MBlog

Cutting Edge

As you have probably heard by now, Garmin announced the latest devices in the Edge series, the Edge 605 and 705.  A simple Google search proves that the cycling world has been eagerly anticipating the super devices; blog posts and pre-release reviews are starting to pepper cyber space.  So, what are cyclists in for with the next generation of cycling computers?  Much like the Edge 205, the Edge 605 is a GPS enabled cyclocomputer . . . but with more than a few really LOUD bells and whistles this time around.  The Edge 605 comes with a color screen, color base maps, the ability to add maps, microSD card acceptance and turn-by-turn directions.  The Edge 705 comes with all that, plus a few more noise makers to make your ride all the more exciting.  The 705 has heart rate monitor capability, speed/cadence sensor, barometric altimeter, unit-to-unit transfer to share data wirelessly with similar units and the ever-requested POWER.  Keep in mind that Power will be compatible with SRM and Quarq.  And of course, all of the training capabilities you've come to love on the Edge 205/305 are still available on the new devices.

Check out the pre-release review from GPS Magazine.  And, check out the excitement from some user blogs . . . they can't wait to get theirs!

TMCnet.com blog

Coolest-Gadgets.com blog

Gizmag Article

UberGizmo.com blog

BikeMag.com

Forerunner Rebate - Save $50

If you've been thinking about a Forerunner 205/305, but couldn't part with the clams. This might push you over the edge. From January 24 - May 15, 2007; Garmin is extending a $50 rebate on Forerunner 205 and 305 purchases in the US and Canada. See Garmin retailers for details.

Forerunner 205/305 Quick Release Kit

Hey multi-sporters, your Forerunner Quick Release Kit is here. Well, almost here . . . as close as you can get without a shopping cart. Recently announced at CES, it should start shipping soon.

Over the past couple months, we subjected it to use and abuse testing. Our initial reaction was, "Will this contraption hold a Forerunner?"  We've been wrong before and we were wrong to question this clever design. After several long trail runs and technical mountain bike rides, it passed the Marin County test without a single dislodge. It's solid, and easy to remove once you find your method.

The critical part is a piece of plastic that receives the device pins. After removing the band and reinstalling the pins, the device attaches to the wrist and bike mount by seating the bottom pin in a U-shaped channel and rotating until the top snaps into place. For those that miss their Forerunner 201/301 velcro strap, you'll feel right at home. The kit comes with zip-ties for the bike mount and accommodates most any bar. Those using aerobars should consider a mounting stub.

Note: this kit is specifically designed for Forerunner 205/305. Forerunner 201/301 owners, check out your quick release kit.

Booster Pack

If you are like me, the Edge is my favorite companion on the bike.  I can't imagine biking without her.  When I begin to think about doing a double century ride or 24 hour race, a tear wells up in my eye thinking she may abandon me in the middle of my bike... Her energy capacity isn't up to the task...  How can I give her an energy boost?  Lets create a booster pack for the Edge.

My first attempt involved a 9 volt battery, but it only gave me a few hours of runtime so I kept looking.  The final design of the booster pack is quite simple.  It uses 4 AA batteries wired up to a USB cable.  This setup gave me over 30 hours of runtime on one test using 2700 mAh Rechargeable Batteries.  You can just leave it plugged into your device and it will charge it as your battery goes down in your Edge.

If you want one too, you have a few options:

• Buy a charger unit that supplies 5 volts from 4 AA batteries.
• Build/Design one yourself

The Easy Way:

I found a device that is designed to charge an Apple Shuffle, which meets our needs.  If you want this exact model, search for BA-USB-W.  It is usually available on eBay for around $15 (not including batteries).  You can also look around for other USB charging devices.  They should all work about the same.

The one I got will use your sync/charging cable to plug into the Edge.

Lets Build It:

You can also build one pretty easily.  This is much better if there is a specific length of cable you want, or is you want the smallest possible form factor.  If you are not familiar with soldering or don't have a voltmeter, I would not venture into this area as you may fry your edge.

Parts List:

• USB A-B mini 5 pin cable.  $7 to $15
• 4 AA Battery Holder $2 @ Radio Shack
• 9V Battery Connector $2 @ Radio Shack
• 4 AA Rechargeable 1.25V Batteries with Charger
• Solder, Soldering Gun, Electrical Tape, Voltmeter

Instructions:

1. Mount your Edge on your bike and plug in the USB cable.  Decide where you will mount the booster pack and cut the cable to length.
2. There should be 4 wires in there.  The red wire is the +5V and the black is the ground.  Solder the red wire to the + wire on the 9V connector, and the rest of the wires in the USB cable to the ground on the 9V connector.
3. Wrap the connections with electrical tape.
4. Plug in 4 AA rechargeable batteries.  IMPORTANT: do not use 1.5V AA Batteries as this could  fry your edge with too much voltage.
5. Check the voltage by putting a voltmeter on the end of the usb cable.  The two outside pins should be reading 5V.  With the wide part down on the mini connection, the + is on the left, and the - is on the right.  The voltage should be under 6 Volts, but above 5 Volts.  If not, check your connections and try again
6. Attach the booster to your bike and have a great ride!

