Sprenzy Shopping Blog

Garmin is on a roll these days. Today, they announced two new cycling computers, the Edge 605 and Edge 705, scheduled for a December 2007 release. From the Garmin blog…

“Cyclists, you spoke up and we listened. You wanted color, you got color. Mapping and more navigation? Check. What about being able to monitor power output on the same device? Impossible? Hardly. And try this on for something completely new: Wireless, unit-to-unit data transfer. No, we’re not pulling your chain. We proudly present the Edge 705 and the Edge 605.

The Edge 705 represents several breakthroughs in cycling technology, including power compatibility and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity. Through collaborative efforts with SRM, Quarq and other experts in mobile power diagnostics for bicycles, Garmin for the first time gives cyclists the opportunity to monitor GPS position, power, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient on the same display. And Edge 705 users will be able to share their information – including saved rides, waypoints and workouts – with each other through ANT+Sport wireless technology.”

I’ve been using the Garmin Edge 305 for over a year and I love it. There were only a few features (navigation and power output) that I wish my Edge 305 had. It looks like Garmin granted my wishes with the Edge 705. Comparing the specs, the improvements of the Edge 705 over the Edge 305 are…

• Improved battery life, up from 12 hours to 15 hours

• Larger screen size and resolution (176 x 220 pixels) along with a color screen

• Mapping and turn by turn navigation

• MicroSD card slot for adding map detail and storing workout data

• Power output with third-party ANT + Sport-enabled power meters

• Wireless unit-to-unit data transfers

Unit-to-unit data transfer is interesting, but I would prefer to wirelessly transfer my workout data to my computer. It’s strange that this feature is included in the Forerunner 50 but not the Edge 705. However, I am really excited about the third-party power meter integration. Power output is by far the best training method on a bike. And I am curious about the size of the power meter solutions and how they will mount to a bike.

With the larger screen size, the Edge 705 is slightly bigger and heavier (16.9 g more for the weight weenies) than the Edge 305. The new units are also more expensive. The list price for the Edge 705 is $540 - $709, depending on accessories. There is currently a $75 rebate on the Edge 305 and expect the price to drop further with the release of the new Edge units.

I’ll report more on the new Edge models as it gets closer to their release date. GPS position, navigation, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude, gradient and power, what more can you ask for in a cycling computer?!?!

In October, Garmin will be releasing a new fitness device, the Forerunner 50, which is not GPS-enabled. According to a Garmin press release, the Forerunner 50 is…

“an affordable, sleek and intelligent way to help runners and walkers track their workouts, automatically store their data and reach their personal fitness goals.”

“The central element of the Forerunner 50 system is an advanced fitness watch which interfaces wirelessly with other fitness devices such as a heart rate monitor or a foot pod that monitors speed and distance.  The system includes a wireless USB ANT™ Stick that plugs into the user’s PC and automatically downloads workout data stored on the watch to a personal computer. No cables are necessary as the Forerunner 50 synchronizes with the computer once it is in close proximity. Depending on the model purchased, the Forerunner 50 accurately monitors and records heart rate or speed and distance or all of the above. The workouts themselves are made easier with the Forerunner 50 as its heart rate monitor and foot pod activate automatically upon movement, removing the need to turn the lightweight accessories on and off.”

“When used with Garmin Connect™ — Garmin’s online training site — the Forerunner’s benefits continue long after the workout. By pairing the Forerunner 50 with Garmin Connect, users can automatically log their workouts, track their totals, share workouts with coaches, friends and family and participate in an online fitness community with similar interests.”

With no GPS, the Forerunner 50 is a big departure from the Forerunner series. It appears that Garmin is targeting the fitness/running/HRM watch audience, particularly users of the Polar S120 and Polar RS200sd. I’m a little perplexed on why Garmin has decided to produce a non GPS-enabled fitness device. My preference would have been a GPS-enabled Forerunner with the size of the Forerunner 50.

Currently, I own a Polar RS200sd running HRM with foot pod for speed and distance. I’m also a very happy owner of a Garmin Forerunner 305 and an Edge 305, which I use for running and cycling, respectively. Based on my experience with Garmin fitness products and many HRM watches, I’ve created a pros and cons list for the Forerunner 50.

Pros

• Size/form factor - an attractive and sleek HRM watch that can display speed and distance.

