Garmin Edge 705 GPS-Enabled Cycling Computer (Includes Heart Rate Monitor)

by Garmin

Product Features

• Outdoor Fitness GPS w/ Heart Rate Monitor
• Large 2.2 in Color TFT Display at 176 x 220 Pixels
• A microSD Card Slot for Adding Map Detail and Storing Workouts; Allows turn by turn directions with City Navigator software
• Heart Rate Features, Current, Average, Max, and Heart Rate Zones
• 2 Lbs (WxLxH) 1.0" x 2.0" x 4.3"

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Product Description

Amazon.com

Garmin has really upped the ante on the entire cycling computer category with it's new gps-enabled navigator/computer, the 705. This is a true navigational aid with full-color maps and turn-by-turn directions in addition to advanced route-planning and saving capabilities. On top of that, the 705 adds heart rate and cadence monitors, a barometric altimeter, and wireless capability that lets you share routes and workout data with other riders instantly. Sleek and waterproof, with a 2.2-inch color screen that lets you customize what data you see and how you see it, these two devices help make the most of every ride. The 705 comes in three different models. The basic model comes with a heart-rate monitor. You can also get models that add a speed/cadence sensor, and a supplemental map.

Perform, Navigate, Analyze, and Connect

The Power Of Location-Based Data
Anyone who has used Garmin's original Edge 205 or 305 already understands the power that attaching location data to traditional measurements like distance, speed, time, calories burned, and heart rate can provide. Knowing exactly where you worked hardest, rode fastest (or most slowly) lets you tailor your workouts to improve to improve your riding skills for specific distances, conditions, and types of terrain. It gives a complete picture of how you interact with every portion of your ride.

Altitude is recorded using a barometric altimeter for the Edge 705. This accurate altitude data makes it much easier for cyclists to match their altitude profile with their speed, cadence, and heart rate during post-ride analysis.

A First-Rate Bike Computer
The 705 also track your heart rate, cadence, power (from optional ANT + Sport-enabled third-party power meters), climb and descent. Other nifty features include the following:

• Virtual Partner lets you race a virtual competitor over a specified distance and speed.
• Courses let you race against a previously recorded workout, so you can compare your current and past performances over the same ride.
• Auto Pause pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride.
• Customizable computer screen shows up to eight different data fields. The user may customize the display for the size and placement of the data. 
• Program alerts to sound if the user strays outside the range of speed, heart rate or cadence values. Alerts can also indicate when a set amount of time or distance has passed.
• Auto Lap automatically starts a new lap each time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance
• Click stick helps users navigate through the various options.

Ready for anything--whatever the challenge and whatever the terrain.

Include a wireless heart rate monitor to measure your heart rate and track your heart rate zone.

All wireless with a color display and support for real turn-by-turn navigation.

Full-Featured Navigation
No more scratch paper paper-clipped to your handlebars. In addition to their cycling computer functions, The Edge 705 provides the same robust navigation as Garmin's vehicle navigators, with turn-by-turn spoken directions (turn left in 500 yards) and a 2.2-inch (diagonal) color display that shows maps in great detail.

The device comes pre-loaded with a built-in basemap, and a MicroSD card slot you can use to load new maps or store workout, course and ride data. Garmin has lots of street and topographic maps available for purchase and you can download courses and rides from Garmin or other riders at the Garmin Connect website.

Both feature a high-sensitivity receiver that holds a signal under trees and near tall buildings and have a click stick for easy screen navigation. 

Connectivity and "ANT + Sport"
One of Garmin's most ambitious decisions has been to approach fitness devices as a total platform with their "ANT + Sport" connectivity system. All of Garmin's new fitness devices, including the Edge 705, the Forerunner 50 heart rate monitor watches, will interface wirelessly with any devices that are compatible wiht the "ANT + Sport" protocol, including devices from other manufacturers. Currently, Garmin the devices will pair with power meter from SRM or Quarq to measure power – torque and cadence for each leg at the pedals – which is often cited as a true indicator of an efficient ride. It's unclear what other manufacturers will buy into the ANT + Sport platform, but this kind of open connectivity with products from other companies offers a great deal of potential flexibility.

The wireless function also makes it easy to connect one Edge unit to another to share rides, courses and workout data.

Heart Rate and Cadence Monitors
The Edge 705 heart rate monitor uses a robust wireless technology that eliminates cross-talk and interference and delivers real-time heart rate data exclusively to the user’s device. This data is stored with each track point for post-workout analysis. The Edge 705 with speed/cadence sensor incorporates a self-calibrating, wireless speed/cadence sensor that mounts to the rear chain stay of the bicycle.

