Not everyone necessarily wants power data, but just about everyone likes to know where they've ridden, how much they climbed, and a way to get back to those places where they got gloriously lost. With the Garmin Edge 705, not only do get a full-on GPS with full cycling-specific functionality, but you get a system that works beautifully in conjunction with your Powermeter.

For those unfamiliar with Garmin's work in the bike industry, they started making bike-mounted GPS units a few years back. These not only could tell the rider where they were, but could determine speed and distance and elevation gain wirelessly. Uploaded into the right software, a map could be generated. Downloaded from the same software, a route could be input into the bike computer. An elevation profile of every ride could be created, all this on top of traditional recorded computer data like heart rates, speed, average speed, max speed, distance, time, and much more.

The Edge 705 represents a big step forward for Garmin. Not only has the monitor been upgraded to a finer resolution with color capability, but the unit can read wirelessly transmitted data from other on-bike measuring devices. The secret is Area Network Technology or ANT. It is a tiny chip transmitter, 5mm square, which broadcasts in a small area at 2.4 GHz. Thanks to ANT, the 705 can read power from iBike, the wireless SRM, and possibly other powermeters, depending on which companies decide to integrate ANT into their devices.

The 705 is button rich, but they're all marked and easy to use. There are buttons for Power (on/off), mode, lap, start/stop, menu, zoom in, zoom out. The click stick has an "enter" function as well as up, down, left, and right. The unit has plenty of menus, so programming can take place on the 705 or downloaded from one's main computer.

We sell the Edge 705 with the wireless heart rate hardware, a speed/cadence sensor as well as with the expanded data card preloaded with United States of American, Canada, and Puerto Rico street maps. While one doesn't need the speed sensor for riding outside, it can be very useful. The memory card with maps, offers a chance for the rider to see every street and road on the ride before getting there -- just zoom in to get the right level of detail. Working with the speed sensor and the GPS, the unit can accurately determine wheel circumference, which comes in handy riding indoors on a trainer.

The 705 works with Garmin's Training Center software, which is compatible with Mac and PC. The software is free and downloadable from the Garmin website. The 705 files can also be uploaded into Motion-Based, a web-based training data analysis and mapping site. It is also compatible with CyclingPeaks software, and users can upload directly into CP or upload into Garmin software then move to CP. It's also compatible with Garmin Connect, an online community where data can be shared and compared.

When riding with the 705, one can enable Virtual Partner, a rider who exists only in the Garmin device. The partner's power, speed, specs, etc, need to be inputted by the user through the Garmin software. The software also allows user to program in routes, training routines, and training parameters.

Please note that we sell our 705 systems fully loaded with upgrades! This is not a stripped down 705. Rather, it comes complete with the microSD card, full heartrate functionality (plus a chest strap), and a speed/cadence sensor in case you'd rather use a sensor instead of GPS-based speed/distance. It also comes with bike mounts, a battery charger, USB cable, an owner's manual on a CD, and a quick reference guide. The training software is downloadable from the Garmin site.

The Garmin Edge 705 measures 5.1cm wide by 10.9cm long by 2.5cm thick (2"x4.3"x1"). The display resolution is 175x220 pixels. The battery is a li-polymer rechargeable battery that typically gives 15 hours of power between charged. The GPS unit weight is 104.9g. The speed/cadence sensor weighs 25g.