After you post your event done with a booster pack to Motionbased, send emails to booster@motionbased.com with the event.  We may choose to highlight your event!

Brad

Watch the Forerunner in Action

Curious to see what the new Forerunner 205/305 looks like on a real person? Or, how some of the features on the device look in action?

Well.... then check out this video from Garmin:

New Edge or Forerunner Locking Up?

Garmin has identified a bug in some new Forerunner and Edge units (205 and 305) that cause them to lock up after a full charge. Here's a temporary fix until the next software update:

"To power the unit back on, press the "Mode" and "Reset" buttons at the same time. Let go of those two buttons, press the power button, and the unit will turn back on."

Choosing the Right GPS Device

We get asked all of the time -- "What GPS device should I get?" With the latest editions to the Garmin® line-up, we created a GPS fitness guide for Forerunner® and Edge™ to help you evaluate the options. Of course, we have our favorite list of recommended GPS devices (including the GPSMAP® 60CSx handheld). You won’t go wrong with these options –- building that quiver of GPS devices never hurts either.

Next Generation Forerunner

Today, Garmin official unveiled the next generation Forerunner at the Consumer Electronics Show. Images and chatter of the new sleek design have been on the message boards for more than a month. The word was out when CES blessed it as an honoree for their 2006 Innovation Award.

Now that we are part of the Garmin machine it goes without saying and we’d be crazy not to, but we might as well make it official and spell it out, MotionBased will support the Forerunner 205 & 305. Garmin says units will be available in February, MB support will immediately follow.

We got our first prototypes a few weeks ago, and have been testing in earnest since. Our initial impressions are strong. While most will be struck by the new body style, it’s what’s under the hood that impresses us. After all, it’s all about the data. Right? Like the Edge, Forerunner 205 & 305 have SiRFstarIIITM architecture. That means dramatically improved GPS reception. We’ve subjected our prototypes to GPS torture – Muir Woods tree cover, Skeggs Point canyons, and downtown skyscrapers – and they’ve performed like a champs. We were blown away to see our route up-and-down the isles of our local Best Buy. Check out this run though Muir Woods - the tallest trees on earth

We’ve also been pleased with the heart rate monitor, improved accuracy and softer material than its predecessor. Both the Edge and Forerunner 305’s use the new HRM. The course feature is also new to the Forerunner, (read more about couses - Edge post). Courses enable users to download activities form the MotionBased TrailNetwork or your personal Digest for real time Dot Racing on the device. That’s right, you can race yourself or challenge your friends. Don’t forget, safety first. We don’t need anyone getting hurt our there…

Do yourself a favor, step into the next generation of GPS.

Garmin Announces GPS Cyclocomputer - The Edge

Today, Garmin announced their cycling specific GPS device, the Garmin Edge©. It’s a thing of beauty and loaded with everything we could ask in a device under $350. At the same time, we’re announcing MotionBased’s future support of The Edge©. It should be no secret that most of us at the MBHQ are heavily into cycling, so we are very excited about the Edge©.  Yeah we love toys, but this one is different than all the others. This cyclocomputer promises to provide the most accurate detailed information, more than any other device, on the market.  New features, like displaying cumulative elevation (Edge 305 only) and Courses, make the software superior to any other outdoor GPS unit on the market. This great new product is a clear sign of Garmin's commitment to leading the outdoor fitness and recreation computer market.

The only downside... most of you will have to wait until January when all of the Edge models will be available for purchase.  Of course... the MB Crew will be getting their hands on some tasty prototypes in the next few weeks.  Afterall, we need to get MotionBased ready to support these new features -- one of the benefits of working at MB.  Did we mention that we're looking for software engineers?

Pricing

Garmin is offering four packages and add-ons. Choosing the right combination can be a little confusing, so let's break it down. Firstly, you'll need to decide between base units, Edge 205 or 305. We suggest the Edge 305 with barometric altimeter and expandability into heart rate and/or speed/cadence.

Model	Est. Retail Price	Altimeter	Heart Rate	Speed & Cadence
Edge 205	$249	GPS
Edge 305HR	$349	GPS + Barometric	X
Edge 305CAD	$349	GPS + Barometric		X
Edge 305 Bundle	$399	GPS + Barometric	X	X

Note:
- Cumulative elevation is displayed on The Edge 305. 205 users have to wait to see their elevation gain on MotionBased.

- The Edge 205 does not allow for expandability into heart rate or speed/cadence.

- All units include a bike mount, USB PC interface cable, AC charger, Training Center CD, owner’s manual and quick-reference guide.

