UtahMountainBiking.com

Rider #33 · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject: ??? 305 or 705

Here is a big question. Do I save some hard earned cash and go for the 305 or do I go big and blow the whole wad on a 705

oilcanracer · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 347

really depend on what you need and how much of it. the 305 is pretty basic, but has the essentials.

the 705 has all the bells and whistles and you won't be outgrowing it soon.

i say if you can afford the 705 get that, you will most likely be using the options and won't have to upgrade later.

i like the screen better on the 705. that alone would make it for me.

cmpbiker · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 661 Location: Salt Lake City

The 305 is worthless as a navigation tool but is great as a training tool. Depends on what you want it for.

MtnBkr · Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 37 Location: North Ogden

I have a 305 and use it for navigation all the time. It can display waypoints, it can link waypoints into a route and give upcoming turn information, it can display a continuous breadcrumb track on the screen to follow (Garmin calls it a course), and it can guide back to start.

There is a new bicycle specific gps called the Edge 500 about to be released.

Use this page to compare features:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160

cmpbiker · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 661 Location: Salt Lake City

MtnBkr · Joined: 17 Nov 2006 Posts: 37 Location: North Ogden

Garmin certainly doesn't make it easy. In my case I start with a gpx file, convert using gpx2crs.exe (there are others, web based as well as stand alone), set a speed like 5 mph, and then use Garmin Training Center to import the .crs file and finally download it to the Edge 305.

Probably a similar procedure as you use.

On the Edge I select Do Course, then ignore the course pages and just look at the main Map page where the course will be displayed as a breadcrumb trail along with my current position as a triangle. Waypoint flags (downloaded using a map program like Mapsource) can displayed concurrently as well. It ends up like a sparse personal map.

Even if the virtual partner finishes, or I pick an intermediate place to join the course, the track stays on the map for me to refer to. Sometimes I get Off Course messages which I dismiss by pressing Enter.

I think the key in my case is I'm looking at the main Map page and not at any of the Course pages. I wonder if there is a difference between the Forerunner and the Edge in that respect?