Garmin 705 or 500?
Discussion
I've been lurking about in the background but I know you guys like spending money on new cycling toys so Garmin 705 or 500 or something else....I'm stuck?
I've recently started cycling and got the Strava bug and a desire to go a lot further then my usual 30 mile trips without ending up on the main roads or getting lost on the country roads. I also think by my reckoning that I can justify a new toy given the amount I'm using the bike, given up the beer (almost), and how I perceive a HRM should help with fitness, given I'm off trekking South America in the Autumn.
I've narrowed it down my decision down to replacing a Cateye Strada to a Garmin 705 or 500 as I'd like the HRM (mainly) and Cadence monitor, so which would you go for and why?
Both come in about £160 - £200 with all the sensors, so that's my budget, a little more if necessary. It seems you get a few extra bits of data and better mapping with the 705 but as a bit older is it less reliable? Are the talkytoaster maps easy to use? Can you pre plan routes?
The 500's mapping is the breadcrub type but is it really that confusing to use? I think the 500 caught the 705 a little with firmware upgrades, especially the advance workouts? I don't see any real benefits in the new 510 over the 500, especially with the £100 premium.
It's over to you!
I've recently started cycling and got the Strava bug and a desire to go a lot further then my usual 30 mile trips without ending up on the main roads or getting lost on the country roads. I also think by my reckoning that I can justify a new toy given the amount I'm using the bike, given up the beer (almost), and how I perceive a HRM should help with fitness, given I'm off trekking South America in the Autumn.
I've narrowed it down my decision down to replacing a Cateye Strada to a Garmin 705 or 500 as I'd like the HRM (mainly) and Cadence monitor, so which would you go for and why?
Both come in about £160 - £200 with all the sensors, so that's my budget, a little more if necessary. It seems you get a few extra bits of data and better mapping with the 705 but as a bit older is it less reliable? Are the talkytoaster maps easy to use? Can you pre plan routes?
The 500's mapping is the breadcrub type but is it really that confusing to use? I think the 500 caught the 705 a little with firmware upgrades, especially the advance workouts? I don't see any real benefits in the new 510 over the 500, especially with the £100 premium.
It's over to you!
I got a 500 a few months ago.
Used the mapping over here, it's great. Register on ridewithgps.com and it takes about 2 minutes to put a route on.
I'm that confident it works I'm going riding in Spain with one for 10 days, having pre-planned my routes and saved them to my Garmin.
It just works. A great little device.
Used the mapping over here, it's great. Register on ridewithgps.com and it takes about 2 minutes to put a route on.
I'm that confident it works I'm going riding in Spain with one for 10 days, having pre-planned my routes and saved them to my Garmin.
It just works. A great little device.
I have a 705 with OS maps from talkytoaster installed and it works fantastically.
I used it to guide us on the C2C last September. I pre-plotted all the possible routes (there were suggested alternative sections in the route cards we were using) in Google Earth and loaded them onto the device. Then at each point where there was a choice to make we just selected the required one and followed the trace. Very clear and easy to follow.
A couple of points though. The 705 has been out of production for a while now, so finding a new one will be difficult. Also the 705 has the older slide on fixing as opposed to the 500 being 1/4 turn. I wanted an "out front" mount for my 705 but can't get one, they are all 1/4 turn fixing.
I used it to guide us on the C2C last September. I pre-plotted all the possible routes (there were suggested alternative sections in the route cards we were using) in Google Earth and loaded them onto the device. Then at each point where there was a choice to make we just selected the required one and followed the trace. Very clear and easy to follow.
A couple of points though. The 705 has been out of production for a while now, so finding a new one will be difficult. Also the 705 has the older slide on fixing as opposed to the 500 being 1/4 turn. I wanted an "out front" mount for my 705 but can't get one, they are all 1/4 turn fixing.
BOBTEE said:
I tried wetting my HRM too, I even got some conductive gel... I still die with alarming regularity!
Never had a problem with mine. Just moistened the two contact points and always get consistent readings.Perhaps you should shave your chest? Maybe not, according to the news today you'll end up with some kind of pox
I use a Etrex 30, rather than a cycling specific one. Wonks with ANT+, so HRM and cadence work, and I don't have to worry about battery life on long events, 'cos it takes AAs. Stem mount works well, and it uses the Russian and USian satellites so start-up is very quick compared to older devices. Chuffed with it - recommended if you don't need HRM alerts and the like.
Thanks all for your replies.
CoolC, it was searching here through and a post of yours in a previous thread that lead me to look at the 705. From what I've read on the internet it seems it can be quite temperamental but I guess most post the problems not the positives, mostly too on older threads so possibly that's all ironed out with firmware.