Be Part of A Community
In 2007, Garmin acquired Motion-based, the largest shared repository of customer-generated gps-based routes, courses and maps. This was a significant move for Garmin to support the gps user community and bring a wealth of route options to gps users. With a simple connection to your computer, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect our new, one-stop site for data analysis an sharing.

You can also upload to optional Garmin Training Center software for further analysis. Garmin Training Center stores large quanities of workout and ride data. Some of the things you can do are

• Review your workout data, including pace/speed, distance, time, calories burned; and if available, heart rate, cadence and detailed elevation.
• View a detailed graph of your workout data, plotted over time or distance.
• View a map of your workout that shows the exact path you traveled.
• Categorize your workout history according to type of activity.
• Review previous workouts, which are saved by day and week.
• Create customized workouts with specific goals and rest intervals. Then send them to your fitness device.*
• Schedule workouts for a specific day with calendar.
• Get custom workout templates designed by the experts at TrainingPeaks.com

What's In The Box

Edge 705 gps-enabled cycling computer, heart rate monitor, bike mounts, AC charger, USB cable, Owner's manual on CD-ROM, Quick reference guide

Product Description

Trainer. Navigator. Edge 705 pushes you to do your best, then shows you the way back. This GPS-enabled cycle computer knows no limits. Edge 705 comes with a microSD card slot for adding map detail and storing workouts, courses and saved rides. Also included is a wireless heart rate monitor to measure your heart rate and track your heart rate zone, operating with Garmin's innovative ANT + Sport wireless technology. Edge 705 automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. Connected to your computer via USB, you can then download your workout data, analyze it and store it. You can even share it wirelessly with other Edge 705 buddies without being near the computer. When it comes to the curve of workout technology, Garmin takes you to the Edge.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 2nd UPDATE 10-8-09 Back to 4 stars: 1st UPDATE 9-8-09: 3 stars not 4. OK device that essentially works but needs improvement August 16, 2009

By Keith Miller

Amazon Verified Purchase

(Oct. 8, 09 2nd and final Update) I will go back to 4 stars! Just rode 150mile ride - I now have about 800 miles using the 705 and i have finally figured the thing out. Once you figure all of the idosyncrasies out and learn how it works I would not ride without it (NO CUE SHEETS ANYMORE)!!! You must give yourself 6 mos+/- to use it, upload maps and figure out the settings that work with how you ride. I also use mine to run although I must carry it in my hand (the data and HR is well worth it). The biggest issue I still have is when plotting bike routes in MapMyRide (MMR) and then uploading those to the 705 I must scan the entire route in the 705's window to look for mistakes in the routing (these don't show up in MMR or Garmin's PC software. If there are errors that you can't live with (e.g. might straighten out a curvy road) then you must replot in MMR or other and upload again. To me it is worth it but if Garmin's mapping software was any good then I would use that and maybe eliminate these transfer issues. Either way, this issue keeps the 705 from getting 5 stars.

(Sept 8, 09 1st Update to my August 16th, 2009 review below which basically says NOT a good GPS for car or motorcycle)
My first review still stands but I have now used the navigation and auto-navigation after just completing a 105 mile (125 turns) and a 40 mile ride on back-to-back days. This is a lengthy review but there is a lot I have found out about the Edge 705. I do not race - I am a century/double century bike rider that rides only about 1,000 to 1,300 miles per year so this review applies to a distance rider.

OVERALL SUMMARY:
I changed this to 3 stars instead of 4 stars since this is still an early stage bicycle GPS solution; really the only bike GPS solution for sale that works for long distance riding. The 705 works but you cannot count on it 100% of the time. It has a very slow processor (works on a bike but you will sometimes pass your turns in a car or motorcycle, especially if the GPS has to re-route (re-routing can take 5 minutes)). The 705 will frustrate you, especially before you get to know it) but for me it is still better than carrying around pieces of paper for cue sheets, keeping track of your mileage between turns and not having a map when the road names are missing or incorrect. I expect that in 3-5 years the bicycle GPS will be working more like a car GPS but, until then, this is really your only option. Just be sure you know what limitations you are getting before you spend $550 on a device and maps - then you should be happy with the 705. When the 705 works, you can't imagine riding without it but, when it doesn't, you want to set fire to Garmin's headquarters.

