I ended up going with garmin edge 305 and love it instead of the polar. It is an awesome set. I would recommend to anyone that is looking to buy something cheaper than a thousand dollar power meter. I spend 280 on it via ebay. I think it retails for much more though. It comes with the cadence and hr strap. But…you have to make sure you get the (bundle) version. It does everything. Elevation, cadence, time, speed, lap&splits, hr, grade, distance and breaks everything down for you. It also comes with software to analyze your data on the computer. I am satisfied The GPS works great and I was told it is a lot easier to set up than the polar. You basically buy it and ride!
Is this the version with two options: wrist mount or handle bar mount?
If so, which did you get and why?
Thanks
The wrist mount one I think is the Forerunner, for runners. The edge is the bike version. It is a cool tool, to see exactly how the hills effect your speed. But it ain’t nothing like looking at power numbers. I’ve ridden with both the Edge and PT at the same time to see exactly what was going on: cool graphs.
Thanks Wink,
I was hoping there would be one unit that works for both (bike/run).
The Edge looks a little bulky for running with.
Tom
The only downside to this unit is the elevation is sometimes off due to lack of satellite recogition. Yes it is better than before, but if you live in an urban area, acquiring satellites at the atart of a ride is difficult.
Bob
Thanks Wink,
I was hoping there would be one unit that works for both (bike/run).
The Edge looks a little bulky for running with.
Tom
The Forerunner 305 is for running AND cycling. It is setup for both functions. The Forerunner 205 is for running only (it doesn’t have cycling functions built in). I don’t believe you could run with the Edge unless you held it in your hand as it doesn’t come with a wrist strap as far as I know.
The Forerunner 305 also has a wireless cadence option as an add-on. I love mine. I had the Polar 625 which is very sleek but had an unacceptable margin for error. I have found the Garmin’s accuracy to be absolutely spot-on.
No its not bulky to run with. It is about 2 inches by 3.5 or so. You can look at 8 different types of data while running and biking. It doesn’t have a wrist mount but you can either carry it while running, put it in a fanny pack, or carry it in a ziplock bag while running if you are worried about sweat. My friend has a forerunner and I like this better. You can easily use it for both. I ran twice with it already.
handle bar mounts but you can use it for running too. Carry it. put it in your pocket or fanny pack. It is small and easy to work with.
OK, here it is flat out:
which model should I “suggest” for Fathers Day? It is for a triathlete, tech junky, loves to ride, running is OK.
Edge(305)? or Forerunner (301, 305, other)
Thanks
by the way, this isn’t for me.
I use both the 305 Edge and the 305 Forerunner as follows: When I am setting up my spot in the transition aera I turn both units on to locate the satalites. The Edge is on the bike and the Forerunner goes ontop of my running shoes. I put on the heart rate strap under my wet suit with some Spectra 812 gel to improve the signal. I check to see that both units are getting a hr signal, if one or both is not then I scroll through accesaries and reboot the “restart scan” feature. If that doesn’t work, then it means that the battery in the chest strap is dead (cheap and easy to replace). I make sure to “reset” both units before leaving for the swim. I time my ride (and all the other automatic functions, i.e. cadence, barametric altitude, location map, h.r., etc.). When I drop the bike off in T2 I grab my Forerunner and am strapping it on to my wrist as I make my way out of the transition aera. I like the data that these units provide for me, but have not lost sight of the fact that these things don’t do the tri for me, they just document what it is that I have done. They are great for training, particularly for the bike courses that I can compare to each other. I have my own data base of the following courses: Escape from Fort Delaware (Oly), Delaware Diamond Man (Half Iron), Tupper Lake (Half Iron), Lake Placid (one loop = Half Iron), Timberman (half Iron), New Jersey Devilman (Half Iron). I have done these courses with the same bike but different wheels and helmets, so I have gotten some real world experiences with my gear on real courses. Based on my recent experience I have found that on the same bike (Cervelo P3C) I have found that a Zipp Disc versus a Zipp 404 rear wheel and a L.G. Rocket helmet versus a LAS road helmet = about 1.5 mph gain on the same course. Of course there are other factors like weather and my physical condition on any given day, but my point is that having a uniform digital data base gives me the oppertunity to compare my various options when it comes to selecting gear for a course. Tim
OK, here it is flat out:
which model should I “suggest” for Fathers Day? It is for a triathlete, tech junky, loves to ride, running is OK.
Edge(305)? or Forerunner (301, 305, other)
Thanks
by the way, this isn’t for me.
In my opinion I would get the Forerunner 305. The extra functionality is well worth it.
For Fathers day, or if I had to suggest one for general use, get the Forerunner 305. I got my bro that one and he uses it running(it paces you well) and he said he used it riding too.
Were as the Edge 305(I have this one) is really good for biking, it mounts good and is low profile, it is harder to run with it functionally. I carried it in my hand, but you wouldn’t want to do that during a race I don’t think, but can find how long your fav run courses are!
Definitely the Forerunner 305. You should also suggest that you need the Bike to Wrist quick release kit. I’ve got it and absolutely love it. Once you get the Forerunner you remove the wrist bands. You then use the velcro wrist band that comes with the Bike to Wrist kit for running. It has a bracket that the unit slips in and out of very easily. You also get a bracket that mounts on your bike. It’s perfect for racing. At the beginning of the race put n the HRM strap and the velcro wrist strap (minus the GPS unit). At this point the GPS unit is on your bike. Swim, T1 and bike and then remove the head unit during or just before T2, insert it into your wrist strap and voila you now have it on the run and the change took less that 2 seconds.
The Forerunner 205 does have cycling componets in it. NO cadence/watts etc but it does speed, avg, max speed, distance and everything else.
I use my 205 for running and on my Madone for cycling. I just use a piece of foam (think pool noodle) and strap it on the handlebar.
I LOVE my Garmin. Except when it tells me to speed up 
“the forerunner 205 and 305 are identical in every way except the 205 does not do HR”
Also, I don’t think you can get the optional GSC-10 cadence monitor for the 205.
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It’s available for $220 new on Amazon. Rarely do you get the best prices on Ebay.
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If you load the data into motionbased, it will correct the distance and altitude. Altitude in the watch can be way off. The device recently said I climbed 4500 when I actually climbed 5500 - Motionbased caught this.
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You can buy a sensor that you can put on the bike that will communicate with the watch to give you both speed (maybe more accurately) and cadance). It’s called the Garmin GSC 10. Around $45.
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If you do indoor running, there is an accelerometer you can also use.
“1) It’s available for $220 new on Amazon. Rarely do you get the best prices on Ebay.”
Same price at Costco right now as well…$219
Can you swim with the 305? I just dont want to think of adding a watch to T1
No swimming. It says waterproof to 5m (or maybe 5ft, something VERY small). I read that someone was putting it under their swim cap though to track how close to a straight line they were swimming in…then when running to T1 would grab it from the cap and put it on their wrist for the rest of the race.
EDIT: water resistant, not water proof, I think
Sometimes, you just gotta love e-Bay…(if you’re a seller).
I spend 280 on it via ebay.
Same price at Costco right now as well…$219