Garmin has really upped the ante on the entire cycling computercategory with it's new gps-enabled navigator/computer, the 705. This is a true navigational aid with full-color maps and turn-by-turn directions in addition to advanced route-planning and saving capabilities. On top of that, the 705 adds heart rate and cadence monitors, a barometric altimeter, and wireless capability that lets you share routes and workout data with other riders instantly. Sleek and waterproof, with a 2.2-inch color screen that lets you customize what data you see and how you see it, these two devices help make the most of every ride.
The 705 comes in three different models. The basic model comes with a heart-rate monitor. You can also get models that add the speed/cadence sensor. The Edge 305 Screen (actual size)
The larger color screen (actual size) on the Edge 705 shows you your surroundings more clearly and supports real turn-by-turn navigation.
 | The Power Of Location-Based Data
Anyone who has used Garmin's original Edge 205 or 305 already understands the power that attaching location data to traditional measurements like distance, speed, time, calories burned, and heart rate can provide. Knowing exactly where you worked hardest, rode fastest (or most slowly) lets you tailor your workouts to improve to improve your riding skills for specific distances, conditions, and types of terrain. It gives a complete picture of how you interact with every portion of your ride.
Altitude is recorded using a barometric altimeter for the Edge 705. This accurate altitude data makes it much easier for cyclists to match their altitude profile with their speed, cadence, and heart rate during post-ride analysis.
A First-Rate Bike Computer
The 705 also track your heart rate, cadence, power (from optional ANT + Sport-enabled third-party power meters), climb and descent. Other nifty features include the following.
- Virtual Partner lets you race a virtual competitor over a specified distance and speed.
- Courses let you race against a previously recorded workout, so you can compare your current and past performances over the same ride.
- Auto Pause pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride.
- Customizable computer screen shows up to eight different data fields. The user may customize the display for the size and placement of the data.
- Program alerts to sound if the user strays outside the range of speed, heart rate or cadence values. Alerts can also indicate when a set amount of time or distance has passed.
- Auto Lap automatically starts a new lap each time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance
- Click stick helps users navigate through the various options.
Full-Featured Navigation
No more scratch paper paper-clipped to your handlebars. In addition to their cycling computer functions, The Edge 705 provides the same robust navigation as Garmin's vehicle navigators, with turn-by-turn spoken directions (turn left in 500 yards) and a 2.2-inch (diagonal) color display that shows maps in great detail.
Both devices come pre-loaded with a built-in basemap, and a MicroSD card slot you can use to load new maps or store workout, course and ride data. Garmin has lots of street and topographic maps available for purchase and you can download courses and rides from Garmin or other riders at the Garmin Connect website.
Both feature a high-sensitivity receiver that holds a signal under trees and near tall buildings and have a click stick for easy screen navigation. Connectivity and "ANT + Sport"
One of Garmin's most ambitious decisions has been to approach fitness devices as a total platform with their "ANT + Sport" connectivity system. All of Garmin's new fitness devices, including the Edge 705, the Forerunner 50 heart rate monitor watches, will interface wirelessly with any devices that are compatible wiht the "ANT + Sport" protocol, including devices from other manufacturers. Currently, Garmin the devices will pair with power meter from SRM or Quarq to measure power – torque and cadence for each leg at the pedals – which is often cited as a true indicator of an efficient ride. It's unclear what other manufacturers will buy into the ANT + Sport platform, but this kind of open connectivity with products from other companies offers a great deal of potential flexibility.
The wireless function also makes it easy to connect one Edge unit to another to share rides, courses and workout data.
Heart Rate and Cadence Monitors
The Edge 705 heart rate monitor uses a robust wireless technology that eliminates cross-talk and interference and delivers real-time heart rate data exclusively to the user’s device. This data is stored with each track point for post-workout analysis. The Edge 705 with speed/cadence sensor incorporates a self-calibrating, wireless speed/cadence sensor that mounts to the rear chain stay of the bicycle.
Be Part of A Community
In 2007, Garmin acquired Motion-based, the largest shared repository of customer-generated gps-based routes, courses and maps. This was a significant move for Garmin to support the gps user community and bring a wealth of route options to gps users. With a simple connection to your computer, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect our new, one-stop site for data analysis an sharing.
You can also upload to optional Garmin Training Center software for further analysis. Garmin Training Center stores large quanities of workout and ride data. Some of the things you can do are
- Review your workout data, including pace/speed, distance, time, calories burned; and if available, heart rate, cadence and detailed elevation.
- View a detailed graph of your workout data, plotted over time or distance.
- View a map of your workout that shows the exact path you traveled.
- Categorize your workout history according to type of activity.
- Review previous workouts, which are saved by day and week.
- Create customized workouts with specific goals and rest intervals. Then send them to your fitness device.*
- Schedule workouts for a specific day with calendar.