DETAILED UPDATED REVIEW:
First the good: It was really, really nice not having to use a cue sheet, especially on the longer ride. This in itself makes the device worth it to me since I spend a lot of time formating the cue sheets and then "laminating" them with packing tape so they don't bleed/deteriorate from sweat. The 705 keeps the necessary bike computer information you want on the screen - very customisable and I like this a lot. When navigating, the 705 provides an audible beep alert about .1 to .3 miles before you will be "told" to make a turn and then another beep immediately before the turn; switching to a map that shows how the turn works. The 705 does NOT give any notice if you are continuing straight through an intersection and the road name changes. Since I was use to using cue sheets, I found this limitation annoying but quickly got use to simply riding straight since the device knows what road you are on and where you are located. Also, I like to ride back roads so there were several times when the posted road name sign was missing or posted differently than the cue sheet/mapping road names. With the 705 you can keep going since you are reassured by looking at the next few miles ahead on the 705's screen. I haven't had any problems with battery life (rode about 9.5 hrs on one charge w/more battery life remaining) or data storage limitations but I will test that in a couple of weeks with a double century ride. The 705 transfers information between the computer easily. The mount works well (make the ties tight) and the screen is easy enough to read in bright sunlight. I haven't lost a GPS signal while riding through trees (I imagine you would in a tunnel).

The "needs improvement" or simply bad:

This is not a "set-it and forget-it" device, nor always intuitive to use. There is a lot of room for big improvements, especially if you have previously used a $200+ Automotive GPS(these are far superior to the 705 in speed, accuracy, and auto-routing/re-routing). The software that comes with the 705 is not good for the year 2009 - maybe 1990s. Since it is so un-intuitive, I have not fully explored this software so maybe I need more time with it. It does the very basics and it doesn't even do those well. I used to own a Ciclosport bike computer/altimeter and it captured data and one could export the data to the PC. The software for data analyzation was far superior in the ciclosport. The Edge does give you data to analyze and for most riders I think you will find that it is enough since it is more a novelty unless you are really serious about training. You can also use the 705 to setup training rides to make your training more efficient and productive but I doubt I will ever use those. If you are a racer or serious trainer then maybe you will be able to get more from some of the features in the 705. I did try to ride against myself (a previous ride using virtual partner) but I didn't get it to work. I think that was my fault and I will try that again.

More importantly, I expect one spends all of this $ to use the Edge 705 for navigation...to either pre-route for on-bike navigation or auto-route while on a ride to find a place to ride to (or head home). To pre-route, I won't use the poor Garmin software provided - period. It is not good. I use map-my-ride (MMR) and export everything as a gpx file. The gpx file needs to be opened in Garmin's MapSource software and transfered to the Edge 705 as a track - simple and quick to do. However, all of the early tracks I uploaded to the 705 had 1 or 2 errors in them - produced by the 705 when the GPX file was imported from MapSource. I find the imported track will sometimes "jump roads" where there isn't any roads - especially if you select "follow roads" when you are mapping your route in MMR (everyone will use this or it would take forever to map a route w/out it). This "jumping" may be only once or twice in a track but it is obviously a big problem. The 705 device work-around is to turn on the 705, select a saved track, select "navigate" in the 705 (this alone can take 5+min) and then review it in the 705. This takes some time and is pretty tedious, especially for a 105 mile track. One of the things I started to do was when I map my routes in MMR I click right before and right after a road/major direction change. This seems to help and I did not find any errors in my 105 mile track on the 705 that were caused by the 705 (there was one error but it was created in MMR). Maybe I won't have anymore 705 import errors but as of now I just don't fully trust the 705 yet. Everyone must realize that the online mapping program data isn't perfect - every long route I have planned using google maps, mapquest or mapmyride has given me wrong directions, wrong road lables and/or shown roads that do not exist (not the 705's fault). These online mapping programs have been 99% accurate but that 1% is always frustrating, especially when you have to stop, find an alternate route and often backtrack. Having the 705 will not change these online mapping program errors. However, I don't need the 705 to add more errors. I think I have corrected the 705 import errors by clicking before/after each turn but only time will tell. Also, where I ride (central NJ - Central PA) none of the online mapping solutions or the 705 have avoided gravel roads. The capability to do this is there but the data and companies just don't keep up with it. This is not a weakness of the 705 but simply an industry maturity/capacity issue. Lastly, the on-bike auto-routing capabilities of the Edge 705 is also somewhat questionable. I've only used it 3x and, while it works, it hasn't taken me the quickest way home. It does come close but I'm not sure why it selects some roads over others. And, if you intentionally go off a pre-programmed route (bad weather, closed road, just curious, etc.) you should be careful. If you have auto-recalculate turned on it will not get you back onto the track unless you turn-around. The 705 will eventually just send you back to your starting point. I recommend that you turn on ASK PRIOR TO RECALCULATING setting. It will still ask you to turn around 3 or 4x but you can ignore it and ride back onto the track (it will then continue to navigate using the original track) or you can decide to recalculate and go to your starting destination. Plan on it re-navigating for up to 5 minutes (it says 100% recalculated but then must irritate you by staying on that screen for a minute or so!) If you continue to ride while it is recalculating you will pass roads and have no clue if you should turn or not. So you can pull over and wait but you can't stop your timer if it is calculating a new route (this will increase your riding time/decrease your speed avg. if you are set for manual). To deal with this turn on the AUTO PAUSE feature that automatically stops the timer when you stop and restarts when you ride. The 705 doesn't have a re-routing capability to avoid an obstacle and then take you back to your original track (like closed bridge or accident avoidance). Read more ›

