Garmin Edge 500 Neutral

I love the smaller size over my Edge 305. It locks on to GPS satellites much faster and sinks up with HR and CAD sensors easier than the 305. Screen size is a little crowed but, with 3 available screens with the option the scroll at 3 speeds, you can organize your info on each display. Battery life is much improved as well. I checked around and Bike Tires Direct had the best deal at the time.

Purchased an Edge 500 Neutral from BTD. Purchased HR Strap and SpeedCadence Sensor separately on Amazon. Everything works great.

No issues so far, product has worked fantastic - exceeded expectations.

StravaGarmin Connect uploads and downloads are easy. I installed and used the PC based software but the Garmin Connect website is way better and all I use now.

Things the owners manualonline info didn't cover

- The Edge 500 will map out a bread-crumb trail for you to follow. You can download courses from the Garmin Connect Website (either create your own course or steal one from someone else)onto your GPS and it will display the route. It will not display any streets, rivers, state lines, etc, only a dotted path of the GPS Route. Works very well unless you come to a 5 way stop or something weird. Then you may end up off Course until you figure out where to go, but you can figure it out. I've been riding in a new area now for the last couple of weeks and this feature is amazing.

Reason I'm talking about this is that I almost bought an Edge 800 so I would have mapping features. With a bit of work and planning the Edge 500 works just as well. However, if you get off course our want to take a detour you have no option to re-route on the bike. (I use my Iphone if this happens)

-SpeedCadence Sensor best ever. You get lights in the setup mode ON THE SENSOR telling you if the magnetssensor are aligned properly. Easiest install ever. Works like a champ and I like having a clean front fork. Computer picked up Sensor on first try and CompHR connection has been solid in all weather conditions.

-Programmable Displays There are three displays and you can put up to six functions on each display. You can customize the six functions to be whatever you want from a very long list of functions. When running a course you get two additional displays - a comparison between you and your Training Partner (Average speed you put in for the course when you set it up on Garmin Connect) and a map of the bread-crumb trail with time and distance to go.

-Power I don't have a power meter so I can't review this.

-HandlebarStem mount. Great design, easy to use, easy to install. Rode some Cobbles in NYC and it didn't fall off. Nuff Said.

Again, I'm super happy with it. Yes, they are expensive, but I got mine during a double points deal so my next shorts are free from BTD. If you want a GPS and don't need to see a map of where you are I'd highly recommend this unit.

Bike Tires Direct was, as always, awesome to deal with. Fast shipping and everything showed up. I usually use the wharehouse pick up service but was out of town.

This is the best money I have spent on a bike related product! I love being able to look back at my ride data after training and see where i have improved, as well as where i need to make improvements. This computer is not only a great training tool, it is actually fun to use. You can see the temp, elevation, grade, power, HR, and a many other pieces of data while on the bike. I have used mine on both mountain and road rides, and it works really well for either.

WHILE it worked, it was a great tool. Did everything you'd want, no other computer I have had compared for constant data. However, it lasted only 18 months (or well under 2 ride seasons) and Garmin is totally ambivalent about the reliability of its products. No response whatsoever, no ability to diagnose without agreeing to give it $75 and then the best that would happen is I could buy a discounted refurbished unit. For $250 I expected greater reliability and I certainly expected customer service.

I use the Edge 500 for heartrate-based training and general tracking of mileage, ave speed, etc. Here's what I don't like about it The Edge 500 model seems to have a higher than normal percentage of defective units. My first one was purchased new, lasted about 10 months and was replaced by my second unit. Garmin did me no favors by replacing a new unit with a refurbished one (when I purchase a new unit, I expect a new unit to replace a defective one, not a refurbished one). Now, the second unit is defective in the same manner as the first - reporting obviously incorrect speeds (75-80 mph) and thus distances as well. Garmin customer service is just OK. It is difficult to find solutions to common problems without emailing them. For example, they don't have a FAQ answer that says to leave out the replaceable battery in the speedcadence sensor or heartrate sensor for at least 2 minutes when replacing with new batteries (in order to fully reset the accessories). This is just one of the suggestions given during the email exchanges for my two defective Edge 500 models. Other suggestions should also have been listed in a FAQ section but are not. Finally, the attaching bracket could be more robust. To me, a $250 bike computer should not be attached with rubber bands! On the positive side, when it works, it collects lots of useful data (including power data), is very customizable, and transfers the data well to Windows Garmin Training Center software. However, the Mac version of this software lacks the same finish and is more finicky.

