Is it any good??
Want it for training and for nagigation and plotting off the beaten track trails.
Can buy it from a number of place for about £270 which is really the max I want to go to.
Are there any alternatives?
Also how good are these for the above functions or am I better sticking to my cycle computer and an load of Landranger maps?
I bought the 705 recently from cyclesurgery and iirc it came with the GB Topo maps for about £280. Is it any good? I'm still working through all the functions etc trying to get it to do stuff I never knew I wanted it to do! 😕
I haven't used it to plan any epic trails etc yet cos there are no epic routes in Suffolk!
I am happy with it.
having no end of problems with mine, garmin are very helpful though.
UK topo maps are useless.
it's a great product but has yet to have the firmware/compatibility that backs it up
Have looked at a few websites and couldn't find out if the TOPO maps cover trails and if they work in teh same way as OS maps. Wiggle seem to do a road version and an MTB version of both the 605 and 705, with the Road only looking to show main highways and The MTB showing only trails, where I want it to show both. Am I looking for too much or am I just reading the product description totally wrong?
if you want portable OS mapping then satmap is the only way to go i reckon. UK topo does not distinguish between bridleways/footpaths/RUPs etc
I use tracklogs to plan routes on OS maps then transfer to the 605 which has city navigator europe on it
i've actually paid for the maps which is a lot of money if you add it all up!
I've got a 705 and use one of the free openstreetmap based maps you can get for it. Seems to be ok although not as detailed as OS maps. Not really used it for any navigation purposes though.
cheers. These things never seem to be straight forward. Dont really need it for navigations just to plot routes and follow it. Dont need ot to nessesarly to tell me to turn left or right.
mrmichaelwright - Where did you download them from and how much am I talking. Seems this could prove very exspensive for a nice to have!!
I think the Garmin edges are good training aids but I'm less convinced by using them as navigational aids. TOPO maps certainly don't give an OS maps level of detail and to be honest, I cannot really see much point in it off-road.
If you want a GPS with OS maps then the Satmap is probably the way to go. But it's very expensive and I still don't really see what if gives you over just an ordinary paper OS map. Save the money on a trip away and use OS maps.
Or perhaps look at using a mobile phone as a cheap way of getting GPS mapping.
your probably right. Just thought I could download trails from like of memory map and try them out for myself but the GPS on my mobile and a couple of OS maps will need to do by the sounds of it!!
You can try out Topo mapping on the Garmin website, its not as good as OS mapping but better than the base map, I've got Topo and City Nav on my 705 and I swap between them depending if I'm riding on road or off.
Memory Map have recently (in the last month) released another update to improve compatibility with the 605/705.
I use Tracklogs to load routes onto my 605. It's perfectly acceptable for following a route.
I usually print a copy off Tracklogs as a backup.
The 'return to Start' feature could be a lifesaver 🙂
Satmap could be the answer - but it's relatively underdeveloped and supported as yet.It's also damned pricey at the moment.
Really useful to download all the stats via the Garmin 'Training Center' programme too.
Don't dismiss a mobile with a Navigation 'add on'
If you want OS mapping, it might be worth hanging on for the new [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/updated-first-look-garmin-oregon-21036 ]Garmin Oregon[/url].
FWIW, I really like my 705. I don't have the topo maps, but I use [url= http://www.bikehike.co.uk/ ]Bike Hike[/url] to plan my routes with OS mapping. Then the big screen is useful to anticipate where turns are coming.
I've got a 705 with TOPO & City Navigator, you can view them both at the same time. I've found it handy as I don't have a GPS unit for the car, and I can use it as GPS for the car, rides & geotagging.
That said, the maps 'off the beaten track' are useless, I don't see bridleways or anything. They are useful for finding pubs & petrol stations!
The Edge's are great if you don't have a good memory at remembering rides! You ride a route for the first time, logging the route. Upload it to your PC, add in some instructions (turns, warnings). Now you can ride the route months later.
I've only used the training function once, but thought it was pretty good, but not my cuppa tea. If you don't need turn instructions, GPS navigation, why not go for a 305.
Oh and I'm on my 3rd cadence sensor, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong, they last one ride!
I've a 605, and although I haven't used it with mapping software on the unit (TOPO) I very frequently use memory map on the PC to plan a route, then load that onto the edge and follow it.
The directions are ver clear and useful, and so far haven't felt the need for 'on screen mapping' so to speak.
The bike computer functions are also very good on it, but then a £20 halfords jobbie would do some of that too.
I also use it for running, which I reckon GPS is the only way to be accurate.
I really like garmin connect, the website linked to the edge. It allows you to keep detailed track of what you've done.
DrP
Oh, I got mine new from eBay for £160 ( from the memory map people!)
DrP