- Get custom workout templates designed by the experts at TrainingPeaks.com
What's In The Box
Edge 705 gps-enabled cycling computer, heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor, City Navigator for U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico street map, bike mounts, AC charger, USB cable, Owner's manual on CD-ROM, Quick reference guide. |
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 A brilliant bicyling companion |
| Review Date: August 25, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Jeff, Boston, MA USA |
I read all these reviews before I bought my Edge 705. The device has exceeded all my expectations, and has added a new dimension to my bike rides. It's the most sensitive GPS i've ever used - it "sees" satellites even when indoors. I also find it to be very accurate, the speed is always close to my Cateye bike computer, which i haven't removed yet.
One bike-specific feature that no one else seems to have mentioned is the actual routes the 705 gives you. If you punch in a "go to" address, it will provide directions using back roads and side streets - instead of the usual highways and major roads. Especially great in urban areas. The only caveat is that "rail trails" don't seem to be part of the database.
Danbucks "-DC" - you just need to really tighten the ties. I used needle-nose pliers to tighten mine, and today was mountain biking over gnarly roots and rocks, including slamming down rock "staircases" - the Garmin remained firmly attached to the handlebars. I'm using this unit on a road bike and mountain bike, it's very secure. Also: when you mount it, pay attention to the angle. This screen is easily readable with no backlight in bright sunlight, as long as you're looking at it straight on. Garmin includes a rubber wedge so you can position the unit for optimal viewing relative to your riding angle.
As far as software, Garmin's training center isn't that great, but third party software called "Ascent" is amazing. I'm using it on my mac, and when you sync the GPS with it, a presumably google-based map instantly appears with your route superimposed, along with graphs, charts, and a calendar. I'm just using the free demo version for now.
Overall, I find the Edge 705 to be robust, intuitive, and perfect for bike riding - or even when just on foot. I previously tried using a Magellan Explorist 500 as a bike GPS - a waste compared to the Garmin. I purchased the Edge 705 for the maps, but the ability to recall your speed, elevation, heart rate and cadence at any given point during your ride now has me analyzing my fitness level - and pushing me to go further. |
Edge 705 - A cycling supercomputer...
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| Review Date: July 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Justin Moore, San Antonio, TX USA |
I've logged close to five hundred miles on my Garmin Edge 705 after upgrading from an Edge 305HR that I used for nearly two years. Here's a quick review of my experience...
Display: The new, larger color display is gorgeous. Improvements include removing the "title bar" present on the Edge 305 and using every pixel of this larger screen for displaying data fields that you select. The display is easy to view, without backlighting, during the day. For early morning or night rides, just a click or two to engage the backlight provides plenty of clarity while providing long battery life.
Battery: So far, it's handled 2-3 hour rides with very little battery drain (including about an hour of riding at night with the backlight set to "stay on"). I see no reason, at this point, that the unit would not meet its stated battery life of 10-15 hours.
Maps: Let's say that again. Maps! The ability to see where you are and to actually navigate using the Edge 705 continues to impress me. It provides detailed routing optimized for bicycles. It does this by optimizing the route to avoid major streets and other hazards. On a recent ride it routed us as far as possible on low-traffic side streets before taking us to the main street in town where we only had about 1/4 mile of riding in traffic before arriving at our destination! Very impressive and a powerful ally for bicycle commuters.
Size/Weight: The Edge 705 is physically larger than the 305 and a tad heavier. Kudos to Garmin for making the 705 compatible with the 305 mounting system.
Usability: Usa...what? This is a measure of how intuitive and user-friendly the device and its internal software is. Here the Edge 705 scores BIG. The inclusion of a "joystick" type input device makes entering information, changing data, etc. much easier than the 305. Nice touches include customizing the color scheme of menus and having the ability to actually NAME your various bike profiles (instead of just "Bike 1", "Bike 2", etc.).
Garmin has a solid track record of releasing firmware updates that correct software glitches and/or adds features to the unit.
If you want the ultimate cycle computer and a robust navigation aid for your bicycle commutes, look no further.
If you don't need the color screen, detailed maps/routing, etc. - the Edge 305HR remains a solid option.
For more detailed, real-world use of the Edge 705 you can learn more by visiting my cycling blog. [...] |
The (nearly) everything bike computor
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| Review Date: April 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Diane Riley, Wisconsin, USA |
The Garmin Edge 705 has two basic functions;
1) to provide you with data while you ride.
2) to store data and allow you to analyze it later on a computer.
It is nearly perfect for displaying data while you ride. The screens are easily customizable to display up to 8 pieces of ride data simultaneously such as current, average, or maximum speed, cadence, heart rate, and power (providing you purchase and install a compatible power measuring device separately. The Edge 705 provides no power data without one). It can also display things such as calories burned, heading, altitude, and current grade. The map screen is customizable to display the map only or map combined with ride data. It's very flexible and it legible day or night thanks to the backlighting. Wearing sunglasses detracts from the readability, but I've alway been able to read the screen easily. My only complaint is that when you are browsing the map screen the lesser roads disappear from the map screen when you zoom out, and only the main roads are displayed. This makes the maps a little difficult to use because he have to remained zoomed in to read the street names translates to a lot of screen scrolling. I can understand the limitation however because I think the Edge 705 would need a higher resolution screen alleviate this, which would be awesome, but add to the cost of an already pricey item.