Improved Accuracy

The Edge works like any other GPS unit communicating directly with the satellites high in the sky.  Using the new SiRF chip promises better signal deep in the trees, which we all know can hinder the effectiveness of using GPS to track distance.  Add the wheel speed/cadence sensor and even when the GPS signal is blocked from the sky your bike computer will track the actual distance ridden.

Independent of the sensor that is calculating speed and distance (GPS or wheel sensor), the Edge records the distance between each trackpoint and stores it in a large 13,000 trackpoint repository, to be retrieved later by the MotionBased Agent. This addition means that statistics at MotionBased can now perfectly match those statistics reported on the Edge 205 and 305 during the ride. Probably our most commonly and passionately requested feature to date and one we've been eager to provide.

Although GPS altitude is recorded by most modern GPS units, the accuracy of the altitude can be incorrect if a clear view of the sky is hindered by trees, buildings or nearby hills.  Barometric altimeters found on many watches provide a more stable view of the altitude, but require calibration to a known altitude on earth.  If you knew the altitude then why carry the watch, right?  Beyond initial calibration the barometric altimeters accuracy can change throughout your activity due to changes in the weather.

Garmin GPS units with barometric altimeters (eTrex Vista, Geko 301 and now the Edge 305) auto-calibrate the altitude using the best of both technologies to make sure your altitude is as accurate as possible.  The Edge 305 uses this combination of altitude sensors to provide cumulative elevation gain on the device, much like MotionBased does with our Dashboard Elevation view corrected with MB Gravity.

Courses

We've all been on a bike ride that turned out to be longer and more difficult than planned, wondering when it is going to end. Perhaps you made a wrong turn somewhere back wherever and you don't know how to get home. In addition, we all have a little bit of that competitive nature that makes us want to beat the other guy to the finish line. Courses are the perfect answer for these situations that make us love to hate cycling.

The TrailNetwork is one of MotionBased's greatest assets. We have secretly been building the largest digital repository of trails and routes for all kinds of activities, and haven't taken advantage of it until now. TrailNetwork activities now become courses on the device that make outdoor training or expedition guidance possible...guidance with time and elevation in mind.

Traditional GPS routing only knows location in a two-dimensional world. The old school way to calculate estimated time of arrival is to take your average speed and figure out the distance to your next location on a flat Earth, and guess when you might arrive at your destination. What if there is a massive hill along the way? It could take you three times longer than the GPS estimated. How about 5 miles of technical single track that feels like 50?

Courses take location, elevation and time into consideration, to make the most accurate estimation of guidance. Using previously recorded rides, the Edge will now make estimations that pertain to the real world, not the mathematical two-dimensional world without terrain changes. This means that you can use courses to help you understand how well you are doing along the route.

You may be asking yourself where on Earth could you get a course for a ride that you've never done before?  Our answer is the MotionBased TrailNetwork.  Yes, you have been helping build the world's largest repository of time-based route information. Based on rides shared at MotionBased, you now can use your Edge to help you navigate a ride, know how long it will really take to complete the ride, and yes know if you are going to beat your time or someone else's.  Imagine competing against the winner of last year's record breaking Mt. Tam Hill Climb, Tom Danielson's record breaking Mt. Evans Hill Climb or Wier's record breaking Downieville Downhill.  The Edge is taking Dot Racing to a whole new level!

Whatever level of cycling you enjoy the Edge will enhance your cycling experience, both during the ride on the Edge or after the ride at MotionBased.

Update
We're updating this post to notify you that the Garmin Edge won't be out until January 2006. On the bright-side, Garmin has announced a fourth product SKU for the Garmin Edge -- the Edge 305 Bundle which will include the whole enchilada (Heart Rate monitor and Speed/Cadence sensors).  The estimated retail price of the Edge 305 Bundle is $399.  We've updated the charts above to reflect this new product bundle.

Quick Release Mount

The Garmin bike/goggle/wrist/anywhere mount has arrived.

The package includes a single cradle that accommodates Forerunner's and Foretrex's, and three mounting platforms. The quick release mounting system is pretty slick. A simple 90 degree turn releases or locks the cradle.

Bike Mount - Even though it's intended for the triathlete and duathlete, the versatility of the bike mount (disc and zip-ties) may interest cyclists. It accommodates most handle bars, even fat carbons, and may be best suited for the stem. A word of caution to the tri community, we haven't tested it with aero-bars yet, but the signal of a device mounted under your body can be effected by blockage.

Wrist Mount - You can throw your stinky fabric strap away. The included wrist strap is your standard rubber and plastic watch strap.

Goggle Mount - I'm guessing it's the square like piece. I haven't seen this part yet, and assume that goggle straps go threw the pins. I'm most fired up on the pin tool. I've tried everything, and refuse to cough up a couple bones for a stupid tool.

We're not sure when Amazon is going to start selling em, but Garmin is selling them for $25.45. Let us know what you think.