Garmin's Edge series of GPS for bikes

Garmin has rolled out a series of updated GPS units designed specifically for bicyclists. The Edge series includes features to track heart rate, speed, cadence and altitude. The GPS is based on the SiRF SiRFstar III chipset, which Garmin says should allow for more accurate and reliable tracking in urban areas. Prices range from $249 for the basic Edge 205, which doesn't include any heart rate or speed tracking capabilities, to $349 for the Edge 305CAD, which includes cadence and speed tracking, and a barometric altimeter.

[yet another Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

great! just another thing i want that means my bike is guareteed to get stolen

[Lenord @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I have a garmin foretrex that I use a few times a week to instead of a bicycle computer, and it works wonderfully. From time to time I use it with motionbased so that I can compare how I'm riding now with how I was riding a few months ago, but more often than not I just use it to track my speed and distance.
I'm sure I'd love to have one of these "built for bicycleing" gps's, but there doesn't seem to be anything new in the low end model to justify the $100 price differencfe over the base foretrex and forerunner models. The cadence traccking in the high end models would be handy, but I've always belonged to the school of riders who believe that cadience tracking is really for beginners and people more concerned with numbers than riding.
So, a $200 price increase over my current gps just to track my heartrate? Maybe if I was training for the tour, but for the casual rider, these seem pretty impractical. But do gadgets really need to be practical?

[Lenord @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Oh, Garmin's product page, http://www.garmin.com/products/edge205/ , for the Edge mentions some features ignored by both engadget and motionbased's posts that do make this a unique GPS unit.
First and foremost, it has a USB interface cable, something that Garmin often refuses to do. I have no idea why they have for so long insisted on using serial cables, but it seems like they've finally recieved enough customer complaints. That's pretty huge for them.
Secondly, the Edge has a "virtual partner" feature that lets you race against one of your previous rides. This would be pretty nifty. When I ride I'm always trying to improve, to go faster than I did on my last ride, and it would be great to always know how I was comparing to my last ride.
I still think there's no real reason that they couldn't have priced the base model at around $100 (does a USB cable really cost that much?), but it does have unique features that make it appealing over the forerunner/foretrex crowd.

[Clark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

A few responses to #2...

The lower end Edge (Edge 205) is superior to the Foretrex models for all levels of cycling for following reasons and probably worth the extra $100:

- Start/Stop (as you know the Foretrex starts recording right away and you have to clear the Track log just before starting and shutting the unit down to stop).
- Laps (you can automatically record splits by hitting the lap button)
- Courses (you can not only download a route into the Edge for navigation but you can actually pace yourself against a previous time on the same route. You will see two dots or arrows on a map and elevation profile right on the GPS device. No better way to see how you're doing from the last time)
- Improved GPS antenna (mountain bikers who ride in trees or canyons will see immediate benefits; also better for cycling in urban areas)

The Edge 305HR and Edge 305CAD cost $100 more than the Edge 205 for the following reasons and again probably worth it for a somewhat serious cyclist (not just pros):

- Barometric Altimeter (this will produce higher quality elevation information by calibrating the GPS elevation when the 4th satellite is lost. This also allows the devices to capture and display cumlative elevation on the device -- something serious cyclists really need)
- Heart Rate (quite obvious the benefits of this)
- Speed Sensor (huge when the GPS device loses signal -- now the speed and distance will be more accurate when the GPS may lose a signal)
- Cadence (a unique variable that serious cyclists want -- agreed that average riders aren't looking into cadence but it's a bonus feature with the Speed Sensor).

Hope that answers your questions on why the Edge is much better than the Foretrex and worth the extra $$$$.

[Ian Jardine @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

What no GPS mapping?

[n8 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I'm hoping this is the first of a few new devices from Garmin. The foretrex/forerunner models were pretty good, and the price was (is) great, but I was always reluctant to buy because of the size of the unit and the lack of USB support. Hopefully the Edge represents a splitting of product lines between running and cycling, and another unit that's more of a watch will be released with similar functions for runners.

[Jasen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Hooray for USB. Macs haven't had serial ports for a LONG time, and Wintel machines have had USB for almost as long. I currently have an ancient Magellan 315 that I don't plan to replace till I can get a USB device.

The price does seem a bit high, though - at least for just the device. The software may be worth $50, but as it's Windows only it'd be worthless to me.

[Rusty Shackleford @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

#7: Before you cheer over the USB-only feature for Macs, check to be sure if Garmin has provided a Mac driver. For example, their Vista C has USB only but you can't use it on a Mac at all since there's no driver for it. Also their GPSMAP 60C&60CS have USB and serial, but only the serial works on a Mac (with an extra-cost USB-serial adapter) because Garmin provides Zero Mac drivers.

Oh, almost forgot to add:
Bicycles Don't Kill People. The Government Does.

[Bravomedic @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Nifty. I wish they had a GPS for under $100 though. They're just too expensive. Unless prices go down, I think I'll just stick with the good old map and compass. Triangulation has worked for centuries and will continue to work.

http://bravomedic.blogspot.com

[n8 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Bravo - Forerunner 201 is only $116 from Amazon. It's not a mapping GPS, which means you'd still need a map, but it does do quite a bit for the recreational GPS user (runner, biker, etc) . Forerunner 101 with bike mount is $106, and eTrex can be had for under $100.

[Jasen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

#8 That's why I'm not overly excited about this device - or any of the other current USB enabled GPSs from Garmin. USB seems to be offered only on their higher end models, and to work with a Mac you have to buy third party software. And even then, the third party software I know of uses a serial-to-USB converter. Hopefully as USB devices become more common, third parties will write USB drivers for the Garmin units.

[Dave Mabe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I wonder what's different about this device that allows it to have such excellent reception even in the woods and between tall buildings?

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

#12 Unlike older models the Edge uses a different chipset, the SiRFstar III receiver. They're making the switch because they believe it will, "enhancing the GPS experience". I interpret that to mean better GPS reception.

[John Klein @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I've heard impressive things about the SiRFstar III receiver. I've used the Geko 201 for many years on my 40+ annual business trips as I like to walk, am usually in cities where I don't have much of a map as it lets me find where I'm going once I've been somewhere once. The trouble with the Geko, and I presume older pre-SiRFstar III receivers is that it's sometimes very tough to get a signal. The Edge solves that problem, and does it at a size that will still fit into your jeans pocket.
The trouble for hiking trips is that it isn't usable as it uses a rechargeable battery which you obviously can't charge during a hike. In this case Garmin should release a battery version, much like the 101 in the Foretrex series. Another "killer" feature would be bluetooth functinality that would permit GPS to laptop/PDA connectivity when you need mapping capability.