Weight Weenies

Just purchased a garmin edge 500 hr/cadence, first impressions pretty neat looking but would have prefared bigger colour selection or at least changeable covers etc as i picked the silver/black version to try and blend in with my bike. I found the heart rate strap strange at first due to having no opening and having to put it over the head and basically it stretches to fit on the chest as hr monitors before always split in half then clicked together. The hr monitor that garmin offers it was extremely light and slimline which is ideal for aero jerseys and was comfortable compared to the likes of polar and mavic which are bulky and have weight.

The instructions are easy to follow though lacks explaining in some areas, im not being fussy but for certain people they will get confused as no defined clarification i.e. bands for mount direct to follow parallel or diagonal or when setting up such as picking a satellite which there is many options but i could not find best for where i like off mainland uk. Setup took me not longer than 3 minutes if even, only problem i run into was what to select and the wheel magnet (tried mavics magnet but not powerful enough) but i like the fact that garmin cadence sensor lights up two colours to show crank and wheel magnet passing the senor (useful to see if it is picked up for setup).

I liked the fact garmin incorporates a backlit screen, not sure how powerful at night this would be or during sunlight but noticed there is settings to amend the brightness and contrasts to suit yourself and where the garmin is located on the stem and angle of it.

When i started setting up the computer i was flying it is very simple and easy to follow, there is a few questions that i found to puzzle me as i wanted to choose the most appropriate i.e. gps settings for satellite but like i mentioned rework in the manual to giving clarification. Also found the computer was fully up to date when i downloaded garmin software and checked for updates, took a while for the computer to find the device then the check was very quick. Also tried the garmin dashboard not much on there bar adding devices and looking at history of your own.

The user manual could use rework but no biggy for garmin as it would not put me off, still far easier to setup than mavics wintech which still gets my vote for the worst bicycle computer of all time due to the fact you spent ages setting it up at the start and at intermitting rides to snyc the hr monitor or to locate which battery needed replaced and the accidental reset the computer easily activated when saving previous ride.

I would also recommend garmin amend there computer magnet for the wheel which if you own a pair of wheels with wide spokes you will run into a problem i.e. mavic cosmic carbone ultimate, the magnet will not fit the spoke. I will file down part of the magnet bracket to try to get it to fit to at least meet the hole for magnet to screw onto the bracket or another option is to cut a side of the magnet bracket off but will have to use glue to hold it from sliding off.

I dislike the fact you have to zip tie the cadence sensor, i was considering gluing it to the frame but if the sensor fails or i want to sell the frame or upgrade the computer etc it will be a messy job removing it and then touching it up. It would look better if garmin could include a velcro style adhesive plate for the frame for the mount to attach or use the same method as the mount for the stem/handle bars with the band.

I dunno if garmin have the ability to edit screens on the dashboard when you login but it would be useful, with a mavic wintech you could edit the screens quickly to suit what information you wanted which so far i think you have to do it through the garmin which could be a bit fiddly but not tested yet.

Personally would recommend it, but will review again when test it fully. Hopefully this helps people when choosing this model or considering a decent computer.

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If you have the fabric HR strap have a close look at the metal adjustment clips. You can split the strap there, one of them is actually a hook. Love my Garmin. Luckily I have a red and black bike so the red and black garmin is great. I did see you could buy a rubber cover for the 800 but the idea of clip on covers, like a old nokia phone, would be great.

Golden cheetah is a great free program for interrogating the data, more in depth then garmin connect.

Good spot as I would not of noticed that if you did not mention, I thought it was designed as a better fit around the chest or for reducing weight of the strap. Thanks very much. I was considering the red/black one but only for the cockpit being black/white i did not pick that which i nearly went for the white/blue garmin only pulling out at the last minute when i studied the bike more and done a quick photoshop mockup.

The rubber cover for the 800 is the same idea as a phone cover and for some protection which you might find on ebay a 500 silicon cover but depending on how tight the fit would be if it was not issued by garmin. I think if they done a cover they would potentially sell more devices plus ideal for people who use the device alot which might pick up scratches or on different bikes.

I shall sign up to golden cheetah and give it a go, i take it they have laided it out like srm software ?
How does the garmin hold out in winter when wearing gloves, easy make selections with the buttons or impossible ?

just bought mine too

I have yet to use the lap/course by position function. Will be pretty useful for MTB training.

What do you make of the other features so far ?
I like the way with the garmin you can use it without the speed/cadence kit but it is more accurate and beneficial if you do use the kit and will aid training if you are competitive or just want detailed information.
I think mapping your course route will be good to use as it can be loaded again and then track if you go faster plus i think you can import a course from what i read online but unsure what you would use to create the course route. Also i wonder how many courses you could store as this information would be good to not only pick a training route or for racing to see past stats such as key areas for racing tactics decisions.

well im still exploring it.

