Patrick, All Garmin units work off the satellite network. They are also compatible with the wheel sensor to track distance if you lose the satellite connection that mounts on the left chain stay so the magnet goes on the rear wheel. If you also put a magnet on the left pedal crank, it will also track cadence.
The Edge units mount on the stem or the handlebar with the same mount than you just twist 90 deg. You can also carry them on a pocket, bag, etc. The Edge 800 is their latest top of the line unit with touch screen functionality, the 705 has almost the same functions minus some features and was their previous top model. 605 is the same minus barometric altimeter. They all use maps and provide routing. The 305 and 205 don't have mapping capabilities and the difference is the barometric altimeter and perhaps a few other details I cannot recall. The 500 is like the 800 minus the mapping capability. Garmin has other lines that are worn on the wrist aimed at runners primarily without mapping but they are all compatible with the bike sensors. By mapping I mean displaying a map and routing you. They all record your route and upload it to software that will show you a map of your ride. The 800 is supposed to last more than 12 hours on a battery charge, but it also depends on how many sensors you are using, back light, etc. For touring you can use one of the many devices that are either external battery packs or devices to use your dynamo hub to recharge/power the unit. These can also be used with other units like iPhones, etc. The 800/705 as well as other handheld Garmin units allow you to buy maps and even satellite terrain so you can see the actual ground you're riding on, instead of just the topography and/or major roads. This is particularly useful for me when mountain biking because I can see the actual trails as long as they are not under the cover of foliage. It has helped me explore new trails plenty of times. All the cycling and running units are wireless. Heart rate, bike sensor and even power, for those that read it. They can use any ANT+ compatible sensor. René Sent from my iPad On Feb 16, 2011, at 10:12 AM, CycloFiend <cyclofi...@earthlink.net> wrote: > on 2/16/11 7:48 AM, PATRICK MOORE at bertin...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Tell me about this Garmin: what sort of wheel sensor does it use? Is >> it wireless? Does it mount on the bar or go in a pocket? > > The Garmin (and others) are GPS based, reading your change in position via > the GPS satellite system. > > I've been messing around with an iPhone-based app called "Cyclemeter" > (thanks to RBW-weekend-guy Harry) which is optimized (from a user interface > pov) for cycling, walking and running. It allows you to upload or transfer > the .gpx files, which other sites turn into mapping data (and there's a > mapping function w/in the program). It seems pretty nice, but I haven't > worked deeply with it. I've been using it to indirectly record post-work, > non-regular-route commutes home. > > My second-hand impression of the feedback on the SF Randonneurs list is that > the GPS-specific rigs are more efficient in battery life. There are some > "logging" units which have little in the way of interface quality, but just > tracking where you go (and have longer use per charge). > > hope that helps, > - Jim > > -- > Jim Edgar > cyclofi...@earthlink.net > > Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com > Current Classics - Cross Bikes > Singlespeed - Working Bikes > > Gallery updates now appear here - http://cyclofiend.blogspot.com > > "Maybe a bike, once discarded, pines away year after year for the first hand > that steered it, and as it grows old it dreams, in its bike way, of the > young roads." > > -- Robert McCammon, "Boy's Life" > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
