Unveiled in 2009 by navigation equipment producer Garmin, the sleek and aerodynamic Garmin Edge 500 cycling GPS was “an evolutionary leap in cycling technology” that continues to remain a favorite among competitive and casual cyclists today. Weighing only two ounces, the Edge 500 features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, requires no calibration, can be switched quickly and easily between bicycles and connects wirelessly with ANT+ compatible third-party power meters. Designed for performance cyclists, the GPS-enabled Edge 500 tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb, and descent–and for extra-precise climb and descent data, the Edge 500 incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation. The Garmin Edge 500 also pairs wirelessly with Garmin speed/cadence sensors and features advanced heart rate-based calorie computation when used with a Garmin heart rate monitor. Boasting a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFixTM that quickly acquires and maintains satellite reception, the Edge 500 also displays temperature readings, changes time zones automatically and alerts riders if they’re moving but the timer is not running. With up to 18 hours of battery life, the Edge 500 features a low-profile, quarter-turn mount that fits easily on the stem or handlebars.
Starting at a standard retail price of $199.99, two versions of the Edge 500 are available: the standard Edge 500, available in black/silver and blue/silver color schemes, and the Edge 500 with cadence sensor and heart rate monitor, available in blue/silver ($299.99) and red/black ($319.99). When paired with a Garmin heart rate monitor, the Edge 500 tracks the micro changes in a user’s heart rate and uses that detailed information to better calculate the number of calories burned. In developing the Edge 500 and its heart rate-based calorie computation, Garmin worked with Firstbeat Technologies Ltd., a technology company based in Finland. Cyclists can track Team Garmin’s featured rides–or download, analyze and share rides of their own–by participating in Garmin ConnectSM, an online community that brings together millions of activities around the world. With all these combined features, including the cadence sensor and heart rate monitor, the $320 Garmin Edge 500 is truly the ultimate GPS-based bike computer for cyclists around the world.
Headquartered in Switzerland and Olathe, Kansas, Garmin Ltd. is a multinational corporation and producer of navigation equipment most well known for its production of consumer and professional-grade GPS receivers–as of May 2014, Garmin has sold over 126 million GPS devices worldwide. Founded in 1989 by Min Kao and Gary Burrell in Lenexa, Kansas, Garmin currently has a market cap of $10.76 billion.
For more information on Garmin and the Garmin Edge 500–or to buy your own–visit buy.garmin.com and check out a video review of the Garmin Edge 500 below, courtesy of Competitive Cyclist’s YouTube channel.
Video by Competitive Cyclist/YouTube.com
Photo by johnstonefitness.com