• Wireless data download - automatic wireless download of workout data is a cool feature.

• Battery life - 12 months of battery life using a coin cell battery (CR2032) versus regular battery charging with GPS devices.

• Garmin Connect website - uploading workout data can become addicting. Garmin’s online training site (currently MotionBased) is much better than Polar’s or the Nike+ site. Here’s an example activity on the future Garmin Connect site - Golden Gate Park Run (Forerunner 305 data). I don’t believe the Garmin Connect site is completed yet for Forerunner 50 support, which means the website features and interface will probably change come October. It is also my understanding that Garmin Connect will eventually replace MotionBased going forward.

• Indoor use - can be worn at the gym on a treadmill or in a spinning class as a normal HRM watch, i.e. no one will stare at your big GPS device.

• Speed/cadence sensor - track speed and distance of bike rides with this optional accessory. Since the sensor is installed on the rear chain stay, the Forerunner 50 can be used on an indoor trainer.

Cons

• No GPS - means less accurate speed and distance data. And no ability to import/export courses or running routes to share with others.

• Foot pod - an extra accessory that needs to be moved from shoe to shoe for speed and distance data. However, the design appears to be slimmer and better than Polar’s foot pod.

• HRM strap - the Garmin HRM strap is comfortable to wear but Polar Wearlink HRM strap is probably the best on the market in terms of comfort.

Who should get the Forerunner 50? I would recommend the $106 Forerunner 50, Heart Rate version to anyone who works out primarily at the gym and wants to monitor their heart rate. Next, I would recommend the $150 Forerunner 50, Foot Pod or the $200 Forerunner 50, Heart Rate & Foot Pod version for the runners or cyclists who want to track their speed and distance in a sleek sports watch, but isn’t concerned with a small inaccuracy in data.

With that said, I wouldn’t recommend the Forerunner 50 to people looking for the most accurate speed and distance information that a GPS device offers. Additionally, if you are want advanced features such as virtual partner training (train against a digital person), courses (compete against previous workouts) or an altimeter, then go with the Forerunner 305. 

A Forerunner 305 is only $165 after rebate and provides HRM, GPS and a barometric altimeter. Granted it’s on the larger side compared to the Forerunner 50, but it’s only 1.22 oz (34.5 g) heavier. With a $50 rebate, the Forerunner 305 is cheaper than the top of the line Forerunner 50 version, with more features and better accuracy. Unless you are hell bent on a sleek fitness watch, the Forerunner 305 is the better value.

If you are thinking about buying a Garmin Edge 305 or Forerunner 305 but are hesitant due to the price, you can now get a $75 rebate on an Edge 305 or $50 rebate on a Forerunner 305.

Just sign up for the PowerBar newsletter and you’ll get the rebate form. The rebate offer is good if you purchase a Garmin Edge 305 or Forerunner 305 between June 1, 2007 and November 30, 2007. The rebate paperwork must be postmarked by December 30, 2007.

I’ve been using an Edge 305 for the last year and love it as a cycling computer and training tool. Here is my previous post on the Edge 305. An added benefit of owning a Garmin fitness product, is the ability to upload your training data to MotionBased (MB), where you can further analyze the data. I am completely addicted to MB and can’t wait to upload my data after each bike ride.

Over the last year, the cost of an Edge 305 and Forerunner 305 has dropped almost $100. With the $50 Forerunner 305 rebate, I’m seriously considering getting it to track my running workouts.

Although the current Forerunner is a big improvement in form factor over the previous models, I still think the Forerunner is a little large for a wrist-mounted device. I have to remind myself that it’s a GPS fitness device, so a size comparison to a normal running watch isn’t appropriate. I’ll probably end up getting a Forerunner 305 because I love uploading and tracking my workouts in MotionBased so much.

If you read my review of the Garmin Edge 305, you know that I love my GPS cycling computer. Whether you own a Garmin Edge or Forerunner, the Garmin Training Center (GTC) is the supplied software to download and analyze your workout data. While GTC is adequate and a necessary evil, it’s pretty bland and boring. I can only look at squiggly lines for a short time. The GTC graph below is from a recent bike ride, which shows heart rate, elevation and grade over distance.

