Cycling can be more fun if there’s something to measure and something to look at. Being able to navigate and know where you are is probably even more important. Garmin has made huge inroads (pardon the pun) into the personal navigation space and is setting its sights on making GPS devices ubiquitous. The Edge series is specifically designed for cyclists. The devices are small and compact, weatherproof and fit securely onto road and mountain bikes.
My choice is the Edge 705, and it’s proven to be a remarkable gadget. The price was right, so I went for the full pack consisting of the Edge 705 unit, heart rate monitor and cadence sensor. Also in the box, two mounting brackets, charger, Garmap 2008 DVD, USB cable and some paperwork.
The Edge 705 has a colour screen that measures 3.5cm by 4.3cm and is bright enough to be viewed from most angles. Buttons are clearly marked and logically arranged. One-handed use is convenient, though the unit spends its time in the mounting bracket on the bicycle most of the time.
The Edge is weatherproof and is charged by attaching it to a computer’s USB port or the included charger. Charging times vary, but a three hour charge seems sufficient for more than 14 hours of continuous use. The built-in, non-removable battery is of the Li-Polymer type. The USB adapter on the rear of the unit features a rubber cap to protect the electronics from the elements. In my opinion, that covering could have been designed to close more tightly. Even though it’s designed for bicycle use, the unit has plenty of memory onboard. I bought a cheap 1GB microSD card and slotted it into the bay. With that arrangement, I was able to load the entire ZA street map detail, as well as complete topographical maps for the country. Not bad! The maps can be overlayed and the 705 is completely capable of turn-by-turn route direction. All that is missing is voice guidance.
The mounting brackets are attached to the stem or handlebar. The Edge sits quite comfortably and securely in the bracket and is easy to remove. Two brackets provide a selection of orientation and allow the Edge to be moved from one bicycle to another quite easily.
The heart rate monitor is the usual chest strap variety – remember to moisten it prior to putting it on: you may have some rather erratic readings otherwise that may cause considerable worry.
The cadence sensor is installed on the pedal. Both accessories are automatically detected by the Edge base unit and readings take place straight away. For very serious geeks and fitness fanatics, ANT+Sport technology is able to integrate a variety of additional wireless devices.
Basically, the use of the unit involves starting a measurement. The display options are flexible, allowing various types of data to be displayed at any one time. In the meantime, the map pointer shows your position and the unit records all relevant data. During all that, you may want it to guide you to a destination or to follow a pre-loaded track. Once done, the data is uploaded to Garmin‘s desktop training application for further analysis. That’s quick and easy using the USB data transer. Similarly, loading maps and tracks is accomplished via USB.
Of course, that’s not all. There are many more things the Edge is capable of, and we’ll look at the unit in a bit more detail over the coming weeks. All in all, a fantastic device that does everything it promises exceptionally well and offers the flexibility of a small, handheld GPS for many other applications. If you want an incentive to start cycling again, the Edge may be just the ticket 
Exactly 150 years ago today, Charles Darwin read his theory of evolution before The Linnaean Society of London.
