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Product Description
Take your ride to the next level with the Edge 205, Garmin’s GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer. Whether you’re a competitive racer or weekend cyclist, Edge will help you achieve your personal best. Rugged, lightweight Edge 205 attaches easily to the stem or handlebars of your bike with the included bike mount. Just turn it on, acquire GPS satellites and go. Edge automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude, and record… More >>
January 12, 2010 at 1:59 am
I have the Garmin nuvi 660 for my car, and I love it. I was expecting somthing similar for my bike, but I was very dissapointed. I guess I was expecting some type of navigation. For the price, I would have been happier with one of the more basic bike computers that tracks speed, distance and cadence at half the price. The 205 does not even have cadence which was standard on a less expensive device 15 years ago.
The Garmin web site is also very disappointing and full of bugs – they should hire some software testers.
Rating: 1 / 5
January 12, 2010 at 4:49 am
When the item description says average battery life of 12 hours, keep in mind that by definition at least half will get less than 12 hours use. Mine falls well within those 12 hours.
My first ride with the Edge 205 was a century. I fully charged the unit the night before, and only powered the thing on right before I started riding. Six and a half hours into my ride I got the first ‘low battery’ warning. The battery died shortly after the eight hours it took me to complete the ride. Eight hours on a full charge seems pathetic to me. I like to do multi-day tours, where I’m tent camping at sites between each days ride. Without a place to charge this thing up each night it surely wouldn’t last more than two days. I emailed the company well over a week ago with these concerns, and have not been contacted yet.
I also agree with a previous review that it is disappointing you can’t use this device as a regular GPS receiver which identifies your current position. I’d love the idea of a device I could use for both biking and hiking. I know there’s a way you can dig up your current position, but it is pretty embedded in a series of menus and doesn’t update as you move.
Other than these complaints, I will give them that this was the easiest bike computer I ever installed. Just snap onto bike, power up, and start riding.
Rating: 1 / 5
January 12, 2010 at 7:14 am
I have used the 205 for 2 and half years and am on the third one. Garmin replaced the first one free after 14 months but the next time (15 months later) I had to pay $69.
I use the 205 as a speedometer and wear a Forerunner 305. Over a 30 mile ride the difference between the two is about .23 miles with the 205 registering more. The 205 is also more generous in computing average speed.
I haven’t had any issues with the batteries but then I only ride for 90 minutes per day and then put it back on the charger.
The altitude is definitely wrong. I live in Florida and the highest point I ride up is a bridge that may be 20 feet in change. At the end of the ride it shows an elevation change of 50-70 feet up and down with a net change of 3 feet.
Rating: 3 / 5
January 12, 2010 at 8:16 am
Lost my first one after a couple of years. Good value for the price, although if you want precise elevation–get the 305 and above.
Rating: 5 / 5
January 12, 2010 at 9:10 am
At least one dishonest Amazon vendor (Buy Accessories) is selling overhauled/refurbished units as new. Play it safe and only buy from Amazon itself.
Other than that, it looks great; have not used it yet. Buy a USB emergency battery charger for longer trips. APC has several good ones:
http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=314&ISOCountryCode=us
Rating: 4 / 5