Can you create a course by getting out, ride to the said course and then mark it as a lap, then use it as a course without the part you rode to get there?

Id like to ride to my single tracks, then map out a 30min lap and try to do it versus my virtual partner, but I dont understand how.

andyhunter wrote:I found the heart rate strap strange at first due to having no opening and having to put it over the head and basically it stretches to fit on the chest as hr monitors before always split in half then clicked together.

If this was on youtube, it would have gone viral by now

andyhunter wrote:I found the heart rate strap strange at first due to having no opening and having to put it over the head and basically it stretches to fit on the chest as hr monitors before always split in half then clicked together.

Wouldn't it been easier if you were to put it on like your pants?

stella-azzurra wrote:Wouldn't it been easier if you were to put it on like your pants?

That would be a unique place to measure a pulse.

In the UK pants refer to underwear not trousers

I love my garmin edge 500. It's by far the best computer available nowadays. Now, it also should improve in some aspects for future versions. Altitude points detected by gps not always works properly and in general processor seems kinda slow. When following a track it gets stacks for a few moments sometimes, redrawing the whole track when you need it more... Firmware updates appear every now and then, which means they are solving some issues and that's really good. Still, future garmin edge 600, when ever comes to market will be the killer computer.

Murphs wrote:

andyhunter wrote:I found the heart rate strap strange at first due to having no opening and having to put it over the head and basically it stretches to fit on the chest as hr monitors before always split in half then clicked together.

If this was on youtube, it would have gone viral by now

haha that was funny but if i was fat or had broad shoulders it would have been a good video, just looked like putting a tshirt on. found the seperator today, well hidden before.

stella-azzurra wrote:

andyhunter wrote:I found the heart rate strap strange at first due to having no opening and having to put it over the head and basically it stretches to fit on the chest as hr monitors before always split in half then clicked together.

Wouldn't it been easier if you were to put it on like your pants?

never thought of that but maybe you could give it a go and post result, joking.

Liggero wrote:I love my garmin edge 500. It's by far the best computer available nowadays. Now, it also should improve in some aspects for future versions. Altitude points detected by gps not always works properly and in general processor seems kinda slow. When following a track it gets stacks for a few moments sometimes, redrawing the whole track when you need it more... Firmware updates appear every now and then, which means they are solving some issues and that's really good. Still, future garmin edge 600, when ever comes to market will be the killer computer.

I will admit so far im very happy with the garmin bar issues found. Spend today getting it setup i.e. all working before properly using the zip ties. Also filed down part of the wheel magnet and used tec 7 to glue to spoke, handy thing is it is waterproof but i will come off. I wish garmin would allow for the arm to be position on left and right hand side thus so the computer could be mounted underneath i.e. my old tarmac is closer to the spoke than the sl3 which means i have to raise the arm unlike the arm snug on the sl3 tight against the frame. Also found when the arm is raised it picks up the wheel magnet better than when the arm is lowered.

Then i went out on a short spin to test it, found it better to read than other computers mounted on the bars as your shades can block out part of the screen which the garmin while be shown in all view but will depend on your height and stem length. I also tested in the drops and did not noticed any major difference bar tilting the head a bit more to read the computer, if anything i think i prefair stem mounted to handle bar mounted computer.

I did find locating a satellite for myself because of where i lived took some time roughly 40 secs, no biggy but i was in the house when i turned it on, i think it is around 30secs when you are outdoors. I am still debating with satellite to use, the most accurate for where i live than the normal one selected as standard that picks up your location as chose one for you.
Will try out different screens setup that garmin offers to suit what information i want to know but i do like the time in cycle and actual current time big benefit for myself as other computers you had to flick between screens. I never got any altitude readings but i have to look into setting it up, dunno if i had a setting turned out or because i was at mostly the same height.

I did find the speed more accurate with cadence kit and satellite using maths to give a answer, it does kick in straight away. I am not sure if the device turns off automatically after a period of time but i just used power off before having a look at my ride information. still have to upload on the net and check out everything garmin provides for aiding training.

Interesting way to do a review.

Not really read the manual or use the product fully but go ahead and write a review.

Little unfair really.

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Does anyone else get a little electric shock from their 500 when pressing buttons in the rain?

I never had a problem with the 705, which I had to replace recently as some git stole it.

I'm unimpressed with the 500. The buttons are awkwardly placed, the screen is disproportionatly small compared to the size of the face of the unit, and the menu is ridiculous. I have to go through 5 pages to change HR monitor straps or calibrate (zero) my powermeter.

can anyone comment on how it compares to the 800?