Garmin GPS - Bicycle Fitness Edge 305 vs Edge 705

Athletes (and the rest of us) that prefer aerobic exercise are often obsessed with monitoring our progress. Garmin has made this an easy process with first the Edge 305 and more recently the Edge 705. Both ate lightweight yet durable GPS receivers that mount onto either the stem or the handlebars of a bicycle.

Ease of operation is possibly the best feature that the Edge GPS units offer. Just attach and ride. No need to calibrate because the GPS receiver inside uses satellites to monitor distance traveled which in turn makes the Edge units very accurate when measuring speed and time. Additional data that is automatically recorded is the amount of calories you burn and even the elevation of the route. A heart rate monitor can be used to monitor your heart rate as well.

The Edge 305 is packaged either with a heart rate monitor or a cadence sensor (how many times you turn the pedal) or both. The Edge 705 is packaged with options of a heart rate monitor or both heart rate monitor and cadence senor or the previously mentioned heart rate monitor, cadence sensor and preloaded maps on microSD card.

The maps cannot be transferred or viewed on a computer. The maps that are preloaded on the microSD card are City Navigator US version, Canada and Puerto Rico street maps. The Edge 705 has both the Basemap and the ability to add maps where the 305 does not have either.

I appreciate the Auto Pause feature found on both the Edge 305 and 705. If you stop to rest or slow down for some reason the Edge pauses the timer. Once you increase your speed again the timer kicks back in. This saves the aggravation of trying to adjust your workout data to allow for breaks in training.

Auto Lap is fun feature and is also included on both the Edge 305 and 705. You can preset a specific place or preset a specific distance and the Edge will record it as a new lap. Laps are my favorite reason to run on the high school track. It is a great way to visually see improvement from one work out to the next.

These two Gamin GPS receivers - the Edge 305 and the Edge 705 have much in common. Number one they are both intended for use on bicycles. Moving beyond the obvious these are their similarities.

• Water resistant - great for those moist days
• 1000 lap history record
• 100 Location Waypoints
• Heart Rate Monitor - check versions
• Cadence Sensor - check versions

There are also differences between the Edge 305 and the 705. The price may make the difference for you but moving on...

• 305 measures - 1.75" x 3.7" x .09"
• 705 measures - 2.00" x 4.3" x 1"
• 305 screen size - 1.17" x 1.44"
• 705 screen size - 1.37" x 1.7"
• 305 weight - 3.1 oz.
• 705 weight - 3.7 oz.
• Battery 305 - lithium ion 12 hour life
• Battery 705 - li-polymer 15 hour life

Working out to some means walking, jogging, running or biking. Those activities are aerobic in nature. Working out to others mean weight lifting, crunches, sit ups, push ups and squats. Those activities in contrast are strength training in nature. The interesting fact is that any of these activities will be enhanced when some training is of the opposite type. I know from myself, I get pretty aerobically depleted when I do very many push ups.

My exercise of choice is walking and jogging but I own a bicycle that I used to ride quite often. I just feel that riding my bike is not as strenuous so I do not feel that I am getting a great workout. Perhaps I should rethink my opinions and get one of these Edge GPS gadgets. If they are good enough for some of the Tour de France riders it should be good enough for me.