How easy is it to use/install Talkytoaster maps? If I get the unit from a reputable site it seems to come with a month warranty so not concerned about them being used units.
Dr Mekon, it seems a little hassle to get the data out of the Etrex on to Strava and then additional costs for the Cadence and HRM from what I've seen. Thanks though.
Think the 500 may just pip it, but only because I've seen fewer issues from what I've read although I like the 705's mapping.
CoolC, it was searching here through and a post of yours in a previous thread that lead me to look at the 705. From what I've read on the internet it seems it can be quite temperamental but I guess most post the problems not the positives, mostly too on older threads so possibly that's all ironed out with firmware.
How easy is it to use/install Talkytoaster maps? If I get the unit from a reputable site it seems to come with a month warranty so not concerned about them being used units.
Dr Mekon, it seems a little hassle to get the data out of the Etrex on to Strava and then additional costs for the Cadence and HRM from what I've seen. Thanks though.
Think the 500 may just pip it, but only because I've seen fewer issues from what I've read although I like the 705's mapping.
3013buz said:
Thanks all for your replies.
CoolC, it was searching here through and a post of yours in a previous thread that lead me to look at the 705. From what I've read on the internet it seems it can be quite temperamental but I guess most post the problems not the positives, mostly too on older threads so possibly that's all ironed out with firmware.
How easy is it to use/install Talkytoaster maps? If I get the unit from a reputable site it seems to come with a month warranty so not concerned about them being used units.
Dr Mekon, it seems a little hassle to get the data out of the Etrex on to Strava and then additional costs for the Cadence and HRM from what I've seen. Thanks though.
Think the 500 may just pip it, but only because I've seen fewer issues from what I've read although I like the 705's mapping.
I've had no problems with my 705, as you say it might be older units (mine is one of the last ones made) CoolC, it was searching here through and a post of yours in a previous thread that lead me to look at the 705. From what I've read on the internet it seems it can be quite temperamental but I guess most post the problems not the positives, mostly too on older threads so possibly that's all ironed out with firmware.
How easy is it to use/install Talkytoaster maps? If I get the unit from a reputable site it seems to come with a month warranty so not concerned about them being used units.
Dr Mekon, it seems a little hassle to get the data out of the Etrex on to Strava and then additional costs for the Cadence and HRM from what I've seen. Thanks though.
Think the 500 may just pip it, but only because I've seen fewer issues from what I've read although I like the 705's mapping.
Installing the maps was a case of download them to a card, slide card into device and that was it. I incorrectly named the file when saving it to the card the first time and it didn't work (I forget the details now) but once I corrected that it was fine.
3013buz said:
I've recently started cycling and got the Strava bug and a desire to go a lot further then my usual 30 mile trips without ending up on the main roads or getting lost on the country roads. I also think by my reckoning that I can justify a new toy given the amount I'm using the bike, given up the beer (almost), and how I perceive a HRM should help with fitness, given I'm off trekking South America in the Autumn.
Slightly over your budget but you can always pick up HR and cadence at a later date? http://www.handtec.co.uk/garmin-edge-800-black-whi...
You can even take it trekking and download a free map for South America
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garm...
You can have multiple maps loaded to the memory card on the 800, so you could have both UK (via talkytoaster) and South America at the same time. You just need to rename the map you want to use to GMAPSUPP.IMG and it will load that on startup
Just something to think about.
I went for a 500 over the 800 and so would chose it over the 705 for the same reasons.
I didn't really need the mapping features, I figured I've always got my phone if I really do get lost. Which for my type of cycling ain't that likely.
The 500 is nice and small compared to the ones with full mapping and routing. The 500 was designed by Garmin with help from the Garmin pro team members, many of them still use it in preference to the new 810 or 510s that they could easily have for free.
Tips for the HR are to fiddle with vertical positioning, shifting up or down your chest a bit can help. I find my works best quite low down, not past the ribs, but below your pecs/moobs. Also tightening it a little can help.
I didn't really need the mapping features, I figured I've always got my phone if I really do get lost. Which for my type of cycling ain't that likely.
The 500 is nice and small compared to the ones with full mapping and routing. The 500 was designed by Garmin with help from the Garmin pro team members, many of them still use it in preference to the new 810 or 510s that they could easily have for free.
Tips for the HR are to fiddle with vertical positioning, shifting up or down your chest a bit can help. I find my works best quite low down, not past the ribs, but below your pecs/moobs. Also tightening it a little can help.
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