Is it too big/clunky? Worth the effort, or easier to just use an HR monitor and bike computer?
Do you train with it? If so, than you won’t notice anything. If on the other hand, you don’t wear it normally, it will feel like a brick strapped to wrist.
i raced with my 205 all last year, its great to see the courses and be able to log it. i keep it sandwiched between two swim caps, in a small zip lock for the swim. then i throw it in my back pocket during the run to T1 ( hitting the lap button vs the stop button takes some practice. ) then i finally put it on as i run out of T2. only problem occurs when try to hit the lap button in you pocket. i guess i’d also worry about someone pounding me on the head, but that hasn’t happened yet…works great so far
Is it too big/clunky? Worth the effort, or easier to just use an HR monitor and bike computer?
I pretty much train with 305 when I bike (training) I have 301 on my bike and 305 on my arm(use heart rate seems to work better than 301 heart rate)
I use the 301 for my speedo.
When I do races I pretty much use the 301 I like the larger display and the 13 hour battery life for ironman(I leave it on in transition so don’t have to wait for it to train up on sattelites when I start the bike so it’s on during swim just stop started)
I turn off auto-pause for races. I set it up for multisport mode bike,transition,run you just click lap and it switches modes.
I mount on my bike(I don’t use either in swim use polar HRM for heartrate and to get water temp by lapping during swim)
Then I pull the 301 off my bike in before transition(just undo velcro then unclip after dismount) then wrap on my arm while running to my transition bag.
The 305 battery life isn’t enough for my ironman times (10:30) might work if I didn’t have to leave it on before swim to bike though but I like the larger display of the 301 and it’s more comfortable on my wrist and works better on my bike(mount).
One problem is I get big dumb during race and sometimes click lap(just habit) well in multisport mode that switches to next mode and you can’t switch back so your run would be off… I usually setup for auto-lap 5 miles on bike and auto-lap 1 on run.
The best part is I can go check the tracks say on topofusion with aerial or maps tell topofusion to break laps down in any range like ever 10 miles
or ever 1/10 mile etc then view areas on the course my average speed over distances and see where I might of had trouble along with heart rate
data and use that information for future races on same course…
It’s come in handy at imf theres a couple of spots on the bike course I always seem to have a hard time then recover later.
Its also helped me remember some of my dumb mistakes on the course…plus it’s just cool…
I have a 201(short battery life) foretrex(like forerunner but just regular gps no multisport or run pace but used it as bike computer until 301 came out.
I have a 301 and 305 and an old gps III plus 10 years old I used to strap that on my aero bars and use it 4 double aa’s and maps but short battery life(5 to 6 hours).
I hate the 405 the display is too small and when I first saw it at ces last year took me more than 10 minutes to figure out how to use it without a manual
I didn’t have that problem with the 301,305 etc.
I prefer larger display(old eyes)
I bring my 205 along on the bike but I get the most use out of it in the run where I can get some accurate mile splits
.
I used my 305 for IMAZ and the battery made it the whole way (13:29).
The key is to turn off the gps when you mount it up on the bike, so it uses the cadence
sensor for the bike distance. Turn it back on when you get running. It’ll be off on distance a
bit, but not enough to matter for me. It complained about low battery in the last mile of
the run but made the whole way.
Downside is that you can’t get Training Center to view it. Crashes on the PC and just
doesn’t show it on the Mac. I suspect it’s just too many datapoints.
I use the quick release.
Word on the street is there will be a much more triathlon friendly device this year, but no
confirmed sightings.
-Jot
I used my 305 with the GPS on during IMZ this year and it lasted just fine (12:25).
I used my 305 for 7 races in 2007 and 8 in 2008. I swam with it as well in each race, though the manual says not to. I never had any issues swimming with it. Other than having to make sure my wetsuit sleeve didn’t obscure it, no problems. On the bike, I really didn’t use it for more than heart rate monitoring, as I just used my cateye to monitor speed and distance. It’s great on the run for showing pace, time and distance, as well as HR. A little bulky perhaps, but it never has gotten in my way.
I put it on for the run. Does anyone know if they offer a velcro strap. That would be a bit easier.
S
Bella,
They have a velcro strap that come in the multisport kit or the quick relases kit. Here is a link to the kit…
I’ve had my 305 for 3 years and used it in 3 IMs. All three times I had it on my bike and turned it on about 45 minutes before the swim, with the GPS on the entire time. At the end of the bike I’d put it on my wrist and run with it. Worked past the end of all my races: 12:19, 10:48, 10:44. A couple times it told me the battery was low, but stayed on for at least 2 hours after it said that the first time. I was able to download all the information into the training center too.
Guess that means I need to finish faster. 
Seriously, TC just crashes if I try to view those results.
-Jot
I used my 305 for 7 races in 2007 and 8 in 2008. I swam with it as well in each race, though the manual says not to. I never had any issues swimming with it. Other than having to make sure my wetsuit sleeve didn’t obscure it, no problems. On the bike, I really didn’t use it for more than heart rate monitoring, as I just used my cateye to monitor speed and distance. It’s great on the run for showing pace, time and distance, as well as HR. A little bulky perhaps, but it never has gotten in my way.
I have swam with it on during olympics. Did you ever swim with it on in a HIM or IM dist?
You’ll get away with it…for a while. Eventually, you won’t.
At least Garmin is good about replacement.
-Jot “on #3”
You might still be able to use a Garmin for your Ironman. Just before you go to the swim, turn it on and let it lock on to the satellites. Then turn it off.
When you come into T1, first thing you do, turn it on and put it on your wrist. Since it just got the satellites, an hour or so earlier, it will lock on much faster. By the time you head out on the bike, it will probably be ready, provided turning it on is the FIRST thing you do when you get to T1
Yes, I swam with it at the Boulder 5430 Half and then at the Halfmax in Las Vegas last year. I do know a buddy in Washington State who says he fried his swimming with it, but I will continue to do so - I only swim with it in races, and I have done 15 races in the last two years with no issues. I wonder why they can’t make it so it truly suits a triathlon environment? Even the new 405 says you shouldn’t swim with it.
an employee at Garmin in Chicago told me to put it in your cap during the swim. I dont have one so I’ve never tried it
Well, now, THAT’s convenient, isn’t it!
The real answer is everyone waiting to see what Garmin is coming out with this spring. Supposed
to have a good triathlon device.
Even the quick release kit for the 305 is a clever way to deal with the fact that transition was
an afterthought.
-Jot
You don’t have a swim cap? I’ll give you one. 