to garmin or not to...

[diamondG]

I want to get a speedo for the bike, something that will do lap times, I also want a heart rate monitor, so the question is, should I buy a garmin?


If so, is it the edge 305 HR (€260) I need, or should I save up for the edge 705 HR (€380 plus postage), with the nice colour screen and uploadable maps?

ta

[Morgan]

Definitely - I'm very happy with my 305 - it's a really useful training aid.


I don't know if the 705 is worth the extra money - you should get one so we can have a look at it though.

[ryan]

I would go for the 305 for now unless you really like having full maps available (a feature I doubt I would ever use) or are planning on buying a powermeter. Where did you see it for 380? Sounds like a good deal.


Get the Garmin - I'm an 18 month convert, Mel now swears by it too!

[Martin]

305 HR is grand got one on ebay form the states for 170 euros and no import tax. let me know if your interested and I'll send you the guys link! i doubt the new version will have topos for ireland and besides colour and maps cant see any real difference! loads of functions ... HR, speed, elevation, distance, time .....

[diamondG]

sounds good, thanks lads!

yeah the 305 HR sounds best, and my wallet agrees.


Martin, that sounds like a great price!

that would be great if you could foward on the link, I'm at

pyrennes006 AT yahoo DOT com


I'm tempted to go with CRC, as I'd like to have it by race time (probably not going to happen with the stories I'm hearing about their delivery times at the moment though)

[diamondG]

Ryan, here's thelink to the 705 for €390 (including postage)

Its the one with the Cadence too, so I'm guessing it does the power output also


http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4Y4T

[Scrivo]

Ah don't get one of them Graham. They're wrecking my head on spins these days. Constant beeping is all you hear. I like the sound of squeaking discs, has been replaced by garmins giving morse coded gps positions!! First the overshoes and then this... You're hanging by a thread D-dog... If it wasn't for those salty corn things, this could have been it..... ;)

[diamondG]

you can turn the beeping off, can't you

tell me you can!


in spain last weekend, so I've a bag of that corn with your name on it.


as for the overshoes, with all this dry weather, they haven't seen much action.


Mind you if you saw what I was putting over my diadoras when I'm going to work I'd be bannished from the club.

I'm still in the testing phase but lets just say, these things could revolutionise the overshoe industry!!

[Scrivo]

Hahaha I like it. Think you can turn the beeping off alright. It involves using a big hammer though. Deadly!! Corn, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


Where was everybody tonight? Was left doing park training with Rudolfh and Prancer. Not fun at all. They pushed me for a bit but then I pulled ahead on the humps.

[Martin]

http://search.ebay.ie/_W0QQsassZmyronglobal


it takes about 3 weeks to come from the USA.


http://cgi.ebay.ie/BRAND-NEW-GARMIN-EDGE-305-GPS-W-HEART-RATE-MONITOR_W0QQitemZ330217236418QQihZ014QQcategoryZ34 289QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Karl]

I ordered one on eBay from MyronGlobal. Three weeks later it hadn't arrived, so I sent numerous emails without response. I had to claim the payment back from PayPal. Check his eBay feedback, lots of people have had the same problem.


I ended up getting it here and it arrived within a few days: http://stores.ebay.ie/Discount-Audio-Warehouse-UK_Outdoor-Products_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ14016023QQftidZ2QQ tZkm

[Martin]

yeah Karl I took a punt but it came! if you pay through paypal if it don't come you can claim back! it paid off for me!

[ryan]

CRC order times have been grand - put in a big order for my race bike on Wednesday and it arrived Thursday. You can turn the Garmin into silent mode, it involves the pushing of a few buttons...


As for the power, the 705 is only the receiver of the wireless power information - you still have to buy the 4,000euro wireless SRM...


Oh, and CRC will price match amazon.co.uk if the price is cheaper there...

[Fergal]

I think you're mental Graham, Steve is right - the Garmins - especially Morgans, drive me mad - like feckin' R2D2 on speed.

If you want a trace of your big Sunday spin then no worries as some well-off individual/poor sucker who has dished out a rake of cash on one, will almost definitely be on the spin too :-)


Check this out:

I bought my 'device' in Lidl last year, features as follows:


Wireless

Backlight illumination (can be configured only to come on between certain times)

Stopwatch

Configurable for 2 different bikes (ie; different wheel sizes)

Service alarm

HR monitor (includes strap)- you confgure upper/lower HR settings - it dynamically tells you what time you spent below/within/above your target zone.

Avg. and actual HR (shows you when you are above/at/below average

Actual, top and avg speed

Trip distance meter

Odometer (programmable)

Calorie/fat burn calculator (you needn't worry about though a slim lad like ya)

2 or 3 year warranty - not sure which - I needed a replacement wheel sensor/magnet which they sent out to me no probs.

Scrol function that displays all the above data in a timed sequence

Think it does some other things too - but you get the idea


Price?


A massive 20euro - frickin' awesome!!


Keep an eye on Lidl/Aldi's weekly offers....


Spend all the dosh you'll save on a Dirtworker instead

[Morgan]

Yeah, that's great Fergal, but can your device produce graphs like THIS?


http://morgan.oconnell.googlepages.com/graph.jpg


I didn't think so.

[Fergal]

Ah come on now Morgan - 5 Y-axis scales? 5 of them ????!!!!

It looks like tie-die psychedelia measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale!


Graham, ask yourself - is the above picture how you want to see your life?

all confused random squiggles and rainbows?

and who is going to replace this expensive piece of kit when the 3rock downhillers mug you for all you are worth?

[diamondG]

Fergal, I've one of those lidl speedos too

Fupped it up on the Annacurragh long distance race/swim this 'summer'.


The nice thing about the lidl stuff is that its covered by a 3 year warranty, with the receipt DOH!!


If you need any spares for yours let me know, I've the bike bracket, heart rate belt, and a fupped computer (buttons jammed)

ps: don't try lidl for cycling gear this week, its all brutal (except for a cycling jacket, more a wind breaker though)


Morgan, that's some graph!

what does it represent, is it speed, heart rate and altitude while climbing the stairs to take a leak while you were watchin tv?

Now, that's the kind of info I need for trainin' !!

[Morgan]

Represent?


I've no idea, I just like looking at all the colours.

[TomH]

I am pretty sure that's an original Jackson Pollock you have on your hands Morgan, I'd get that insured.