A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that I’d worn out another rear tire. Its a habit I seem to have. Luckily I had a new tire ready and quickly replaced it. I thought I’d change the front as well (was looking rather cut up), as a few long rides were approaching, and it had been on since just after the 2010 Tour Down Under Challenge Ride.

I toke the front wheel off, was struggling a little and then it came free. I heard something bouncing on the floor. It was the front speed sensor. I’d somehow managed to collect it in the wheel and it just snapped off… Was not happy at all.

The front sensor was for the VDO X2DW that I’d had since I purchased the bike late 2009. I’d had a little bit of trouble with the actual mount for the main unit and had that replaced. I tried to see if I could reafix the speed sensor but it wasn’t going to happen.

I spent the rest of that long weekend not using a trip computer. There is something about cycling and knowing how far you’ve gone, what your current speed is and current cadence. Its just one of those things I guess – everyone knows they should just be out enjoying the cycling but…

I had a decision to make early the following week. Was I going to fix the VDO X2DW setup or go for a GPS setup. I had used my iPhone 3GS, in the past with MapMyRide but it drains the battery on a Lobethal loop. The Garmins did look interesting. I did some research on the Internet.

I decided I was going to purchase a Garmin Edge 500 with the Speed/Cadence and Heart Rate monitor options. I researched pricing and the Tuesday after the long weekend I started ringing around the bike shops in Adelaide to see who had stock and what they were charging. There were some rather large discrepancies in price. But I found one, in stock and at a good price. The only catch was I had to wait till 1:30 in the afternoon.

Time passed slowly, I got myself a little distracted with lunch and tweeting. I cycled up and picked it up. I was now a proud owner of a nice Garmin Edge 500. I’d finally done it.

Now was it going to meet my expectations.

As soon as I got home, I unpacked it, charged up the main unit, removed the old gear and installed the one speed/cadence sensor (there is nothing now on the front wheel). I played around with the configuration a little and then went for a spin around the block. I adjusted some of the settings and then went around the block again (well It was a few blocks). I connected to Garmin Connect and uploaded some data. You can see one of those early laps here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/36946199 . Its fairly impressive the information that you now have. Needless to say, I was occupied for the rest of that evening with investigating everything on the new toy.

I was very interested in what it meant to be able to train with a Heart Rate Monitor, as I’d never had one before. There were two items I needed to work out what was my resting heart rate and what was my maximum heart rate. There were also five heart rate zones that could be more accurately calculated that could be used to improve your riding. This was an excellent article that I read on the subject http://www.cycling-inform.com/articles/60/1/How-to-use-heart-rate-m…

I worked out an indicative resting heart rate the following morning. Mine was somewhere between 56 and 58 (sitting on the couch I make it get down there) but to get an accurate reading you are supposed to take a reading before you arise in the morning from bed. So I wore the Heart Rate Monitor on me to bed that night and toke a reading first thing.

How was I going to work out my Max Heart Rate? A good hill climb was in order. I proceeded to Thirkell Av, to climb up to Mt Osmond. One thing I had done, was to set an alert to sound if I reached the current max heart rate in the device, which was set to 185 BPM (Beats Per Minute). I started the climb, and the heart rate grew steadily, the Garmin device started beeping. I wasn’t at the first 25 KM/H corner yet. It started again, my current heart rate was 188 BPM. Well the thing kept beeping at me until I got to the top. The maximum I reached was 191 BPM. You can see that ride here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/37241153.

After playing around a little I’ve now got the Heart Rate Zones setup for myself. I’ve still not quiet happy with how I’ve configured the data pages on the Garmin Edge 500. You have three pages, where you can assign whatever data elements (e.g. Speed, Heart Rate, Cadence, Temperature etc.) you like. Fingers crossed I’ll get there soon.