Better battery life. Quicker charging. Faster uploads to Garmin Connect. Easier to read display with improved back light. More reliable and easier mountdismount from stem. I could go on and on. I live this product.

I admit I was apprehensive about this when I read the mixed reviews here. Ive owned a Garmin GPS system for several years and except for some minor frustrations (it takes hours and hours to download updates)it has been a faithful travel companion. My old Cat Eye Strada has served me well with over 7,000 miles of combined usage on two other bikes. I also use a separate HRM and I also wear a wrist watch since I cant always read the time on the Cat Eye. Also the Cat Eye has no backlight. So with the recent purchase of a TREK Madone and death of my HRM, I decided I needed fewer gadgets, a new HRM and more data on my rides. The idea that one instrument could provide all the data I wanted and more than I needed was very appealing.

The UPS guy handed me the box last Friday (today is Wednesday 5912) and within an hour I had my kit on and the unit mounted on the Madone, it was time for a ride. First the unit is surprising light and compact. Second other than entering my physical data and selecting a screen format I was ready to ride. It took about 3 minutes to boot up and find a satellite. It is possible to fill up the screen with too much data for these old eyes (Im 60 yrs). When I ride solo the most important thing is my heart rate, speed and accumulated mileage. It was very easy to program a screen to give me this data. The slope data is interesting but not especially important to me. When I ride with a group the speed, heart rate and time becomes more relevant. It is easy to program two different screens and with a touch of the button scroll between the two. Also I belong to a group that rides at night so the backlight is important.

So, now with just over 100 miles on the screen I am impressed, the thing is really brilliant in design and function. The mounting is very clever and can be moved easily between multiple bikes, however using two rubber rings to secure a $300 instrument is a bit unnerving. Im thinking Ill try to find a more secure way to mount it to the stem. The quarter turn mount is clever and lets you quickly remove the unit for safekeeping or recharging when you park your bike. Ive not experienced the difficult button operation mentioned in other reviews here. Battery life seems good too, after a 2hr 30 mile ride with the backlight on constantly the battery still showed over 90% remaining charge.

Having said all of this, Im happy with the purchase and it seems to be a good value given what it can do for you. Assuming that its reliability approaches that of my other Garmin I would have to call it a great device, but Ill wait and see if that reliability materializes. And thanks to my account with BIKETIRESDIRECT I got a nice discount and great service on the purchase.

I upgraded from an Edge 305, and am sorry that I did. It is difficult to push the side buttons while riding without the unit spinning in the mount and threatening to fall off the bike. In addition, I often have to push several times to get the unit to show a new lap, or to Reset. The side buttons are very poorly designed and do not function well. The electronics are better and faster than the Edge 305, but they are negatively offset by the side button design. I prefer the Edge 305.

So far Iam enjoying all the data this unit collects. It works as advertised. Satellite recognition is quick. Milage and speed are accurate. No more keeping track on paper. Downloading into Garmin Connect is breeze.

great and very reliable...easy to use!

I got the neutral colored one and have added the HR and speed/cadance. I like the custom screen set up and the numerous different data options. I was using a Strada double wireless and this is a serious upgrade. I will be able to train a lot better and I look forward to just improving my cycling abilities. I am no racer but I would like to improve and this is the tool to help me. If your thinking about one of these do not hesitate.

I use the device to track my rides.

I upload ride info to Garmin Connect.

I love the range of parameters that can be tracked and displayed.

I really love Garmin's support - you can talk to a live person!!!

No complaints!

Finally, after it seemed everyone I ride with was using a Garmin I purchased one. It is great. I should not have waited so long. The ease at which information is obtained both during and after the ride is great in analyzing your performance and training status.

