iBikeRide.com

What caught me about this neat little toy at the Cycle show was that it was more than just a cool GPS mapping tool (I'm still map, compass and spending hours aimlessly lost still;) but it is a personal trainer fitness gizmo with a wireless heart rate monitor and  a cycle computer  too!! 

Are there may people using these gizmo's yet I'm not sure? maybe we should be? If you are using one then let us know what you think?

There are definitely benefits to not getting lost and I like the idea of a) downloading maps to your device and maximising time on the trails and b) if you discover a route you can have it mapped as you go for future reference and even better sharing.

I do think that with the growth of trail centres,cool products like the Garmin 305  will help keep pure XC going so that we will all continue to discover natures natural trails. This cant be a bad thing. I also think I would like one personally as a back up especially when I'm out leading others through the woods and hills and fancy getting to the pub before it shuts! The price is a tough one for me but this is three products in one and the technology and R&D that went into something so small needs to be respected. Although at this price although it is tough given my history of coming off I'd feel more comfortable with a slightly more rugged design. Overall though given it's size and functionality the verdict is a thumbs up. A great Xmas under the tree and birthday present thrown into one

The Garmin Edge 305 - $ 379.15 USD, £275.99  approximately €335.32

Wiggle have a good deal on this right now for October at £229.99. So if you are thinking of it click on the banner below and search for Garmin 305 (the integrated one with the heart rate thingy) ..yes this activity keeps the site going;)

This is the blurb:

Take your ride to the next level with Edge 305, Garmin's  Edge 305 will help you achieve your personal best.

Get the Data You Need

Rugged, lightweight Edge attaches easily to the stem or handlebars of your bike with the included bike mount. Just turn it on, acquire GPS satellites and go. Edge 305 automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 305 also incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation.

Other Edge features:

• Easy to install; no calibration required. Just snap it into the bike mount and go.
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons, making it extremely reliable for distance and speed information.
• 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.
• Auto Lap® automatically starts a new lap each time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance.

Measure Your Heart Rate and Cadence

Edge 305 comes packaged with a heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor, or both. These wireless sensors use ANT technology to send valuable workout data to the Edge.

• Edge 305 + heart rate — measure your heart rate and track your heart rate zone with the lightweight, comfortable heart rate strap. Don't worry about cross-talk; ANT technology eliminates interference from other heart rate monitors.
• Edge 305 + cadence — monitor your pedaling cadence and wheel speed as you ride with the self-calibrating, wireless speed/cadence sensor that attaches securely to your bike. You can even use it to train indoors because the sensor attaches to your rear wheel.

Track Your Progress

As an added benefit, you can plan, analyze and store data from your workouts using free Garmin Training Center® software, which lets you analyze data with interactive graphs that chart your speed, time, heart rate and elevation. Overlay your ride on a map so you can pinpoint specific areas and see how elevation and other factors affect your performance. Or, upload your workout data to MotionBased.com, Garmin's web-based application that provides in-depth analysis of your workouts, online mapping and route sharing that will take your training to the next level. Endurance athletes can also use the Edge with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web-based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.

Check them out: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/