I’ve spent this afternoon after my ride playing with a number of different tools and websites like MapMyRide, TrailRunner, EveryTrail.com GPSies.com and of course Garmin Connect. Its amazing what you can do with your ride data (lots of formats to exchange it in). One thing I did do, which I hope cyclists here will enjoy is through TrailRunner, I’m publishing a blog of my cycling data here: http://web.me.com/hortovanyi/trailrunner/weblog.html. A summary of it appears now on my Adelaide Cyclist profile page.

Has it been worth upgrading to the Garmin Edge 500? Yes. I believe, it will allow me to concentrate on improving my performance. Besides sharing the more detailed cycling routes, will always be of interest I believe to other fellow cyclists. So hope you enjoy!

If you have some routes to share around Adelaide through GPSies.com, EveryTrail.com, I’d like to hear about them and see if I can transfer them electronically into some of these tools to upload into the Garmin device as a course.

Nick also works in the IT technology industry and has a great blog that you can follow.

The Garmin Edge 705 is available in a number of different packages. The packaged reviewed here includes the heart rate sensor and cadence sensor. In my opinion if you’re buying the 705 as the ultimate tool, go for the package that opens up its full potential. The only thing that need to be sorted out with the purchase is what maps to get, the 705 does not come packed with maps.

At first glance the 705 looks huge, only because we’ve been used to the tiny traditional bike computers that display a couple of lines of information. Once installed onto your bikes stem or handlebars and fire it up, you will realise for the first time that you have been missing out in the past.

The 705 is waterproof with solid rubberised buttons on either side of the unit and a joystick and button combination on the front underneath a large colour screen. The rear of the unit has the integrated mounting bracket and the mini USB charging/data connection port.

Setting up the 705 is a cinch. The amount of information you wish to display on a ride is fully customisable, and you have two full screen of user information to customise. On the first screen I displayed eight functions: elapsed time, speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, time of day and calories burned. On the second screen, I have opted for a more basic display showing: speed, time elapsed, time of day and distance – similar data shown by a traditional computer, but on a much large, easy to read display.

The menu button on the lower left side reveals all the settings, navigation entry and stores data. You can easily access saved ride history and pre-determined training ride courses that can monitor your current progress vs a previous – you become your own training partner.

The mode button on the lower left side changes screens by alternating: map, elevation, and the user customised data display. The map and elevation screens can be zoomed in and out with the zoom buttons on the upper right side. The map screen can be customised with user required information. I have displayed: speed and elapsed time so I don’t have to toggle between map and information screens when I just need the map display. Customising the map screen does make the viewable map area smaller, so you would want minimal user information displayed.

Multiple profiles are available for users and bikes. I have a mounting bracket installed on my road and mountain bike and easily switch between the two by selecting the appropriate profile. Nothing else needs to be connected. For the road bike, the cadence sensor monitor cadence and speed. On the mountain bike, I figure that cadence if not required and leave the speed to be monitored by the GPS.

Upon turning on the device it searches for satellites like all GPS devices do. After a few seconds it finds your location and you are ready to roll by pressing the start button. The 705 accurately tracks you route in real-time pausing the elapsed time when you come to a stop. Upon reaching your destination end the ride by pressing the stop button. Before beginning a new ride you have to remember to reset the display. After downloading your information to a computer the unit is automatically reset for the next ride.

The heart rate sensor wraps around the chest in the same way other HRM transmitters do and accurately records your heart rate. Advanced HRM functionality such as training zones can be applied if required. I do question the 705′s accuracy when converting HRM information to calories burned. Compared with other HRMs the Garmin seemed to be rather high.

Battery life is stated as approximately 12 hours which I have never found not enough. I can only see that you will need to supply a charging solution if riding very long rides such as endures or similar. The rear mounted USB port provides standard charging from a wall mounted power source or from a computer. The same USB port downloads data to your computer.

There are a range of software applications for your computer including the downloadable Garmin Training Center and Garmin’s web-based Garmin Connect.

In summary, the Garmin Edge 705 is a very special device. It displays everything you need, provides accurate guidance and records all your data for analysis – it really does it all.

Get the Garmin Edge 705 – you will never look back.