I bought this to track my rides on Strava. It is much more accurate than my iphone was and I no longer need to worry about battery life. It gives me speed, time, altitude and distance the same as a speedometer without the wires. All the data comes from the gps! I also like the ANT wireless compatibility and I plan to get a power meter soon. Weighs very little, which is important to the weight weenie in me.

An awesome device.

I am a serious cyclist with over 40 years of experience with bike speedometerscomputers. This is a wonderful step up from my last Cyclosport computer with HRM and altimeter. It was easy to use the basics without any set up and has been fun to set up and use the configuration features. I really like the soft strap for the HRM.

This is far and away the best cycling computer I've had. It is 100% accurate, covers all important functions, has great battery life and is easy to use and read. It's also relatively light and small. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

This thing does so much it's amazing. Besides HR, cadence, speed elevation and grade and their variants of max adv. etc. When hooked up to garmin connect and STRAVA the total info is amazing. Download courses to the garmin 500 and there's no more going the wrong way on club rides. It has worked easily and flawlessly for 2&12 months now. Love it.

combined with Garmin's online connect.garmin.com, this is a riders dream for tracking training and racing performance.

I use the Edge 500 on my multiple road bikes. One of the biggest benefit of the unit is being able to easily transfer it across bikes. Mounting is super simple. There are tons of display options available. Two disadvantages I've noticed is 1) the lettering for each button is way to small to read while riding so you have to memorize what each button does if you are going to use them while riding, and 2) the speed jumps around a bit when riding in and out of tree cover. This is frustrating when trying to use speed as a training tool. Overall, I'm glad I bought the unit.

I had a 305 and upgraded to the 500 for a new Co-Motion Robusta. This little GPS unit works great. It's intuitive, easy to customize, easy to read and navigate, and stays connected. The new mount system is ok, but the old mount allowed for an angled stem.

Beautifully designed, easy to use.

Never thought I 'needed' a GPS enabled bike computer - thought it was a nice toy but wouldn't necessarily help my cycling...wrong! The stats & info it gives you is amazing!

Easy to use & program - looks great on the bike - sleek & modern.

I have had my Garmin for over two years and use it more than 200 days per year for either road riding or MTB riding. Also use it occasionally for hiking or lake kayaking. It is super easy to use and being able to see where I have been on the uploads is both fun and illuminating. I like mine so much I just bought one for my wife.

All I can say is I really love having this on my bike.

Does what I want and haven't had any issues with it so far, which is about 6 months.

I love being able to move it to my other bikes and not worry about sensors and stuff.

I switched from a Cateye V3 to this. It's not a fair comparison, but if you're on the fence about GPS or not, jump on the GPS side. It is way cool being able to plug the unit in after rides and get a map and detailed analysis of the workoutride. Even if you're not looking for that, this is much more user friendly than my V3. You can set it up without the manual because it's so intuitive. There 3 screens you can completely customize and that is really nice. I'd like a couple more, but... The only complaint would be that the alimeter freaks out in a downpour and then my elevation data is worthless for that ride. It returns to normal once dry.

Does everything its supposed to do. Garmin Connect is perfectly fine for my needs. I actually prefer it over Strava. When downloading TCX files, the turn by turn directions come a little late. I often get the cue to turn as you are already in the turn. Wish you could customize the screens just a little bit more when using mapping features.

Good product. Works fine. Wish there was an easy way to use a cable to connect to an iphone or ipad and upload training data to garmin connect, and then use the app to analyze results, as opposed to having to use a laptop and a web browser to both upload and analyze training data.

I purchased this Garmin after using my Garmin watch for tracking my cycling and running. This computer probably spits out more information than you will ever need for a ride, but depending on the terrain, I have found each function to be useful on my rides. The data can be downloaded to the Garmin Training Center on your computer so you can track all of your workouts. I have also found it easy to download your rides to Strava to compete with your friends on different rides. I definitely recommend this computer to any tech junkie or cyclist looking to use data from their rides to improve their performance!

birthday gift for wife she loves it rides even more now.