An alternative and more useful storage and analysis tool is MotionBased (MB). MB is a web application that allows a member to upload GPS track data and mashes it up with Google Maps. Let’s take a look at the free version, MotionBased Lite. After creating an account, workout data can be directly uploaded from a supported GPS device with the use of the MotionBased Agent. The uploaded activity is then sent to your MB Inbox where you can name the activity, categorize it by type and add a comment. After submitting the activity, it is stored in your Digest, which is a listing of all of your activities.

Activity Dashboard

From the Digest, you can access the activity dashboard, which displays a summary view of your workout. The summary shown below is a road bike ride with high-level data, Google mapping and elevation profile. This ride can be viewed publicly. You can then drill down and analyze the data by time, distance, speed, elevation, heart rate and laps. MotionBased also retrieves the weather from the nearest airport during the activity. It may not be the exact temperature or wind conditions experienced during a workout, especially with many micro-climates like the Bay Area, but it’s beneficial data provided by MB.

Map Player

The map player “replays” the route taken during an activity showing time elapsed, distance, speed, altitude, grade and heart rate at each location on the route. Currently, it only works in Internet Explorer with Adobe SVG viewer. The functionality could be very useful and entertaining, but there are many usability issues that render it ineffective. However, the new beta player, which shows up randomly, is a much improved version that works across browsers. Here is the MB Player for the ride shown above. There are still several UI/usability issues, but it’s a big upgrade.

TrailNetwork

From MB, “the TrailNetwork is the community-oriented section of MotionBased where customers can access activities posted by other members. It’s a growing database of activities and routes created by MotionBased customers. The TrailNetwork may be used to discover new activities or to review results of activities for virtual competition.” Unless an activity is marked private, all of your workouts will be displayed in the TrailNetwork. Additionally, each user has a public activities page. Here’s mine: public activities - Chuck415.

The community feature is the best part of MB. You can view and download route information from other members in your area or get new courses while visiting other cities or countries. It’s a great way to find the routes that are popular with the locals. Additionally, you can share your public page and XML/RSS feed with friends to keep them up to date or to simply motivate each other.

Google Earth

If you have Google Earth, you can export an activity and re-live it with a bird’s-eye view. I don’t know how helpful this feature is, but I definitely enjoy it. It’s a great way to share a run or ride with friends. And on days I’m suffering on my bike, I have more fun watching the replay on Google Earth than the actual ride.

Pricing

With the free version, MotionBased Lite, an unlimited number of activities can be uploaded or accessed, but only the 10 most recent workouts have the dashboard. Upgrading to MotionBased Standard allows dashboard access to all activities, sorting/filtering of the Digest, Saved Reports, the Analyzer and no ads. Check out the MB product features for a description of all MB features. MotionBased Standard is $11.95 a month or $95.40 for an annual plan.

Summary

MotionBased is a great web-based service to store, track and analyze your GPS workout data. With MB, you are able to:

• Upload activities and store your history on MotionBased where you can remotely access it from anywhere
• Perform more post-workout analysis than the Garmin Training Center software
• Visualize activities on Google Maps or Google Earth
• Share workouts with friends or view activities from other MotionBased members
• Export any public activity in GPX or CRS file format, which can be loaded as a course on your GPS device

My primary issue with MB is the UI of the site. I think MB can make major changes to improve the site usability. Still, it’s a wonderful service for anyone with a fitness GPS device. The free service, MotionBased Lite, provides all but a few features that paying members receive.

I upgraded to MB Standard because I want to analyze all of my previous activities. Now, I’m addicted to MB and I can’t wait to upload my GPS data after each ride. Between my Garmin Edge 305 and MotionBased, my training is absolutely blissful.

Since May 2006, I’ve been using the Garmin Edge 305, a GPS-enabled cycle computer, on my road bike. I also have the heart rate monitor (HRM) and the speed/cadence sensor accessories. As a data junkie, I absolutely love my Edge 305.

But I have to admit, I hadn’t used the full capabilities of the 305 until recently. At the end of May, a friend and I are going on a Giro biking trip through the Italian Dolomites, which means there is a ton of climbing. My friend lives in New York City, so I’ve been training All By Myself.

Thankfully, the Garmin Edge 305 has been a great training tool and has really helped me to stay motivated. I’m finally using the training features (workouts and courses with a virtual partner). Additionally, I’m using MotionBased, a web application that allows you to upload, analyze and visualize your ride data. MotionBased (MB) is a much superior post ride analysis tool to the Garmin Training Center software that comes with the Edge.