When it comes to storing and analyzing the ride data the Edge 705 collects, it is both good and bad. The Edge 705 can store a lot of data and I have yet to delete anything in the 200+ miles I put on with it. The only thing the Edge 705 doesn't store is grade. It will display current grade while you ride, but it does not store that data in any way. No maximum grade, no average grade, and no way to view the grade of the hills you climbed via software. The only way to get grade information is to look down at the screen while your riding. When you plug the Edge 705 into a computer it is effortless to get data transfered using the Garmin Training Center software. Your ride data will be displayed in both spreadsheet and graph format and you can export the data should you want to. Unfortunately, you can not really interact with your ride data with the Garmin Training Center software in a meaningful way, it's just static what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Overall I am underwhelmed with it.
The Garmin Connect website is a different story altogether. The Garmin Connect website can also easily grab data from you Edge and display it via your web browser, but in a much more useful manner than the Garmin Training Center software. You can interact with the maps and the charts to see where on your ride you where when different events happened simply by clicking on the chart or on your route. You can also "play" back your ride using the Player, which is very slick. The ride route is laid over an interactive Google Maps view, which is also way better than the Garmin Training Center. The website lets you name your rides, add a description or comment to your rides, and you can share you ride data for other to view. You can not do any of those things with the Garmin Training Center software. The Garmin Connect website is a real selling point for the Edge 705 and I strongly suggest you visit the Garmin Connect website (you can google it), click on the "explore" tab and view some of the data shared there. As a note, your can make all or just particular rides private, so you can still use the site for yourself and not have others view your data. It's your option. Just keep in mind that the website in much much better than the Garmin Training Center software.
I have no complaints about the mounting bracket (which I have mounted to my stem), however I don't know if it would survive a hard crash (and hopefully I'll never find out). By mounting the 705 to my stem, I don't experience the rotation problem other mention from mounting it to the handlebars.
The speed/cadence sensor has to be mounted VERY close to the wheel and the pedal. On my Trek, the chain stay is oddly shaped and the sensor seems to mount a little precariously because of that, but I have not had a problem yet .
The speed/cadence sensor and heart rate monitor have always been automatically detected by the 705 and worked as expected.
The battery lasts a long time, even with backlighting on. The longest I've had it on is 4 hours. I believe that under normal use the 705 will last over 10 hours, but I have not actually tried it.
I don't think that the odometer reading is inclusive. It only counts the miles you ride while the timer is running. If you ride 10 miles before you hit the start button, those 10 miles wont show up on the odometer for the bike, which is a shame. I'd like to know how many miles are on my bike regardless of whether I recording it or not. What other purpose does the odometer serve?
All-in-all I love the Edge 705. It has exceeded my expectations. |
Keeps You Wanting To Ride!
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| Review Date: April 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Hofner Guy, Etters, PA United States |
There is so much out there on the Garmin Edge 705, that I am not going to write a huge detailed review. I just wanted to add my opinion that I love this thing! It works great, it was easy to install, and its easy to set up and use. I purchased the version with heart rate, cadence, and micro SD card based street maps. The maps were easy to install on the unit also -- just insert the SD card and the unit finds the maps! Oh, a note to say the only thing I had to scratch my head on was the micro SD card is actually inserted into a full sized SD card adapter, so it took me a min. to find that one out.
Its well made -- it should be for what it cost. For the price I paid (which was a good deal at Amazon -- hey Amazon do I get a coupon for plugging you?) I just wanted it to to work well,be easy to use, and give me the data it advertised. Its all that and I must say that my expectations were exceeded (and I had some pretty high expectations). Are you getting the point that easy is a theme here? The BEST part about this device is [..] -- what a great website! Garmin put some real effort into this website -- its easy to use and navigate through, and I love how everything is laid out. You can play back your ride and it shows you everything. Check it out! Extremely useful! It puts all the data together so you can really use it! The training center software is good too but I like the website better. The training center doesn't seem to overlay maps in any detail, where the website works with Google maps.
Have not tried importing a ride created through a site like "Ride with GPS" but I have uploaded a ride or to and its cool too, but the Garmin website keeps a calendar and reports other things and I just think its better. Unfortunately you can not plot rides with the Garmin website like "Ride with GPS" -- not sure why but would be a nice feature to add, then everything would be on stop shopping.
Battery life is great too.
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Coool unit!
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| Review Date: September 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Albert Einstein, Sunnyvale, CA |
Should have gotten the faster shipping because I *love* this unit! It is great fun to see the way your heart and cadence interact with the map. Do I need this? No! Do I think it is a great way to be a geek and have fun? Yes!
My only complaint with Garmin is that they need to get their new service online. They've owned MotionBased for awhile now and they are supposed to be making a "free" version available that will allow unlimited uploads. They need to get this done more quickly.
Only other nit is that you shouldn't bother with the non-street map version. It galls me that you have to spend another $100 for a unit that should have maps built-in already (let's face it... The Edge 705 is *not* an inexpensive toy!). Without the maps, the granularity of the GPS mapping data is pretty much useless. It only has the most major of streets. |
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