Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17046 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Garmin
• Model: Edge 205
• Released on: 2006-05-05
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .2 pounds

Features

• A unique GPS-enhanced cycle computer that provides extensive and accurate data to make this an invaluable training partner
• Waterproof to IPX7 standard (up to 1 metre for 30 minutes)
• Unit dimension (cm) - W x H x D: 4.4 x 9.4 x 2.3
• Display size (cm) - W x H: 3.0 x 3.7
• Weight: 88 g

Manufacturer's Description
Whether you're prepping for your next ride or just want a more accurate way to measure your performance on the trails, the Garmin Edge 205 GPS-enabled Personal Trainer and Cycle Computer can help. The Edge 205 is easy to use, requires no calibration, and features customizable screens and data fields to meet your needs. Measuring speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb, descent, and more, the Edge 205 will help you to always know where you are and how far you've gone.

Main menu. View larger.

Bike computer display. View larger.

Course with elevation profile. View larger.

The Edge 205 GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer is the ultimate fitness partner. View larger.

The Edge 205 is easy to use. Simply take it out of the box, snap it into the included bike mount, and hit the road. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver knows your position even in tree cover and canyons, making the Edge 205 an extremely reliable navigation device. And with the customizable cycle computer, you can select from up to eight different data fields for continuous feedback. Garmin goes well beyond typical cycle computers by integrating GPS technology for basic navigation. In addition, the Edge 205 gives you the ability to overlay your ride data onto a course map and even "race" a virtual partner. This is a great way to make your training fun and push you toward your goals.

The included PC-based Training Center software gives you the tools to create workouts, manage and download courses, and create a detailed post-ride analysis that charts your performance and measures your speed, distance, climb, descent, and heart-rate data against varying terrain, elevation, and other conditions. And with the Edge 205's built-in USB interface, uploading and downloading information is simple and fast.

The virtual partner screen depicts a digital cyclist (representing your desired speed) in relation to your real-time speed. From this set of data the icons will show how far ahead or behind you are from your digital competitor. The Courses feature allows you to race against a recorded course to try and match previously set speeds at every point along the way. By combining the Virtual Partner and Courses features, you can race an opponent who varies speeds while climbing hills and navigating turns.

Training in urban areas can be tricky, and traffic congestion can skew training data. To help remedy this problem, Garmin has included an auto-pause function that pauses the training timer when you slow down below a specified speed and resumes when you speed up again so you can focus on your ride, not on data collection. And with the auto lap function, this smart little device automatically triggers a lap every time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance.

With its sleek, waterproof design (the Edge 205 meets IEC 60529 IPX7 standards, which means that its components can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes), the Edge 205 is the perfect companion for any bike, and it can attach to either the stem or handlebars. This lightweight device (88 grams) is powered by an 800mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery and delivers an average of 12 hours of use per charge. The rugged case frames an easy-to-read, large, backlit display that makes it a breeze to view the data fields. So whether you're racing against your virtual partner, fighting to shave precious seconds off your old record, or training for the next big race, the Edge 205 is there to help monitor your progress and make you a better cyclist.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Cycle computer with a difference
The Garmin Edge 205 is a GPS-enabled cycle computer. To simplify things I'll split the functions of the Edge 205 into 3 areas of interest. 1) Cycle computer, 2) Navigator, & 3) Workout aid.

1) As a cycle computer, the Edge 205 calculates your speed and distance without needing a sensor mounted on a wheel, it uses the changing GPS position to calculate the normal cycle computer functions. But the Edge also gives extra features, like the direction your travelling in, the gradient of the hill your on, and will record your position and speed every second (giving a maximum of 3.5 hours storage) or can record the data using a smart mode to increase the ride time (but at reduced detail). This data can be downloaded onto PC, using the Garmin software supplied, or mapping software like memory-map.
Overall I've found the speed and distance of the Edge to be very accurate, however the gradient of the terrain, is not as accurate all of the time.

2) As a navigator, you can create routes on the PC or in the Edge itself and follow the map created like a sat. nav. Unfortunately there are no road maps in the Edge, it uses a very basic method involving a series of straight lines between specific locations. It is also limited to a total of 100 locations that can be used. I've found that for me this can give me a route distance of around 30 miles when making the route overlap the road accurately. You can increase the distance by being less accurate, ie only putting locations at road junctions, etc. Even with this limitation, the navigation part works incredibly well on the road, making cycling easier and safer when travelling through new areas.

3) As a work-out aid. The edge enables you to repeat a route you've done before, and uses the past information to create a "ghost rider" for you to compete against. It gives you the choice of screens to view during your ride, giving information on how far ahead or behind you are to the "ghost", as well as a map screen and a screen showing the profile of the terrain. This all adds to a far more useful cycle computer, and enjoyable riding experience.

As a final point the battery seems to be lasting me for around 8-9 hours.
Overall the Edge has a few limitations and issues that you need to decide if they are important to you. I think that for the cost of the Edge, nothing so far seems to come close to the it, and with extra software, this device can be very useful and has certainly improved my cycling enjoyment.

Edge 205 Review
I found this product to be of great use. Initially, I used it to see how many miles I had clocked up and to see what speeds I was getting on my mountain bike. I then began uploading my information stored on my 205 to Garmin's own 'Motion Based' website (which is free). This allowed me to view various data such as elevations, average speeds, pace etc and also animated routes. The great thing with the website is that you can upload your route onto Google Earth and veiw it from different angles.
I have now recently discovered 'Memory Map' which allows you to veiw Ordnance survey Explorer Maps. On this you can plot a route with 'Waypoints' and upload them onto your Edge 205 and use it as a GPS Navigation device. Although the Edge only holds up to 100 Waypoints I have found that this is ample for even long days out.
Up to now I have not had any faults with this (after 6 Months) I have updated the software built into the Edge device via Garmin's website and this has probably rectified any faults described in previous reviews.
In all it's a neat little device.

The instructions that came with my 205 were not great and seemed to focus more on the 305 model. Just play about with it and learn this way. Be aware that the 205 does not have an altimeter. In order to view your altitude you must upload you routes to Garmin's 'Motion Based' website.

Only for short distance keep fit types.
Most disappointed with this. Having had problems with the construction of an Etrex Vista cx, I initially thought Garmin might have got it right for cyclists with this one. It is though principally aimed at the keep fit sports cyclist who will only ride intensely for an hour or so.
For the tourist it is not so good, the inability to download a long route is a real bind. My attempt to load a weeks route for a cycle tour of just over 800 miles failed, and I was economical with the waypoints.
The battery life is quoted as 12 hours, in reality it is nearer 6.
Coupled with the lock ups quoted by another reviewer, I do consider I have wasted my money.
In fairness the navigation on short routes works well provided the unit behaves, and the automatic download to the PC of ridden routes is good. Especially when coupled with Garmins Topo maps.
I expect/hope that in a year or so a gps manufacturer will have the right product for the all round cyclist, the edge 205 isn't it.