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars After all the hype and the extended wait........It is as good as advertised April 28, 2008

By S. D. Morris

Amazon Verified Purchase

Garmin Edge 705 HRM Outdoor Fitness GPS with Heart Rate Monitor
Executive Summary: If you are looking for a complete solution to HR, power, Cyclo computer and GPS with great usability, Garmin 705 is for you. The 705 retains the 305's ability to record data indoors as well as outside. Additionally, the 705 is compatible with the 305 rear wheel speed / cadence transmitter. Mapping is good, but roadies rarely need directional assistance. Basic cyclo computer functions are perfect and are easy to configure. Great user interface and controls - on and off the bike. Easy to see and adjust the color screen's intensity. No problem with interference from other HR monitors or other Garmin users.
Down side (the reason I rated this a 3 and not a 5):
1) (Not Garmin's fault) Power Tap is not yet compatible with the ANT+ communication protocol and the Quark power meter (which IS compatible) will not work for Shimano & Campy cranks. Major disappointment! Cannot test the power meter integration.
2) Motion Based / Garmin Connect data upload sites: While Motion Based was an adequate site to collect and analyze ride data; it was never as good as the Polar software / Web site. Garmin is in the middle of moving its fitness uploads from the Motion Based website (supposed to happen in May?) to the Garmin Connect website. Either Garmin / Motion based are completely inept at web site development management or they have not resourced the project appropriately. Garmin connect has a slick appearance but still lacks the meat of Motion Based and when compared to Polar is completely inadequate for analyzing ride data. The site lacks a GREAT deal of data reporting and presentation features to make it useful to even us amateur cyclists.
3) Garmin needs work on its drivers for the 705 - Windows Vista in general and the 64 bit version in particular. (I did not downgrade them for this; I was dumb enough to buy into Microsoft's hype and choose Vista 64). No clue on how the drivers work for Mac.
4) Still no ambient temperature available measurement available on the 705. In fact the Motion Based feature that associated weather with a particular ride was not activated for the first three weeks I had the 705. One day, out of the blue it started working - but only on the Motion Based Site; it is still not there in any form for the Garmin Connect Site.
Bottom Line: Garmin has done its job in creating a great combo HR, Power, cyclo computer and GPS receiver. Arguably, the greatest selling point of the device is the ability to integrate power data with other cycling data; unfortunately Garmin partnered with high end provider (SRM) and the new low cost provider (Quark) for power data instead of driving a natural relationship with the more popular Power Tap. Additionally, they have not invested enough resources to create even a reasonable data collection site / software to adequately use all the data collected by the 705. My recommendation is buy it, go without integrated power until Power Tap get its act together and invest in the Training Peaks software to upload the wealth of meaningful data that is collected by this wonderful device.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars fun gadget - map advice August 31, 2009

By Linda Sigismondi

I have had the Edge 705 a little over a week and am enjoying riding with it. I did take the advice of several reviewers and bought the city navigator map separately on DVD so I could use it both on my computer and on the Edge. I first bought a 4GB microSD through Amazon to put the maps in the Edge. The card would not work on the Edge - my computer would not recognize the Garmin and I couldn't get beyond the opening screen on the Garmin. I then bought a 2 GB microSD at Walmart which did work. I realized afterwards that the 4GB was an HC card (it took 6 minutes to load the maps versus 48 minutes). I am not sure if it was the size or the HC that prevented the microSD from working with this unit.

One Week Later - I learned yesterday that Garmin just released a Firmware update. I updated the Firmware to 2.9 and the 4 GB HC card does work.