Garmin Edge 500?

[daj]

Hello,

Does anyone have a garmin Edge 500?

I did have a 705 a few years ago and cant quite stretch to another or 800 but what I want to know is can I create a route on sites such as bikehike /bike toaster and use it to navigate a ride with?

I understand the 500 has not actual mapping but will be a breadcrumb format with arrows ...Does this actually work?

Any input be great

Cheers

daj

 

[kaiser]

I have a 500 but can't answer your question I'm afraid. I can recommend this review though. If it can do it the answer will be in here

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2009/11/garm ... eview.html

 

[Midlife]

I've hacked my Garmin 705 with better maps / features run from a memory card. Have a google about to see if the 500 can be "enhanced"

Shaun

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

Alright Dave. Can't comment on the 500 but I do have the 800. I believe the 500 is popular with pro road riders as it is smaller/lighter than the 800.

I have the white band (road?) version and really like it. I race the little dude which can either be me from a previous ride of the same route or, A. N. Other set to do a steady average MPH. Also, I like the height profile screen as it makes my rather modest climbing routes look more severe than they really are.

The 800 makes certain claims about positive lock when under heavy tree cover etc. Knowing what I know about how GPS works, I was a little dubious. Basically, (I think) you are using an autonomous position gained from the American GPS satellite only, on the L1 (longer of the two) carrier wave. This will be to the nearest whole wavelength only. The antenna is not capable of measuring partial wavelengths. (This is called the Ambiguity Integer for those interested, and is sort of the Flux Capacitor of accurate GPS work).

My fix has been no better than I would expect. On Cannock for example, through the trees, the GPS reception is and out like a porn star's wotsit. I know this as I have the Auto Pause function enabled which stops measuring when I stop either for real or if it thinks I have due to lack of coverage.

I think I would prefer the 800 but, all those pros can't be wrong can they? Find the cash for the Heart Rate and also the Cadence sensor if you are going to use it on the road. If it is for tractor riding only, I would still want the HRM.

 

[daj]

Cheers for the input fellers, Have gone for what I know and got another 705

The navigation system on the 500 is suffering from gremlins according to the official Garmin forums, and ideally wanted maps with my lack of direction

 

[heathy]

Yep, gremlins live inside. I have one and although i haven't used it for the breadcrumbs a friend did last year during a sportive. It just froze :roll:

Great for everything else

 

[daj]

I've hacked my Garmin 705 with better maps / features run from a memory card. Have a google about to see if the 500 can be "enhanced"

Shaun

Shaun,

I have just been delivered my new 705 which does not have topo like my old one did, I am guessing when I head off road following a route its just going to become a line without the os style mapping to follow. I would be very interested in a dummy guide to put some maps on there?

 

[saltyman]

i like the look of the pics people put up of a google map type page with the line of there ride drawn out, meant to be free too?

do any of the garmins had a odometer that just keeps a total or do they re start fresh each ride?

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

i like the look of the pics people put up of a google map type page with the line of there ride drawn out, meant to be free too?

do any of the garmins had a odometer that just keeps a total or do they re start fresh each ride?

That's available free on the 800. View in Google Earth or something. Mine resets each time I use it but there is a total on there as well. Its just a bit hidden.

 

[daj]

i like the look of the pics people put up of a google map type page with the line of there ride drawn out, meant to be free too?

do any of the garmins had a odometer that just keeps a total or do they re start fresh each ride?

IIRC you can save upto 3 bike profiles which gives a total odometer for each one no matter if you reset each ride. Just had a look that is correct