery does last pretty well apparently I’ve seen people are still using theres after a year or some almost 2. Factory service to replace the battery. But yah batteries do make me cringe. They have since all my battery toys in the 80’s….

]]> By: jdb http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90291 jdb Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:52:52 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90291 It just dawned on me. Can't believe it took so long. It's not just about technology. This is a conspiracy driven by those who manufacture batteries. Can you believe their good furtune? Between portable music, digicams and now GPS cyclocomputers, we risk replacing three sets of batteries per weekend. I shudder to think how many batteries end up in landfills every day. It just dawned on me. Can’t believe it took so long. It’s not just about technology. This is a conspiracy driven by those who manufacture batteries. Can you believe their good furtune? Between portable music, digicams and now GPS cyclocomputers, we risk replacing three sets of batteries per weekend. I shudder to think how many batteries end up in landfills every day.

]]> By: Tim Grahl http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90282 Tim Grahl Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:29:23 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90282 I am using the Training Center and am delving into Motion Based as well. I'm realizing there's a huge amount you can do with this stuff so I'm trying to get as in depth as possible quickly so I'll have a good understanding for the review. Any suggestions for me? I am using the Training Center and am delving into Motion Based as well. I’m realizing there’s a huge amount you can do with this stuff so I’m trying to get as in depth as possible quickly so I’ll have a good understanding for the review.

Any suggestions for me?

]]> By: Rob L http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90281 Rob L Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:24:25 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90281 Nice, once I tell my wife I have it she'll want to borrow it for using it for HR training at the gym I'm sure. :) Are you using Training Center or a Third Party? Gonna try out motion based also? R Nice, once I tell my wife I have it she’ll want to borrow it for using it for HR training at the gym I’m sure. :)

Are you using Training Center or a Third Party? Gonna try out motion based also?

R

]]> By: Tim Grahl http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90280 Tim Grahl Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:20:27 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90280 Also on the installation/driver side of things, it is now fully supported on Macs (which is good since I have one). It was an incredibly simple installation. Also on the installation/driver side of things, it is now fully supported on Macs (which is good since I have one). It was an incredibly simple installation.

]]> By: luke http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90214 luke Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:49:25 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90214 This software is free (by donation) + very cool. Shows a map, tells me my elevation gains and distances. Plus it sends the ride routes out for 3D flyaround views in GoogleEarth: http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/ Love it! This software is free (by donation) + very cool. Shows a map, tells me my elevation gains and distances. Plus it sends the ride routes out for 3D flyaround views in GoogleEarth:

http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/

Love it!

]]> By: Rob L http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90170 Rob L Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:27:42 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2007/04/25/first-impression-garmin-edge-205-gps-unit/#comment-90170 I just got a 305 with both HR and Cad and it's pretty frickin sweet. My only complaint is battery life really, when running both HR And the Cad it definetly isn't its full 13 hours or so that you can/should get out of the 205. 2 Hints before you install it on your pc, Install Drivers of CD, then update the drivers off the web. The install the latest training center/patches from the web. Then make sure you update the firmware of the unit and then the units actual SW. Several important fixes in there. The big pain is the Driver off CD causes it to crash when trying to firmware/software update before installing the driver update from the web. I just got a 305 with both HR and Cad and it’s pretty frickin sweet. My only complaint is battery life really, when running both HR And the Cad it definetly isn’t its full 13 hours or so that you can/should get out of the 205. 2 Hints before you install it on your pc, Install Drivers of CD, then update the drivers off the web. The install the latest training center/patches from the web. Then make sure you update the firmware of the unit and then the units actual SW. Several important fixes in there. The big pain is the Driver off CD causes it to crash when trying to firmware/software update before installing the driver update from the web.

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