Edge 705 with sensors, or Edge 800, or...?

[Boopop]

So I'm looking to start tracking my bike rides along with some handy turn by turn navigation. I can either get a 705 with cadence and heart rate monitor for £191, or a 800 for £250~. I'm inclined to go for the 800 after learning about its general speediness and ease of use, however feel slightly odd considering a £250 gadget to go on a £300 bike! What do people think? Any other options people might suggest? Also do people find that cadence and heart rate monitors add a lot to the experience?

Thanks, Tom

 

[ufkacbln]

There are significant differences

The 705 has a better quality screen, but not touch
The 705 talks to other Garmin, the 800 doesn't

If you don't need OS mapping then the 705 is better value.

 

[Boopop]

I'll just be using it on a road bike so I'm guessing I don't need OS mapping, just road maps.

 

[tug benson]

Don`t want to start another thread so i think i`ll just hi-jack this one

see with the garmin 800 do you get maps with or do you have to pay extra to get the maps?

really how does it work?...

 

[zizou]

Don`t want to start another thread so i think i`ll just hi-jack this one

see with the garmin 800 do you get maps with or do you have to pay extra to get the maps?

really how does it work?...

It varies - you can get it without (well not actually without it has base maps but these are awful), or you can get it bundled with city navigator maps which are like the maps in garmin car sat navs - very good for road cycling but not for mountain biking and off road, or you can get it with Ordinance Survey maps which are just like a digital version of OS maps and would cover road biking and mountain biking.

The cheapest way of doing it is buying it as a bundle rather than buying the base unit then the maps on top as the maps on their own are extra expensive.

Or you could buy the base unit and load open street maps onto it (which are free). These maps have their fans but i prefer the navigator and OS maps.

 

[fossyant]

You pay extra for maps. If you want a decent 'off road' map for the 705 - look at the openmtbmaps - like openstreetmap but have canals, paths etc - these are OK, and better than the crappy off road ones you can get for the 705. The City Nav is worth getting for road. Or the free openstreetmaps.

It is also possible to get unlocked Garmin maps off the web - you'll have to look for them !

The 800 is just that bit flashier than the 705 - having got a 705, I won't be upgrading to an 800 as it really doesn't do much more, other than having OS maps.

 

[billy1561]

Can't speak for the 705 as I don't have one but the 800 had been brilliant in every way. Can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[ufkacbln]

The maps are not cheap, but as above, buying a bundle or looking for offers can reduce this

I bought my 800 with the Ordnance Survey and then used the OSM Cycle map for road work

When I bought the Montana, I bought the CityNT and then got the OS on offer