After each ride, I upload my ride data to MotionBased and I’m able to conduct post ride analysis, keep motivated to train and improve my performance. I want to point out that MotionBased is not limited to just cycling and supports many GPS devices (Garmin Forerunner 205/305, Garmin 60CSx, eTrex Vista Cx and more) to upload and analyze running, hiking, Nordic skiing or any activity you track with a GPS device.

Instead of writing a review on the Edge 305 and MotionBased, I’m going to provide a review roundup and highlight key features of the 305 in the remainder of this post and MB in a follow-up post.

Garmin Edge 305 Review Roundup:

• Garmin Edge 305 cycling GPS system review from PocketGPSWorld.com - by far the best and most detailed review; covering specs, installation, features, user testing and analysis software.

• Garmin Edge 305 Review from Arena Red - a good overview of the Edge 305 with comparison pictures of the 305 next to iPods and a Moto Razr.

• Tech Review: Garmin Edge 305 by Jeremy Bostron - a list of positives and negatives comparing the 305 to the Polar 725 bike computer.

• Mini-Review: Garmin Training Center for Mac from Arena Red - short review of the Garmin Training Center Mac version.

If you read the PocketGPSWorld.com review, you should have a very good understanding of the features and the wealth of data captured and displayed by the Edge 305. For someone looking for a simple cycling computer, the 305 is complete overkill. However, for the data obsessed, the Edge 305 is a dream come true. Highlighted below are the features that I enjoy the most.

Key Features:

• Custom Data Fields - the Edge 305 allows customization of the following displays: Bike Computer 1, Bike Computer 2, Maps, Workouts and Courses. When I’m riding, I like to see my speed, heart rate, cadence, grade, distance and elapsed time in one view. On my previous bike computer, a Ciclosport HAC4, I was able to only see two data points at a time. On the Bike Computer view, the Edge 305 can display up to 8 data fields. There are 33 data fields from which to choose. Since there are two Bike Computer views, it’s possible to display 16 data points between the two views! With the 305, I spend less time pressing buttons, scrolling thru views and more time with my hands on the bars and eyes on the road.

• Virtual Partner -  when training by yourself, the Virtual Partner is the ultimate pacer. Used during quick workouts or courses, the Edge 305 displays how far ahead or behind you are relative to the Virtual Partner. Since I don’t have a training partner, I’ll take a virtual partner instead of no one.

• Workouts and Courses - workouts are excellent training tools. Quick workouts (Distance and Time, Time and Speed or Distance and Speed) display a Virtual Partner to keep you motivated during your workout. You can also setup interval workouts based on time/distance and rest time/distance. But the most realistic training tool is the Courses feature. You can create or edit courses based on a previously recorded ride. Then you can race against the Virtual Partner on the course and see if you can beat your previous performance.

• Cadence/Speed Sensor - is a single wireless unit, which is installed on the rear chainstay. The speed sensor is used when there isn’t a quality GPS signal or when GPS is turned off. Because the sensor is attached on the rear wheel, the Edge 305 can be used on a bike trainer. Most other cycling computers have two sensors, one on the fork for speed and one on the chainstay for cadence.

• Data Analysis Software - the 305 comes with the Garmin Training Center software, which allows you to download and analyze your ride data. You can overlay various data fields (distance, elevation, heart rate, speed, etc.) and analyze your performance. Unless you have Garmin map products, the map view is very limited and only shows major roads and cities. This is were MotionBased excels and I’ll cover MB in a follow-up post.

My only complaint with the Edge 305 is the short battery life (less than 10 hours with a good GPS signal). It’s a rare event that I’ll ride longer than 10 hours, but that’s the one I’ll definitely want to record and review post ride. A current solution is a DIY battery charger, but that’s a little clumsy for this high tech cycling computer.

Furthermore, a great feature enhancement would be a low cost power meter, which would make the 305 even better and provide more data to geek out on. I would also like to see compatibility with Polar’s Wearlink transmitter and strap, which is the most comfortable HRM I’ve ever used.

Overall, the Garmin Edge 305 is an amazing GPS cycling computer. With GPS functionality, an HRM and a speed/cadence sensor, it provides more than enough features and data recording to blow away the competition. It’s also a great training tool, which keeps you motivated to ride farther and faster.