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Garmin Forerunner 305 purchase

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  • 19-01-2011 6:23pm
    #1
    macnab
    Registered Users Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭


    I just got my new Garmin 305 this afternoon having ordered it on Amazon early Monday morning. Cost €137.81 delivered to my door, €300 in LBS!!
    I have only ever had the Lidl HRM which has a large appetite for batteries so this is my first decent HRM.
    I havnt had it on the road yet but so far it is amazing. Decent software bundle, instant hook up to the wireless chest strap, easy to understand menu, customisable front end. It is rather large but I intend strapping it to the bars.
    I couldnt find a lot of info on boards about the 305 so I decided I would write a review to ease the buying process for the next cycling geek (guilty)
    I will update this post as I use the 305.

    Has anybody else here had any experience with this model?


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    #2
    mfdc
    Registered Users Posts: 304 ✭✭mfdc


    I've got one, and I also love it :) Got it over the Edge cos I do running aswell as cycling. There's a kit on Wiggle you can get which replaces the strap with a click-in one, and includes a mount for the bars. Definitely look into that if you want the ability to take it off the bike easily, rather than fumbling with the normal strap and whatever system you get setup to keep it in place.

    I've had it for about 2 years now and have nothing bad to say about it really. My only big complaint is it takes an age to find satellites, so I just turn it on and leave it in the garden a few minutes before I head out. Only other thing I'd mention is that after 15 months (and many many spins/runs in the rain) water started to get in behind the screen, and soon enough on one particularly wet morning the whole thing died. Shipped it back to Garmin and got a new one out of warranty for 50 quid though.

    All told, A++ would buy again.


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    #3
    Tau
    Registered Users Posts: 156 ✭✭Tau


    I'd second everything above, especially the advice to get the bike mounting kit. I've been using mine for two years and its one of the best things I've ever bought. I would download SportTracks, which has a good free version, and use that rather than the Garmin software for your PC - its far better.

    These two links are worth a read too:
    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2008/01/ten-random-tips-for-your-garmin.html

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2007/11/review-of-garmin-forerunner-305.html

    Finally, you can use this website to create (very) basic routes to upload to it, if you're cycling on unknown terrain:
    http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx


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