Tags: Can You Recommend A GPS Unit For A Touring Cyclist?
Can You Recommend A GPS Unit For A Touring Cyclist?
I guess that this question sorta falls away from most of the topics on our website which seem to revolve around indoor bicycle trainers. But come to think of it, eventually all of us get outside and ride... although after shoveling 5 inches of snow this morning, I'm thinking that it may be sometime before I ride again.
GPS is not just for cars any longer. Start pedaling the back roads, get lost, and turn to your handy GPS made for bicycling.
Ok... back to the question at hand. You can get a bike mounted unit or a device that looks more like a watch. Lets take a look at a couple pictures to get an idea.
Since you've asked about a GPS unit for a touring cyclist I imagine that you are more concerned about the GPS element than the other features... ie heart rate monitor, cadence, speed, etc..
The picture of what looks like a watch above, is the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor. Although this unit does act as a GPS, has a bunch of feature and receives rave reviews, it does not specifically tackle GPS. Turn on til the time you receive GPS satellite connection can take 3 minutes. The GPS screen is what the company calls, rudimentary as can be seen in this picture Now don't get me wrong, I still think the Garmin Forerunner 305 is a quality product but as a touring cyclist who is looking for a GPS unit, I would want to have a better screen to see map views. 
Plus, you would be looking at your "watch" rather than forward in your line of sight as you would with a handlebar mounted GPS unit.
My pick is the for a top choice GPS unit for a touring cyclist is the Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer. Picture on the top left above. What you will find is not only a quality GPS navigator but also a heart rate monitor, cadence, turn by turn directions, speed, altitude, etc.. and the ability to share this information with fellow Garmin Edge 705 users. As you will note from the video below, the unit itself is about 4 inches in length by 2 inches wide. A good size to enable easy viewing while also not being too bulky for your bike. Oh, and the Garmin Edge 705 is a wireless unit. You'll have the ability to download waypoints and routes while getting around 12+ hours of battery use. Plenty of time to ride that century you've always wanted to do! Also, although I'm not personally a huge fan of cross training, you can also take your 705 hiking or running.
Take a look at the video here.
All in all the Garmin Edge 705 will suit you very well. It is weather proof, has good illumination, has customizable screens, its GPS is accurate, and it is very sturdy. You can plot routes, move information between the 705 and your computer, have the ability to use a heart rate monitor and altimeter, and share information with fellow riders that also have the Garmin Edge 705. On the downside, if you need to order additional maps they can be expensive and it would have been nice if the 705 had a temperature sensor (my personal view). However after looking at all the pro's and con's I firmly believe the Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer will be everything you are looking for an more!!!
Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor)
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| Too low to display | |
| Yes ($25 minimum) | |
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