I’m in the market for a new bike computer and here’s the criteria I’m looking for…
-Speed
-Distance
-Cadence (not that big of a deal)
-Altitude gain/loss
-Heart Rate (but I could just keep that on my watch)
-Auto start/stop
-The ability to transfer between my road and tri bike.
Other bells and whistles are nice too though.
I’m looking at either the Garmin 305 or Polar CS400. Price range of no more than $500-ish but something in the $300’s would be nicer. I am a triathlete though so the Polar s625x or s725x could work for both the bike and run and I wouldn’t have to worry about looking at both computers.
Suggestions and personal experiences would be nice so I can get a feel of which product would suit me best.
I own both…here’s my feedback knowing both do what you are asking for:
POLAR CS400:
-Software that allows coaching (self or outsourced), setting up of workouts that transfer into head unit and guide you through each workout…amazing!!!
-Much better analysis of what you did during your workouts…over time…a true “training effect” software
-Much smaller head unit than Garmin…looks a lot better on the bike (but to be fair, Garmin is big so you can see more info per screen)
-Wearlink chest strap for HR (by far, the most comfy chest strap with no slipping and adheres to cyclist during aero position)
-Shares same altitude technology and features as Garmin 305
-3 bike set-up
-1 second recording of data
- MUCH FASTER DATA TO BIKE COMPUTER INFO (all GPS has a lag time…though it’s not bad on the Garmin 305)
Garmin:
-After I lost interest in the fun things about the Garmin (the downloading of map/routes onto virtual mapping, and the virtual training partner…both of which I don’t use hardly at all…thought I would, but I really don’t)…I use the Garmin for navigation purposes. Their software won’t hold up to Polar, but if that’s not important, then there you go
-If you don’t care about cadence, the head unit will give you cycling data by just swapping from bike to bike (if you want cadence, you have to switch over the cadence sensor or by another (same with Polar of course).
-It really is pretty big though…my nice carbon stem is completely covered by it…
I started out with the Polar CS200Cad and switched to the Garmin. twice my Polar would die after about a year. I now use the Edge 305 on my road bike and the Foreruner 305 on my tri bike and while running. Both have the features you are asking about. Only reason I have both is that I bought the edge used and temporarily misplaced it only to find it again the day after my replacement Forerunner shipped. The Forerunner is nice for doing distance based run intervals without a track. Edge is more accurate on elevation, but there is software to help improve the forerunner results. Cadence is by a seperate sensor that cost about $35 online. One of my cadence sensors did die, but i think i didn’t have the battery cover on all the way and road in the rain. oops
I have had a Polar S725x for two years and used it for training + doing two ironman races. I also have the foot pod for it. I like it a lot and its been very reliable and accurate. Also, they are just bringing out a GPS based pod for it. The main reasons I got it rather than a Garmin system were it’s a lot smaller, has much longer battery life, has great training software and you can swim with it.
It doesn’t autostart and auto stop on the bike though.
As for GPS navigation - well that would be nice gadget to have but in reality I’ve never needed it.
I have a Forerunner 305 and a Polar 725. I use the Garmin 90% of the time. The Polar is nice but the Garmin isn’t nearly as fussy about where you mount it (with the Polar if I put the watch on my wrist, I might not have heart rate or speed/cadence depending on where my arms were - that kind of thing). You can’t get far enough away from the Garmin to make it stop reading your HR. Also there is some software called SportTracks that works with the Garmin units and I think SportTracks is a must have. I also like the “Virtual Partner” which allows you to race yourself from a previous time of running the same course.
I’ve been using my Garmin Forerunner 305 more than anything lately… though I also have an older Mavic wintech going concurrently for cadence. I was a long-time Polar user and liked the comfort of their chest strap a lot, but the combo of features on the Garmin is schweet. Wish the Garmin battery stayed charged longer, though
